Will travel insurance cover natural disasters?
Key takeaways
Travel insurance may cover natural disaster costs, including cancellations, delays, evacuation, and emergency expenses, depending on your policy
Check FCDO advice and policy terms, as claims may not be covered if you travel against advice or buy insurance after an event is known
Know your holiday provider’s responsibilities, as package and independent holidays are handled differently during disruptions
Keep records and contact your insurer quickly if a disaster occurs, including receipts and booking details for any claims
Will my travel insurance policy cover natural disasters?
Many travel insurance policies provide cover for unexpected events caused by natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, or severe weather.
Depending on your policy, you may be covered for trip cancellations, delays, emergency accommodation, medical expenses, or additional travel costs caused by a natural disaster. Cover varies between insurers, so it is important to check your policy wording carefully and confirm what events and expenses are included before you travel.
How do insurers define a natural disaster?
Insurers typically define a natural disaster as a large-scale event caused by natural forces that leads to significant damage, disruption, or danger to people and property.
This can include events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and severe storms.
The exact definition and the events covered can vary between insurance providers, so it is important to check your policy terms and conditions for the specific details.
Some insurers refer to natural disasters as ‘catastrophes’; others might refer to ‘force majeure’.
What natural disasters are covered by travel insurance?
It will vary between insurers, but generally speaking natural disaster cover should include:
Storms, tornados and hurricanes
Earthquakes and tsunamis
Floods
Landslides and avalanches
Volcano eruptions and ash clouds
Wildfires
Pandemics
What is an FCDO warning?
An FCDO warning is travel advice issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to help people understand potential risks when travelling to or staying in another country.
Travel insurance will only pay out for holiday cancellations in the event of a natural disaster if the FCDO advises against anything except essential travel to your destination. Some providers also require the local or national authorities to say that it’s unsafe to travel.
If you make the choice to cancel your holiday while your holiday provider or airline is operating as normal and FCDO's advice is unchanged, then you won’t receive any cancellation cover from your insurance.
If you travel against FCDO advice, your travel insurance won’t cover you for anything that happens during your trip.
What is an anticipated event?
An anticipated or foreseeable event is an incident or disaster that a reasonable person would expect to occur. Travel insurers will not cover claims if an event was already forecasted, announced, or widely known before you booked your trip or purchased the insurance policy.
Here’s an example: You booked a holiday to Fiji but you didn’t buy travel insurance. A week before departure, a cyclone formed in the Pacific Ocean and was forecast to affect Fiji. You then bought travel insurance in case the cyclone caused the trip to be cancelled.
However, because you were already aware of the cyclone and the potential impact on your travel plans before purchasing the policy, it would be considered an anticipatedevent. If you needed to cancel your holiday due to the cyclone, your claim would not be covered, as the event was already happening, and was not unexpected or unforeseen, when you took out the insurance.
What happens if a natural disaster impacts my package holiday?
If a natural disaster affects your package holiday, the outcome will depend on the circumstances and the protection available through your travel provider (such as ATOL protection) and insurance policy. Your holiday provider may offer alternatives, such as changing your travel dates, arranging a different destination, or providing a refund if the trip cannot go ahead.
However, your travel agent won’t compensate you for any plans you made independently. If you booked any additional activities, you will need to cancel them yourself. If you have travel insurance with cancellation cover, you may be able to claim for any cancellation fees for these activities.
What happens if a natural disaster means I am evacuated?
If you need to evacuate your accommodation, your holiday provider is responsible for finding you new accommodation or emergency accommodation if necessary. Your provider will also be responsible for arranging your transport home to the UK if your travel was booked through them.
If they are unable to fly you home or can’t find a flight with another airline, you may need a chartered flight organised by the UK government. Check the FCDO for more information and contact your nearest British embassy if you’re unable to arrange travel back to the UK.
What happens if a natural disaster impacts my independent holiday?
If you arranged your holiday independently, you will need to contact your individual travel providers to cancel or amend bookings if you are unable to travel.
Under UK and EU regulations, airlines are not usually required to pay compensation for delays or cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as wildfires or volcanic eruptions. This means you are unlikely to receive compensation from your airline if your flight is disrupted due to a natural disaster.
However, your airline will still need to rebook your journey or provide a refund, depending on the circumstances. You should always contact your airline first before making a claim on your travel insurance. Your insurance may also provide cover for unused accommodation, activities, or other pre-paid expenses if the FCDO advises against travel to your destination.
What happens if I have to evacuate on my independent holiday?
If you booked your holiday independently and have been forced to evacuate, cancellation of your holiday plans needs to be done by you. You will need to speak to each of the suppliers that you booked with to cancel your activities or reschedule them.
Travel insurance will cover you for certain cancellations if advice has been given by FCDO not to travel and you need to evacuate the country. However, it might not cover you if you are only being locally evacuated and you are cancelling activities or accommodation you've booked elsewhere.
You will also be responsible for arranging your own emergency accommodation and return flights. The airline you booked with is not required to compensate you if a natural disaster grounds or delays your return flight. However it will be responsible for finding you alternative travel back home if your flight home is cancelled or delayed.
Travel disruption insurance can help cover the cost if you are evacuated on a holiday you booked yourself.
If your flight has been delayed by more than 24 hours, your travel insurance may cover you for cancellation.
What will my travel insurance cover me for?
Depending on the details of your policy and your provider, your travel insurance should generally offer the following cover in the event of a natural disaster:
Emergency alternative accommodation
Emergency travel
Will my baggage and possessions be covered if I have to leave it behind?
If you have to evacuate and you don’t have time to get your things, you might be able to get reimbursement for your lost luggage. However there will be a single-item limit as part of your policy, so be sure to declare any expensive items like jewellery or gadgets separately to ensure you have enough cover.
What won’t be covered by travel insurance?
Unfortunately as with most insurance policies there are some exclusions to be aware of - you usually won’t be able to claim in the following situations:
If you travel against FCDO advice
If you took cover out after adverse weather was forecasted
If you cancel before the delay reaches at least 24 hours
If your travel providers will refund you for any cancellations or delays
Do I need specialist cover for unforeseen events?
Some areas of the world are more at risk of natural disasters, so if you’re travelling to such a location then you might want to consider a specialist policy that offers comprehensive cover. These policies can give you access to higher limits on claim amounts for cancellation, alternative travel and accommodation, or even the ability to claim for a natural disaster if a standard policy doesn’t.
How do I know if it’s safe to travel?
Before you set off on your holiday, it’s worthwhile subscribing to local weather alerts and warnings, and checking the FCDO website for any travel advice. If your trip will be affected by a natural disaster, your airline or holiday provider should contact you to let you know.
What should I do if I’m on holiday and a natural disaster occurs?
If a natural disaster occurs while you are on holiday, prioritise your safety by following local authorities’ advice and any evacuation instructions. Contact your travel provider or insurer as soon as possible for guidance and support, especially if your plans are disrupted or you need to leave the area.
Keep records of any expenses, such as additional accommodation, transport, or other costs caused by the disruption, as these may be needed if you make an insurance claim. Always check your travel insurance policy and use any emergency assistance services provided by your insurer.
How can I make a claim for a natural disaster?
To make a claim for a natural disaster, contact your travel insurer as soon as possible and provide details of what happened and how it affected your trip. You will usually need to provide supporting evidence, such as travel documents, booking confirmations, receipts for additional expenses, and any official information relating to the event or disruption.
Keep records of all costs you incur, including cancelled bookings, extra accommodation, transport, or other expenses. Your insurer will assess your claim based on the terms and conditions of your policy, including any exclusions or limits on cover.
Compare travel insurance
Taking out travel insurance is an important step before travelling abroad. The UK government recommends having appropriate cover in place to help protect you against unexpected costs and disruptions. Even if you have booked a package holiday, travel insurance can provide protection for areas of your trip that may not be covered by your holiday provider.
Comparing travel insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket makes it simple to find a policy that suits your needs and budget. By providing details about yourself, your travel plans, and the level of cover you require, you can compare a range of options to help you find the right protection for your trip.
Author
Mehdi Punjwani
Insurance specialist
Mehdi is a financial writer and editor with over six years of experience in personal finance. He has written for organisations and publications including Equifax, The AA, and USAToday, covering a...
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