Will travel insurance cover you for Hurricane Dorian? Travel Insurance Explained

Hurricane Dorian – are you covered by travel insurance?

Hurricane Dorian, a category five storm, has been moving across the Caribbean, devastating the popular holiday islands along the way. This is one of the strongest hurricanes on record to hit the Bahamas and is  now moving towards Florida and South Carolina. With the Caribbean and Florida being major holiday destinations, many plans are likely to be halted – but what cover can holidaymakers expect from their travel insurance? Fiona Macrae, head of consumer awareness campaign, Travel Insurance Explained, details what you should look out for in your policy.

How can I tell if my travel insurance policy provides cover for hurricanes?

Depending on the travel insurer, force majeure cover may also be referred to as natural disaster cover or catastrophic events. There are only a few travel insurance policies that will cover force majeure as standard however, some will offer an add-on or extension so this may be something to look out for if you are heading to a destination that is known for earthquakes or hurricanes.

What is force majeure cover?

Force majeure means a change occurrence or unavoidable accident. The term is used by travel insurers in relation to natural disasters or catastrophic events such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Force majeure is typically an add-on to a travel insurance policy, so while it is not always included as standard, it is a very crucial part of the cover.

Can I buy force majeure cover after I have purchased a travel insurance policy?

If you have brought your travel insurance policy and realised it does not include force majeure cover as standard you can contact the provider and, if they offer the cover, pay an additional premier to add it to the policy.  However, you can only do this providing the natural disaster has not been announced or already taken place.

Will I get reimbursed for expenses, such as hotels, flights and loss of possessions, incurred as a result of Hurricane Dorian?

Although personal possessions, lost luggage and medical bills would be covered as standard, what people assume is that any accommodation or curtailment costs would also be automatically covered following a natural disaster which was out of their control. In fact, natural disasters are not always covered as standard in most travel insurance policies.

What should I do if I don’t have force majeure cover?

If you have booked your holiday through a tour operator or travel agent you should contact them directly to discuss your options. Those who have booked their flights and accommodation individually, and do not have force majeure cover, will be solely responsible for all costs related to alternative accommodation and transport.

Fiona Macrae from travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk said:

“People often assume travel insurance policies will cover them for every eventuality, but this is not the case, natural disasters or acts of God such as hurricanes and earthquakes are not always covered as standard and may need to be added to a policy.

As of yet, the FCO has not advised against travel meaning holiday providers are not obliged to offer reimbursement for travel, however, if booked independently your travel insurer may be able to help if you had ‘cancellation for any cause’ cover under the  policy you purchased.

Our advice is that everyone should look for a travel insurance policy that covers force majeure as standard, or one that allows you to purchase the cover to add to the policy. We would stress this particularly to people travelling to countries prone to natural disasters; this would ensure they are protected should the worst happen.”