The Coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted global travel in unprecedented ways. We understand many of our members will have been affected by these changes, and will be keen for information on what they can and cannot claim for under their insurance policies.
If you have any further specific questions about your policy, please contact your local agency or Mutual Direct for clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions
NFU Mutual will consider claims from our customers who:
- Are due to travel to a location that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have advised not to travel to
- Are due to travel to a location that Local Authorities have placed in lockdown
- Are due to travel to a location where Local Authorities have imposed temporary Visa restrictions
- Are due to travel to a location where Local Authorities have imposed temporary quarantine restrictions upon entry
- Miss their flight because of compulsory quarantine
- Have a medical note advising against travel due to a medical condition (subject to policy endorsements)
- Are due to travel but their airline has cancelled their flight due to Coronavirus although the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) have not advised not to travel to
- Any costs that you cannot recover from another source
Customers should first approach their airline and/or any travel provider to request a refund for their expenses. If you have been unable to get a refund, NFU Mutual can then consider a claim.
We will require written confirmation from your airline and/or travel provider confirming they have been unable to assist you prior to accepting a claim.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have advised against all but essential travel worldwide. NFU Mutual will accept the reasonable cost of cancelling your trip in these circumstances. We will only pay for costs that you have been unable to recover from elsewhere.
Members should first approach their airline and/or any travel provider before submitting a claim. If you have been unable to get a refund or rearrange your trip, NFU Mutual can then consider a claim. We will require written confirmation from your airline and/or travel provider confirming they have been unable to assist you prior to accepting a claim.
NFU Mutual will not pay for:
- Any costs which are recoverable for another source
- Any costs incurred due to unnecessarily cancelling your trip
- Any event which occurred before your application of cover was accepted
All claims are subject to validation.
NFU Mutual recommend all Members who are currently abroad to contact their travel provider and / or airline to try and get an earlier flight home.
If your return flight is going ahead, you should continue as booked. If your return flight is cancelled, you should contact your airline and try to rearrange your flight. If they are unable to offer a new flight you should accept a full refund. NFU Mutual will then pay the reasonable additional costs for a new return flight back to the UK.
If you are currently being told to quarantine whilst abroad, you should contact your airline/travel provider to arrange an alternative flight. If the alternative is more than the original flight, NFU Mutual will consider paying for this cost. We will require evidence from Local Authorities/Medical Practitioners confirming your enforced stay.
No. NFU Mutual do not provide cover for this type of loss.
NFU Mutual will pay for cancellation expenses if FCO advice is active within one month of your departure date. If you cancel before this time, we cannot confirm that we will accept your claim.
NFU Mutual recommend all Members to check the FCO website before cancelling their trip. Members should first approach their airline and/or travel providers before submitting a claim.
No. The FCO advice is for travel anywhere outside of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Yes. NFU Mutual will accept cancellation expenses for compulsory quarantine. Members should first approach their airline and/or travel providers before submitting a claim.
An event is something that causes a loss and could results in a claim. If you were aware (or ought to have been aware) of anything at the time of taking out the policy or booking a trip that could result in a claim, this will not be covered.
You should not travel against FCO advice as any loss abroad will not be covered.
Any policies sold after the date the FCO advice against travel was issued, will not be covered for cancellation due to Coronavirus as this was a known event at the time the policy was purchased.
If you took out your travel policy before the FCO advice to your trip destination changed to “all but essential travel”, you should first contact your airline and/or travel provider (including accommodation) to see if you can get a refund or rearrange your booking.
If you are unable to reclaim your costs and your departure date is within one month of the FCO advice, your travel policy will cover you for the costs of cancelling your trip.
If you have already cancelled your trip to a country where the FCO have advised not the travel, providing that the departure date is after this time, reasonable cancellation costs can be considered.
If the FCO advises against travel to your destination, you can claim non-refundable expenses through your insurance policy. The amount you can claim for will be documented on your schedule and in your document of insurance and is dependent on the level of cover you've selected.
Customers should first approach their airline and/or any travel provider(s) to request a refund for their expenses. If you have been unable to get a refund, NFU Mutual can then consider a claim.
We will require written confirmation from your airline and/or travel provider(s) confirming they have been unable to assist you prior to accepting a claim.
No. Single trip policies are no longer available for purchase until further notice. This is because travel disruption due to Coronavirus is already widespread, and the potential for travel claims from new covers is no longer an unexpected or fortuitous event. However, existing or new customers are welcome to add annual travel cover onto an NFU Mutual home policy. This means we can continue to protect our members whilst travelling or on holiday, but we are less exposed to non-fortuitous losses.
Note that pro rata premiums will be charged for cover added mid-term, but no return premiums will be allowed if cover is cancelled.
No. NFU Mutual will only pay for cancellation expenses that cannot be recovered from elsewhere. We would recommend that customers discuss their refund options with their travel provider.