{"id":99341,"date":"2026-08-31T12:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T03:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/?page_id=99341"},"modified":"2026-08-31T16:18:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:48:20","slug":"best-travel-insurance-covid-cover","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Insurance COVID Cover: What&#8217;s Actually Included"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most Australians assume COVID-19 cover either disappeared when the pandemic &#8220;ended,&#8221; or that it still needs a special add-on policy. Neither is quite right. Now most major insurers treat a COVID-19 diagnosis like any other unexpected illness &#8211; medical cover overseas is standard on most policies, no special add-on required. But cancellation cover, cruise-specific exclusions, and how a destination&#8217;s Smartraveller advisory interacts with your claim are where people still get caught out. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s actually included, what isn&#8217;t, and the documentation you&#8217;ll need if you do get sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-key-points\"><div class=\"aioseo-key-points-block-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list tcm-key-takeaways\">\n<li><strong>Overseas medical cover for COVID is standard on most policies now<\/strong> &#8211; not a special add-on like it was in 2021-2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cancellation cover for a pre-departure COVID diagnosis is more variable<\/strong> &#8211; some insurers only include it on Comprehensive or higher tiers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Being a close contact isn&#8217;t enough to claim<\/strong> &#8211; you need an actual positive diagnosis, confirmed in writing by a medical adviser.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A &#8220;Do Not Travel&#8221; Smartraveller advisory on your destination can void a COVID claim<\/strong> &#8211; except for trips to Australia or New Zealand, where this exclusion is typically waived.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cruises often need separate Cruise Cover for COVID claims to apply<\/strong> &#8211; a standard COVID benefit alone may not cover you at sea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Confuses So Many Travellers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the pandemic, COVID cover was a genuine add-on question &#8211; plenty of standard policies excluded it entirely, and buying &#8220;COVID cover&#8221; meant something specific and separate. That&#8217;s mostly changed. Insurers now say they treat a COVID-19 diagnosis the same as any other unexpected medical illness, built into the policy as standard rather than sold separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What hasn&#8217;t fully caught up with that shift is cancellation cover &#8211; the benefit that reimburses you if you&#8217;re diagnosed before you even leave and have to cancel the trip. That&#8217;s still tier-dependent at some insurers. Many insurers, for example, only includes COVID cancellation cover on Comprehensive, <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/annual-vs-single-trip-travel-insurance\/\">Multi-Trip<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/domestic-travel-insurance\/\">Domestic <\/a>plans, not their entry-level tier. Read your policy tier carefully rather than assuming &#8220;COVID cover&#8221; means the same thing at every level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"tcm-spotlight-outer\" style=\"\n  display:flex;\n  align-items:center;\n  gap:24px;\n  background:linear-gradient(135deg, #0a1f5c 0%, #132a6e 100%);\n  border-radius:14px;\n  padding:24px 28px;\n  margin:28px 0;\n  box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(10,31,92,0.18);\n  border:1px solid #b8992e;\n  flex-wrap:wrap;\n\">\n  <!-- Logo -->\n  <div class=\"tcm-spotlight-logo\" style=\"\n    flex:0 0 auto;\n    width:88px;\n    height:88px;\n    background:#ffffff;\n    border-radius:12px;\n    display:flex;\n    align-items:center;\n    justify-content:center;\n    padding:10px;\n  \">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tick-travel-insurance-promo-code-logo-4.png\" alt=\"Tick Travel Insurance logo\" style=\"max-width:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain;\">\n  <\/div>\n  <!-- Copy -->\n  <div class=\"tcm-spotlight-content\" style=\"flex:1 1 320px;min-width:240px;\">\n    <!-- Badge row -->\n    <div class=\"tcm-spotlight-badge-row\" style=\"\n      display:flex !important;\n      flex-direction:row !important;\n      align-items:center !important;\n      gap:8px !important;\n      flex-wrap:wrap !important;\n      margin:0 0 10px 0 !important;\n      width:100%;\n    \">\n      <div style=\"\n        display:inline-flex !important;\n        align-items:center;\n        background:rgba(255,255,255,0.12);\n        color:#ffdf8a;\n        font-size:11px;\n        font-weight:700;\n        letter-spacing:0.03em;\n        padding:3px 10px;\n        border-radius:20px;\n        border:1px solid rgba(255,223,138,0.4);\n        white-space:nowrap;\n      \">COVID Cover Pick<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <h3 class=\"tcm-spotlight-headline\" style=\"\n      color:#ffffff !important;\n      font-size:20px;\n      line-height:1.3;\n      margin:0 0 6px 0;\n      font-weight:700;\n    \">Covers more than medical &#8211; quarantine costs too.<\/h3>\n    <p style=\"\n      color:#d7ddf0;\n      font-size:14.5px;\n      line-height:1.55;\n      margin:0 0 16px 0;\n      max-width:560px;\n    \">Tick&#8217;s Standard and Top tiers include unlimited overseas medical expenses for COVID-19 as standard &#8211; but the real standout is that Tick may also cover additional accommodation and travel costs if you&#8217;re forced into quarantine mid-trip, a benefit most competitors don&#8217;t offer.<\/p>\n    <!