When travel insurance won’t save you
Warning that although travel insurance can help ease holiday travel headaches, it may not cover every concern, travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth has offered consumers a list of four times when travel insurance won’t help during the holidays.
The first reason provided is ‘if a winter storm is forecasted to affect your trip’. According to Squaremouth, if you know a winter storm is going to affect your trip, it’s probably too late to get coverage for that storm. “The cutoff for travel insurance coverage is when a winter storm is named by the Weather Channel,” Squaremouth says. “After this time, travellers can still buy a policy, but they will not be covered for delays, cancellations or other losses related to that storm.”
The second reason given by Squaremouth is ‘you are worried the roads might be bad for your drive’. Squaremouth says that travel insurance benefits are limited for those driving to their destination: “Travellers are not covered to cancel their trip because they don’t want to drive in poor conditions and only a few policies include benefits if a traveller cannot reach their destination because roads are closed due to the weather. However, those driving to catch a flight may have coverage if road closures prevent them from reaching the airport.”
Thirdly, Squaremouth warns that insurance will not cover a traveller if they are concerned about long lines at the airport. It also says that travel insurance will not cover a missed flight because of security delays or heavy traffic. “While most policies include benefits for travellers who miss a flight, the reason must be covered by the policy,” Squaremouth explains. “Common covered reasons include a traffic accident, lost or stolen passports, weather conditions and road closures that prevent you from getting to the airport, or airline delays due to mechanical failure or inclement weather.”
The fourth reason cited is ‘you’re travelling with expensive presents’. Squaremouth warns that travel insurance coverage for lost or damaged baggage is limited and expensive items and electronics are often not covered at all, so ‘it is usually a better option for those traveling with a checked bag full of gifts to schedule those items on their renters or homeowners insurance policy’.
Additionally, Squaremouth says that if you have bought a policy for the wrong reasons, there may be some recourse. "Travelers who change their mind about their policy may be able to get their money back," said spokesperson Rachael Taft. "Many policies have a 'free look' period, during which you can cancel for a full refund."