Natural Disaster Travel Insurance
Wildfires, floods, storms and other natural disasters can disrupt transport, make accommodation unsafe, or leave travellers facing unexpected costs.
Selected travel insurance policies include cover for certain losses caused by a defined natural disaster.
Does travel insurance cover natural disasters?
Travel insurance can cover some situations caused by a natural disaster, but it does not cover every disruption.
Depending on the policy selected and what has happened, cover can include cancellation or curtailment, alternative accommodation, additional transport, missed departure, travel delay, or abandonment.
A claim must meet the conditions of the relevant policy section. Simply feeling uncomfortable about travelling is not usually enough.
Important information:
Natural disaster benefits, definitions, limits, and excesses vary by policy. Cover only applies to the insured circumstances stated in your Policy Wording.
You may not be covered if the event was already known when you bought the policy or booked the trip, if you travel against applicable official advice, or if your costs can be recovered from a travel provider or another source.
What events can be included?
Depending on the definition used by the policy, natural disasters or catastrophes can include:
The complete list varies. Check the definition and relevant cover section in the Policy Wording before choosing a policy.
What can natural disaster cover include?
Alternative accommodation
Selected policies can help with reasonable additional accommodation costs if a wildfire, flood, earthquake, or another insured event makes your booked accommodation unusable.
Additional transport
Cover can include eligible transport costs needed to reach alternative accommodation, continue the trip, or return home. Some policies require the arrangements to be agreed with the emergency-assistance service first.
Cancellation or curtailment
Some policies can cover eligible, non-refundable costs if a defined natural disaster prevents the trip from going ahead or makes it necessary to return home early.
Delay or abandonment
Selected policies can provide a delay benefit, or cover eligible costs if transport is seriously disrupted and the policy’s minimum delay period is met.
Is wildfire covered by travel insurance?
Wildfire cover varies between policies. Current Policy Wordings may describe the event as a wildfire, forest fire, fire, natural catastrophe, or natural disaster.
Even where fire is included, cover only applies when the event causes one of the insured circumstances stated in the policy. This could include making accommodation unusable, preventing a travel provider from reaching the destination or causing an official change in travel advice.
A wildfire being reported somewhere in the same country will not automatically provide grounds for a claim.
Natural Disaster FAQs
Am I covered if the event was already known about?
Travel insurance does not normally cover an event that was already known, foreseeable, publicly announced or widely reported when you bought your policy or booked your trip. The exact cut-off varies by policy.
If the event develops after you have bought cover, you may be able to claim if it causes one of the insured circumstances described in your Policy Wording.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday because of a natural disaster?
Cancelling your holiday does not automatically entitle you to a refund from your travel insurer. Cancellation cover only applies for specified insured reasons and usually considers prepaid costs that cannot be recovered from your airline, accommodation provider, tour operator or another source.
Choosing not to travel because you feel concerned about an event is not normally covered. Contact your travel provider and insurer before cancelling.
Check with your travel provider before cancelling, as they may offer an alternative or refund.
What if my accommodation is cancelled or cannot be used?
Contact the accommodation provider or tour operator first. They may offer alternative accommodation, new dates or a refund.
Selected travel insurance policies can cover additional accommodation, transport or cancellation costs if an insured event - such as a fire, flood or earthquake - makes your booked accommodation unusable. Conditions vary, and you may need written confirmation of what happened and evidence of any refund offered.
What if the event happens while I am away?
Follow instructions from the local authorities and contact your travel provider. Depending on the policy and circumstances, cover can include alternative accommodation, additional transport or returning home early.
Contact the emergency-assistance service shown in your policy documents before making substantial new arrangements where it is safe and practical to do so.
What if my flight or other transport is cancelled?
Your airline or transport provider should explain your options, which may include alternative travel or a refund. Selected policies can provide cover when an insured natural disaster or severe weather causes a qualifying delay, missed departure or trip abandonment.
Minimum waiting periods, covered events and benefit limits vary, so check your Policy Wording before making a claim.
