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Bad Weather and Natural Disaster Coverage

This is important - While anyone will sell you travel insurance at the last minute, claims under bad weather coverage from known events are not covered. If you're traveling soon and bad weather is forecasted or known, you will not be covered for bad weather if you're getting your travel insurance today. That's because the bad weather isn't an unforeseen event.


Snow storms, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, etc - you get the picture. No matter what causes your trip to be delayed, cancelled or interrupted, you want to know how travel insurance can cover you.

Bad Weather or Natural Disaster Coverage in a Travel Insurance policy means that some kind of unexpected inclement weather or unexpected natural disaster causes you to be delayed getting to your destination.

Here are the coverages most likely to be used with respect to Bad Weather: (Note that each policy covers you differently)

  • Missed Connection - generally from a car accident en route to the airport, bad weather or carrier-caused delays (though Travel Guard doen't cover carrier-caused delays)

  • Travel Delay - generally from bad weather or carrier-caused delays

  • Trip Cancellation - you have to completely cancel your trip. There must usually be a 24 hour shut down of common carrier services. One exception is that TravelSafe can cover you if your Trip destination is under a Hurricane warning issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center. More info

  • Trip Interruption - you unexpectedly return home early from your trip

Trip Cancellation / Interruption for bad weather is different from going to Cancun and having it rain the whole time. Or going skiing but there's no snow. You won't have much fun, but unless the bad weather completely prevents you from getting there, you won't have a valid claim.

Here's An Overview of Missed Connection Coverage

Some plans cover the additional traveling expenses under a separate section called "Missed Connection". Missed Connection" provides reimbursement in the event of a missed flight connection or for the additional costs to "catch up" to a cruise or tour if the cause of delay is an accident or bad weather. I suggest you read the policy wording carefully since the phrase "Missed Connection" doesn't mean the same from company to company.

Here's what Travel Insured says:

Note that the Travel Insured Comprehensive & Gold plans also include "Missed Port of Call" as part of their $750 Missed Connection coverage:

"Missed Connection: Covers missed Cruise or Trip departures which result from cancellation or delay (for three or more hours) of all regularly scheduled airline flights due to inclement weather or any Common Carrier-caused delay. Maximum benefits of up to the amount shown on the Schedule of Coverage and Services are provided to cover additional transportation expenses needed for You to join the departed Cruise or Trip, reasonable accommodations, and meal expenses and non-refundable payments for the unused portion of Your Cruise or Trip. Coverage will not be provided to individuals who are able to meet their scheduled departure but cancel their Trip due to Inclement Weather."


Here's what Travel Guard says:

  • The Protect Assist Gold plan's Missed Connection coverage is $250 (it increases to $500 if the plan is purchased within 14 days of the initial trip deposit date)

  • The Travel Guard Cruise, Tour & Travel plan's Missed Connection coverage is $500

The Travel Guard Cruise, Tour & Travel Platinum plan says:
MISSED CONNECTION
The Insurer will reimburse this benefit up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits if Inclement Weather or Common Carrier causes cancellation or a delay of all regularly scheduled airline flights for three to less than five hours to your point of departure. You can collect up to $500, or up to $750 if the Umbrella Package is purchased, for additional transportation costs to join the Trip (must be same class of original tickets purchased). Reasonable accommodations and meals (up to $150 per day), and/or the non-refundable, unused portion of the prepaid expenses as long as the expense is supported by a proof of purchase and is not reimbursable by another source. Common Carrier must certify the delay of the regularly scheduled airline flight.

The Travel Guard Protect Assist Gold plan says:
"MISSED CONNECTION
The Insurer will reimburse this benefit up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits if Inclement Weather or Common Carrier causes cancellation or a delay of all regularly scheduled airline flights for three to less than five hours to your point of departure. You can collect up to $250, or up to $500 if the insurance was purchased within fifteen calendar days of initial Trip payment, for additional transportation costs to join the Trip (must be same class of original tickets purchased). Reasonable accommodations and meals (up to $150 per day), and/or the non-refundable, unused portion of the prepaid expenses as long as the expense is supported by a proof of purchase and is not reimbursable by another source. Common Carrier must certify the delay of the regularly scheduled airline flight.