-- CTA row -->\n    <div style=\"display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/recommends\/ticktravelinsurance\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\n        display:inline-block;\n        background:#b8992e;\n        color:#0a1f5c;\n        font-size:14px;\n        font-weight:700;\n        padding:11px 22px;\n        border-radius:8px;\n        text-decoration:none;\n        transition:opacity 0.2s ease;\n      \">Get Quote \u2192<\/a>\n      <span style=\"\n        display:inline-flex;\n        align-items:center;\n        color:#a9b2d6;\n        font-size:13px;\n        font-weight:500;\n      \">Unlimited medical + quarantine cost cover<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n  .tcm-spotlight-badge-row {\n    display: flex !important;\n    flex-direction: row !important;\n    align-items: center !important;\n    flex-wrap: wrap !important;\n    gap: 8px !important;\n  }\n  @media (max-width: 480px) {\n    .tcm-spotlight-outer {\n      flex-direction: column !important;\n      align-items: stretch !important;\n      text-align: center !important;\n      padding: 24px 20px !important;\n      gap: 16px !important;\n    }\n    .tcm-spotlight-logo {\n      width: 120px !important;\n      height: 120px !important;\n      margin: 0 auto !important;\n    }\n    .tcm-spotlight-content > div:first-child {\n      justify-content: center !important;\n    }\n    .tcm-spotlight-content p {\n      margin-left: auto !important;\n      margin-right: auto !important;\n    }\n    .tcm-spotlight-content > div:last-child {\n      justify-content: center !important;\n    }\n  }\n  .tcm-spotlight-outer a:hover { opacity:0.88; }\n  .tcm-spotlight-outer h3.tcm-spotlight-headline { color:#ffffff !important; }\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Exclusions That Actually Catch People Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Diagnosed before you bought the policy.<\/strong> Like any pre-existing condition, a COVID diagnosis that predates your policy purchase generally isn&#8217;t covered &#8211; including any cancellation or interruption that flows from it. Buy your policy as early as possible, ideally right when you book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Close contact isn&#8217;t a diagnosis.<\/strong> Many insurers are explicit that being a close contact without an actual positive diagnosis doesn&#8217;t trigger a claim. You&#8217;ll need written confirmation from a medical adviser, not just a rapid test at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Destination &#8220;Do Not Travel&#8221; advisories can void the claim.<\/strong> If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartraveller.gov.au\/\">Smartraveller <\/a>has your destination under a &#8220;Do Not Travel&#8221; warning at the time you enter, a COVID claim can be excluded. The one common carve-out: this exclusion is typically waived for trips within Australia or to New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cruises often need their own add-on.<\/strong> A standard COVID benefit doesn&#8217;t automatically extend to cruise-specific scenarios. If a <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/best-travel-insurance-for-cruises\/\">cruise <\/a>is part of your trip, check our cruise travel insurance guide alongside this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You&#8217;ll Need If You Do Get Sick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>See a doctor and get it in writing.<\/strong> Most insurers require a letter or certificate from a qualified medical adviser confirming your diagnosis and that you&#8217;re unfit to travel &#8211;  not just a positive test result on its own.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Isolate and seek the medical attention advised.<\/strong> Follow the documented medical advice you&#8217;re given; this becomes part of your <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/best-travel-insurance-for-usa\/\">claim evidence<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contact your insurer&#8217;s emergency assistance line promptly.<\/strong> Especially if hospital treatment or quarantine accommodation is involved &#8211; delaying contact can complicate a claim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep every receipt.<\/strong> Medical costs, extended accommodation, amended flights &#8211; anything COVID-related you&#8217;re paying for should be documented and kept.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Major Insurers Compare on COVID Cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Insurer<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Medical Cover<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Notable Detail<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Best For<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/tick-travel-insurance-promo-code\/\">Tick Travel Insurance<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Unlimited on Standard\/Top tiers<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">May cover extra accommodation\/travel costs if you&#8217;re forced into quarantine<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Travellers wanting quarantine-cost cover, not just medical<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/covermore-promo-code\/\">Cover-More<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Included as standard on eligible plans<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Backed by Zurich, one of the largest Australian travel insurers<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Broad, well-established cover<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/freely-discount-code\/\">Freely<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Included for overseas COVID illness<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Also covers cancelling if a relative back home is hospitalised with