Traveling during the winter months brings with it all sorts of potential complications, from cancelled flights to hazardous road conditions. Did you know that travel insurance can help cover the costs of weather-related trip interruptions? Here are three surprising winter storm complications travel insurance can cover, according to the travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth:.
1. Traffic Delays Due to Snow
When a winter storm blows in, road closures and traffic accidents abound. According to Squaremouth, travel insurance policies can provide coverage for traffic delays related to winter storms, including:
- Not being able to get to the airport when roads are closed because of snow or because of an accident obstructing the road
- If you’re involved in an accident on your way to the airport due to winter road conditions
Keep in mind, you will not be covered if you choose not to drive because of snowy or icy conditions; travelers must be prevented from reaching the airport or destination.
2. Travel Snafus Due to Power Outages or Storm Damage
A bad storm often means power outages, sometimes for tens of thousands of people. Travel insurance policies can provide coverage to cancel your trip if your destination is rendered uninhabitable due to a power outage or damage caused by snowfall. You may even have coverage for trip cancellation if you need to stay back because your home is damaged by winter conditions.
3. School Closures
Many families make travel plans based around the kids’ school holidays. But when schools close due to winter weather, scheduled days off or holiday breaks are often shortened to make up the time. Sometimes, days are even tacked on to the end of the school year. Certain travel policies, however, can provide cancellation coverage in the event an extended school year conflicts with pre-planned travel.
No matter what your particular winter-related issue may be, if you didn’t purchase your travel insurance policy before the storm was named, you won’t be able to receive benefits relating to the storm.
