Visa and AIG introduce travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage
12/13/2021
With travel on the verge of revival in many parts of the world, safety is a key consideration for Filipinos selecting destinations to visit
Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, and global insurer AIG Philippines Insurance Inc, today
announced the launch of a new travel insurance featuring Covid-19 protection, exclusive to Visa Infinite cardholders in the Philippines.
The travel insurance, which will be provided by AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., includes coverage for trip cancellations, travel inconveniences and medical expenses including Covid-19 medical expenses and allowances. The complimentary coverage is automatic for all for domestic and international trips between 4 December 2021 to 3 December 2022 paid for using Visa Infinite credit cards issued by Citibank, EastWest, Maybank, and RCBC Bankard. Terms and conditions apply.
Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for The Philippines and Guam said, “It gives me great pleasure to introduce this new Visa Infinite Travel Insurance Protection with Covid-19 coverage. Our study shows that luxury travel (46%) and transportation (38%) are the most popular searches online among affluent Filipino holidaymakers. Safety is a top priority for consumers thinking about the return to travel and this insurance will provide Filipinos with added peace of mind knowing they’ll be covered for Covid-19 related expenses“.
A first in the local payment landscape, Covid-19 insurance coverage is generally treated as an exclusion in current practice by insurance providers or charged at a high premium given the risk volatility arising from a new illness. However, according to IATF-MEID Resolution No. 79, outbound Filipino travelers are required to present an adequate travel and health insurance to cover disruptions and hospitalization in case of Covid-19 infections during their trip1.
A recent Visa study2 shows that while overall travel intent is still low due to the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, Filipinos place Japan, the United States, and Thailand as their top three international destinations, and Manila, Baguio, and Makati as their preferred domestic destinations once it is safe to travel again. Another study3 showed that while 44 percent of Filipinos surveyed said that they want to be able to travel as soon as possible, 71 percent also said that even after being vaccinated, they will still be cautious in their activities and movement.
The Visa Infinite Travel Insurance Protection with Covid-19 coverage offers
reimbursements subject to terms and conditions for the following:
- Travel accidents of up to USD 100,000 for international trips and USD 50,000 for domestic trips
- Overseas medical expenses including due to Covid-19
- Trip inconveniences including due to Covid-19
- Baggage protection
- Travel assistance
According to the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) data4, the tourism industry had been a major contributor to the Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP), pulling in a 12.7 percent share in 2019. The Philippines government has eased domestic travel restrictions as the country reported continued decrease in new Covid-19 cases after emerging from the third wave of infections that peaked in September, in hopes that the travel corridors and tourism industry
can thrive once more.
To know more about The Visa Infinite Covid-19 Travel Insurance Protection, please visit http://www.aig.com/visa/apac.
1 20201015-IATF-Resolution-79-RRD.pdf (officialgazette.gov.ph)
2 Visa Global Travel Intentions Plus, Philippines, August 2021
3 Visa Green Shoots Radar, July 2021
4 https://psa.gov.ph/tourism/satellite-accounts/id/162606
About Visa Inc.
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog, and @VisaNews.
Visa does not perform any services and functions, in any way or to any extent, of an insurance company, insurance agent, or insurance broker in respect of this arrangement.
About AIG
AIG Philippines is a leading non-life insurer in the Philippines providing Property and Casualty Insurance to businesses in the country. We bring the global capabilities of AIG to our clients through unique services and tailor-made insurance solutions to address the specific needs of Philippine businesses. For more information, visit aig.com.ph.