Hurricane Matthew: Too Late to Get Travel Insurance, Says Squaremouth

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Oct 03, 2016, 03:46 ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hurricane Matthew serves as an unfortunate reminder that late-season hurricanes can still affect travel, but it is now too late for travelers to get coverage for the storm, says leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.

"When customers call asking about Hurricane Matthew, we advise them not to buy a policy, because they won't be covered," said Squaremouth spokesperson Rachael Taft. "Once a storm is named, it is considered foreseen and no longer eligible for coverage on new policies."

Affected travelers who had a policy with hurricane coverage in place before Hurricane Matthew was named could be covered to cancel their trip or return home early if they meet their policy's requirements.

Typically, policies require the hurricane to render your accommodations uninhabitable or cause your flight or cruise to be canceled or significantly delayed. Some policies allow you to cancel if there is a hurricane warning in effect for your destination right before your trip, or if there is a mandatory evacuation at your destination.

"The possibility of bad weather during your vacation is not enough to cancel," said Taft. "Travel insurance generally requires a hurricane to directly impact your trip to qualify for cancellation coverage."

Most policies include medical and evacuation coverage for affected travelers. Every policy comes with 24-Hour Emergency Assistance, which travelers can contact to receive help or ask questions about their coverage.

Visit Squaremouth's Extreme Weather and Travel Insurance Information Center for more information about travel insurance coverage related to Hurricane Matthew, including provider position statements and answers to frequently asked questions about hurricane coverage.

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH
Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com.

Available Topic Expert:
Rachael Taft
[email protected]
(727) 264-5174

SOURCE Squaremouth