What is trip cancellation and interruption insurance? (2024)

It’s a week before your trip and you get the sniffles…now what? Of course the sniffles can be just that — a minor inconvenience that quickly clears up before takeoff. In most cases, just a false alarm.

But it can also morph into something else, possibly interfering with the trip you’ve spent months planning and paying for.

Life being what it is, occasionally medical issues, extreme weather or other events crop up and force us to interrupt our travel plans.

Get “you-never-know” protection

If you already have travel insurance, check your policy. It may already have coverage for trip cancellation or trip interruption. If so, make sure you have enough coverage. If not, it’s a good idea to add or top up, especially as you’re investing a lot of time and money in your trip.

What’s the difference between trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance? Trip cancellation kicks in if certain medical or non-medical events occur before you leave home, so you’re reimbursed on all or some costs, depending on your coverage. Trip interruption reimburses you if a similar set of events occur after you leave home and during your trip and you’re forced to return home.

Check your policy, if you have one, and talk to a licensed agent before planning your trip. Generally, coverage can vary depending on a number of factors, including:

So plan your travel with confidence, and never mind those sniffles.

What is trip cancellation and interruption insurance? (2024)

FAQs

What is trip cancellation and interruption insurance? ›

Trip cancellation kicks in if certain medical or non-medical events occur before you leave home, so you're reimbursed on all or some costs, depending on your coverage. Trip interruption reimburses you if a similar set of events occur after you leave home and during your trip and you're forced to return home.

What is covered trip cancellation and interruption? ›

Trip interruption coverage exists to cover you for any unexpected or uncontrollable circ*mstances that may force a premature return home from your trip. Examples include a serious injury, illness, a family emergency back home, quarantine, evacuation or an early departure.

Does trip cancellation insurance cover cancelled flights? ›

Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you for the amount of pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses (e.g. airline, cruise, train, hotel, etc.)

Do credit cards cover trip cancellation? ›

Your credit card's trip cancellation insurance may reimburse you for prepaid flights and hotel stays booked with your credit card. Trip interruption insurance (for trips that end earlier than planned) may cover expenses like the cost of a last-minute flight home.

What is the best insurance for cancellation of flights? ›

Our analysis found that AIG, Seven Corners and WorldTrips offer the best “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance. A travel insurance policy with CFAR partially reimburses your insured trip costs if you cancel for reasons not listed in the policy.

What qualifies as trip interruption? ›

What does trip interruption insurance cover? A trip interruption occurs when a traveler must unexpectedly cut short their trip and return home. Additionally, interruption can cause you to stay at your destination longer than originally planned (not always a bad thing, right?)

What is a covered reason to cancel a cruise? ›

Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation
Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation
Mental, Nervous, or Psychological Condition
Bankruptcy/Default
Traffic Accident en Route to Departure
Destination Evacuation
30 more rows

How does trip interruption insurance work? ›

Trip interruption coverage offers travelers reimbursem*nt for their unused, prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if they unexpectedly need to cut their trip short. For example, if you fall sick or an evacuation is ordered while you're traveling, trip interruption coverage may reimburse for some or all of your insured costs.

Is it smart to get travel insurance? ›

It could be particularly useful if: You've spent a lot on prepaid, non-refundable expenses. You're traveling internationally where your health insurance won't apply. You're traveling to a remote area.

When should I buy travel insurance? ›

In general, you can buy coverage any time before the date of your trip. That said, it's always best to buy coverage as soon as you make your reservations. The sooner you buy travel insurance, the sooner you'll be protected and the more benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Does a Visa card cover trip cancellation or interruption? ›

When you pay the full price of your tickets with your valid and active Visa card, you, your spouse and dependent children under 23 years of age are each automatically covered for prepaid travel and/or lodging expenses that are not recoverable if a covered trip is cancelled due to serious illness or injury, or due to ...

Does my Visa card offer travel insurance? ›

Use the Visa insurance service for safe and comfortable travels. Holders of Visa Platinum, Visa Signature, Visa Infinite, Visa Platinum Business and Visa Signature Business premium cards will be automatically insured when traveling.

Do all credit cards have travel insurance? ›

Do all credit cards include travel insurance? While it would be ideal if all credit cards provided travel insurance benefits, this simply isn't the case. Travel rewards credit cards often offer insurance, though coverage limits and types of protections vary by card.

What does travel insurance not cover? ›

Travelling against medical advice or to get medical treatment. If your doctor says it's not safe for you to travel, then you won't be covered. Similarly, if you go abroad to get planned treatment, sometimes called 'medical tourism', a standard policy will not cover this – you'll need specialist insurance instead.

What is the average cost of trip cancellation insurance? ›

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost? According to our research, the average cost of travel insurance is $204, but you could pay anywhere between $14 and $765 for travel insurance. While this may seem like a wide price range, it's important to understand that travel insurance is not a “one price fits all” purchase.

What is the best travel insurance for seniors? ›

Top 9 Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2024
  • Faye: Our top pick for seniors.
  • Travelex: Our pick for families.
  • Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Our pick for luxury travelers.
  • Nationwide Travel Insurance: Our pick for cruise travel.
  • Generali Global Assistance: Our pick for emergency assistance.
May 13, 2024

What does up to 100% reimbursem*nt for covered trip cancellation and interruption mean? ›

As long as the reason for cancellation is covered under your policy, you can submit a claim for reimbursem*nt up to a certain amount. Some providers offer reimbursem*nt of over 100% of your covered trip expenses, but the amount will depend on your plan choice.

Does trip interruption insurance cover meals? ›

Trip Interruption Expenses

If a car accident interrupts your road trip, AAA will reimburse you for expenses such as car rental fees, lodging, and meals.

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