Has the journey started but travel insurance not yet purchased? Can travellers still get medical coverage for the novel coronavirus? Learn about the only available Nomad Travel Insurance.

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The outbreak of COVID-19, around the time of Lunar New Year, prompted many Hong Kong residents to leave the city and travel to places like Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia, hoping to avoid the situation temporarily. However, circumstances are unpredictable, and COVID-19 quickly spread to multiple countries. On 11 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a "global pandemic". Recently, the number of confirmed cases in Europe and the Americas has repeatedly hit new highs. We have received messages from readers who are concerned about being abroad without medical coverage, as they did not purchase travel insurance before departing. If they unfortunately contract COVID-19, they may struggle to afford the high costs of overseas medical treatment. 10Life explores the medical coverage options for travellers abroad, particularly in relation to treatment expenses for COVID-19.

Some Medical Insurance Plans Provide Coverage Outside Hong Kong

For Hong Kong residents currently abroad, the first step is to check whether you have already purchased individual or group medical insurance, as some plans may offer medical coverage outside Hong Kong without excluding novel coronavirus. For instance, the coverage under the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) Standard Plan has no geographical restrictions. Therefore, it is advisable to review the covered regions, coverage limits, and deductibles of your medical insurance policy. However, be aware that some medical insurance plans offer different coverage amounts for Hong Kong compared to other regions, with the latter often being lower. If you are currently overseas and do not have your policy documents with you, you can contact your insurance company or advisor for details.

As for travel insurance, even if you purchased it before departure, you should check whether the insurance company had already issued special notices regarding the novel coronavirus at the time of purchase, restricting coverage for specific travel destinations or items. For example, if readers purchased AIA智遊保 or Starr卓悅遊旅遊保險 before 18 March 2020 and travelled to destinations outside China, they could still receive medical coverage under their travel insurance. However, for policies purchased after that date, the insurance company will not compensate for any losses related to the novel coronavirus. You can visit the insurance company’s website to review their latest special notices.

[Extended Reading: Insurance Companies Issue Special Notices Regarding Novel Coronavirus]

Travel Insurance Covering COVID-19 Treatment in the United States

For readers who have already departed but did not purchase travel insurance, most common travel insurance plans in Hong Kong will not accept applications after departure. However, there are travel insurance products designed specifically for nomads worldwide, which allow you to purchase coverage even after you have started your journey. As for whether Nomad insurance covers medical expenses related to COVID-19, you must carefully read the product’s coverage details and special notices on the website before purchasing. In short, the time of purchase, the country you are in, and your destination will be critical factors in determining whether you are covered. Recently, many countries have issued travel warnings to other nations, particularly for heavily affected areas such as the European Union and the UK. If you are in such locations, given the continuously rising number of confirmed cases and the significantly high risk of infection, it is indeed difficult to obtain coverage under Nomad insurance.

However, if you or your relatives are currently in the United States, there is an insurance company called SafetyWing that offers Nomad insurance and still covers medical expenses caused by COVID-19. According to their website, SafetyWing does not exclude coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses due to a "global pandemic". However, SafetyWing bases its coverage decisions on travel advisories issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine whether a destination is covered. Therefore, unless the CDC issues a Level 3 warning for the U.S. mainland, advising against non-essential travel, travellers in the U.S. who purchase SafetyWing should be eligible for COVID-19 medical coverage. In the U.S., all medical services are privatised and extremely expensive. According to a report by Time magazine, a confirmed patient spent USD 34,927.43 on treatment for the novel coronavirus (see Note 1).

Regarding premiums, the author obtained a quote from the SafetyWing website for a 35-year-old female travelling to the U.S. Assuming a 14-day trip, the premium was USD 33.88. The insured can receive a maximum medical coverage limit of USD 250,000, which includes hospitalisation, intensive care costs, emergency room visits, ambulance services, and more. However, the insured must pay a deductible (USD 250) and co-insurance for specific items (such as emergency room visits). Additionally, the policy excludes certain conditions, such as pre-existing illnesses, cancer treatment, and medical expenses arising from high-risk activities. When purchasing, you should thoroughly review the policy terms and conditions.

As mentioned earlier, SafetyWing’s medical coverage for the novel coronavirus applies only to regions not under a Level 3 warning from the CDC. As of 23 March, although the CDC has issued Level 3 warnings for several regions, if you or your relatives are in Singapore, New Zealand, or if foreign travellers are in Hong Kong, you can still purchase SafetyWing, as these regions have not yet been issued a Level 3 warning by the CDC. If, after purchasing the policy, these regions are upgraded to a Level 3 warning by the CDC, SafetyWing will only provide an additional 10 days of medical coverage for the novel coronavirus.

Lastly, a reminder that SafetyWing is not a Hong Kong-based insurance company and is not regulated by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority. Its website and hotline are in English, and claims must be submitted online by completing forms yourself. Therefore, policyholders should be prepared to handle the process independently. More importantly, even with medical coverage for COVID-19, having insurance does not guarantee a hospital bed. Given the severity of the current pandemic, medical systems in many parts of the world are already at or near collapse, with healthcare workers overwhelmed. Therefore, for your own sake and others’, please strictly adhere to social distancing measures, stay at home as much as possible, avoid the virus, and hope that the pandemic passes soon.

Note:

Reference: Time magazine, “Total Cost of Her COVID-19 Treatment: $34,927.43”
https://time.com/5806312/coronavirus-treatment-cost

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Last updated: 14 Apr 2026

10Life Editorial Team

Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance

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10Life Editorial Team

Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance

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If a journey has started without travel insurance, can travellers still get medical coverage for COVID-19? Learn about the exclusive Nomad Travel Insurance.

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