Coronavirus – information for private customers

Travel in Switzerland is possible in the current epidemiological situation, which is why Helvetia guarantees the usual insurance coverage.

We will assume the cancellation costs for travel with an original planned departure date up to and including 31 August 2021 if the travel operator has not already refunded the costs. This also applies if the travel operator has made you an alternative offer and you cannot reasonably take advantage of it. If you booked a trip for September or October 2021 and would like to cancel it now, we will pay the cancellation fees if they can be reduced by at least 50% by cancelling early.

This is on the condition that your trip was booked at a time when no travel recommendation to avoid non-essential trips to the destination country or any other restrictions such as entry bans or quarantine measures were in place. Accordingly, travel as of 29 October 2020 is generally not insured.

Report your claim online or call us on +41 58 280 3000.

On 28 October 2020 and 30 May 2021, the federal government issued a general travel recommendation to avoid non-essential trips abroad in view of the risk of infection with coronavirus in all regions worldwide. For insurance purposes, therefore, coronavirus was considered a pre-existing event during this period. This does not apply to travel within Switzerland. Helvetia’s travel insurance excludes events that have already occurred at the time of booking or starting the trip.

Accordingly, foreign travel booked between 28 October 2020 and 30 May 2021 is generally not insured. However, Helvetia will still guarantee cover if you fall ill with coronavirus or if you are ordered by the authorities to go into unforeseeable quarantine – for example, after contact with an infected person. Quarantine ordered by the authorities after returning to Switzerland from a risk area is not an insured event, however.

Report your claim online or call us on +41 58 280 3000.

On 31 May 2021 the federal government lifted its recommendation against non-essential travel abroad. Insurance coverage is thus guaranteed again for all countries and areas that are not on the FOPH list of risk countries at the time of booking and where no other restrictions such as entry bans or quarantine measures exist.

However, Helvetia will still guarantee cover if you fall ill with coronavirus or if you are ordered by the authorities to go into unforeseeable quarantine – for example, after contact with an infected person. Quarantine ordered by the authorities after returning to Switzerland from a risk area is not an insured event, however.

Report your claim online or call us on +41 58 280 3000.

Travel warnings issued by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

In the event of unforeseeable quarantine or an infection with coronavirus while abroad, Helvetia will bear the additional costs incurred, such as additional hotel accommodation or rebooking of your flight. The exact benefits can be found in the insurance conditions.

Please see the above FAQs for the answer. Depending on when you booked the trip, other cover may apply.

Please see the above FAQs for the answer. Depending on when you booked the trip, other cover may apply. For Helvetia it makes no difference whether you take out travel insurance now or whether you have been a customer for some time.

Numerous claims are insured despite the coronavirus pandemic. Below you will find examples of cases where Helvetia presently provides insurance cover:

• Not undertaking a trip because a family member is in quarantine
• Not undertaking a trip because the insured person, a close relative or the travel companion has had an accident or fallen ill
  
• Loss of job prior to departure
• Not undertaking a trip because because the insured person’s property at their place of residence has suffered damage
• Strike or bankruptcy of your airline or tour operator
• Illness, accident and other events during the trip
  

Please see the insurance conditions for details of benefits covered.

If the FOPH’s recommendations regarding coronavirus have been complied with, you are entitled to insurance benefits if you are unable to work. This means that if you are unable or only partially able to perform your job due to an infection with COVID-19 and experience a loss of earnings, Helvetia will pay you insurance benefits after the contractually agreed waiting period. The benefits amount is detailed in your contract documents.

If you have any questions, your advisor would be happy to help.