As resilient as the travel industry has proven to be throughout the ongoing pandemic, travelling anywhere these days comes with a set of unprecedented risks that, as a traveller, require you to stay more aware of your travel protection. Read on about one traveller’s experience with COVID-19—and how TuGo helped protect him when he was most vulnerable.
Traveller contracts COVID-19 while visiting in the US
After a brief trip overseas, 64-year-old Colin* went to visit some of his extended family in the town of Mount Kisco, about an hour’s drive north of New York City. During his stay, he began experiencing a dry cough, high fever and shortness of breath, shortly after a relative he was staying with was diagnosed with COVID-19. As Colin’s symptoms worsened, he was admitted to the local hospital and also tested positive for COVID-19.
Unexpected complications due to COVID-19
Doctors at the hospital placed Colin in isolation, where he was put on a ventilator for over 2 weeks due to respiratory failure. While he was intubated, Colin suffered further complications, including an irregular heartbeat and a blood infection from a wound.
How travel insurance saved Colin over half a million dollars
Colin was hospitalized in the US for a total of 44 days. TuGo’s Emergency Assistance team was notified early on and coordinated care with the local team; then when it was safe to, our Emergency Assistance team coordinated his return home via air ambulance to his local hospital to complete his recovery.
If Colin hadn’t purchased Emergency Medical Insurance before leaving on his trip, he would’ve faced a staggering financial burden—over half a million dollars in US hospital and associated medical costs! His provincial healthcare plan covered under $1,800—less than 1%. Luckily, Colin and his family took the right steps throughout the entire ordeal, which ensured that their travel insurance claim went smoothly.
Colin is just one of many travellers who benefited from COVID-19 coverage from TuGo’s Emergency Medical Insurance. Read about Dennis’ story.
How TuGo’s COVID-19 coverage protects travellers
Like Colin, no traveller ever sets out to get sick or run into a medical emergency while on vacation. But the unexpected can happen at any time or any place, and that’s why it’s important to understand how emergency medical travel insurance should cover you in those cases. Understanding your travel insurance policy will also go a long way in helping you ensure coverage, in the event you have to make a claim.
Of course, these days, the number one concern on most travellers’ minds is, “Will I be covered for COVID-19?” Good news for Canadian travellers: the answer is yes—learn how TuGo covers COVID-19 with a helpful infographic.
Because government and travel industry response to COVID-19 has proven to be unpredictable throughout the pandemic, we’re updating our coverage frequently, to help protect travellers better. Be sure to visit our FAQs on tugo.com to get the most up-to-date information.
Safe travels in the year ahead,
Justin
* Based on actual claim with specific traveller details changed to protect privacy.