Here's An Overview of Travel Delay Coverage

Travel Delay is reimbursement for meals and accommodations that you might incur if your trip's departure is delayed for a covered reason.

For example, you'll be reimbursed up to the daily limit for meals and accommodations (to the policy maximum) if your departure is delayed for more than the number of hours required for a covered reason during your trip.


Here's An Overview of Trip Cancellation Coverage

Trip Cancellation / Interruption for bad weather is different from going to Cancun and having it rain the whole time. You won't have much fun, but unless the bad weather prevents you from getting there, you won't have a valid claim.

Something else that's important is that if you see a hurricane bearing down on your destination, you can't cancel your trip. Your airline or supplier has to be who cancels it.

  • If your trip destination is under a Hurricane warning issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center, you can cancel your trip within 24 hours of your Scheduled Departure Date with TravelSafe, provided the cancellation of the your trip occurs more than 15 days following the effective date of your coverage

  • The Travel Insured Comprehensive and Gold plans' coverage has this wording: (this isn't just limited to bad weather)

    • If Your Travel Supplier cancels Your Trip, You are eligible for benefits equal to the amount protected for Your airline tickets or the value of the reissue fee. You must have protected the entire cost of Your Trip including the airfare.

  • Some time later you go to a destination that was adversely affected by the storm. If the place is inhabitable, but isn't what you expected or there are damaged facilities, travel insurance won't cover you. It's the responsibility of the travel supplier to make any adjustments.

  • Travel Safe's Trip Cancellation Benefit covers:

    A cancellation of the Insured's Trip within 24 hours of the Insured's Scheduled Departure Date and time if his or her Trip destination is under a Hurricane warning issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center, provided the cancellation of the Insured's Trip occurs more than 15 days following the Insured's effective date of coverage for the Trip Cancellation Benefits.


Here's An Overview of Trip Interruption Coverage

  • You are forced to evacuate by the authorities: CSA, HTH, Travel Guard, Travel Insured and TravelSafe consider this a trip interruption. With Travelex you won't have a valid claim because if you can be transported out, then the "complete cessation of services of Your Common Carrier" for the required 24 hours didn't occur.

  • You can't get out and are forced to ride out the storm: You also won't have a valid claim because if you don't leave then your trip wasn't cut short.

  • Your cruise line substitutes a destination to avoid a storm: You won't have a valid claim because you still got to take the cruise.

  • Some time later you go to a destination that was adversely affected by the storm. If the place is inhabitable, but isn't what you expected or there are damaged facilities, travel insurance won't cover you. It's the responsibility of the travel supplier to make any adjustments.


Here's What Our Selected, Trusted, Pre-screened Travel Insurance Companies' Certificates of Coverage say:

CSA Freestyle and Freestyle Luxe plans' Certificates say:

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption:

10. Inclement Weather that causes complete cessation of the Insured’s Common Carrier for at least 24 consecutive hours;
and
12. mandatory evacuation or public official evacuation advisements where there is no mandatory evacuation issued by local government authorities at your destination due to adverse weather or natural disaster. In order to cancel your Covered Trip, you must have 4 days or 50% of your total Covered Trip length or less remaining on your Covered Trip at the time the mandatory evacuation ends;

In addition, you are eligible for trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits if your Destination or Home is made uninhabitable by a hurricane:

"4. an Insured’s or Traveling Companion’s principal place of residence being rendered uninhabitable by burglary, fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane, or other natural disaster within 10 days of departure;"

Click here for more information on the CSA Freestyle plans


HTH Trip Prtotector Certificates say:

"Adverse weather or natural disasters resulting in the complete cessation of travel services".

OTHER COVERED EVENTS means only the following unforeseeable events or their consequences which occur while coverage is in effect under this Policy:
c. your Home made Uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster;
d. your Accommodation at your destination made Uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster;

Click here for more information on the HTH plans


Travelex Lite & Plus' Evidence of Coverage says:

"Unforeseen Inclement Weather which causes complete cessation of services of Your Common Carrier for at least 24 hours".

