WARWICK,
R.I., May 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The early
outlook is in –this hurricane season could be one for the record
books. A first forecast of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
predicts at total of 23 storms, with 11 of those becoming
hurricanes and five hurricanes could reach Category 3 status or
stronger.
The summer is primetime for hurricanes and tropical storms; it
also happens to be the most popular time to travel. So, the
experts at InsureMyTrip, a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation WRN
Ambassador™, are helping travelers stay one step ahead of stormy
surprises.
Travel insurance is an efficient and cost-effective way to
protect your trip against potential weather woes. However,
coverage can be confusing. So, one major thing to keep in
mind – buy travel insurance early. Once a storm starts
forming, it is considered a "foreseeable event," and insurance
coverage will no longer be available to cover losses related to
that storm.
"Every year, hurricanes put thousands of travelers' plans at
risk, leading to potential financial losses in bookings and other
non-refundable expenses," says InsureMyTrip CEO Suzanne Morrow. "Travel insurance acts as a
safeguard, ensuring that the investments our clients make in their
travels are better protected."
How Hurricane Coverage Works
When it comes to severe weather, insurance may enable travelers
to receive reimbursement of pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if
they must cancel or interrupt a trip due to severe
weather-related issues covered under the trip cancellation and
interruption benefits.
Here are 5 scenarios that may trigger travel insurance
coverage:
- My flights are grounded due to a hurricane: Many plans
may cover a traveler when common carriers - such as airlines and
cruise lines - cease service due to weather. The cessation of
services must be for a certain number of hours, usually 24-48.
- My resort is in the path of a hurricane: A
few plans may cover when the traveler's destination is under
a NOAA-issued hurricane warning. *
- A hurricane damaged my hotel or resort: Many plans
may cover a traveler when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is
devastated and made uninhabitable by a storm.
- A hurricane damaged my home: Many plans may offer
coverage when the primary home of a traveler sustains destructive
storm damage that renders the home uninhabitable.
- I changed my mind: For the flexibility to
cancel a trip for reasons other than those listed as "covered
reasons" on a policy, a traveler may consider Cancel for Any Reason
(CFAR) protection.
CFAR is an optional time-sensitive benefit
available on some plans that allow a traveler to cancel a trip for
any reason, up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure.
Reimbursement is usually 50-75% of the prepaid, non-refundable trip
cost. A traveler must meet specific eligibility requirements and
must purchase a policy with CFAR within 14-21 days of making an
initial trip payment or deposit.
Hurricanes and Airline Cancellation Policies
New rules outlined by the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) make it easier for air passengers to received refunds when
airlines cancel or significantly change flights.
While this is a big step in the right direction of passenger
rights, Americans are still vulnerable to costly, weather-related
travel issues not covered under the new rules. For example,
accommodations, emergency medical/evacuation, and 24/7 assistance
services.
Additional Hurricane Coverage Information
InsureMyTrip's Hurricane Educational Center includes important
information to better assist travelers with their upcoming trips.
The content hub also offers access to travel data, a free travel
guide eBook, videos, and other resources.
Travelers interested in learning more about insurance plans for
travel during hurricane season can visit www.InsureMyTrip.com or
call 1-800-551-4635 to speak with a licensed travel insurance
agent.
Media Contact:
Meghan Kayata
Press@insuremytrip.com
*Included on some comprehensive travel insurance plans, the
NOAA-issued hurricane warning must be issued for the traveler's
destination within a specified time period of the traveler's
scheduled departure. The cancellation must also be more than 14
days after the traveler's effective date for trip cancellation
coverage. This means that there would not be coverage for a
hurricane warning issued within the 14-day period after your policy
goes into effect.
About InsureMyTrip
You like options. We do too. It's simple. InsureMyTrip
finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip
is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to
empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions
by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise.
InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
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SOURCE InsureMyTrip