What Happens if You Catch COVID-19 Overseas on a Holiday?

As most of us have taken our mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, the virus now pose less of a serious threat to our health.

However, falling sick while you're on vacation is still not fun. Not only will you miss out on your activities planned, but the symptoms can also be an issue.

There are a few things you could do to safeguard yourself in case you test positive for COVID-19 on a holiday (touch wood), such as getting a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage.

Let’s take a look at what you should do if you start showing symptoms, and consider the different COVID-19 insurance policies available.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 overseas

When you’re enjoying yourself abroad, the last thing on your mind is what you need to do if you contract a virus. But with today’s circumstances, it’s a very real possibility. Thus, it’s important to prepare for worst-case scenarios even before your flight. 

Here are four things you can do if you ever exhibit COVID-like symptoms or come in contact with someone positive.

Isolate yourself from your travel buddies

Though it's no longer mandatory to isolate or quarantine if you get the virus, it's still a good idea to keep a distance between you and your travel buddies to prevent spreading it to them.

Falling sick overseas is definitely not fun, but it becomes even more of a bummer if the whole lot of you fall sick together.

Check your travel insurance coverage

Go through your travel insurance coverage to check if you're covered for COVID-19. If you are, there's a high chance that you can make claims if you visit a local clinic or doctor to get medication for your symptoms.

Knowing that you're covered gives you the peace of mind knowing that you're able to claim for any medical expenses. This is extra important as a foreigner in another destination country, as medical expenses can be very expensive without being able to benefit from any government subsidies.

Visit a doctor

If you don't have any medication on hand, you should consider visiting a local doctor to get medication to treat your symptoms. Though they can be pretty mild, you'll still want to try to recover asap right?

Do remember to keep all the necessary receipts and doctor memos for a smooth claiming process.

Contact your insurer if you require hospitalisation

If you are required to be hospitalised due to COVID-19, it's best you contact your insurer to let them know about it beforehand. They will be able to advise you better on the following steps needed, and refer you to any specific panel doctors.

COVID-19 travel insurance coverage 

Holidays are already an expensive affair, and testing positive for COVID-19 abroad can rake up some hefty expenses from testing, quarantine accommodations, medications, and doctor’s consultations. But if you are insured with COVID-19 coverage, then most (or all) of these expenses will be covered. 

Thus, it’s definitely worth considering a travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage that suits your needs and budget. There are a whole array of policies to choose from and it can get quite overwhelming, but we’ll help you find one that fits you best.

Here’s a quick comparison of some of the best travel insurance policies with COVID-19 coverage.

Travel Insurance Plan	Hospitalisation Allowance	Medical Expenses Allowance	Quarantine Allowance	Trip Cancellation or Curtailment
MSIG TravelEasy	X	✔	✔	✔
Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance	✔	✔	X	✔
HLAS CovidSafe Travel Protect 360	✔	✔	✔	✔
AIG Travel Guard	X	✔	✔	✔

For more information, check our full list of the best travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage. We share a detailed overview of each policy and their exclusive offers. 

For a worry-free holiday, get your trip insured.

How to make a travel insurance claim if you test positive? 

Here’s what you can do if you test positive for the virus and have travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage:

#1: Inform your insurance provider

To start the claim process, you would need to inform your insurer that you contracted COVID-19. You can do this by calling the insurance helpline or reaching them through their app. 

It’s best practice to call your insurance provider at the soonest time possible. Most insurers offer a one-month window for claims to be made.

#2: Submit documents

You would need to submit documented proof to make a claim and receive funds. Some documents to submit include the following: 

• A medical report that shows a positive test result 
• Doctor’s request/report in case of hospitalisation
• Travel-related documents such as visas, flight tickets, hotel reservations, etc.
• Medical bills including testing fees, hospitalisation, and medications
• Other monetary receipts that can be considered (as per your policy)
• Your personal ID 

You would also be required to fill-up a claims form from your insurer. This will most likely be emailed to you once you register a claim. The insurance agent will let you know in case there are any other specific documents required. 

#3: Collect your claim

Once your claim request has been processed and approved, the final amount will be credited to your linked account. In case your claim has been rejected, do not hesitate to reach out to your insurer. They will tell you the reason for rejection and things you could do to reverse it.