World Cup trip to the United States: what is and is not insured?

What does a travel and/or cancellation insurance cover?

With travel insurance, you are insured against material damage (e.g. damage, loss or theft of luggage) and with additional coverage for additional medical costs that you may incur during your trip. Your travel insurance also offers the possibility to ask for help from an emergency centre 24/7. These experienced emergency responders can assist travellers in any emergency and are able to provide adequate assistance quickly.

Cancellation insurance provides coverage if your trip is cancelled or has to be aborted prematurely. And covers, among other things, the cancellation costs of the trip in the event of serious illness (including if you get corona yourself and cannot go on holiday), accident or death of yourself/a loved one or fellow travellers. By taking out cancellation insurance, you will get the paid travel sum back in the event of cancellation in the event of an insured event. The standard cancellation insurance usually does not cover you if you cancel the trip due to local circumstances. It is important to take a good look at those conditions and to contact your insurer or insurance adviser if in doubt.

Can you rebook your trip to another destination in advance?

Please contact your travel agency, tour operator or the airline where you booked the trip. They can look at alternative options.

How is coverage arranged in the event of cancellation or premature termination of the trip due to unexpected circumstances? How does this work?

This depends on the circumstances and whether the optional Cancellation (or Cancellation Guarantee) coverage is stated on the policy schedule. In the event of cancellation before departure, insurers will typically reimburse the cancellation costs for covered reasons such as serious illness or death of the insured or loved ones, unexpected hospitalisation, involuntary dismissal and various other circumstances. In the event of an early return during the trip, there may be a compensation. If you have cancellation coverage and you cancel for a valid reason, your cancellation costs will be reimbursed up to the insured amount.  

Again, check the policy conditions of your insurance, check the frequently asked questions from the travel insurer where you are insured or contact your insurer.

What if you arrive in the U.S. and are denied entry by the immigration department?

This is usually not covered. The additional travel and accommodation costs for the involuntary return are usually not insured on this ground. However, not obtaining a visa can be a valid reason. Check the policy conditions of your insurance, view the frequently asked questions from the travel insurer where you are insured or contact your insurer.

Are costs due to travel delays, missed connections or extra stays in the US insured? And up to what amount?

This can be (partially) insured if you have that coverage. Check the policy conditions of your travel and cancellation insurance. And only if the Cancellation Optional Cover is stated on the policy schedule.

In the event of an arrival delay due to missed connections or unexpected delays of a boat, bus, train or plane, coverage applies if the journey takes longer than 3 days and the delay is at least 8 hours.

In the event of an extension of the stay due to natural disasters or a strike by the carrier, the extra travel and accommodation costs are usually covered. Again, check the policy conditions of your insurance.

What situations are explicitly excluded from coverage when travelling to the U.S. (e.g., extreme sports, alcohol or drug use)?

There are no US-specific exclusions. The general exclusions also apply to the US:

Always excluded, regardless of the country:

•           excessive alcohol consumption (blood-alcohol content ≥ 0.8‰ or breath-alcohol content ≥ 352 μg);
•           use of drugs or misuse of medicines;
•           intent or recklessness;
•           ignoring a ban or warning;
•          and treatments for which one has demonstrably travelled or which were already known before departure.

Check whether you need optional coverage for Sports and Winter Sports for extreme sports. To travel to the World Cup, the customer needs World Coverage. If the customer has only taken out European coverage, the customer is therefore not insured in the US or Mexico.

Is coverage in the US the same as other countries, or are there special (stricter) conditions?

The coverage conditions are the same for all countries under the "World" area of validity. There are no US-specific provisions.

However, there are two relevant points of attention that have practical significance specifically for the US:

In a travel insurance you can take out additional medical cost coverage. This works in addition to the Dutch basic health insurance. In the US, Dutch health insurance provides coverage that is limited to the Dutch rate, and healthcare in America is often much more expensive, so the travel insurer covers a larger part of the bill — but this depends on the individual health insurance. It may be wise to check with your travel insurer.

How are claims handled for natural disasters in the US (hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes)?

Natural disasters are usually a covered event if it prevents you from making your planned return trip. There may then be coverage for additional accommodation costs and travel expenses.

If you have co-insured baggage, you can get compensation for damaged and lost baggage due to natural disasters (such as forest fires, hail, flood or storm), including clothes and travel documents. The maximum reimbursement depends on the chosen coverage. Check the policy conditions of your insurance, view the frequently asked questions from the travel insurer where you are insured or contact your insurer.

