Severe Weather, Serious Protection
Jun 12, 2018 | by Aon
In 2017, the U.S. hurricane season yielded 10 named events. Two of them packed a wallop as the first major hurricanes to hit the continental United States in 12 years. The travel team at Aon Affinity, a leading provider of travel insurance and protection benefits, handled 100+ percent more calls than normal on certain high volume days during the 2017 hurricane season and processed more than five times the number of hurricane related claims than 2016.
While hurricanes paint a certain picture, and come with a name, they aren’t the only type of weather event that can impact traveler plans. Snow, ice, fire, flood, etc. can delay flights, disrupt ports and damage hotels. And there’s no saying exactly when or where severe weather or natural disasters will strike, which is why insurance is designed to offer protection for consumers against losses caused by a broad range of unexpected events. If your flight or your specific destination is directly affected by a severe event, coverage would often be triggered.
Here’s what savvy travelers need to know about severe weather, natural disasters and protecting themselves and their investment.
- While coverage varies, some trip cancellation plans can reimburse costs if you are forced to cancel due to a hurricane affecting your destination during your scheduled time of travel. However, travelers should note that some plans could require that a storm be named, and/or be affecting your specific destination during the time of travel, and not just headed close to the general geographic location.
- But what about when disaster strikes while on the trip? When travelers have to return home early and incur extra expenses to change flights not to mention reimbursement of the unused trip portion, it’s called “trip interruption”. This is a very common benefit of travel protection. In fact, the U.S. Travel Insurance Association found that programs including trip cancellation/interruption benefits accounted for more than 87 percent of travel protection purchased in 2016.
- In most instances it is recommended to purchase travel protection at the same time as booking and paying for the travel arrangements. Some plans can also provide benefits such as Cancel For Any Reason, or waiver of certain exclusions, but only when the plan is purchased within a set timeframe relative to the travel booking.
- Stormy weather doesn’t play favorites and can strike closer to home. When a traveler’s home becomes “uninhabitable,” that can be a covered reason for trip cancellation. This could be due to almost anything serious, such as a fire, flooding, weather damage, etc.
- Travel insurance often includes concierge benefits, such as assistance with a lost passport, finding appropriate medical care, or obtaining travel information. These services can come in handy when plans are disrupted and travelers need guidance and assistance.
All vacation destinations and seasons have their own nuances to consider, so travelers need to be sure to ask plenty of questions of any travel insurance provider and read the specific policy thoroughly to help ensure the investment matches the need. Sometimes a relatively small investment can have a significant payoff for safety and peace of mind.
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