Month: April 2015

Hurricane Travel Insurance: How to Decide If it’s Important

You are probably thinking to yourself, “Sure, bad weather affects travel plans. But do I really need to invest in a travel insurance plan?” While we can’t answer that question for you, we can set you up with the right tools. We recommend purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance plan if you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions:

Are you planning to travel between June 1st and November 30th?

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to November 30th each year. If you are traveling at all during these days (even just returning from a trip in early June), we highly recommend you purchase a plan. Travel insurance can help with things like reimbursement for additional expenses, up to the policy limit, for an extended stay due to grounded flights, or offer compensation for an interrupted trip due to damage of your primary residence.

Are you traveling to, through, or from any destination on the East Coast of the United States, or along the Atlantic Coastline?

The East Coast of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico are the prime areas for hurricanes. The most impactful hurricanes in the last decade have hit the mid-Atlantic region of the United States East Coast, and the Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana coastlines.

Do you live anywhere on the East Coast of the U.S. or in the Atlantic Hurricane Zone?

If you live in an area where hurricanes are known for tormenting, travel insurance can help you out – even if you are leaving the area entirely. If you are on a trip away from home when a hurricane hits and your primary residence is made uninhabitable, your plan may provide trip interruption coverage which may help to defray the cost of returning home and provide reimbursement for unused pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs.

Hurricane season is six months out of the calendar year. That’s a large window of time that Mother Nature can wreak havoc on the travel industry. Depending on the travel investment you are making, you should consider purchasing a travel insurance plan if you answered yes to any of these questions. But how can a travel insurance plan cover you if a tropical storm should occur?

NOAA Hurricane Warnings & Alerts: How They Affect Your Travel Insurance Coverage

The National Hurricane Center (NOAA) periodically issues advisories and warnings for hurricanes around the world. Some travel insurance plans will provide specific coverage if the NOAA issues a hurricane warning for your destination, while other travel insurance plans have general coverage for severe weather that affects a trip.

Finding the Right Plan

If you are particularly concerned about a hurricane causing havoc on your planned trip, you should consider a plan that has coverage for NOAA warnings. This could maximize your trip cancellation coverage, and provide reimbursement of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs. This may be an added benefit because many hotels, resorts, and tour operators may not provide compensation unless the storm prohibits them from providing service. A plan with NOAA warnings as a listed covered reason would allow you to stay safe without risk of losing pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs. Every plan will have different requirements that must be met for this coverage to be available.

A typical comprehensive travel insurance plan will not provide specific coverage for NOAA warnings. Generally, however, travel insurance plans provide coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, and delays for bad weather patterns that disrupt travel plans.

InsureMyTrip is a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador™

As a dedicated NOAA partner, InsureMyTrip is committed to improving travelers’ readiness and responsiveness against extreme weather. The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador program is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA, to strengthen partnerships with external organizations toward building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.

InsureMyTrip is here help travelers stay informed and be better prepared when traveling during Hurricane Season. We have launched a travel podcast Tips & Trips on the first season, we’re cover Hurricane season and its impact on your travel plans. Travelers who are concerned about finding the right plan with coverage for NOAA warnings are also encouraged to contact our award-winning customer care team for assistance getting the best plan for their unique needs and trip.

Hurricane Alley: Where Hurricanes Are Most Possible

According to Wikipedia, Hurricane Alley is the area of the Atlantic Ocean stretching from northern Africa to the Gulf Coast of Central America and the Southern United States. Scientists believe that the water in this area of the ocean is gradually warming, thus leading to more frequent hurricanes. Some of the most popular travel destinations for InsureMyTrip travelers are located in Hurricane Alley. Most Caribbean islands are often plagued with hurricanes and this can affect resort vacations as well as cruise itineraries.

Any destination on the East Coast of Central America (like Cancun, Mexico or Costa Rica) or on the southern coast of the United States (like New Orleans, Louisiana or Panama City, Florida) are vulnerable to hurricane level weather patterns. Not only are these popular travel destinations, but these coasts are hubs for domestic and international airline connections. Even if your final destination is not at risk for a hurricane, the city you are stopping at for a connecting flight may be at risk for severe weather. Keep an eye on the weather once a tropical depression has been announced as these may quickly build speed and become a tropical storm or hurricane that can threaten to delay or derail your travel plans.

Which Plan Has The Best Hurricane Coverage For Your Trip?

Many plans on our site offer specific coverage should a hurricane affect your travel plans. Keep in mind, the coverage listed may vary by state residence. Be sure to review the plan details carefully before purchasing, or speak with a licensed agent to ensure the plan has the coverage you want.

Hurricanes and Limitation of Airline Cancellation Policies

Flight cancellation policies vary by airline and circumstance. When an airline cancels a flight due to bad weather, most will try to rebook passengers on the next available flight. Airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred as a result of a canceled flight due to weather. Travelers concerned about protecting pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses should buy travel insurance.

Bad Weather and Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help when weather or natural disasters affect your trip. Coverage depends on the plan you choose and your state of residence, but may include:

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption if severe weather or a natural disaster causes your airline or other common carrier to stop operating, makes your accommodations uninhabitable, or leads authorities to order a mandatory evacuation.
• Travel Delay coverage that reimburses extra costs for meals, lodging, and local transportation after a covered delay (once the plan’s minimum delay time is met).
• Missed Connection coverage if weather delays cause you to miss a scheduled departure on your itinerary.

Important: You must purchase travel insurance before a storm becomes a known event (for example, before a hurricane is named). Once an event is foreseeable, new policies generally won’t cover losses related to that event. Some travelers choose optional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage for added flexibility, when available and if eligibility and timing requirements are met.

What weather events are typically covered by travel insurance?

Most plans may cover severe weather that stops your common carrier from operating, a natural disaster that makes your accommodations uninhabitable, or government-mandated evacuations. Coverage details and definitions vary by plan and state.

Can I buy travel insurance after a storm is named?

You can still buy a policy, but losses tied to that already-known storm are usually excluded. Optional CFAR coverage (when available and purchased within the required timeframe) may provide broader cancellation flexibility, subject to plan terms.

Does travel delay coverage pay for hotels and meals during weather delays?

Yes. After a qualifying delay (often 6–12 hours, depending on the plan), travel delay coverage can reimburse reasonable costs for lodging, meals, and local transportation, up to the plan’s daily and maximum limits. Be sure to save itemized receipts.

When should I buy travel insurance for weather protection?

As soon as you make your first trip payment. Buying early helps ensure coverage before a storm becomes a known event and may preserve eligibility for optional upgrades like CFAR.

Are hurricanes covered by travel insurance?

Yes, if you purchased coverage before the hurricane was named or known and it causes a covered loss, such as airline shutdowns or uninhabitable accommodations. Always review the specific plan language for details.