Placements

1.    What does the College define as a “placement”?

A “placement” is defined as “work experience, assessed project work, a period of course-based study or a period of research (for which academic credit is awarded and/or where the student remains subject to College student regulations during the relevant period) and where there is a transfer of direct supervision of the student to a third party (i.e. where a member of staff at the third party acts as the day-to-day supervisor/manager) for a period of 2 weeks or more.”

2.   How does the insurance work if I travel while on a placement?

The policy is intended for College Business only.  If your placement includes any schedule intervals which allows you enough time to travel back home (UK or your Country of Residence), the policy is expected to operate but will be dependent on the FCDO advice at the time of any bookings you make for travel and accommodation back to your placement host country.

3.      I am a student planning to travel abroad to an (FCDO) Green list – should I continue to book overseas travel?

Before you make any travel arrangements, your department will need to have advised you that your intended travel (including a placement abroad) is “essential” to your degree programme (and this should be granted by your Head of Department, via in case of placements your Placement Manager). Your department should complete a covid-19 risk assessment (or amend a risk assessment already undertaken) with the assistance of their Department or Faculty Health and Safety Officer, ensuring you consider medical assistance abroad, such as your closest hospital and how you would return to the UK if there were no flights available.

You will also need to regularly check the FCDO website to make sure the status of the Country has not changed and also that the circumstances in that Country itself have not changed. If they have discuss with your department.

4.      My trip to a country on the (FCDO) green list has been approved by my department as “essential”. What cover will be available under the policy?

The cover in force will be the normal cover.


5.      If I book “essential” travel to a country on the (FCDO) green list and the government moves it to amber or red before I travel, will I be able to cancel the booking and make an insurance claim to recover the costs?

Yes. The insurance policy will cover you in these circumstances where the government has announced a change before you travel. However, the insurance provider will expect you to use your best endeavours to recover the costs from the airlines and other travel providers before settling any claim.

It may also be worthwhile taking into consideration the booking of only flexible and refundable tickets but learning of any implications Airlines may have for further disruption in their own Cancellation Policies before doing so.

6.      I booked a flight to a country that's on the  (FCDO) green list, but the host country has now imposed restrictions to anyone entering from the UK. Will the insurance policy reimburse me if I decide to cancel my “essential” trip?

The policy excludes claims which result from a non-UK Governments ‘regulations made by any public authority or government or persons with the authority under legislation or licence to make regulations;’

7.      Is the insurance cover affected if I travel to a country on the green list and the UK’s FCDO status changes?

Cover relating to Cancellation, Curtailment, Re-arrangement, Replacement, Missed Departure and Travel Delay has been removed in respect of Countries where:

i) the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO),

ii) or, any other comparable body for Insured Persons whose permanent place of residence is not in Britain, e.g. US State Dept. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

iii) or, World Health Organisation (WHO), or similar governing body, or,

iv) any other legally empowered regulatory body or government or local authority

advises against all travel, or advises against all but essential travel, or prevents, or restricts, or denies the Insured Person from travelling.

The exclusion removes cover where there is advice against travel, or laws / guidance / regulation prevents, restricts or denies travel, at the time that the trip is booked, and

• The exclusion removes the cover if the you go ahead with travel when restrictions or regulations are in place, and puts themselves at known risk of curtailment, rearrangement etc.
• All external journey travel involves two or more countries, and as a result there is potential need to consult not only the FCDO, but also WHO or other similar bodies, or governments of another country who may put in place restrictions.

8.      I am a student planning to travel abroad to a (FCDO) red or amber list country,  should I continue to book overseas travel?

Before you make any travel arrangements, your department will need to have advised you that your intended travel (including a placement abroad) is “essential” to your degree programme (and this should be granted by your Head of Department, via in case of placements your Placement Manager). Your department should complete a covid-19 risk assessment (or amend a risk assessment already undertaken) with the assistance of their Department or Faculty Health and Safety Officer, ensuring you consider medical assistance abroad, such as your closest hospital and how you would return to the UK if there were no flights available.

You will also need to regularly check the FCDO website to make sure the status of a non-exempt Country has not changed and also that the circumstances in that Country itself have not changed. If they have discuss with your department.

9.      My trip to a (FCDO) red or amber list country has been approved by the Head of Department as “essential”. What cover will be available under the policy?

Cover will remain in force for the following benefits:

•             Personal Accident
•             Medical Expenses (including COVID)
•             Personal property
•             Money
•             Kidnap and Ransom
•             Personal Liability/Legal Expenses
•             Political/Natural Disaster Evacuation 

Cover will not apply for the following:

•             Cancellation/Curtailment
•             Crisis Management

10.      Will medical insurance cover be in place if I fall ill when travelling overseas for “essential” College business?

