Severe weather can derail even the most carefully planned trip. With the right travel insurance, you can recover prepaid, nonrefundable costs and get help with unexpected expenses when storms, hurricanes, or natural disasters disrupt your plans.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.
Question
If we have fully paid for a cruise and have to cancel last minute due to a medical issue, does your policy cover reimbursement of that cost?
By MaryS - January 23, 2018
Answer
The number one covered reason for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption is the unforeseen illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician; or the unforeseen hospitalization or death of a family member. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote. This applies to all comprehensive policies, and Trip Cancellation reimburses 100%.
By MattG - January 24, 2018
Question
I got domestic flight to JFK when 4 hours to next flight to Europe. I am concerned is domestic flight will be delayed or cancel and I will not get on Europe flight. What would be the best way to take care of it?. Flights are not of the same carrier.
By Wojciech - February 24, 2018
Answer
For this concern, there are some policies that offer a Missed Connection benefit if you miss your Trip Departure due to a covered delay of the common carrier for a specified amount of hours (usually 3 or more). Please look for this coverage under the Travel Delay benefit when viewing comprehensive quotes.
By MattG - February 26, 2018