Don't Let a Hurricane Ruin Your Vacation: Understanding Travel Insurance

If you’re planning a trip to Miami, the Bahamas, the Outer Banks, or any other hurricane-prone area, you might be considering buying hurricane travel insurance. However, insurance policies can be confusing, and it’s not always clear which ones are worth the investment. Here’s what you need to know about hurricane travel insurance and what to do if an insurance company doesn’t fulfill their obligations.

What Is Hurricane Travel Insurance?

When booking a cruise or a vacation, you may have the option to purchase hurricane travel insurance. This insurance protects against changes or cancellations caused by hurricanes. If a hurricane disrupts your travel plans, you should be reimbursed for your flight, hotel, and other expenses. However, as with most insurance policies, the fine print can make getting reimbursed more complicated than you might hope.

How Does Hurricane Travel Insurance Work?

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as receiving a full refund because of a forecasted hurricane. Here are some examples of what needs to happen for you to be reimbursed:

• Delayed Arrival: Your arrival at your destination must be delayed by at least 24 hours.
• Evacuation: You must be forced to evacuate your hotel or resort.
• Closed Routes: An airport closure or impassable roads/routes due to the weather.

Even if your trip is delayed by several hours and you miss out on planned activities, you might not be entitled to a refund. Reimbursements are typically only for disruptions that have actually occurred, not just potential disruptions.

In essence, you must attempt to go on your vacation, and only if it’s significantly disrupted or canceled can you seek reimbursement.

When Should I Buy Hurricane Travel Insurance?

Timing is crucial for these policies:

• Purchase Early: You must buy hurricane travel insurance at least 24 hours before a storm warning or the naming of a hurricane.
• Plan Ahead: Don’t wait until a hurricane is announced to buy the policy. It needs to be purchased well in advance as it’s intended for unforeseen weather events.

If there’s a significant risk of your vacation being delayed or canceled due to a tropical storm, it’s worth buying hurricane travel insurance when you book your trip. Don’t wait for a storm warning to decide; by then, it will be too late.

What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay a Valid Claim?

Whether it’s hurricane travel insurance or a homeowners policy, if your insurance company is denying, delaying, or undervaluing a legitimate claim, you should speak with an attorney. Insurance companies often use tactics to avoid paying out claims. Just because they said “No” doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to compensation.

Morgan & Morgan’s hurricane claim attorneys have the experience and resources to take on these companies and win. Over the past 35 years, we’ve recovered more than $20 billion in jury awards and settlements. As America’s largest personal injury law firm, we serve clients nationwide, and it costs nothing up front to hire us.

To learn more, contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.