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'Pingdemic': how it can affect you and your holidays

What is "pingdemia"?

On July 19, most of Britain unlocked. Since then, many of us have enjoyed seeing friends, family, and traveling to our favorite vacation spots.

While we have all enjoyed our freedom, Covid cases have increased. This sparked a 'Pingdemic'. Across the UK, thousands of people received a "ping" warning them of the need to isolate themselves.

While we've all become adaptable to changing circumstances as a result of COVID-19, receiving a "ping" can cause us concern, especially if we have travel plans.

The good news is that, as of August 16th, in England, if you have been fully vaccinated for more than 2 weeks you will no longer be required to self-isolate if you get a warning. Instead, you will be advised to run a PCR test to prove that you are not infected.

If you are hoping to travel, this guide will help you choose which type of travel insurance policy is best for you in light of the pandemic. As well as what travel actions to take before the trip. And what to do if you get a 'ping' before booking your vacation and if you've already booked a trip.

How to choose the right type of travel policy in light of 'pingdemic'

Getting ready for a vacation is exciting, especially after having endured many blocks. There is no doubt that you deserve a much needed break. Hence, it makes sense to protect both yourself and your vacation. After all, while we hope your journey goes smoothly, we all know how fast things go they can change.

So, we want to make sure you have the right level of support and coverage in case you need to cancel or stop your trip, due to receiving a Covid warning or positive test.

Chris Rolland, CEO of AllClear Travel Insurance, comments: 'Ensuring your travel insurance policy fully covers you in these unusual times will give people one less thing to worry about and hopefully peace of mind. In AllClear, we have comprehensive policies that will play a role in alleviating the stress of booking a long-awaited summer break.

To travel safely, you will want a policy that includes enhanced covid-19 coverage. There are many options. Here's how to decide which type of travel insurance is best for you:

Single Trip Travel Insurance: If you are enjoying your freedom one trip at a time, then single trip travel insurance might be the ideal option for you. Make sure it includes enhanced covid coverage. Many vendors will be able to shift dates if you get a "ping" before your trip. But this will be specific to the terms and conditions of the chosen policies.

Multi-Trip Annual Travel Insurance: If you want to visit multiple destinations this summer. An Annual Multi-Trip policy could save you time and money. Make sure your policy includes advanced Covid coverage to ensure you're covered for covid-related cancellations.

UK Travel Insurance: Fortunately, we have the wonderful NHS in the UK. Hence, medical coverage is not always required for a stay. However, UK travel insurance is still worth considering. If you need to isolate yourself, cancel or shorten your travel plans, UK travel insurance may cover you for the costs. Be sure to check the specific terms and conditions of the policies you choose.

What to do if you come "Pinged" and are about to go on vacation

Receiving a 'ping' can bring inconvenience and concern. However, safety remains a top priority. Here's what to do if you get a 'ping' before you leave.

If you haven't booked your trip

If you haven't booked your accommodation or flights and get a 'ping' from the NHS app, simply call your travel insurance provider and see if they can postpone your coverage dates. This will be specific to your policies, terms and agreements.

If you've only booked flights but not accommodation, it may be possible to rearrange your flights. This will depend on each airline. For example, although all Ryanair flights cannot be canceled, they can be changed up to 2.5 hours before the flight departure time.

If your vacation is booked

If your vacation has been booked, the package provider may be able to offer you a refund. Travel insurance is there to help you when you are unable to recover your cancellation costs. This will depend on the specific terms and conditions of the policies.

If you have a AllClear Gold, Gold Plus or Platinum travel insurance policy with the AllClear, we will be able to cover you if you are COVID-19 positive and unable to travel. We also offer coverage if you don't have a positive test result but have been asked to stay home to self-isolate from the NHS tracking and tracing system. You will only be covered for cancellation if you have chosen a policy that includes cancellation coverage.

For details on the various covid related scenarios, check out our travel insurance for coronavirus.

