Travel Insurance – Travel and COVID-19 frequently asked questions

What’s covered by HSBC Travel Insurance?

We’ve put together some frequently asked questions about the impact of COVID-19.

The guidance covers all of our travel policies: HSBC Travel Insurance, HSBC Premier, HSBC Premier with retained Jade benefits, HSBC Private Banking, HSBC Private Banking MasterCard, HSBC Select and Cover, HSBC Insurance Aspects, HSBC Gold MasterCard and HSBC Platinum Credit Card.

Latest update

The rules for travel can change unexpectedly in relation to COVID-19 restrictions, both in the UK and abroad so before booking any trip, it's important to make sure you fully understand the financial risks, and book with flexible options wherever possible.

Travel insurance protects you against unforeseen and unexpected events, but not all situations are covered. Please make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your booking and your travel insurance policy.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice

Under the terms of the policy, it is essential you check the FCDO website for your destination, before you book a trip or purchase your travel insurance (whichever is later). Under your policy terms and conditions, you won’t be covered for any claim if you travel against FCDO or other government advice.

FCDO travel advice gives you COVID-19 guidance and tells you about the risks of travelling abroad. Their advice is constantly being reviewed, and they may advise against non-essential travel to some countries and territories.

Different countries have different entry requirements – for example, you might need a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination to enter. You can stay up to date with the latest foreign travel advice on the GOV.UK website.

Telling us if you’ve had COVID-19

Every time you are about to book a trip, and again before you travel, it’s important that you check the “Your health” section of your policy documents to make sure you have told us everything we need to know about the health of each insured person.

Before booking a trip

You need to tell us about any diagnosed illness, injury or disease where in the 12 months before opening your account or booking a trip (whichever is later) an insured person has.

If you or anyone covered by your policy has previously tested positive for COVID-19, you’ll need to tell us if you've:

been prescribed medication by your doctor for COVID-19,
visited hospital or A&E for COVID-19, or
been referred for investigations or treatment for COVID-19.

If this applies to you or anyone covered by your policy, you’ll need to tell us and we’ll ask you some medical screening questions to confirm if we can offer cover. You should check the Your health section of your policy documents.

HSBC Select and Cover

You should check the Your Health Section of your policy booklet to find out what cover you have for existing medical conditions before you book a trip. If you were admitted or had treatment in a hospital or out-patient clinic as a result of having COVID-19 in the 3 months prior to booking your trip or, are awaiting treatment or results of investigations, then you will not be covered.

Frequently asked questions

Here you’ll find answers to your specific questions about COVID-19. Please read through all the questions so you’re clear what exclusions and restrictions apply, as more than one scenario may be relevant to you.

If I test positive for COVID-19, am I covered to cancel my trip?

If I get COVID-19 while on holiday, am I covered for medical treatment?

Yes, you are covered for emergency medical treatment and associated expenses, if you become ill with COVID-19 subject to policy terms and conditions.

HSBC Select and Cover

As long as you didn't travel against FCDO advice or other government advice and follow local advice, you're covered for emergency medical treatment abroad, subject to any medical exclusions.

You should check the Your Health Section of your policy booklet to find out what cover you have for existing medical conditions before you book a trip. If you were admitted or had treatment in a hospital or out-patient clinic as a result of having COVID-19 in the 3 months prior to booking your trip or, are awaiting treatment or results of investigations, then you will not be covered.

If I’m unexpectedly quarantined abroad or onboard a cruise ship and I can’t continue my trip because of a positive test result, am I covered?

Yes. If you unexpectedly need to quarantine, we'll cover any extra travel and accommodation costs to make sure everyone who's insured under the policy gets home ok (provided a return trip was booked). We'll also pay costs for any accommodation and excursions you haven't been able to use, where the costs can’t be recovered elsewhere.

It's important to check the entry requirements for your destination before you book, as you won't be covered if you don't meet these.

Am I covered to travel to a country if FCDO advice against travel is in place?

If an overseas government closes its borders to travellers from the UK, or brings in restrictions such as a lockdown or quarantine requirements, can I cancel my trip?

Your travel provider should be able to help with this, so first get in touch with whoever you booked your trip with to talk about your options.

If you can’t reschedule your trip or get a refund, you’ll be able to make a claim for non-recoverable travel and accommodation costs, if the restrictions are in place in the 31 days leading up to your trip.

You’ll only be able to do this if there weren’t any entry restrictions or FCDO advice against travel was in place when you booked your trip or purchased your cover (whichever was later).

If I can’t travel because I don’t meet the COVID-19 entry requirements for the country I’m travelling to, am I covered to cancel?

No. There’s no cover under the policy if you can’t travel because you don’t meet the entry requirements. You should contact your travel provider to see if you can reschedule your trip or get a refund.

If you booked your trip before the entry requirements changed, and you can’t reschedule or get a refund, then get in touch with the Aviva claims team who will consider your circumstances.

It's important to check your destination's entry requirements on the FCDO website before you book any trip. Your claim won’t be considered if these requirements were already in place when you booked.

My tour operator has asked me to provide proof of travel insurance. Where can I get this?

HSBC Retail Policies

If you have an HSBC single or annual multi-trip policy and have been asked to provide proof of insurance to your tour operator and require written confirmation, your policy schedule and policy booklet contain all the required information.

HSBC Premier, Premier with retained Jade benefits, Insurance Aspects, Private Banking MasterCard, Gold MasterCard or Platinum Credit Card

If you have HSBC Premier, Premier with retained Jade benefits, Insurance Aspects, Gold MasterCard or Platinum Credit Card, you can request proof of travel insurance.

This link will open in a new window, where you can request this along with a copy of your policy booklet.

Private Banking MasterCard

If you have an HSBC Private Banking MasterCard, please contact your Private Banking Relationship Manager.

Select and Cover

Visit your HSBC Select and Cover portal where you will find a Travel Insurance Confirmation letter you can print. You will also find your policy schedule which we recommend you also print and retain.

How do I make a claim?

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Travel and COVID-19 frequently asked questions