HALIFAX -- Some travellers in Atlantic Canada are cancelling trips amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, and at this point, many might not get their money back.

Daniel MacLellan, of MacLellan & Moffatt Health Insurance Ltd., says two major insurance companies, Manulife and TUGO have decided their cancellation coverage no longer applies to trips cancelled because of COVID-19.

The companies say they may still offer emergency medical coverage - as long as the destination doesn't have a government-issued coronavirus travel warning.

"If the two major travel insurance companies have backed out," MacLellan says. "I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of them followed suit."

Natasha Humphries is a broker at the same firm.

"If you have already purchased your trip, and you have not yet purchased trip cancellation insurance," she says, "You should contact a brokerage like ours, and acquire trip cancellation coverage from one of the other carriers that are still offering it. "

MacLellan says other companies are still offering trip cancellation or interruption coverage, which can often be added to an existing trip.

But, he cautions that purchasing optional 'Cancel For Any Reason' coverage may not be available if travellers booked their trip months ago.

Award-winning writer Donna Morrissey is trying to figure out if a trip she booked to Spain and Portugal for April - should still go ahead amidst coronavirus concerns.

She's spent hours on the phone - trying to figure out if she would get any money back if she cancelled - and still doesn't have a clear answer.

"Most people are saying, 'Don't chance it if you can afford to lose thousands,'" she says. "Because you've got to read the fine print."

CAA says its insurance coverage hasn't changed - and aside from the areas with travel advisories - it's telling customers to proceed with caution.

So far, Canada has issued "level three' advisories against travel to China, Iran, and northern Italy.

CAA spokesperson Julia Kent says if people are nervous about travelling to international destinations outside of those countries, they should talk to their travel agents.

"We're not recommending that people cancel or change travel outside of those areas that have Level Three travel advisories," Kent adds.

The head of the group representing health insurance providers – the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA) - says travellers need to confirm coverage before they go -

Will McAleer, executive director of THIA, says, "A claim can only be made to your travel health insurance provider if your dates of travel take place while a travel advisory is in effect."

That means a customer wouldn't get a refund if cancelling a trip out of an abundance of caution.

For Donna Morrissey, it's not about the money. It's about her concern that if she contracted the virus, she would be potentially bringing it back to Canada.

She plans to wait before making her final decision - weighing her options, and seeing what happens next, with COVID-19.