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AXA Gulf extends travel insurance cover to include Covid-19

DUBAI, July 29, 2020

AXA Gulf, one of the largest international insurers in the GCC, has announced immediate plans to include cover for Covid-19 under all its travel insurance policies.
 
With additional flights and destinations opening up all the time, people are understandably looking forward to travelling overseas and enjoying a well-deserved holiday or travelling back home to reunite with their loved ones. However, with the number of reported global cases of Covid-19 now exceeding 15 million, it is important not to be complacent.
 
With an average daily cost of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a developed country being as much as $5,000, business and leisure travellers might face crippling healthcare bills if they contract the virus whilst travelling.
 
Ahead of Eid-Al-Adha break, AXA Insurance has taken a decision to extend the coverage of its travel insurance policies to include the cost of Covid-19 emergency medical expenses. In addition, it will cover the expenses associated with the rescheduling of a return flight caused as a result of the virus.
 
The insurer points out that problems can also arise if you have to cancel or postpone a trip in the event you test positive for Covid-19. In this unfortunate event, even if your symptoms are mild or asymptomatic, you won’t be able to travel and you might forfeit the cost of your holiday.  However, AXA will reimburse its travel insurance policyholders for an amount of up to $5,000 for irrecoverable travel costs. Should customers find themselves having to be placed in quarantine whilst overseas, the insurer will pay up to $100 per day for a maximum of 15 days if they cannot isolate themselves safely in their booked accommodation. 
 
Commenting on the announcement, Franck Heimburger, Chief Personal Lines Officer at AXA Gulf, said; “At AXA, our purpose is to protect what matters. With the UAE leading the way in opening up to international travel, we recognised the need to ensure that our customers could travel safely, secure in the knowledge that AXA Gulf was there to help them."
 
"The costs associated with the Covid-19 effect can be significant, which perhaps explains why most travel insurance policies won’t pay for claims arising from Covid-19. As the region’s leading insurer, we recognise AXA has a role to play in helping the region’s economy recover so we took the decision to extend cover to coincide with the Eid-Al-Adha holidays."
 
"As one of the largest global insurers, our team is available around the clock for any medical emergency assistance you may need worldwide,” he said. - TradeArabia News Service



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