This travel insurance ensures you can fly home if you test positive for COVID-19—here’s how it operates

If you’ve traveled internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be wondering: What happens if I test positive while abroad and need to quarantine?

This is a common worry for many travelers today, who may find themselves contemplating what to do in a scenario that could quickly turn real with a positive test result. Questions may start flooding your mind: How will I afford an extended hotel stay? Can I arrange for grocery deliveries? And how long will I really be trapped in a foreign country?

Fortunately, there is a way to secure 'peace of mind,' but be warned, it comes at a steep cost.

Many international destinations have started mandating travel insurance as a requirement for entry, specifically covering COVID-19 and associated disruptions like mandatory quarantines or costly PCR tests. However, these plans can be quite limited, with host countries pledging to cover only those costs deemed medically necessary.

You can also opt to buy independent travel medical insurance to cover injuries or illnesses that may occur while you’re abroad, such as a heart attack or a broken leg. However, most of these plans will not cover unexpected issues related to COVID-19 and will not assist with emergency evacuations.

If you happen to find an independent plan that includes COVID-19-specific emergency evacuation coverage, you may discover in the fine print that it only applies if medical treatment is unavailable at the first hospital you are taken to — a decision left to the attending physician and the insurance company.

While sufficient care might be available at your destination if you test positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms, you may prefer to recover in the comfort of your home country.

Covac Global is a global evacuation and repatriation service founded in 2020 to facilitate medical evacuations during the pandemic without requiring hospitalization. A person only needs to have a positive PCR test and at least one self-reported symptom.

After that, the Covac Global team will take charge of coordinating all entry and exit procedures with the relevant authorities to ensure your safe return home. You will travel on a private aeromedical transport, accompanied by yourself and two medical flight crew members. Their qualifications will be tailored to your needs and may include a critical care nurse, paramedic, or physician.

Ross Thompson, the CEO and founder of the company, stated that 98% of Covac's evacuations so far have been from hotel rooms to home, and that Covac fully covers the costs with no out-of-pocket expenses for the traveler.

I spoke with Thompson this week about Covac Global, the COVID-19 travel insurance membership program designed to ensure your safe return home without the need for quarantine abroad. Here’s everything you need to know.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Caroline Tanner: What makes Covac Global different from other travel insurance providers?

Thompson: We are the only fully indemnified membership that will cover and arrange the repatriation of our members if they test positive for COVID-19. We uniquely offer a repatriation solution that does not require hospitalization for COVID-19 transport. All other options in this area necessitate hospitalization at both ends, and some do not even include ground transport to the waiting air ambulance.

Tanner: If a Covac Global member tests positive while abroad, what happens next?

Thompson: We employ certified and registered air ambulances and manage all entry and exit procedures with local authorities as well as home authorities, including the CDC, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant local agencies. We are obligated to take the member directly to their registered home address. We handle all permits and coordination with the authorities; so far, we have never faced a denial or restriction in safely evacuating and repatriating a member.

Tanner: What is the duration of a COVID-19 evacuation?

Thompson: If you're in the Caribbean and call us at breakfast, we'll have you home by dinnertime. Transport from the U.S. to Europe typically takes about 12 hours. We prefer to measure in hours rather than days.

Tanner: What are the various membership options available, and what are their costs?

Thompson: The global COVID-19 evacuation and repatriation plan that addresses COVID-19-related medical needs begins at $675 per person for a single 15-day trip.

A medical evacuation and repatriation plan that covers expenses for injuries or illnesses starts at $175 per person for a single 15-day trip.

Members can opt for a combined COVID-19 and medical plan for $810 for a single 15-day trip.

Tanner: How many members does Covac have, and is it accessible to everyone?

Thompson: We have nearly 15,000 members at the moment. While many of our members reside in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, we welcome citizens from all countries.

Tanner: Is there an age limit for purchasing a Covac Global plan?

Thompson: You need to be at least 21 to buy a COVID-19 evacuation plan, but there’s no age restriction for family plans. We actually have a significant number of children under 12 among our members, as many haven't been vaccinated, prompting their parents to secure coverage for the whole family to ensure their kids can return home if they fall ill.

Tanner: Many countries require insurance proof for covering any COVID-19-related expenses. Are there specific coverage points that meet these requirements, or does it vary by country?

Thompson: The primary reason for this requirement is that host countries want to ensure that travelers will not burden their healthcare or economic systems if they test positive. Even mild cases can affect local businesses due to quarantine, and in more severe situations, they can occupy hospital resources meant for local patients. Our solution ensures that members are safely transported home at the first indication of infection, in accordance with the host country’s policies. To date, we have not encountered any issues with our members failing to meet country-specific qualifications.

Tanner: Some countries require specific insurance policies to be purchased as part of the online application for entry approval. Can Covac Global assist in these cases?

Thompson: The "travel visas" in these countries are designed to protect their national health infrastructure, ensuring their citizens aren't denied care due to hospitals being overwhelmed with COVID-19-positive travelers. These policies are very restrictive and will only cover evacuation if it's deemed medically necessary, often requiring multiple in-person consultations and a mandatory quarantine unless there is a serious medical need. Our members seek a more efficient alternative that allows for private transportation home at the first sign of infection, without quarantine, hospitalization, or unnecessary medical procedures.

Tanner: What does "medical evacuation" entail, and how has it evolved in the context of COVID-19?

Thompson: Traditionally, "medical evacuation" involved membership programs or insurance companies transporting a client to the nearest suitable medical facility or purchasing a one-way business-class ticket (sometimes with a nurse escort) to their preferred hospital back home. With COVID-19, we are now required to transport all our members using private air ambulances, without exception.

Moreover, our non-COVID-19 medical repatriation membership does not mandate that members be hospitalized at the time of illness or injury. We aim to prevent our members from being subjected to overwhelmed, understaffed, and inadequately equipped medical facilities when they could be swiftly and safely returned to their own doctors.

Tanner: Could you share more about the motivation behind founding Covac Global?

Thompson: We were in Mexico City when international air travel was halted. Initially, we thought it would just be a two-week measure to flatten the curve. I started searching for a solution for when I began traveling... At that time, the effects of the virus on individuals were still unclear, and we wanted to create a service that could bring you home to your family and doctors if your condition deteriorated. Since nothing like that existed, we established Covac Global.

Tanner: What does the future of pandemic-specific travel insurance look like?

Thompson: Prior to COVID-19, travel memberships and insurance were primarily aimed at individuals aged 55 and older. Now, our average member is around 40, and we have many in their 30s. We're witnessing a trend where young professionals are opting for our membership, as few can afford to spend two weeks in quarantine, nor do they want to.

In more critical situations, countries typically prioritize allowing you to leave safely while adhering to their guidelines, rather than risking a foreign tourist occupying a hospital bed or facing a tragedy in their care.

Key takeaways

In the near future, testing positive for COVID-19 while traveling remains a potential risk, even for the most cautious travelers, including those fully vaccinated.

"The majority of our members who receive a positive test abroad are fully vaccinated and exhibit mild symptoms," Thompson noted.

With this in mind, Covac Global strives to offer peace of mind above all else.

However, this peace of mind comes at a cost. Starting at $175, it may not be feasible for everyone, but for some travelers, the expense could be worthwhile if it alleviates travel-related stress.