What should I do if I can’t get home to Australia because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

If you are unable to return to Australia as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your first step should be to contact your airline, cruise line, or travel provider to see if they can reschedule your travel or provide a refund or credit. You should also keep up to date with advice from Smartraveller and local government authorities, as travel restrictions and requirements can change quickly. 

Depending on the policy chosen, if you or someone named on your Certificate of Insurance tests positive to COVID-19 during your trip and you are required to isolate or quarantine, you may be able to claim under the COVID-19 Trip Cancellation and Disruption for reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses, up to the limits of your policy. 

It’s important to note that there is no cover if you are unable to return home solely because of government-imposed border closures, flight suspensions, or quarantine requirements that are not linked to a covered COVID-19 diagnosis. 

Every claim is reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis and will only be paid if it meets the terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions in your policy. Always check the PDS carefully so you know exactly what’s included before you travel.