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Hurricanes and Travel Insurance Plans - How it Works

Answer to some of the most common questions for traveling during hurricane season.

Every summer hurricane season comes around with the peak of activity typically happening in mid-September. If you have upcoming travel plans this summer and want to know how severe weather can impact your trip, Travel Guard can help. In this article, we’ll go over the answers to some of the most common questions for traveling during hurricane season.

When is Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season typically begins when the weather starts to warm up. For the Eastern Pacific, it begins as early as May 15 and for the Atlantic is starts on June 1. While it’s uncommon to see storms outside of the hurricane season, it’s still possible, so be sure to keep an eye on the forecast leading up to your travel dates.

When Does Hurricane Season End?

November 30 is the end of hurricane season, though it’s possible to see storms outside of the expected timeline. When traveling near hurricane season, keep an eye out for hurricane warnings by using helpful tools like the National Weather Service (NOAA) website. 

Does a Travel Insurance Plan Provide Coverage for Hurricanes?

Yes, once a tropical storm becomes a named hurricane, the travel insurance plan may provide coverage under the Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits. The main point to remember when considering if hurricane-related events could be covered under your travel insurance plan is that you must have purchased your travel insurance plan before a storm system first reaches tropical storm status.

This is why we recommend you purchase your travel insurance plan as soon as you make your first deposit on your trip. You never know how weather may change in just 24 hours. If a storm is named before you purchase the travel insurance plan – coverage wouldn’t apply to losses related to that hurricane. It's important to always read the complete terms and conditions of the policy so you understand the coverage you have with your travel insurance plan.

Does a Travel Insurance Plan Provide Coverage for Cancellations due to Hurricanes?

Yes, a travel insurance plan can provide Trip Cancellation coverage for your trip in the event a named hurricane causes you to cancel your vacation for a covered reason. Travelers with coverage will be able to file a claim to request reimbursement for their pre-paid and nonrefundable expenses of their trip.

Covered reasons for cancellation may include:

  • If a hurricane makes your primary residence uninhabitable or makes your destination inaccessible or uninhabitable.
  • The destination you’re visiting is under a hurricane warning as issued by the NOAA hurricane center within three days of the scheduled Departure Date (subject to the terms and conditions of the policy).

Will a Flight Travel Insurance Plan Provide Coverage for Hurricanes?

Yes, if your flight is cancelled or delayed by the Common Carrier due to a hurricane, either at home or your destination, you can file a claim for certain covered losses under Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. Be sure to check your policy of insurance for complete terms and conditions.

Does a Vacation Rental Travel Insurance Plan Provide Coverage for Hurricanes?

If you’re staying at a vacation rental for your trip, and you have a travel insurance plan, certain coverages like Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption may include severe weather or hurricanes as a covered reason, subject to any limitations or exclusions. Your travel insurance plan may provide coverage specifically for your vacation rental in a few ways. First, if there is damage from a hurricane before you arrive at your vacation rental that makes it uninhabitable, your travel insurance plan may provide coverage to cancel your trip. 

Additionally, if a hurricane strikes while you’re on your trip, your travel insurance plan may provide coverage to evacuate to a safer location. Travel Guard’s emergency travel assistance team can help you make evacuation arrangements.

Can You Prepare for a Hurricane?

Yes, there are plenty of ways to stay safe through the threat of a hurricane. If you’re traveling during hurricane season, here are some of the steps you can take to be prepared for an emergency at your destination.

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Be prepared to head home

While no one wants their vacation to come to an early end, sometimes the best thing you can do is head out before the storm. Prepare for this decision by keeping your suitcase organized, know where your important travel documents are and investigate what options you have for travel arrangements to get back home.

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Watch the local news

Monitor local news to get updated information and safety recommendations for the area you’re visiting. Local authorities will be your best resource for the safest way to handle the hurricane, whether that means heading home early or staying safe through the storm.

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Purchase a travel insurance plan

Purchasing a travel insurance plan through Travel Guard is one of the best ways to be prepared for your trip when traveling during hurricane season. By purchasing a travel insurance plan, you’ll have coverages like Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption to help if your travel plans need to be cancelled or cut short because of covered severe weather. Just as important, you’ll have access to 24/7 emergency travel assistance services who can help you rebook or cancel travel arrangements to help keep you and your family safe.

Choosing the Best Travel Insurance Plan for Hurricane Season

The best travel insurance plan can depend on the coverages you’re looking for. For lower-cost trips, you might consider the Preferred Plan, which provides comprehensive coverage and pre-departure benefits to help protect your trip investment when covered inclement weather threatens your plans.

For higher priced trips, the Deluxe Plan is a great option since it offers travelers the highest benefit limits to help protect your trip investment in the event of a covered hurricane or inclement weather.

Additionally, all Travel Guard plans come with 24/7 access to our specially trained assistance services team who can give you real-time updates about weather forecasts that can impact your trip. Our team can also help with coordinating emergency return travel arrangements and relaying urgent messages to family and friends. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but coverage for a hurricane or tropical storm may be excluded once it is named; your best option for traveling during hurricane season is to purchase a travel insurance plan at the time or shortly after you make your travel reservations.

If the resort can no longer provide accommodations for you, you can file a claim for the prepaid and non-refundable costs of your trip. As always, be sure to review your policy of insurance to understand the exclusions and limitations of your plan.

We know it can be nerve-wracking watching a storm creep up on your travel plans. Typically, a travel insurance plan won’t cover cancellation just due to the threat of bad weather, of fear of travel, alone. However, with a Travel Guard Deluxe or Preferred travel insurance plan, if NOAA places your destination under a hurricane warning (meaning hurricane conditions are expected in that area) within three days of your arrival, you may have coverage.

Yes, Travel Guard travel insurance plans have some unique coverages that may provide you with coverage to change your travel dates because of impending severe weather. Those coverages are Trip Exchange and Trip Saver. Trip Exchange reimburses eligible costs to move your trip to a future date instead of cancelling completely, for a covered reason. While Trip Saver coverage provides reimbursement for reasonable extra expenses that come along with moving your departure date earlier to avoid Common Carrier cancellations. Both are available on our Preferred Plan and Deluxe Plan and give you the flexibility to make the most of your travel arrangements.

Before severe weather can threaten your vacation plans, prepare for your trip with a travel insurance plan.

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Coverage available to residents of U.S. states and the District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. Similar travel insurance coverage, offered by Travel Guard or another insurance provider, may be available through a variety of other sources, but may be subject to different terms and conditions (i.e. benefits, limits, exclusions, etc.). You may wish to compare the terms and conditions of this policy with those of your existing life, health, home and automobile insurance policies, as well as any other coverage which you may already have or is available to you, including through other insurers, as a member of an organization, or through your credit card program(s). If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker. Coverage is offered by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (Travel Guard). California lic. no.0B93606, 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482, www.travelguard.com. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-HELP. This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance may be underwritten by American Zurich Insurance Company, a New York company (NAIC No. 40142), Zurich American Insurance Company, an Illinois company (NAIC No. 16535), each having its principal place of business at 1299 Zurich Way, Schaumburg, IL 60196, or National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. (NAIC No. 19445), a Pennsylvania insurance company, having its principal place of business at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 37th FL, New York, NY 10020-1304. Please review the Plan offered to or purchased by you to confirm the underwriting insurer for your specific policy of insurance. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard.