Travel insurance will cover swine flu
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced swine flu is to be treated no differently than any other disease regularly covered by travel insurance.
Travel coverage typically includes missed or rescheduled flights, as well as the cost of medical treatment abroad if the illness is contracted while on holiday.
Immediate family members are also protected when travelling with someone ill. If a spouse, parent or child is treated for swine flu, insurance usually covers the cost of rescheduling or cancelling travel plans for the whole family whether the illness is contracted before or during the voyage.
Individual airlines have different procedures for dealing with passengers too unwell to fly and most employ medical teams to make assessments.
If the airline does not cover a sick passenger under "failure of service" provisions, customers will need written confirmation from the airline's medical advisers to make insurance claims.
Those quarantined abroad will also need written validation of their inability to fly to receive compensation and will be dealt with by insurers on a case-to-case basis.
Nick Starling, the ABI's Director of General Insurance and Health, said: "While the outbreak of swine flu is causing concern, people should not overreact or panic and travel insurance is there to help."
He added: "Travel insurance will usually cover the cost if a holiday is cancelled because someone is too ill to travel. It will also cover the cost of medical treatment abroad and any associated delays caused by getting an illness on holiday."
The British Airports Authority (BAA) encourages travellers with flu-like symptoms to stay home and consult their general practitioner.
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