Travel actions to be taken before traveling

The following travel actions can help you prepare for your trip after the lockdown:

• Check the FCDO for the latest travel tips, entry and quarantine requirements of your chosen destination.
• Check the local restrictions, rules and measures of your chosen destinations, for example. Some places may still have a curfew.
• If your chosen destination requires you to be vaccinated as an entry requirement, you will need to download proof of vaccination. '
• Sign up to receive travel advice email alerts, so you'll have access to information about your chosen destination.
• If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), make sure it is still valid for your trip, or replace it with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
  Everything you need to know about EHIC you can find, Based on the information provided by SchengenVisaInfo.com website.
• Prepare for travel disruption: At short notice, countries can close borders or change entry requirements.
• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes cancellation coverage and enhanced covid coverage.

EHIC - European Health Insurance Card

If you are an EU citizen or resident, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to receive state-provided healthcare in any of the other EU countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

An EHIC holds you to the same standards as citizens of an EU country in terms of state-provided health insurance. Sometimes, this means you receive free healthcare.

After Brexit, the U.K. introduced its own version of the EHIC card, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This card functions similarly to its predecessor, allowing Brits access to state healthcare during visits to the EU.

Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC are a substitute for travel insurance and cannot be used for planned medical treatment in the EU.

How Does the EHIC Work?

If you have an EHIC, then when you travel to other EU countries, you will be eligible for the same healthcare benefits as citizens of that country. This means that:

If the citizens or legal residents of that country receive free healthcare, you will also be treated free of charge.

If the citizens or legal residents of that country pay for a specific treatment, you must also pay in the same manner. The fees are usually very reduced, though.

In What Countries Can I Use the EHIC?

If you are an EU citizen, you can use the European Health Insurance Card in all countries of the European Union, as well as in Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

If you have a residence permit for an EU country (but are not a citizen), then you cannot use your EHIC in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

If you are a U.K. citizen, you can use your EHIC (while it is valid) or its successor GHIC only in EU countries, not in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Who Can Use the EHIC?

You can use the EHIC if:

You are a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, and you are registered with public health insurance.

You are a legal resident of an EU State and you are registered with public healthcare. In this instance, you cannot use an EHIC if travelling to Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

You are travelling for a short period of time, such as for tourism, family visit, etc.

Remember: Every family member must have their own EHIC - your dependents (spouse and children) cannot use your card.

How to Apply for an EHIC?

To apply for an EHIC, you have to contact the relevant healthcare authorities in your country of residence. Once you contact them and ask for the card, they are required to provide you with one because it is your right as a citizen/resident of the EU. If you cannot receive an EHIC at short notice, then you should be able to get a provisional card.

Depending on where you live, you can request the card online, by mail, or you will have to show up in person at the adequate offices.

Here are the authorities you have to reach out to when applying for an EHIC, by country:

Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

This information was obtained from the official website of the European Commission.

How Much Does the EHIC Cost?

The EHIC is issued free of charge by the relevant authorities in your country. There are websites that will help you along with the application process, but they will naturally charge you for their help. It is not necessary to apply through one of these sites, as they are private companies, and not associated with national health authorities.

What Does the EHIC Cover?

The EHIC covers all medically necessary treatment by public healthcare providers. This includes:

Doctor's visits. You should consult with a doctor that has a contract with the national health insurance fund in the country you are visiting. If you are not familiar with the health scheme, ask your hotel, travel guide, or locals for help in finding a doctor.

You will usually need a referral from a doctor to be hospitalized unless it is an emergency. Some hospitals may charge a small fee for your stay in the first few days, others will not charge anything at all.

Prescription medication. Most national health insurance funds will cover prescription medication, either fully or to a degree. Flu and cold medicine or over-the-counter painkillers are usually not covered.

Dental care. In most cases, you are covered for basic and emergency dental treatment. More complex or expensive procedures, such as dentures or crowns are not always covered by national healthcare, and therefore not by an EHIC either.

In most cases, ambulances are covered by the national healthcare fund, so if you need an ambulance while abroad, your EHIC should cover you.