Most travelers who buy travel insurance want to protect their non-refundable trip payments, and travel insurance policies with Trip Cancellation coverage can do just that. But is the travel insurance policy itself refundable? It depends on when a traveler seeks a refund for their policy.
Leading travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, explains when travelers can be refunded for their travel insurance premiums.
Can Travel Insurance be Refunded?
Yes, travel insurance can be refunded if the policyholder decides to cancel their travel insurance policy within their Money Back Guarantee period. This is the window immediately after a traveler buys their policy in which they can cancel for a 100% refund of premium.
All policies on Squaremouth, from single-trip policies to annual policies, come with a Money Back Guarantee. The purpose of this benefit is to give travelers extra time to review their policy documentation to be sure it’s the best policy for their coverage needs.
Depending on the policy, the Money Back Guarantee period typically lasts between 10 and 14 days. During this time, travelers can cancel their policy for any reason for a full refund. Unfortunately, if a traveler decides to cancel their policy at a later date, they will not be given a refund for their policy.
Can You Cancel Travel Insurance?
Yes, travel insurance can be canceled at any time and for any reason. However in order to receive a refund, the cancellation must occur within a policy’s Money Back Guarantee period. To cancel a policy, a traveler can contact their provider directly.
Travel Insurance Premium Not an Insurable Cost
Many travelers ask if they can include the cost of their travel insurance policy as part of their trip cost, thinking they can receive a refund for the money they spent on insurance if they need to cancel their trip. However, this cost is not insurable under the Trip Cancellation benefit.
The Trip Cancellation benefit can only cover a traveler’s prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. This can include their airfare, hotel reservations, tours, and excursions, among others. If a traveler cancels their trip, they can be reimbursed for those trip expenses, however as the policy’s premium pays for a service that begins before the trip, it is not considered a reimbursable expense.
Travelers looking for more information regarding canceling a policy due to the coronavirus pandemic can visit Squaremouth’s Covid-19 information hub.