COVID<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Travellers wanting flexible, app-based cover<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/zoom-travel-insurance-promo-code\/\">Zoom<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Check at quote stage by tier<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Family-friendly structure alongside standard COVID benefits<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Families wanting COVID cover plus free-kids perks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/was-travel-insurance-promo-code\/\">WAS<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Included on eligible plans<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Straightforward online purchasing<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Simple, no-frills international cover<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Table compiled 31 August 2026 from insurer information. COVID benefit inclusions, tiers and sub-limits change by insurer and policy level &#8211; always confirm current COVID-19 cover on the insurer&#8217;s own quote page and read the PDS before buying.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Else Should You Sort Before You Go?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/travel-insurance-promo-codes\/\">Full travel insurance comparison<\/a> \u2013 all providers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/best-travel-insurance-for-cruises\/\">Best travel insurance for cruises<\/a> &#8211; if a COVID diagnosis at sea is a concern<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions\/\">Travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/best-travel-insurance-for-seniors-in-australia\/\">Travel insurnce for seniors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/guides\/travel-insurance-claim-guide\/\">How to make a successful claim<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Does travel insurance still cover COVID-19 in 2026?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, generally. Most major Australian insurers now treat a COVID-19 diagnosis like any other unexpected illness, with overseas medical cover included as standard rather than sold as a separate add-on. Cancellation cover for a pre-departure diagnosis is more variable and sometimes tier-dependent, so check your specific policy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Am I covered if I&#8217;m a close contact but don&#8217;t test positive?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally, no. Insurers typically require an actual positive diagnosis, confirmed in writing by a medical adviser, before a COVID-related claim applies. Being a close contact or self-isolating as a precaution usually isn&#8217;t enough on its own.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Will travel insurance cover me if I get COVID on a cruise?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not always automatically. Some insurers exclude COVID claims connected to multi-night ocean or sea cruises unless you&#8217;ve purchased a separate Cruise Cover add-on. If a cruise is part of your trip, check this specifically rather than assuming your standard COVID benefit extends to it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What if my destination has a &#8220;Do Not Travel&#8221; warning because of COVID?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A &#8220;Do Not Travel&#8221; advisory on Smartraveller at the time you enter a destination can void a COVID-related claim at some insurers. This exclusion is typically waived for trips within Australia or to New Zealand, but check the specific policy wording for any other destination.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Can I buy travel insurance after I&#8217;ve already been diagnosed with COVID-19?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can generally still buy a policy, but it&#8217;s unlikely to cover any expenses related to that existing diagnosis, or any cancellation or interruption caused by it &#8211; the same way a pre-existing condition is treated. Buy your policy as early as possible, ideally at the time you book your trip.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" data-schema-only=\"false\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What documentation do I need to claim for COVID-19?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most insurers require written confirmation from a qualified medical adviser of your diagnosis and, for cancellation claims, that you&#8217;re certified unfit to travel. Keep every receipt for medical costs, extended accommodation, or amended travel related to the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"rh-postel-1848895090\" class=\"rh-flex-center-align rh-flex-justify-\">\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .heart_thumb_wrap .heartplus{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .price_count{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 a.admin{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .admin-name{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 a.admin img{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 nav.top_menu > ul > li{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .admin_meta_el{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .priced_block .btn_offer_block{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .wpsm-button.medium{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .menu-cart-btn{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .price_count .rh_regular_price{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .price_count del{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .rh-header-icon{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 nav.top_menu > ul > li > a{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .dl-menuwrapper button svg line{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .dl-menuwrapper