On Wednesday, August 30^th, Tropical Storm Irma officially formed in the Atlantic Ocean and has since strengthened to a category 5 hurricane. The path of the storm is unpredictable, but forecasts have many in the Caribbean islands and the state of Florida preparing for the worst. While travel suppliers and airlines are trying to reroute flights, some delays and cancellations are inevitable. TripAssure understands those with plans to travel to this area will have questions about their coverage, and they are encouraged to call us 24/7 with any questions.

It is important to note, don’t rush out to buy travel protection now to cover Irma as TripAssure plans do not provide coverage for a storm that was already named prior to the purchase of travel protection. In this case, plans purchased on or after August 30^th, 2017 will not cover losses related to Irma.

Plans purchased on or before August 29^th, 2017 may have coverage for this storm.  Following are some general guidelines regarding the various coverages available:

Trip Delay – Additional meal and accommodation expenses may be reimbursed up to the amount provided by the plan if you have left home and travel is delayed 6 hours or more due to flight delays or cancellations. The dollar amount of coverage will be based on the plan you selected.  Please refer to your plan documents for complete details.

Missed Connection – All of our plans also include the missed connection benefit if your flight is delayed for 3 hours or more.  This benefit can reimburse unused land and water arrangements and additional transportation to catch up to the trip.  The dollar amount of coverage for Missed Connection will vary depending on the plan you purchased.  For more details, please review your plan documents.

Trip Interruption – TripAssure plans offer Trip Interruption coverage for your travel arrangements if they are disrupted due to the storm and you must leave or return later than originally scheduled. Depending on the TripAssure plan, covered reasons to interrupt the trip can include:  12 hour or more flight delay due to weather; home, work, or accommodations at your destination made uninhabitable; or a hurricane warning from NOAA within 24 hours of departure.  Trip Interruption bases the dollar amount of coverage on the amount of trip cost you insured on the plan. To be certain that you have this protection, please review your plan documents or call TripAssure.

Trip Cancellation – Should your flight be delayed or canceled due to Irma, TripAssure plans can cover cancellation penalties if you are not able to travel for 12 hours or more. Based on the plan selected, TripAssure can also cover you if your destination is officially declared uninhabitable due to the storm, if your home or work place is made uninhabitable, if your destination is under an official hurricane warning issued by NOAA within 24 hours of the trip. A mandatory evacuation can also be considered, if when the evacuation ends and there is less than half or less than 4 days left of your trip. The dollar amount of coverage is determined by the amount of trip cost you insured on the plan.  Please read your plan documents for specific information.

This information is a general overview of coverage benefits that may apply if travel plans are impacted by the storm.  Read a more detailed summary of storm coverage in the post Travel Protection Guide for Hurricane Season 2017. The coverage available for Hurricane Irma and your trip will be based on the terms in your travel protection plan.  Please refer to your plan documents to learn more or contact TripAssure with questions.  Agents are available 24/7 and happy to help.