Can I cancel if I’m concerned I’ll get stuck overseas due to CDC’s requirement to submit a negative test?

Unfortunately, standard travel insurance policies do not cover canceling a trip because you are concerned about getting stuck overseas and not being able to return home due to the CDC’s requirement that you submit a negative COVID-19 test.

The only time a travel insurance policy can cover you to cancel because you are concerned about traveling due to the coronavirus, or related travel regulations, is if you purchased the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade. This benefit partially reimburses you to cancel your trip for a reason that is not otherwise covered, such as not wanting to travel because you’re nervous you may get stuck in another country.

This is a time-sensitive upgrade. Most policies with Cancel For Any Reason can only be purchased within 14-21 days of the first payment towards the trip. However, if you are taking a cruise, select cruise only policies offer Cancel For Any Reason anytime before you’ve made your final trip payment.

In order to be eligible for the Cancel For Any Reason benefit, you must insure your entire trip cost. In order to cancel under this benefit, you must cancel your trip in its entirety at least 2 days before your scheduled departure date. This benefit can reimburse up to 75% of your trip cost, and typically increases a policy’s premium by about 40-50%.

This information may vary based on the travel insurance policy. If you have questions about a specific policy, please contact us directly at 800-240-0369. Our customer service representatives are available from 8am to 10pm ET, seven days a week, and are delighted to help! We are working to answer customer calls and emails as quickly as possible. We apologize for any delays and appreciate your patience.