Irrespective of how perfectly planned your trip is, one unexpected event, like a sudden illness or family emergency, can be enough to force you to head home early. But if your travel insurance includes trip interruption coverage, you can travel in stride knowing that you are equipped to handle such unexpected interruptions without losing a majority of your trip value.  
 

What is Trip Interruption Insurance? 

Trip interruption coverage offers coverage if your trip is unexpectedly cut short due to unforeseen circumstances. It covers events that may require you to return home prematurely, such as: 

• Serious sickness  

• Severe weather  

• Family emergency  

• Quarantine  

• Evacuation  

• Military duty  

• An early departure  
   

Trip interruption typically covers expenses such as the cost of unused transportation, accommodation (hotels, etc.), and other expenses incurred because of the interruption. The exact coverage and benefits vary depending on the policy: some cover 100-200% of the total trip cost, while others cap coverage at a set amount. Most policies require a 72-hour notification window to let the parties (including your insurance provider) know that you will be employing the interruption benefits.  
  

Why Get Trip Interruption Coverage?  

Think of it this way: you’re on a week-long romantic getaway. You have active excursions planned during the day, and poolside relaxation on the schedule for the evening, but two days in, you sprain your ankle. You can’t safely do any of the snorkeling, swimming, hiking, or strolling that you had planned. Even after a day off, taking it easy, you see your ankle is worse, and you’d like to get home for treatment before it becomes too serious. Here, trip interruption insurance can offer reimbursement for your unused lodging, original flight cost, and any other pre-booked non-refundable activities – because your trip was interrupted and was not able to be fulfilled according to schedule. You may also be reimbursed for additional charges such as booking new plane tickets home, additional hotel nights and airport taxi fare or additional transportation expenses.  

Reimbursement requires a few careful steps, which we’ll outline below, but that is the essence of trip interruption insurance.   

If you do not have trip interruption coverage in your travel insurance, any cancellations for lodging/hotels, transportation, or flights are done at your own risk—and at the mercy of the merchant you are working with. Whether hotels allow last-minute cancellations or refunds will be on a case-by-case basis, and most flight transfers will involve change fees and high costs. Trip interruption insurance could help mitigate these fees so that you can get reimbursed (up to the maximum benefit amount specified in your policy) and return home safely.  

The Most Common Reasons People Have to Cut the Trip Short  

The three most common reasons people cut trips short are because of sudden illness/injury, severe weather, and family emergencies. Another reason could be changes in the safety situation of a destination can also cause trip interruptions. For example, if a traveler is in a country experiencing political unrest or natural disasters, they may decide to leave earlier than planned.  
These are also the most common reasons to opt for interruption coverage.  

What Does it Not Cover?  

Trip interruption insurance does not cover every unexpected incident. Exclusions will vary by each policy, but in general, it does not cover:  

• Injury caused by being intoxicated or under the influence   

• Committing an illegal or criminal act  

• Injury related to certain extreme activities (think skydiving, mountaineering, or deep-sea scuba diving)  

• Pre-existing medical conditions  

• War  
   

Trip Interruption Vs. Other Travel Coverage?  

There are several types of travel insurance coverage plans on the market. You might be wondering how trip interruption benefits differ from trip cancellation or trip delay.  
So let’s clear up some terms for you:  
 

Trip Interruption vs. Trip Cancellation Insurance  

Trip Cancellation Coverage is for situations when you have to cancel your trip before you leave. Usually, the benefits of cancellation coverage are in the form of refunds (airfare, tour booking, or hotel reservations). It is similar to interruption coverage but often has additional stipulations about when and what applies.   

Many travel insurance plans offer “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) op-ins, but these usually only provide up to 75% reimbursement and are only valid if your trip is canceled before you leave.  

Trip Interruption vs. Trip Delay Insurance  

Trip interruption insurance is different from trip delay coverage. Trip Delay coverage helps off-set costs associated with a short pause in your travel plans. The length of the “pause” depends on each plan, but in general, think of it like this:   

Your flight out of Denver is scheduled for 6pm, but a massive storm comes in, and the next available flight is not until 8am the next morning. Trip delay coverage would generally cover things like your meals for the duration, hotel for the night, and the cost of the hotel room you had booked but did not use (if the hotel won’t refund you).   
Here, your trip didn’t stop prematurely, it was just delayed a bit.  

Trip Interruption Coverage, instead, would come into play if you are already on your trip, but severe weather causes evacuation, or you incur an illness (like that sprained ankle) that prevents you from continuing.   

But Do I Need Trip Interruption Insurance?  

