Holidaymakers heading to Greece warned to check their travel insurance policies as Covid cases rise

21 August 2024

  • Co-op Insurance warns travellers to ensure they have adequate Covid cover, as cases related to the new FLiRT variant in Greece continue to rise

  • Data shows the average medical claim was over £2,500* in 2023 

  • The member-owned business reveals it even saw individual medical claims as high as over £58,000 last year* 

  • Co-op Insurance advises that travellers check their policies as some providers may no longer offer Covid cover

Co-op Insurance is issuing an urgent warning to holidaymakers heading to Greece to check their travel insurance policy’s Covid cover as hospital admissions in the country continue to rise, amid a spike in cases related to the new FLiRT variant.**

Co-op Insurance shared that policyholders failing to obtain travel insurance with adequate Covid protection could leave them thousands out of pocket as certain providers may no longer offer this type of cover. What’s more, medical claims can prove especially costly, with the average claim totalling over £2,500 last year. 

Further to this, with the highest pay out to a policyholder on a single medical claim amounting to over £58,000*, last year, the insurance provider is urging holidaymakers to ensure that their ravel insurance policy has sufficient Coronavirus cover, particularly if they’re heading to Greece.

Graham Ward-Lush, Head of Travel Insurance at Co-op Insurance, explains: 

“We understand that the rise in Coronavirus cases in Greece could be a cause for a concern for those travelling to the country over the coming days. 

“We advise those heading to Greece to check whether their travel insurance includes Coronavirus cover as whilst Co-op Insurance continues to offer this cover, certain providers may no longer offer this. 

“Wherever they are travelling this summer, we urge holidaymakers to ensure that they have this cover in place. 

“However, we want to re-assure people that they will be fully protected if they are affected by Coronavirus while abroad, as long as they obtain the right policy and adhere to the requirements.” 

According to Co-op Insurance, holidaymakers must make sure that they adhere to the general health requirements below while abroad, regardless of which insurance provider they choose: 

  • Changes in state of health   

  • It’s important that you tell your insurance provider and consult with your doctor or GP if you or anyone else insured on this policy:  

  • Develops a new condition 

  • Experiences a change in an existing medical condition  

  • Has their medication changed 

  • Trip Duration (Single Trip only)  

  • Make sure your insurance policy spans the entire duration of your holiday. If your policy spans five days but your holiday lasts seven days, you won’t be covered on the sixth and seventh day. 

Policy holders are also encouraged to use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) abroad as it entitles them to the same treatment in EU countries as local citizens. However, this is not a substitute for travel insurance and not all European countries accept the GHIC so policy holders should check before they travel. ** 

For details on Which? Best Buy-rated Co-op travel insurance, including both single and annual multi trip cover, or for further information on Co-op Insurance, visit https://www.coop.co.uk/insurance  

-Ends- 

Notes to the editor 

*Data from IES Limited: Average medical claim cost based on 2023 full year was £2,513.48. Highest claim settled for FY2023 was £58,120.40. 

**https://www.coop.co.uk/insurance/travel-insurance

Co-op Insurance continues to offer Coronavirus cover on its travel insurance policies. However, our policies only provide cover for Coronavirus related claims if:  

  • You are up to date with Coronavirus vaccinations as recommended by the UK NHS (if in doubt please check with your medical practitioner), or you were medically unable to have the vaccinations as evidenced by your medical records; and  

  • You are travelling to a country or area where the FCDO/WHO are not advising against all or all but essential travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic 

If you meet both of these requirements our policies will provide cover under:  

Section 1: If you need to cancel your trip because you, an immediate relative or member of your travelling party are: 

  • Medically diagnosed with Coronavirus within 14-days of your planned departure date following completion and analysis of a UK Government approved test, as certified by a medical practitioner or as certified or verified by an independent authority (e.g. private testing service); or  

  • In quarantine on the date you are due to commence your trip, on the orders of a treating medical practitioner due to Coronavirus, suspected Coronavirus or exposure to someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus. 

Section 2: If you need to curtail your trip and return to your home earlier than planned due to the hospitalisation or death of an immediate relative, as a result of them having contracted Coronavirus. 

Section 6: If during your trip you contract Coronavirus and you need medical treatment.  

Section 6: If you have to extend your trip due to either contracting Coronavirus or being quarantined on the orders of the treating medical practitioner, due to Coronavirus, suspected Coronavirus or exposure to  someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus, cover for additional travel and accommodation expenses is limited to £2,000. 

To add as well, cover for cancellation depends on the cancellation of your trip being both necessary and unavoidable. We won’t provide any cover for you being unwilling to travel.  

In the event of a claim, we require either; 

  • A copy of the positive Coronavirus test result that you received from a registered medical practitioner or independent authority (e.g., private provider); or 

  • A positive lateral Flow test (or a picture of a positive lateral flow test) with adequate and appropriate supporting evidence or independent certification; or 

  • If the claim relates to your being quarantined on the orders of a treating medical practitioner, we will require written proof of this. 

A Positive Lateral Flow test (or a picture of a positive lateral flow test) without supporting evidence or certification is not sufficient proof of claim. 

For more information please contact: 

Adam.stanworth@coop.co.uk 

About Co-op:  

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates over 2,400 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited.  

Employing almost 60,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.