"Residence of You or Your Traveling Companion, including your covered trip destination accommodations, is rendered uninhabitable due to unforseen circumstances."

"Inclement Weather" means any weather condition which delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a Common Carrier.

Click here for more information on the Travelex plans


Travel Guard Gold & Platinum Certificates say:

"Inclement Weather" means any severe weather condition which delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a Common Carrier. With respect to an Insured who is traveling via private/non-commercial automobile transportation, any severe weather condition which prevents an Insured from reaching the Destination.

"TRIP CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION
(d) Inclement Weather causing delay or cancellation of travel;"

For Missed Connection

The Travel Guard Cruise, Tour & Travel Platinum plan says:
MISSED CONNECTION
The Insurer will reimburse this benefit up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits if Inclement Weather or Common Carrier causes cancellation or a delay of all regularly scheduled airline flights for three to less than five hours to your point of departure. You can collect up to $500, or up to $750 if the Umbrella Package is purchased, for additional transportation costs to join the Trip (must be same class of original tickets purchased). Reasonable accommodations and meals (up to $150 per day), and/or the non-refundable, unused portion of the prepaid expenses as long as the expense is supported by a proof of purchase and is not reimbursable by another source. Common Carrier must certify the delay of the regularly scheduled airline flight.

The Travel Guard Protect Assist Gold plan says:
"MISSED CONNECTION
The Insurer will reimburse this benefit up to the Maximum Limit shown on the Schedule of Benefits if Inclement Weather or Common Carrier causes cancellation or a delay of all regularly scheduled airline flights for three to less than five hours to your point of departure. You can collect up to $250, or up to $500 if the insurance was purchased within fifteen calendar days of initial Trip payment, for additional transportation costs to join the Trip (must be same class of original tickets purchased). Reasonable accommodations and meals (up to $150 per day), and/or the non-refundable, unused portion of the prepaid expenses as long as the expense is supported by a proof of purchase and is not reimbursable by another source. Common Carrier must certify the delay of the regularly scheduled airline flight.

Click here for more information on the Travel Guard plans


Travel Insured Certificates say:

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption: The Insurer will pay a benefit, up to the maximum shown on the Schedule of Coverage and Services, if You are prevented from taking or continuing Your covered Trip due to the following Unforeseen events:
... c) "Weather which causes complete cessation of services of Your Common Carrier for at least 24 consecutive hours"
... k) Natural disaster at the site of Your destination which renders Your destination accommodations uninhabitable
... n) Mandatory evacuation ordered by local authorities at Your destination due to hurricane or other Natural Disaster. You must have 50% or less of Your Trip remaining at the time the mandatory evacuation ends, in order for this benefit to be payable.

The Travel Insured Comprehensive and Gold plans' coverage has this wording: (this isn't just limited to bad weather)

If Your Travel Supplier cancels Your Trip, You are eligible for benefits equal to the amount protected for Your airline tickets or the value of the reissue fee. You must have protected the entire cost of Your Trip including the airfare. (Does not apply to Post Departure Plan).

The Travel Insured Comprehensive and Gold plans' cover you without requiring the "complete cessation of services of Your Common Carrier for at least 24 consecutive hours" if you are forced to evacuate by the authorities. That's because your destination accommodations are considered uninhabitable

Click here for more information on the Travel Insured plans


Travel Safe Certificates say:

"A cancellation of your Trip if your arrival on the Trip is delayed and causes you to lose 50% or more of the scheduled Trip duration"

Travel Safe's Trip Cancellation Benefit covers:

A cancellation of the Insured's Trip within 24 hours of the Insured's Scheduled Departure Date and time if his or her Trip destination is under a Hurricane warning issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center, provided the cancellation of the Insured's Trip occurs more than 15 days following the Insured's effective date of coverage for the Trip Cancellation Benefits.

Click here for more information on the Travel Safe Vacation plan


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