Whether trip interruption insurance is right for you or not depends on a few things:  

• Type of trip you are taking   

• Total trip cost  

• Your personal risk tolerance  

For trips lasting multiple days, international, and/or active excursions (such as cruises, tour guided activities), trip interruption insurance may be recommended since the longer the duration the trip, the greater room for problems to pop up.  

The trip interruption benefit in your travel insurance plan can provide coverage in case of unexpected events such as sickness, weather-related cancellations, and other eligible events that can cause you to cut your trip short. You may claim reimbursement for the unused portion of your trip, depending on the benefit level of your coverage. 
 
Trip Interruption also allows travelers to rejoin their trip after an interruption has occurred.  

When Does Trip Interruption Coverage Begin?  

Requirements before coverage may begin:  

• When a specific travel package has been selected  

• On the day after the required premium for such coverage is received by the authorized representative  

Once requirements are met, your coverage for the covered trip will begin on the scheduled departure date. Some policies may have a waiting period before benefits are activated. For instance, certain plans may require that you have been traveling for at least 48 to 72 hours before you can file a trip interruption claim. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with specific conditions or waiting periods outlined in your travel insurance policy. 
   

When Does Trip Interruption Coverage End?  

Coverages will end the earliest of the following:  

• The scheduled return date as stated on the travel tickets  

• The date and time you return to your origination point is prior to the scheduled return date  

• The date and time you deviate from, leave, or change the original trip itinerary (unless due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances covered by the policy)  

• If you extend the return date, coverage will terminate at 11:59 P.M., local time, at your location on the scheduled return date unless authorized in advance by our travel agent.  

• When your trip exceeds 90 days  

• The return date as stated on your purchase confirmation  

Travel plan benefits vary by selection. Explore our Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans.  
  

How to get Trip Interruption Insurance 

Receive a free quote online within minutes. You can also call us to speak with our licensed Travel Insurance Advisors:  

Call 855-327-1441  

Monday-Saturday, 8 AM-7 PM Central Time  
 
Disclaimer: It is important to note that the specifics of trip interruption will depend on the date of purchase and state of residency. Customers are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their policy and to contact AXA Partners with any questions or concerns they may have.  

What Qualifies as Trip Interruption?  

Okay, what exactly qualifies under trip interruption protection? AXA Travel Insurance coverage can provide travelers with assistance when they face situations that force them to interrupt their travel schedule:  

How Much Does Trip Interruption Coverage Cost?  

All three of AXA Travel Insurance Plans include trip interruption coverage; maximum coverage per person is up to:  

Silver  

Maximum Benefit: 100% of Trip Cost  
Reasonable Expenses Per Day: $100  

Gold  

Maximum Benefit: 150% of Trip Cost  
Reasonable Expenses Per Day: $100  

Platinum  

Maximum Benefit: 150% of Trip Cost  
Reasonable Expenses Per Day: $100  

How to get a Travel Insurance Quote?  

Receive a free quote within minutes, or call us at  855-327-1441 Monday-Saturday, 8 AM-7 PM Central Time to speak with our licensed Travel Insurance Advisors.   

  
Disclaimer: It is important to note that the specifics of trip interruption will depend on the date of purchase and state of residency. Customers are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their policy and to contact AXA Partners with any questions or concerns they may have  
 

Other Things to Know  

Filing a Claim 

If your trip gets delayed or interrupted, you must show that you’ve done everything you can to still continue with your scheduled plans. A common example is this: Let’s say you’re taking a 5-day cruise, but a storm grounds your connecting plane for 2 days. By the time you get to your cruise destination, the ship has literally already sailed, and you can’t find a flight to your next port. This may be a good case where you may get interruption coverage.  

Just remember that you still have to show that you did everything you could to make those original plans: most plans require that you still tried to reconnect with your cruise line or tour group and that this was, in fact, an “interruption” that caused you to miss your trip. To do this, it’s generally a good precaution to keep your receipts, document your efforts, document your experience, and keep all required documentation. Most coverage also abides by a 72-hour notification rule, but make sure you know the ins-and-outs of your specific plan beforehand.  

Interruption coverage usually provides a percentage reimbursement for covered scenarios. The amount of reimbursement and coverage will depend on which plan you select.   

If you need assistance, you can always contact AXA’s Travel Support Line at: 855-327-1441.  

Why choose AXA Travel Insurance?  

With a presence in over 30 countries worldwide, AXA offers assistance with a wide range of features that include:   

• Extensive knowledge of local health risks and medical facilities to respond swiftly in the event of a medical emergency  

• 24/7 global team of travel experts that offers assistance and assurance while traveling  

For more information, contact us by phone at 855-327-1441 or here for online help options.