button{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 nav.top_menu ul.sub-menu > li > a{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .heads_icon_label{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .rh_woocartmenu-amount{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .row_social_inpost span.share-link-image{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .favour_btn_red .heart_thumb_wrap{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#rh-postel-1848895090 .favour_in_row{\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style>                    <div class=\"author_detail_box clearfix\"><img alt='michael' src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/256e32f2f5867573891f17366c8dd5f6358af8dff92dc7f5a4b2b53df73e2e5a?s=69&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g' srcset='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/256e32f2f5867573891f17366c8dd5f6358af8dff92dc7f5a4b2b53df73e2e5a?s=138&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-69 photo' height='69' width='69' \/>                <style>\r\n                    .author_detail_box { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #ededed; padding: 20px 0px; margin: 5px auto 40px auto; position: relative; min-height: 90px;width: 100%}\r\n                    .author_detail_box a{text-decoration: none;}\r\n                    .archive .author_detail_box { margin: 0 0 10px 0 }\r\n                    .author_detail_box .avatar {width: 71px; position: absolute; left: 20px; top: 15px; }\r\n                    .author_detail_box > div { width: 100%;    padding: 0 20px 0 110px }\r\n                    .author_detail_box div .social_icon { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; }\r\n                    .author_detail_box div h4 {margin: 0 0 8px 0;}\r\n                    .author_detail_box div p { font-size: 14px;line-height: 16px; color: #111111; margin: 0 0 10px 0 }\r\n                    .author_detail_box .rh_mycred-users-badges{display: inline-block; margin-right: 5px }\r\n                    .rtl .author_detail_box .avatar { left: inherit; right: 20px }\r\n                    .rtl .author_detail_box > div { padding: 0 110px 0 20px }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\">\r\n                                    \r\n                    <strong class=\"mb10\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/author\/michael\/\">michael<\/a>\r\n                                                \r\n                    <\/strong class=\"mb10\">\r\n                    <div class=\"social_icon small_i\">\r\n                        <div class=\"comm_meta_cred\">\r\n                                                                                <\/div>                     \r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/\" class=\"author-social hm\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i class=\"rhicon rhi-home\"><\/i><\/a>                                                                                                                                                                                                                     <\/div>\r\n                    <p>Michael is a contributor to The Champagne Mile &#8211; Deals. No fancy credentials &#8211; just a genuine obsession with finding ways to travel better for less, and sharing those finds with anyone who&#8217;ll listen. Michael figures there are plenty of other Australians who&#8217;d rather spend five seconds clicking a link than five hours searching for a working code.\r\n\r\nWhen he&#8217;s not buried in promo codes, Michael is probably planning his next trip overseas or dirtbike adventure.<\/p>                    <p>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most Australians assume COVID-19 cover either disappeared when the pandemic &#8220;ended,&#8221; or that it still needs a special add-on policy. Neither is quite right. Now most major insurers treat a COVID-19 diagnosis like any other unexpected illness &#8211; medical cover overseas is standard on most policies, no special add-on required. But cancellation cover, cruise-specific exclusions, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99346,"parent":96339,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99341","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.1.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does travel insurance still cover COVID-19? 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What&#039;s now standard, what&#039;s still an add-on, and the exclusions that catch travellers out at the worst time.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thechampagnemile.com.au\/deals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover-feature-image.jpg\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover\\\/#aioseo-article-mtgn8niv\",\"name\":\"Travel Insurance COVID Cover: What&#8217;s Actually Included\",\"headline\":\"Travel Insurance COVID Cover: What&#8217;s Actually Included\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"michael\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/author\\\/michael\\\/\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover-feature-image.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-31T12:37:13+09:30\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-31T16:18:20+09:30\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover\\\/#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Guides\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guides\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover\\\/#faq\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thechampagnemile.com.au\\\/deals\\\/guides\\\/best-travel-insurance-covid-cover\\\/\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does travel insurance still cover COVID-19 in 2026?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, generally. 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