Coronavirus Pandemic Information

UNDERSTANDING CORONAVIRUS 
& TRAVEL INSURANCE

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Our number one priority during this crisis is travellers who are overseas and in a medical emergency. Regardless of the general exclusion in our policy for pandemics and epidemics, we still encourage all travellers in an emergency medical situation to contact our Emergency Assistance team. They can provide guidance as to the next steps you can take. 

Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team are receiving a high number of enquiries from people who are not in an emergency medical situation. If you are in an actual emergency and experience a delay when calling our Emergency Team, please do not panic. Stay on the line if you can, or send an email. If you have sent an email, it will get seen, and our team will contact you as soon as they can.

We will all get through this situation by working together and prioritising people who are sick, injured and vulnerable. Please do not contact our Emergency Assistance Team unless you or someone on your policy is overseas and in a medical emergency. 

EXTENDING MY POLICY

If you are overseas and have to stay longer due to closed borders, flight rescheduling, or other travel bans, you can extend your policy yourself online. People who have pre-existing conditions may be blocked by the system from extending their policy. Please email our customer service team on [email protected]. While we should normally not allow extensions after a policy has expired, we will honour extensions if you email us before your policy has expired. The extra days on your policy will likely incur a fee. To reduce emails back and forth, please let us know in that email whether there is a dollar amount you give approval for us to charge to your card (e.g. I approve up to $49 to be charged from my card).

Please be advised that all policies, including policies which are extended, continue to have a general exclusion for claims arising from or associated with pandemics and epidemics. Follow local laws
Many countries are locking down domestic and international travel, or limiting movement in local areas. Follow and understand local laws, as fines or imprisonment may be employed at this time to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Practice good hygiene and social distancing

• What is the novel coronavirus COVID-19?

• The COVID-19 Coronavirus is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new strain of coronavirus previously not identified in human beings. Symptoms range from a mild cough to severe pneumonia. Some people recover easily, while others get very sick very quickly and may become critically ill. It appears to be less severe in children and healthy people; more severe in older people, people who smoke, and people who are immunocompromised. There is clear evidence that the virus spreads from person to person. The illness originated in China, but there are now occurrences of the novel coronavirus in over 100 countries. 

• What if I want to cancel or amend my travel plans because of Coronavirus?

• We understand that your travel plans may have changed due to the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and travel bans. To help, we are offering flexible options for our customers.
  
  If you want to change your travel plans, we highly recommend contacting your travel providers, such as airlines, tour and accommodation companies, to check what options you have. Many providers are offering penalty-free options to reschedule, credit notes or refunds for those that cannot travel. Visit here to learn more about amending your travel plans.
  
  You can also make changes to your travel insurance policy.  You can change your travel dates and destinations up to 12 months from the date your policy was issued. You can also extend your policy online. People who have pre-existing conditions may be blocked by the system from extending their policy.
  
  If you’ve cancelled your holiday altogether and are unsure when you may travel again, you may be eligible for a travel insurance credit.  Read the COVID-19 credit-voucher terms and conditions. 
  
  Please email our customer service team on [email protected] if you have any questions.

• How will Coronavirus affect my travel plans?

• Due to COVID-19, and the travel restrictions imposed by a number of governments around the world, travel to and from all countries is limited.  New Zealanders currently overseas have significantly reduced options to return home with many commercial air routes no longer viable. If you are a New Zealander currently overseas you should register your details on SafeTravel to receive important country or territory-specific information. 
   
  The New Zealand Government has advised all Kiwis not to travel overseas at this time.  There is a Level 4, Do Not Travel warning in place for travel to and from New Zealand with few exceptions. You can keep up to date with the latest border controls, travel exemptions and isolation requirements from Immigration New Zealand.
   
  If you are continuing your journey or intending on travelling in the immediate term, it is important to make sure that you are able to enter your intended destination.
   
  When travelling, it’s a good idea to contact your airline 72 hours before your flight to check whether they have any special requirements you need to meet prior to travel. Some airlines may require medical clearance or confirmation that you are a resident or citizen of the country you are entering or transiting through.
   
  As a result of the Level 4 travel restrictions, Zoom has temporarily paused issuing new policies for international travel.

• Does my Zoom travel insurance policy have an exclusion regarding epidemics and pandemics?

• Yes, all Zoom policies have a general exclusion for the likely threat of, or actual epidemics and pandemics. This means that regardless of when you purchased your policy, you are unlikely to be covered under the policy for any claim relating to COVID-19. This includes (but is not limited to) situations where you decide you want to cancel your plans; your travel provider cancels your plans; the government has imposed travel restrictions, or you are quarantined or suffer travel delays due to the Coronavirus. This applies to all countries you travel to or are planning to travel to, even those which do not currently have an MFAT travel warning advisory issued. 

• Why is there a general exclusion for pandemics and epidemics?

• We understand that this is a difficult and stressful time for our customers, and the general exclusion may be disappointing. It is extremely difficult for our team to assess and predict the scope and severity of wide-reaching catastrophic global events like pandemics, epidemics, or the outbreak of war. We continue to assess all claims on a case-by-case basis, even with the general exclusion in place.

• Can I still make a claim if you have an exclusion in your policy?

• If you suffer a loss, you are still entitled to lodge a claim through our online claims system. Every claim is assessed individually on a case-by-case basis by our claims team taking into account the facts, the policy wording and personal circumstances. During the claims process, you can ask your Claim Manager questions regarding your claim if you are unsure of what documents you need.
  