Is there a maximum travel length for coverage in the US, and what happens if the trip is extended?

Yes, travel insurers usually have a maximum travel duration. For example, it can be a maximum travel duration of 60, 90 or 180 consecutive days. This depends on the policy conditions. Afterwards, the coverage expires on the last day at 24:00.

What if your ESTA is not approved? When will you find out?

This is often clear the same day (maximum three days). An ESTA refusal may entitle you to cancellation coverage, provided that the rejection was unforeseen and the application was submitted within a reasonable period of time (3 weeks). We see an ESTA application as a Visa application. An ESTA refusal is usually found out within minutes to 72 hours after the application via the official ESTA website. It differs per travel insurer whether the other risks are covered. Check out the frequently asked questions on your insurer's website.

Are costs reimbursed for problems with ESTA or visa that lead to delay or cancellation of the trip?

An ESTA or visa that is denied or revoked through no fault of your own can be a covered reason for cancellation. Check the frequently asked questions of the travel insurer where you are insured, or contact your insurer.

Is medical coverage included as standard in the US, or is additional coverage necessary?

Medical coverage is generally not standard. You can usually take out additional insurance for this on your travel insurance. For (additional) medical costs at your travel destination, even in the event of an emergency, you should contact your travel insurance. Not everyone knows this, but your health insurance usually only reimburses the rate applicable in the Netherlands. You can claim the extra costs from your travel insurance if you have coverage for them.  

Without this coverage, additional medical expenses in the U.S. are not covered by travel insurance. Given the high medical costs in the US, this optional coverage is highly recommended. In case of an emergency, call the emergency centre of your travel insurance. They can make direct contact with reliable locations where you can be helped. 

Exactly what medical expenses are covered by insurance in the US, and up to what maximum amount?

Usually this concerns necessary medical costs. These are costs that arise from an accident, illness or pregnancy. The need for medical care must have arisen during the trip and must not have been foreseeable when the insured went on the trip. The cost should be in line with the treatment determined by a doctor. These are costs that are reasonable and customary.

How is repatriation arranged from the US in the event of serious illness or death? Are all costs fully reimbursed?

In the event of serious illness or a serious accident, insurers can reimburse the necessary costs of patient transport to the Netherlands, including medical assistance, plus additional travel and accommodation costs for the insured person and, if necessary, one accompanying person. The Emergency Center determines together with the treating physician whether return is medically necessary. Transport by ambulance plane is usually only reimbursed if it saves life or prevents or reduces disability. In addition, these costs must be unforeseen and necessary and must have been incurred in consultation with the insurer / the Emergency Center.

What if there is a negative travel advice for the USA from the government?

A negative travel advice is not covered by the covered cancellation reasons of the standard Cancellation Coverage. If the tour operator does not reimburse the costs on the basis of its travel conditions, the coverage is due to the policy.  Important point of attention: coverage is only possible if the situation was still uncertain at the time of taking out the insurance and booking the trip. If the travel advice has already been issued before booking or closing, there is no insurable uncertainty and there is usually no right to compensation. It is important to take a good look at those conditions and to contact your insurer or insurance adviser if in doubt.

What to do if there is a fire at your holiday location and you are unsure whether to go?

Most of the time, things like heat, flooding, or bad weather are not a valid reason to cancel. There are travel insurers that are exceptions to this, this depends on the policy conditions. Cancellation insurance is usually about the impact on your own situation (such as becoming ill, being fired, the death of a close family member). And are therefore not about the situation in a country.

What can you do if you haven't left yet and want to change or cancel your trip?

If you make any changes to your trip, you can contact your travel organisation if you are travelling with them. The trip may be postponed or rebooked. It is also possible that your cancellation insurance contains conditions so that you can cancel and be compensated for this. It is important to take a good look at those conditions and to contact your insurer or insurance adviser if in doubt .

What if you are already on holiday and something goes wrong?

There is a special Calamity Fund if, for example, you have to deal with a natural disaster. If your affiliated tour operator has to adjust your trip, the necessary additional costs will usually be reimbursed. 

What should you do if you need urgent help abroad?

Are you travelling through a travel organisation? Then it would be best to contact this organisation first . They will look at whether you can continue your holiday at a different location, or whether it is better to go home. Have you booked a trip without an operator? Then contact your travel insurance. They have 24-hour helplines and can tell you what is possible. It is important to take a good look at those conditions and to contact your insurer or insurance adviser if in doubt .