Northeast Blizzard: What You Need to Know if You Have a Travel Insurance Policy, says Squaremouth

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Jan 27, 2015, 02:12 ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- At least 250,000 travelers are blaming the Northeast Blizzard for flight cancellations and delays. While they may still be stranded, those with a travel insurance policy may not be at a total loss. Squaremouth, America's fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, explains what travelers with an insurance policy need to know now.

Travelers can stay up-to-date with information about the Northeast Blizzard and Travel Insurance, by visiting Squaremouth's Extreme Weather and Travel Insurance Information Center. This is updated in real-time with official provider position statements, FAQs and travel warnings.

Allianz Global Assistance: "Winter Storm Juno became a known event on January 26, 2015. Customers who purchased their travel insurance policy prior to that date, may be eligible for the following benefits:

If the customer's Letter of Confirmation lists Travel Delay as a benefit, they may be eligible to receive reimbursement for additional out of pocket transportation, lodging or meal expenses incurred as a result of a delay by their common carrier of six or more consecutive hours (please note: this benefit has a per person, per day maximum as well as a policy maximum). Some policies also provide coverage for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses lost due to the Travel Delay and may allow customers to cancel or interrupt their trip if their delay causes them to miss more than 50% of their scheduled trip.

Customers may qualify for Trip Cancellation/Interruption benefits if their travel supplier experiences a complete cessation of services for 24 or more consecutive hours due to severe weather.

In addition, coverage for Emergency Medical/Dental expenses and Emergency Medical Transportation may be available." Full statement from Allianz Global Assistance

APRIL Travel Protection: "If inclement weather caused by the blizzard leads to a flight delay or cancellation, our exclusive 'Stress-Less Benefits' may be triggered for APRIL policyholders. In that case, we will try our best to:

Provide an instant adjudication in the policyholder's favor
Rebook the policyholder on new flights
Pay for the new flights when we book them" - Jason Schreier, CEO of APRIL-USA

CSA Travel Protection: "For plans that do offer coverage for adverse weather and natural disasters, please note that there is no coverage for this specific storm under any plans purchased on or after Monday, January 26, 2015." Full statement from CSA Travel Protection

Global Alert / MH Ross / TravelSafe: "Following are some general guidelines – subject to the provisions and limits specific to your plan – regarding the various coverages available:

Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption or Missed Connection – Generally, if your flight is delayed or canceled due to inclement weather, and there is a complete cessation of services for the number of hours (usually 12 or 24 hours) specified in your plan, you can take a an alternate flight when travel is possible and be reimbursed for the unused land or water arrangements and any of the specified additional transportation expenses, up to the plan limit, or, If this is not feasible, you can cancel your trip. There is no coverage if you cancel your trip based upon the possibility of a storm striking your home or trip destination, but coverage is available if your home is made uninhabitable by the storm.

Trip/Travel Delay – If your plan includes travel delay benefits, 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 for the number of hours specified in your plan due to flight delays or cancellations." Full statement from Global Alert, MH Ross and TravelSafe

RoamRight: "RoamRight urges travelers to confirm travel plans before they leave home, and take necessary precautions regarding travel in potential blizzard conditions. Depending on the RoamRight plan, travelers may have trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, or missed connection benefits.

Covered reasons for weather-related cancellations include:

Weather which causes complete cessation of services of your common carrier for at least 24 consecutive hours.
Natural Disaster, which includes blizzard, at the site of your destination which renders your destination accommodations uninhabitable.
Mandatory evacuation ordered by local authorities at your final destination due to hurricane or other Natural Disaster, with 50% of the total trip length or less remaining on the trip, at the time the mandatory evacuation ends.
A cancellation of your trip if your arrival on the trip is delayed and causes you to lose 50% or more of the scheduled trip duration due to the reasons covered under the trip delay benefit.

Note – Reimbursement is subject to airline change and cancellation penalties during weather event." Full statement from RoamRight

Tin Leg: "Travelers who purchased a Tin Leg, Economy, Standard or Luxury policy prior to January 26th, 2015, may be eligible for cancellation, interruption or travel delay benefits.

Covered reasons for weather-related cancellations, interruptions, and delays include (but are not limited to):

Inclement weather which results in the complete cessation of travel services at the point of departure or destination for the below specified amounts of time:
- Tin Leg Economy policy: 48 consecutive hours
- Tin Leg Standard policy: 24 consecutive hours
- Tin Leg Luxury policy: 12 consecutive hours
Accommodations at a destination are made uninhabitable
You and/or your traveling companion have your principal place of residence made uninhabitable by Natural Disaster
Reimbursement for meals, accommodations, local transportation, an economy fare ticket to resume your trip, or return to your original destination when delayed en route to or from your covered trip for the below specified amounts of time:
- Tin Leg Economy policy: 12 consecutive hours
- Tin Leg Standard policy: 12 consecutive hours
- Tin Leg Luxury policy: 6 consecutive hours"

Full statement from Tin Leg

Travelex: "To help expedite the service process caused by these flight cancellations, here are a few tips for you and your clients.

For travelers who have not yet departed on their trip:

Encourage travelers to contact their airline or travel supplier first, as most airlines have issued waivers allowing travelers to re-book their reservation without a change fee.

For travelers who are currently experiencing a trip interruption or delay:

Advise travelers that it is beneficial to work with their original airline first, to see how they can be re-accommodated.
Travelex's Travel Assistance provider may contact the airline on the traveler's behalf while the customer is waiting. If the traveler is standing in line at the airport, we do not suggest that the traveler get out of line.
Travelex Assistance will always offer to investigate alternative flights as a possible solution. However, the traveler will be advised any new flight purchased would be an out of pocket expense which may be reimbursable after filing a claim, depending on the policy provisions."

Full statement from Travelex

Trawick International: "Customers are reminded to read their Trawick Safe Travel Plan Description for details regarding their coverage. For plans that offer travel benefits (delay, interruption, cancellation) for adverse weather and natural disasters, please note that there is no coverage for this specific storm related losses purchased on or after Monday, January 26, 2015. If you need to extend your current coverage past your scheduled return date, change a departure date or if you have questions about your specific coverage, please contact Trawick directly." Full statement from Trawick International

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH:
Squaremouth is an online company that compares travel insurance products from virtually 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:
Megan Singh
[email protected]
(727) 378-0983

SOURCE Squaremouth