So, you’ve had your vacation planned for months now. But after taking days off from work and making travel arrangements, your plans to spend a week in the Bahamas quickly goes South when you realize a tropical storm is scheduled to hit that week. The good news is that your hard-earned money doesn’t have to go to waste. This is where travel insurance comes in.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Trip Cancellation: This covers all pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses such as air fare, hotel or tour packages. Covered reasons for cancellation include
- sickness, injury or death of traveler or a loved one;
- weather-related damages in destination or cancellations due to weather
- work-related conflict
- terrorist activity in destination
- jury duty
- bankruptcy of travel supplier
Trip Interruption: Similar to Trip Cancellation, this covers any of the above complications if they cause your trip to be cut short. Your insurance will reimburse you for the missed portion of the trip as well as additional costs in the event that you must leave early.
Medical Expenses: This covers any expenses for medical care required while on vacation.
Emergency Evacuation: This covers any transportation expenses for an evacuation involving emergency hospital care.
Lost or Stolen Baggage: This will reimburse you for any property losses due to lost or stolen luggage.
Baggage Delay: This will cover costs of items needed while awaiting delayed baggage.
Travel Delay: This covers any necessary expenses due to travel delays including extra hotel stays and meals.
Rental Car Damage: This covers damages to a rental car in the case of an accident.
What Does Travel Insurance NOT Cover?
- Cancellations by tour company
- Protests or political unrest in destination
- Medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions
- Cancellation due to death or illness of pets
- Loss or damage to keys, money, documents, tickets or credit cards
- Injuries from sports or travel activities such as bunjee jumping or mountain climbing
- Divorce
- Emotional or psychological illness
- Pregnancy and childbirth
Travel Insurance Tips for Hurricane Season
- Travel insurance will generally only cover “unforseen events.” Most travel insurance companies will not allow you to purchase travel insurance after a tropical storm has been named and is a threat to your destination, so it’s always best to plan ahead.
- Keep all receipts of travel expenses as evidence if there is a need of reimbursement.
- Be sure to ask if your insurance policy specifically covers hurricanes, since many do not.
- Some insurance policies will only allow a cancellation if hurricane damage has rendered your destination accommodations completely uninhabitable, meaning it has suffered structural damages which makes it unsafe or unfit to be inhabited.
- Read the fine print and ask questions if you have any doubts as to what may or may not be covered.