Ebola and Travel Insurance: What You Need To Know

Key Points

• An Ebola outbreak could impact your travel plans.
• If the U.S. State Department issues a travel advisory for your destination after you have purchased travel insurance, this may be a covered reason for trip cancellation, depending on your policy.
• It’s important to read your travel insurance documents to understand your policy’s coverages and exclusions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared a global health emergency due to the growing number of Ebola cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This raises concerns about regional transmission and international travel.

At InsureMyTrip, your health and safety remain a top priority. If your destination has been affected by Ebola, understanding how travel insurance works can help you make informed travel decisions.

What Is Ebola?

Ebola disease is caused by an infection with an orthoebolavirus, found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the CDC, Ebola spreads through direct contact with:

• Blood or bodily fluids of a person who is sick, has died, or is recovering from Ebola
• Objects contaminated with infected bodily fluids, such as clothing, bedding, needles, or medical equipment

People infected with Ebola do not become contagious until symptoms appear. Symptoms might develop anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure and can initially resemble other illnesses, making diagnosis difficult.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising

What You Should Know About the Current Outbreak

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The WHO has reported confirmed cases and deaths in eastern DRC and Uganda. Africa CDC says an additional 10 African countries are at risk. This could impact travel to and from the affected region.

The U.S. State Department has designated both DRC and Uganda as Level 4: Do Not Travel. In addition, the CDC has implemented arrival restrictions for travelers who have recently visited DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan and are returning to the United States.

Will My Travel Insurance Help?

A comprehensive travel insurance policy typically includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, travel medical, and emergency evacuation. However, coverage limits, covered reasons, and exclusions vary by policy.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

A U.S. State Department travel advisory for your destination could be a covered reason for trip cancellation or trip interruption, if you bought the policy prior to the advisory.

Coverage can reimburse prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs, including:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Tours and excursions
• Cruise expenses

Eligibility requirements and coverage limits vary by provider and policy. You should review your policy documents carefully to understand how epidemic- or outbreak-related claims are handled.

Trip Delay

If you or your traveling companion are quarantined, this could be a covered reason for trip delay benefits.

This coverage could reimburse unused, forfeited, prepaid, nonrefundable payments for:

• Existing travel arrangements
• Reasonable additional expenses
• Any additional transportation cost

Emergency Medical Expense

Travel medical insurance typically provides coverage if you become ill with Ebola during a covered trip and require medical treatment.

Benefits may include:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Hospitalization
• Physician services
• Emergency medical transportation assistance

This coverage depends on your specific policy terms and exclusions, so read these carefully.

Insurance providers typically coordinate with local health authorities and medical professionals to determine appropriate care and your transportation options.

Emergency Evacuation

Medical evacuation coverage pays your emergency evacuation expenses, up to the policy limit, if the local attending physician and your travel insurance provider deem evacuation medically necessary.

Non-medical evacuation benefits, if included in your policy, often have coverage exclusions. For example, benefits may not apply for a safety evacuation if a travel alert or travel warning from the U.S. State Department occurs before your trip, and you choose to go anyway.

What If I Am Nervous About Ebola and Want to Cancel?

Uncertainty about travel is not a covered reason for trip cancellation. For the greatest flexibility to cancel, you’d need cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

CFAR is an optional upgrade that lets you cancel a trip for reasons not otherwise covered by standard trip cancellation insurance, including concerns about disease outbreaks.

With CFAR, you can be reimbursed for up to 50% or 75% of your insured trip costs, depending on the policy, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

There are certain restrictions for buying CFAR, such as needing to add this optional coverage within a specific number of days after making your first trip deposit. You also might be required to insure the full value of your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Safe to Travel During the Ebola Outbreak?

For most travelers outside affected regions, the risk of Ebola remains very low.

If you’re considering visiting outbreak areas, review recent travel advisories from the U.S. State Department and speak to your travel insurance provider to understand what your policy covers.

Can I Cancel My Trip Because of Ebola Concerns?

Standard trip cancellation insurance only applies if specific covered events occur, such as official travel warnings or advisories for your destination. Read your policy’s list of covered reasons for trip cancellation, or contact your provider for help.

If you want broader flexibility to cancel, consider adding CFAR coverage to your policy if you’re eligible. This coverage lets you cancel your trip for any reason, including concern about Ebola.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Quarantine Expenses?

Some comprehensive plans include quarantine-related benefits, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, missed connection, and missed flight connection. Coverage varies by insurer and policy wording, so be sure to read your policy documents carefully.

Is There a Vaccine for the Current Ebola Strain?

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.

What If I Get Ebola While Traveling?

Comprehensive travel insurance plans include travel medical coverage for unexpected illness during a trip. Many plans treat Ebola like other unexpected illnesses covered under the policy, subject to terms and exclusions.

Your policy may also include emergency medical evacuation coverage, if you need an air ambulance to take you to the nearest adequate medical facility.

Should I Buy Travel Insurance Before Traveling to Affected Regions?

Purchasing travel insurance early gives you access to the broadest range of benefits and optional upgrades, including cancel for any reason coverage where available.

After a government advisory is issued for an affected area, it might be difficult to buy a new policy for travel to that destination.