Travel Insurance Alert: Peak-Hurricane Season Developments Pose Travel Threat

InsureMyTrip, a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reports an increase in calls today from travelers concerning over the potential impact of Tropical Storm Dorian. While it is too late to purchase traditional travel insurance to cover losses related to Dorian, travelers may still be eligible for a travel insurance plan with the Cancel For Any Reason benefit.

Tropical Storm Dorian is on track to make landfall in the Caribbean Islands, including Puerto Rico, an island still recovering from Hurricane Maria's devastation. The National Hurricane Center said that Dorian could pose a threat to the southern parts of U.S. Mainland and the Bahamas late this week, directly impacting Labor Day Weekend travelers.

Travelers who purchased traditional travel insurance prior to the storm forming may receive reimbursement of pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if they must cancel a trip because of severe weather-related issues that

are covered under the trip cancellation benefit. Here are some examples:

1. It grounds flights: Many plans may cover a traveler when common carriers such as airlines or cruise lines cease service because of weather. The cessation of services must be for a certain number of consecutive hours, usually 24-48.
2. The resort is in the path of a hurricane: A few plans will cover a traveler when the traveler's destination is under an NOAA-issued hurricane warning within 24-48 hours of the departure date.
3. Hotel or resort

   is impacted: Many plans may cover a traveler when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental

   is devastated and made uninhabitable by a storm.

4. Home

   is badly damaged: Many plans offer coverage when the primary home of a traveler sustains destructive storm damage that renders the home uninhabitable.

While traditional travel insurance to cover losses related to Dorian is now unavailable, travelers may still be eligible for a travel insurance plan with Cancel For Any Reason benefits.