Terrorism/Mandatory Evacuation Coverage

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This coverage provides reimbursement for your pre-paid travel expenses (up to the policy limit) in the event a terrorist event occurs at your U.S. or foreign destination, or a mandatory evacuation is ordered, within a certain number of days of your scheduled arrival. This is a listed covered reason under trip cancellation coverage and trip interruption coverage.

Let us tell you a story

Dan and Sylvia had planned a visit to relatives in Spain and tour the northern wine regions of Rioja, Galicia, and Catelonia. At the time they made their travel plans, there were no reports of terror attacks–all was quiet.

As their travel dates got closer, however, several terrorist attacks were carried out in Northern Spain, and they became worried. Their relatives were safe, but Dan and Sylvia didn’t feel comfortable with the risk, so they checked their travel insurance plan. Terrorism was included as a covered reason for pre-trip cancellations if the event occurred within 30 days of their scheduled trip departure. After thinking it through carefully, they decided to cancel their trip and try another year. Because the trip was still weeks away, they had time to make alternative travel arrangements to visit Puerto Rico with their refund.

What does Terrorism/Mandatory Evacuation cover?

This coverage is listed as a covered reason for trip cancellations and trip interruptions in some travel insurance plans.

Some plans allow terrorism and mandatory evacuations as covered reasons for missed connections and travel delays but not for trip cancellation and interruptions. Specifically, the Essentials plan by Global Alert treats terrorism and mandatory evacuations as a covered reason for missed connections and travel delays, but not for trip cancellations and interruptions. This is true of the Elements plans (both Individual and Family) offered by TravelSafe as well.

Important notes about this coverage

• You cannot receive coverage for terrorist events if there has been a terrorist event within a certain number of days (usually 30) before your plan’s effective date or if there is a current U.S. travel advisory warning against travel to that destination.
• The terror event must occur after the effective date of your travel insurance policy.
• The terrorist event that prompts canceling a trip must occur less than a certain number of days (usually 30 but sometimes as low as 7 days) prior to your scheduled departure date.

What type of policy covers this?

While travel insurance package plans provide coverage for terrorism, some travel medical plans do as well. Travel medical plans may limit their coverage for terrorism to medical expenses only. Specifically, the the following plans provide medical coverage in the event of a terrorist incident:

• The Atlas Medical plan by Travel Insured International
• The Liaison Majestic plan by Seven Corners

How much coverage does each company provide?

* Requires the plan to have been in effect at least 30 days
** Covers terrorist events at U.S. destinations only
*** Coverage restricted to citizens of certain states
**** Valid only if the U.S. government has not issued a travel warning in the six months prior to your arrival
***** Available with optional upgrade

Summary

• This coverage is considered a covered reason for pre-trip cancellations and post-departure trip interruptions
• This coverage is available in package plans and some travel medical plans
• The terrorist event must occur after the policy’s effective date and within a certain number of days prior to the scheduled departure date
• The terrorist event or mandatory evacuation must occur within the city on the insured’s itinerary (near doesn’t count)