What coverage do I have if an earthquake strikes while I’m at my destination?

Short Answer

If you had a travel insurance policy in place before the earthquake occurred, you may be eligible for coverage under various benefits, including Emergency Medical, Medical Evacuation, Trip Interruption and Travel Delay.

More Detail

If you are currently in a destination that has been affected by an earthquake, we recommend that you contact your provider’s 24-Hour Emergency Assistance department for immediate help and to ask questions about your coverage.

If you are injured in an earthquake while on a covered trip, the Medical Evacuation benefit can provide coverage for you to be medically transported to the nearest suitable medical facility, and depending on the policy, this benefit may transport you to a medical facility back home as well. The Emergency Medical benefit can cover medical treatment.

If your flight or cruise to a destination is delayed due to the earthquake, you may have coverage under your policy’s Travel Delay or Missed Connection benefit. Travel Delay and Missed Connection can provide reimbursement for meals and accommodations, as well as unused, nonrefundable travel arrangements if you are delayed for more than 3-12 hours. Missed Connection can also provide coverage for transportation to catch up to your originally scheduled trip.

You may also be covered to end your trip and return home due to the earthquake, as long as the event meets one of your policy’s covered reasons for Trip Interruption. This typically requires your accommodations to be rendered uninhabitable, your flights to be significantly delayed, or a mandatory evacuation to be issued for your destination.

If necessary, the Non-Medical Evacuation benefit can provide reimbursement for transportation to the nearest place of safety.

This information is time-sensitive 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 24/7 and are delighted to help.