It’s coverage that reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel for a covered reason (e.g., illness, injury, severe weather). It’s typically purchased as part of a travel insurance plan before final payment or soon after booking.

• Unexpected illness, injury, or death of you or a traveling companion.
• Severe weather or natural disaster making your destination or home uninhabitable.
• Common carrier cancellations due to strike, mechanical issues, or weather (per policy terms).
• Jury duty, subpoena, military duty, or required work reasons (if included).
• Destination or home evacuation orders; documented theft of passport/visa.

Exact triggers vary by insurer—review your certificate for the full list and definitions.

Prepaid, non-refundable items such as flights, cruises, tour packages, hotel stays, event tickets, and certain excursions. Some plans also cover non-refundable taxes/fees and supplier change penalties up to the plan limit.

Cancellation applies before departure when you must scrap the trip. Interruption applies after departure when you must return home early or pause the trip, and can reimburse unused portions plus additional return travel costs (subject to limits).

They’re often excluded unless you qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver. Waivers typically require buying the plan shortly after your first trip payment and being medically able to travel when you purchase.

CFAR is an optional upgrade that lets you cancel for reasons not otherwise covered and receive a partial reimbursement (commonly 50–75%) if you buy within a set window and insure 100% of prepaid costs. CFAR must be purchased before events become foreseeable.

Many plans treat a COVID-19 diagnosis like any covered illness with proper documentation. Government travel bans or fear of travel are generally not covered unless you add CFAR. Check your policy’s infectious disease wording.

As soon as you make your first trip payment. Early purchase preserves eligibility for time-sensitive benefits (like pre-existing waivers or CFAR) and covers subsequent payments if you keep your insured trip cost updated.

Plans typically cost about 4%–10% of your total insured trip cost. Price depends on traveler ages, trip price/duration, destinations, and added options like CFAR.

• Known or foreseeable events at the time of purchase.
• Change of mind or fear of travel (unless CFAR is added).
• Unapproved medical procedures or elective surgery timing.
• Financial insolvency of a supplier unless specifically covered.

• Proof of loss (doctor’s note, test results, airline/cruise cancellation notice).
• Receipts and invoices for all non-refundable costs insured.
• Refund/credit statements from suppliers showing amounts not returned.
• Proof of payment (credit card statements) and itinerary.

Some plans pay primary (faster, no requirement to collect elsewhere first), while others are secondary and coordinate with supplier refunds or other insurance. Your certificate will specify which applies.