Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance works by reimbursing you for non-refundable, prepaid expenses (such as flights, hotel bookings, and tours) if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason. Common covered reasons include illness, injury, natural disasters, or severe weather.

To get reimbursed, you must file a claim with the insurance provider, providing necessary documentation, like receipts, booking confirmations, and evidence of the cancellation reason. The insurer reviews the claim and issues reimbursement if the cancellation meets the policy’s coverage criteria.

To file a claim for each of the plans we discussed in this article:

Trawick Safe Travels Voyager: You can file a claim by contacting Trawick International through their claims department or visiting their website to submit the required forms, including documentation of the reason for cancellation.

IMG iTravelInsured: Claims can be filed by submitting a claim form, relevant documents such as receipts, and a detailed explanation of the cancellation. IMG offers both online and paper submissions.

World Nomads: Claims are filed online through the World Nomads website. You must provide receipts, booking confirmations, and other supporting documentation.

Always refer to the specific policy details for exact filing instructions.

Yes, trip cancellation insurance generally covers canceled flights if the cancellation is due to a covered reason, such as illness, injury, severe weather, or a natural disaster. It will reimburse you for non-refundable, prepaid flight expenses.

However, the reason for the cancellation must meet the criteria specified in your policy. If the flight is canceled by the airline, some policies may cover rebooking fees, but typically the airline is responsible for refunding or rebooking canceled flights. Always check your policy for specific details.

Yes, trip cancellation due to severe weather can be a covered reason under many trip cancellation insurance policies. If weather conditions prevent your flight or make your destination uninhabitable, you may be eligible for reimbursement for non-refundable expenses.

However, the specific terms depend on the policy, and the weather event must typically cause significant travel disruptions, such as flight cancellations or government advisories. Always check your policy for detailed coverage related to weather-related cancellations.

Some people consider travel cancellation coverage a waste of money. But if you like to be prepared in case of an emergency, medical or otherwise, then investing in a trip cancellation insurance is money well spent.

Investing in a quality policy is money spent to protect your investment! And the further ahead you book your adventure, the more critical it is to protect your investment since a lot can happen in the weeks or months between booking a trip and departing for it.

It is essential to know that you cannot purchase coverage once you have departed (your plan start date). While it is possible to buy coverage right up until the start date of your travels, there are insurance companies that require you to purchase a policy within seven days of paying for the trip or no later than 48 hours before the trip departure.

Trip cancellation plans are best purchased when you pay your initial deposit or as close to the purchasing date as possible. If you buy coverage from a website at the last minute and then try to file claims, you risk the chance that the insurance company will closely scrutinize your case.

Travel cancellation products like these are designed to protect you against the worst-case scenarios associated with overseas travel. When offered this kind of insurance for your vacation, do not think of spending more money. Instead, think of it as protecting the money you have already paid and got additional safeguards for unexpected circumstances.