The policy will continue to cover emergency medical expenses incurred including those resulting from COVID-19, regardless of FCDO guidance.

If a traveller contracts COVID-19, cover is in place to respond to Medical Expenses that were reasonably incurred during a journey outside an Insured Person’s Country of Domicile. If a traveller feels unwell during a trip, they should contact Healix, the College insurers medical and security assistance provider  on +44 (0)208 608 4100.

COVID-19 may have had an impact on local public health overseas, so it is advised that you stay aware of other travel-related infectious diseases. Specifically, take care to stay up-to-date with travel health recommendations (including immunisations) relevant to destinations. If you are considered to be vulnerable to COVID-19 then you should be aware that if you are infected with COVID-19 that you may be at increased risk of severe infection.

Further guidance from Healix can be found on the following link:

https://healix.com/sharing-knowledge-and-news/covid-19-advice/?utm_content=121370933&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-5085793

11.      Will the insurance cover any costs associated with quarantine and/or self-isolation?

No. The travel insurance policy does not provide cover for self-isolation or quarantine and is intended to assist with returning to the UK or Country of Residence. Please make sure you have fully considered self-isolation in the UK and abroad when undertaking your pre-travel risk assessment and discuss this fully with your Placement Manager before making a decision to travel.

If it is deemed medically necessary (by Healix or a medical practitioner) to self-isolate and additional costs are incurred, our insurer will review and consider the claim. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

12.     What should I do before I return to the UK from overseas?

Please follow the latest government requirements and advice when entering the UK following a trip from abroad. If you make any stopovers or interchanges the requirements for those apply in addition, even if you don’t leave the airport or rail station.

At present you must complete a government form online before you arrive in the UK from any country. This includes if you’re travelling from a country or territory where you do not have to self-isolate when you arrive in the UK. You must complete this form even if you’ve already completed a different form to enter another country. Please bear in mind you may also need to consider the regulations within the country you are leaving or if there are any other special considerations such as local restrictions at a stop-over destination on your journey home.

If you do not complete the form before you arrive in the UK, it might take you longer to enter the UK.

You cannot submit the form until 48 hours before you’re due to arrive in the UK.

This is a free service. You do not need to pay another website or business to provide your contact details for you.

You must complete the form online. Do not print out the form and fill it in by hand.

When you arrive at the UK border you’ll need to show either:

• a printed copy of your confirmation email
• the confirmation email on your phone

The government will use this information to contact you if you or someone you’ve travelled with develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.

If you need to self-isolate for the first 14 days after you arrive in the UK, the government will also use the information to check that you’re self-isolating.

13.      I am a student (undergraduate or postgraduate) currently undertaking “essential” travel abroad as part of my degree programme (this may include a study/work/industrial/research placement abroad) and I am concerned about the situation regarding covid-19 in my host country - should I return to my home country?

Please continue to discuss with your home department and follow their advice.

14.      I am a student (undergraduate or postgraduate) planning on undertaking “essential” travel abroad as part of my degree programme (this may include a study /work/industrial/research placement abroad) later this academic year or during next academic year, and I am concerned should I not be able to participate how this might impact on my degree programme - what should I do? 

You should discuss with your home department and be guided by their advice.

15.   How do I get more information about the country I’m visiting? 

For country advice and assistance please register with Healix International , the Insurer’s Travel Assistance Company for medical and security advice.  (Please scroll down to ‘Create your Healix account in 3 simple steps and follow instructions). https://traveloracle.healix.com/login  

16.      How do I register for the Travel Insurance and are there any APPS I can use for travel risk and medical assistance?

After registering (College intranet) your overseas travel you can download both the Travel Certificate and the RSA Travel app for pre travel information as well as pre-programmed access to insurers 24-hour helpline and direct access to Healix for medical assistance.  The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.   You need to enter the Policy number RTT 306251 as part of the download process.

The Travel Certificate is for the period up to 31 October, and a NEW Travel Certificate will be available during October. Do not forget to download the new Travel Certificate.

17.      What are the travel assistance contact details?

If a traveller contracts COVID-19 while abroad, it should be noted that the local domestic health authority will be treating patients, in line with the global response.

Should you need to make contact in an emergency:

For medical emergencies that require urgent assistance call the local emergency services.  Please make sure you are aware of the number prior to travel.  As soon as possible thereafter call the Medical & Security Assistance telephone helpline on +44 (0) 208 608 4100

If you require additional information relating to Medical or Security Assistance which is not available within the Healix App or via Risk Monitor, please also telephone the helpline: +44 (0) 208 608 4100.

In all instances remember to quote your policy number: RTT306251