The Best Hurricane Travel Insurance for 2024

Does travel insurance cover hurricanes and tropical storms?

Yes, some travel insurance plans cover hurricanes and tropical storms, but not all do. If you want protection from hurricanes, you must purchase a policy with hurricane coverage listed as one of its benefits.

Additionally, you won’t be covered if you buy a policy after a storm has already been named.

Buying before a storm is named

Tropical storms and hurricanes are both categorized by a naming system (i.e. hurricane Katrina). Most companies exclude hurricane and tropical storm coverage for policies that were purchased after a major storm was named.

To be covered for a hurricane or tropical storm, you must buy travel insurance at least 24 hours before the storm is named.

Check for named storms here

What does insurance cover when traveling during hurricane season?

Travel insurance during hurricane season usually covers various expenses, depending on the policy type. This can include compensation for trip interruptions, cancellations, delays, medical treatment, evacuation costs, damaged personal belongings, and rental car damage.

While its main purpose is to reimburse lost travel expenses, it also provides some medical coverage for travelers.

Let’s delve into how various situations could affect your trip and how the different types of coverage mentioned earlier can provide assistance.

The destination is under a hurricane warning

A hurricane warning means that a destination is expected to have sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some travel insurance policies reimburse you if your destination is under a hurricane warning issued by the NOAA.

Before you travel, it’s important to review the terms of your policy carefully. Check to see if you’re eligible for coverage if the NOAA issues a hurricane warning shortly before or during your travel.

There is storm damage at the destination

If a tropical cyclone inflicts significant damage on a hotel, vacation rental, or other property, rendering it uninhabitable, hurricane coverage can reimburse you for your losses. If it’s damaged before your vacation, trip cancellation coverage will apply. If it happens during your trip, trip interruption coverage steps in.

Natural disaster causes damage to your home

Sometimes, you need hurricane coverage due to a storm at your home instead of at your destination. For example, if a storm causes severe damage to your home right before you’re scheduled for a romantic getaway, you may not be able to travel as intended. A comprehensive hurricane travel insurance policy reimburses you for this type of loss.

Note that hurricane travel insurance doesn’t pay for any of the damage to your home. It only refunds your prepaid expenses. If a storm hits your home before your trip, cancellation coverage applies. If it hits during your trip, interruption coverage will kick in.

Your airline or cruise line cancels or delays due to weather

Sometimes, an airline or a cruise line must cancel or delay a journey due to poor weather conditions. Coverage for airline and cruise delays varies by policy, but you may be able to use your trip delay, trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance depending on the circumstances. This extends to most common carries (bus, train, ferry, etc.)

Mandatory evacuation order during trip

If a government agency issues a mandatory evacuation order, you must leave the area immediately. This is difficult enough when you’re going through a storm at home, but it’s even worse when you’re traveling because you may not be familiar with the region or know how to get help when you need it.

When shopping for hurricane trip insurance, look for a policy with trip interruption coverage that reimburses you for losses associated with mandatory evacuation orders. Having the extra coverage can help you avoid losing thousands of dollars.

Some policies include non-medical evacuation coverage, but you’ll likely need to use your trip interruption benefits to recoup evacuation-related expenses.

Your cruise vacation is affected by a hurricane

Cruises are even more susceptible to hurricanes, as they take place in the water instead of on land. Ship captains have to consider passenger safety and other factors when making decisions regarding cancellations and delays.

If a hurricane affects your cruise vacation, you may be able to use some combination of trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay benefits to recoup your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.

What is not covered by hurricane travel insurance?

Even the most comprehensive hurricane travel insurance plans don’t cover every scenario.

As previously mentioned, hurricane coverage doesn’t apply to named storms. For example, if the NOAA announces a storm on November 1, you won’t be covered if you wait until November 5 to purchase your policy. You’d have to buy your coverage at least 24 hours beforehand.

Some companies refuse to cover policyholders if they live near their destinations. For instance, if you live in Orlando and plan to visit Miami, your hurricane travel insurance may not cover you if a hurricane hits Miami before or during your trip.

Normal inclement weather is not covered. Typically, bad weather that doesn’t cause significant delays to a common carrier or render a location uninhabitable is not enough to claim reimbursement under your travel insurance cancellation policy.

How much does travel insurance for hurricane coverage cost?

The cost of hurricane travel insurance varies depending on factors like your destination, trip duration and total trip cost.

To give you an idea of the cost, example quotes for travel insurance plans that cover cancellation or interruption due to natural disasters or severe weather events for a trip to Mexico.

We applied the following criteria to each quote:

• Age: 35
• Trip duration: Seven days
• Average Trip cost: $2,000
• Destination: Mexico
• Time of trip: November 2024
• State of residency: California

In this example, you can see that travel insurance that includes hurricane coverage costs around $15 to $26 per day.

Cost Example of Plans That Provide Hurricane Coverage

Since travel insurance costs depend on multiple factors, the quotes you see may not reflect your actual expense. For accurate pricing, it’s best to obtain a personalized quote.

When should I buy travel insurance for hurricane coverage?

Consider getting travel insurance with hurricane coverage in these situations.

You are traveling during hurricane season

If you’re traveling during hurricane season, research your destination carefully. Buying hurricane travel insurance is a no-brainer if your destination is known for hurricane activity. For example, if you plan to visit the Bahamas in July, you’ll be traveling right in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season.

You live in an area prone to natural disasters

Even if the weather at your destination is perfect, that doesn’t mean you don’t need hurricane travel insurance. You should buy a policy if you live in an area prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters.

If your home sustains severe damage before or during your vacation, you’ll be able to use your travel insurance policy to get back some of the money you spent.

You are going on a cruise

Cruises are highly dependent on weather patterns. Sudden changes in temperature or wind speed can cause unexpected delays or cancellations. You should purchase hurricane travel insurance to protect you under these circumstances.

Travel insurance tips during hurricane season

Use these tips to find the best travel insurance for your trip during hurricane season.