Does Travel Insurance Cover Hurricanes?

When Is Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season is a time frame when hurricanes are most likely to hit the U.S. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, with peak activity occurring between August and October. During this six-month time span, your travel plans may be impacted by heavy rains, high winds and storm surges.

Hurricanes in the Atlantic basin typically affect the Caribbean, Central America and the U.S. states situated along the Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard. But hurricanes can disrupt flights far beyond the immediate storm zone because modern air travel is a tightly connected national network. A major disruption in one region ripples across the whole system.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Hurricanes?

Travel insurance covers you when a hurricane impacts your trip, as long as you purchased coverage before the National Hurricane Center assigns a name to the storm system. This generally happens when storm winds sustain 39 mph. Once the storm is named, insurers consider it a known event that's no longer eligible for coverage.

The details of your coverage depend on your specific policy. You typically get reimbursement for nonrefundable, prepaid costs when a named storm causes a cancellation, delay or interruption. Eligible costs usually include flights, hotel rooms, meals and other essentials.

If you're injured in the storm while on your trip, then your travel insurance plan can pay for emergency medical and dental services, as well as emergency medical transportation.

What Coverage Does Travel Insurance Provide for Hurricanes?

Depending on your travel insurance policy, it may offer different types of financial protection against hurricanes. These may include:

• Trip cancellation: If a hurricane forces you to cancel a trip before departure—whether it's because the storm prevents you from embarking or leaves your destination uninhabitable—then trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid nonrefundable costs.
• Trip interruption: This type of coverage pays for nonrefundable expenses and the costs of getting home if a hurricane forces you to cut your trip short. You're also covered if a storm destroys your home and you need to return to address the damage.
• Travel delay coverage: When a named storm delays your flight or other travel reservations, this type of coverage pays for reasonable expenses while you wait for a rescheduled itinerary. Coverage typically kicks in once your travel is delayed by at least six hours.
• Emergency medical coverage: If you're injured or become ill on your trip because of a weather event, this portion of coverage pays for the costs of medical treatment. This can be especially important for international travel, where your regular health insurance may provide limited or no coverage.
• Baggage coverage: When you've arrived at your destination without luggage, your travel policy may provide reimbursement for essentials until you get your bags back. It may also pay to replace items if your suitcases aren't found.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage: This optional upgrade provides broader cancellation coverage compared to standard travel insurance. You can cancel your travel plans for just about any reason and get reimbursed for a portion of your nonrefundable trip costs.

Learn more: Travel Protection vs. Travel Insurance: What's the Difference?

When to Buy Travel Insurance to Ensure Hurricane Coverage

Travel insurance could be a good idea for some travelers, but it depends on factors like where you're going and when. Here are some points to consider before purchasing coverage:

• Time of year: The Atlantic hurricane season stretches from June to November each year. A storm could potentially affect your travel plans within these dates—especially later in the season—making travel insurance more necessary.
• Your destination: Hurricanes can cause delays anywhere, but disruptions are more likely within the hurricane belt, which spans the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. coast.
• International travel: Most U.S.-based health insurance plans don't cover you outside the country, so travel insurance with medical benefits is important when you're headed abroad.
• Trip costs: Travel insurance offers a stronger value if your trip is expensive or most of your costs are nonrefundable. On the flip side, if everything is refundable or easily changeable, you may not need additional coverage.
• Moving pieces: Coverage may come in handy if your trip has a lot of connections or multiple stops, since there are more opportunities for weather delays or cancellations.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Hurricane Season

If you've decided to buy travel insurance for hurricane season, these tips can ensure a smooth process:

• Buy travel insurance early. You're only protected against hurricane disruptions if you purchased coverage before the storm system is named. The best time to buy a travel insurance policy is immediately after booking your trip.
• Calculate your coverage needs. Add up all of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses to determine what your coverage limit should be. This allows you to buy adequate coverage while preventing you from overpaying.
• Compare multiple providers. Coverages, limits, deductibles and other details vary with each provider and travel insurance policy. Getting multiple quotes and comparing offers helps you find the best deal.
• Review coverage guidelines. The policy will explain when coverage kicks in. For example, you might be able to file a claim if your carrier can't get you to your destination within a specified time frame or when you've lost a certain percentage of your scheduled trip due to a covered travel delay.
• Look for exclusions and limitations. Just as you should understand what the travel insurance policy covers, it's also critical to know when you aren't covered. Read through the policy and ask the insurer questions before heading out on your trip.

Learn more: Average Cost of Travel Insurance

The Bottom Line

Storms can cause all kinds of problems during hurricane season, which runs from May to November each year. Travel insurance financially protects you when a named storm forces you to cancel plans or reschedule your itinerary. But timing is key. To qualify for coverage, you'll need to buy the policy before the storm is named. That's why travel experts recommend buying a policy as soon as you book your trip.