3 Travel Insurance Benefits for Ebola's Effect on Holiday Travel, says Squaremouth
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, some travelers face an unfamiliar concern: Ebola's impact on travel. Squaremouth, America's fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, explains three travel insurance benefits that may help those who find their holiday travel plans are affected by Ebola.
Delayed Due to Ebola?
New airport precautions have been put in place to protect travelers from the spread of Ebola. Some precautions, including advanced cleaning measures, may slow down an already busy travel season.
If a traveler is delayed boarding their plane, they may have coverage under the Travel Delay benefit for reasonable meals and accommodations during their delay. Travelers whose delay causes them to miss a connecting flight may be covered by the Missed Connection benefit, which covers transportation costs to catch them up to their trip.
"In order to be eligible for these benefits, your delay must meet the requirements of your travel insurance policy," explains Joshua Walker, Squaremouth's Product Manager. "All travel insurance policies require you to be delayed for a specified amount of time before the benefit kicks in, however most do not place limitations on the cause of the delay." This means, delays for reasons related to Ebola may be covered.
Quarantine Can Be Covered
Despite the largest Ebola outbreak in history, cancellation due to contracting the virus is still commonly covered. Most policies also extend coverage to travelers who are quarantined before or during their trip. This means travelers who are suspected of having the virus and are quarantined may have coverage to cancel their trip and receive a refund.
"All of the Trip Cancellation policies on our website cover travelers who are quarantined, regardless if the quarantine is out of precaution, or they are given an official diagnosis," adds Walker. "Most providers simply require the quarantine to directly impact your ability to travel."
Interrupted by Ebola
Passengers who are delayed or quarantined due to Ebola may also have coverage under Trip Interruption. This benefit provides reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs that are forfeited while delayed or in quarantine.
"Depending on the situation, a traveler may be able to claim from multiple benefits," says Walker. "If a traveler is delayed while their plane is being sterilized, which causes them to miss the first day of their trip, both the Travel Delay and Trip Interruption benefits may be applicable."
While these benefits are still widely available, a few providers exclude any losses or delays related to Ebola. In most cases, this exclusion is only applicable to those who are traveling to a country where Ebola is considered an epidemic or where there is a U.S. Government-issued travel warning. Travelers who are going anywhere else may still have coverage.
For up-to-date information on Ebola and travel insurance, visit Squaremouth's Ebola and Travel Insurance Information Center.
About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is an online company that compares travel insurance products from every major insurance provider in the US. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and customer reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products. More information: www.squaremouth.com.
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Megan Singh
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