What is Coverage for Inclement Weather?

Travel Insurance Coverage for Inclement Weather

No matter what time of year you choose to travel, there’s always a chance that severe weather events can impact your plans. Fortunately, most travel insurance policies offer reimbursement to travelers who suffer financial loss as a result.

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies will include the following inclement weather coverage:

• Travel Delay: According to the FAA, 3 out of every 4 delays are caused by weather. If inclement weather causes your common carrier to be significantly delayed, your policy’s Travel Delay benefit may reimburse you for food and accommodation expenses incurred while you await your new departure time. For this coverage to be available, the severe weather must delay your trip by at least 3-12 hours, depending on the plan.

• Missed Connection: For travelers with connecting flights, one delay can spark a domino effect for the rest of their travel schedule. If you miss a connecting flight due to inclement weather delays, your policy’s Missed Connection may cover the cost of booking additional travel arrangements.

• Trip Cancellation: Severe weather may force you to cancel your trip altogether. Trip Cancellation can reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if your flight is delayed more than 24 hours due to inclement weather. Keep in mind that standard Trip Cancellation does not cover cancellations due to bad weather. For example, you won’t be covered if you choose to cancel your golf trip due to impending rain. For more cancellation flexibility, we recommend purchasing a policy with Cancel for Any Reason.

• Trip Interruption: In the event you need to return home early due to severe weather, such as natural disasters, you are eligible for reimbursement for any unused trip costs through your plans Trip Interruption benefit.

How to Find a Plan with Inclement Weather Coverage

Inclement weather coverage is a common inclusion in travel insurance plans. More often than not, your policy will provide some form of protection if your trip is derailed by inclement weather and natural disasters.

There are a couple of ways to confirm that a policy you’re considering covers inclement weather disruptions:

• Use Filters: When looking for a policy, some sites let you filter results to only show plans that include the Hurricane and Weather benefit.
• Review Certificate: You can check a policy’s Certificate of Insurance at any time. This document outlines the benefits and coverage limits included in the plan.