  If, after your claim has been assessed, you are unhappy with the outcome, you can make a complaint, and we will reconsider your claim in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

• What do I do if my flights have been cancelled or delayed?

• Many major airlines have suspended or significantly reduced flights to a large number of countries. Your Zoom policy is unlikely to cover claims for any costs related to the Coronavirus. However, many airlines and travel providers are providing refunds, free or low-cost rescheduling or credit notes. Visit here for more on recouping costs from travel providers.

• What if I contract the Coronavirus?

• If you think you may have the coronavirus, please contact our emergency assistance provider, First Assistance. They can provide guidance as to the next steps you can take. There is a General Exclusion for a loss arising from an epidemic or pandemic. This exclusion applies to all policy sections regardless of when you purchase your policy. If you are out of pocket for medical costs, you are welcome to submit a claim and all supporting documentation for consideration.

• What if I am quarantined because of Coronavirus, either here or overseas?

• If you are quarantined because of the Coronavirus in New Zealand and need to cancel your trip or make alternative travel arrangements, we are unlikely to be able to cover your costs due to the exclusion regarding pandemics and epidemics. You are however still entitled to lodge a claim, as all claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

• What if I get Coronavirus while travelling in New Zealand?

• While you are in New Zealand, we are unable to cover any domestic medical expenses. If you are a New Zealand permanent resident or citizen, you will likely have access to the public healthcare system or your private health insurance.

• Will I be covered by Reciprocal Health Agreements?

• New Zealand has agreements with a limited number of countries that covers the cost of medically necessary care when New Zealanders visit certain countries and visitors from these countries visit New Zealand.
  
  Reciprocal health care agreements can cover or subsidise some emergency medical costs. This is usually for urgent treatment that can't wait until you get home.
  
  Some reciprocal health care agreements can cover other costs. This can include local medical transport, medication and specialist services.
  Unfortunately, a reciprocal health care agreement is not a substitute for insurance, and it’s likely you’ll still have some out of pocket expenses. Our policy does not cover medical care that is covered under a reciprocal health care agreement.

• If the countries we are travelling to close their borders and do not let us in, are we covered?

• If the countries you are travelling to close their borders because of the Coronavirus, you will not be covered for the cancellation or additional costs of your holiday. This is because we have a general exclusion for claims related to pandemics and epidemics in our policy.

• I took the policy out before Coronavirus was known so why would you not cover me?

• The epidemic exclusion in our policy for pandemics and epidemics applies to all sections of the policy, regardless of when a policy was purchased or where you are travelling to. There is no reference in the exclusion to when the policy was purchased.

• What if there is a government-issued travel alert for the country I wish to travel to?
  For example “Do not travel in relation to coronavirus.”

• The policy exclusion regarding epidemics and pandemics means that no matter when you purchased your policy, you are unlikely to be covered for cancelling your trip to any destination. This applies to all countries, even those that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) has not raised a travel-warning about.

• Can I cancel my travel insurance policy if I’m not covered for Coronavirus-related claims?

• If you don’t want your Zoom policy anymore, you can cancel your travel insurance and receive a refund provided that your policy hasn't started and you are within the cooling-off period. The cooling-off period is typically 14 days or the number of days between when you bought your policy and the first travel date shown on your certificate of insurance if you purchased less than 14 days before travel.
  
  We understand that due to the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and travel bans that many customers have had their travel plans disrupted. To help, we are offering flexible options for our customers.
  
  You can amend your policy online, including changing dates, destinations or extending your policy. You can move your start date to be up to 12 months (365 days) in advance of your policy issue date. Customers who have pre-existing medical conditions may be blocked by the system from extending their policy. Please email our customer service team on [email protected].
  
  If you’ve cancelled your holiday altogether and are unsure when you may travel again, you may be eligible for a travel insurance credit.  Visit the Covid-19 credit-voucher terms.
  
  It is important to note that you will not be able to lodge a claim once a policy has been cancelled.
   

STEPS YOU CAN CONSIDER

​Get in touch with your booking agent
We recommend you contact your travel agent or travel provider regarding the best option in cancelling or altering your trip. Some booking agents are waiving cancellation or amendment fees. Certain agents are offering travel credits to be used within 12 months.

Contact your airline directly
Many airlines have offered refunds for travel to and from mainland China, and some are also offering refunds and waived cancellation fees to other countries in relation to Coronavirus. When you purchase a flight, an airline is responsible for getting you to your destination. All your usual consumer rights apply when you purchase domestic flights and international flights departing Australia or New Zealand.

Contact your accommodation provider directly
A growing number of hotel providers have issued statements that they will offer free cancellations or rescheduling in countries affected by the Coronavirus. Many providers are evolving their policy on Coronavirus daily.

Speak with your cruise company
With known cases of Coronavirus onboard a cruise ship, cruise lines have swiftly reacted to the outbreak and started implementing their own precautions and policies. Many cruise lines have cancelled or altered scheduled itineraries and have issued statements to the effect that guests on cancelled cruises will receive full refunds.

Check your details
Some airlines are proactively contacting customers about flight rearrangements. Make sure they can get in touch by ensuring your details are up-to-date in the “online account” or “manage booking” area of the airline’s website.

Enquire with your credit card company 
You should try to resolve any dispute with your travel service provider directly in the first instance. If that fails and you booked your travel with your credit card, you may be able to lodge a dispute for cancelled or unfulfilled services. Log into your internet banking or call your institution for instructions on how to do this.