If Covid has done one thing, it’s made Aussies have a good think about travel insurance. Pre-pandemic, travel insurance was always recommended, but whether you took it out or not was entirely up to you. However now, along with negative PCR tests and vaccination certificates, certain countries have added travel insurance to the list of visitor prerequisites. Why?

Covid has put many health systems around the world under immense strain and they don’t need unprotected tourists adding to their already stretched hospitals.

Insurers have come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic. When I left Australia for Dubai in 2020, there were only a handful of insurers I could take out a policy with. With our borders closed, many had shut up shop, not yet knowing how they’d tackle Covid.

My policy clearly stated that the insurer washed its hands of Covid and that if any claims involved the disease, they wouldn’t cover me.

Two years later, Covid is more or less a known beast and many insurers have adapted their policies to include cover.

Related story: What to expect next time you travel internationally, from PCR tests to vaccine passports

“COVID-19 has changed the world of travel as we know it and has put things into perspective for a lot of Australians,” says James Martin, insurance expert at Finder.

“It is now widely recognised that travel is unpredictable, and the possibility of needing assistance before and during your trip is high.”

Finder research shows 39 per cent of Australians – equivalent to 7.6 million people – plan on taking out travel insurance to travel internationally. And we’re willing to pay a bit more.

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) data shows 77 per cent of Aussies say they are willing to pay a higher premium for travel insurance which covers against the risks and disruptions of a possible pandemic. You can read the full CHOICE travel insurance buying guide on Smart Traveller. 

Todd Nelson, Managing Director of Cover-More Australia, says Aussies are also spending a lot longer chatting to customer service representatives when taking out a policy. “Most customers have detailed questions about our cover and their individual circumstances, including Covid cover.”

What do insurers cover for Covid?

It depends on the policy you choose but generally it will cover you if you get sick with Covid. This means if you get Covid or your partner gets Covid and you need to cancel your trip, you should be covered. If you get Covid overseas and need to stay an extra week in isolation, insurers will usually help out with covering your accommodation and fees associated with rebooking your flight.

What they typically won’t cover you for is if your destination decides to shut its borders and no longer accept tourists.

Related story: Why you shouldn’t book a hotel room above the 4th floor, and other surprising travel advice

Does this extend to annual travel insurance?

An annual policy is great for those who are often travelling. Instead of taking out a stand-alone policy for every trip, you can buy a policy that covers you for 365 days. The same Covid cover offered on a one-off policy applies to an annual deal.

What’s global health insurance?

You may have heard of this and it’s actually specific to those who live in the UK. When travelling to Europe, UK residents can apply for a global health insurance card via the NHS. It allows them to access medically necessary healthcare for free or at the cost paid by residents of the country they’re visiting.

Which countries require proof of travel insurance?

Destinations such as The Seychelles, Israel, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, Argentina and Cuba. Some countries will require a policy with a specific dollar amount of cover, like Thailand and Vietnam. Before you tuck into that Pad See Ew, you’ll need to have a policy which covers you for a minimum of $14,500 for Covid. Vietnam has the same requirement.

Related story: What to do if your flight is cancelled, according to an airline worker

This article originally appeared on Escape.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.