• Medical reasons, including illness or injury, are a common cause for trip cancellations, requiring documentation for reimbursement.

• Natural disasters or severe weather events can lead to coverage for trip cancellations if they make travel impossible or unsafe.

• Job loss or mandatory work obligations like jury duty are covered if they occur unexpectedly before the trip.

Booking a trip is full of excitement and anticipation, but sometimes unexpected events can derail even the best-laid plans. The good news? Understanding the top reasons for trip cancellations and how they’re covered can give you the confidence to travel.

Let’s explore the most common scenarios that travel insurance protects against, along with some less common ones and exclusions.

Top Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation

Covered reasons differ between providers but tend to include some of these. Let’s talk about these reasons one by one:

Medical Reasons

Trip cancellations due to illness or injury, whether it’s you or a close family member, are among the most common. If a serious medical issue arises, AXA can cover non-refundable costs, but they will require specific documentation to process your claim. This includes a medical certificate signed by a licensed practitioner and a letter explaining why you need to cancel or cut your trip short.

You’ll also need to provide a completed claim form, policy verification, booking confirmation (e.g., e-tickets or proof of purchase for flights, cruises etc.), invoices from medical providers, receipts of costs you paid, and a detailed medical report.

However, pre-existing medical conditions can be a bit more complicated. Many policies will cover them, but only if you’ve disclosed the condition beforehand or meet certain requirements. Pre-existing conditions like asthma or diabetes are usually excluded from standard travel insurance policies. AXA however offers some flexibility.

Pre-existing conditions are not covered if they were present within 60 days of your policy start date. However, AXA has an option to cover if you purchase pre-existing medical coverage within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit. Without this additional coverage expenses related to pre-existing conditions will not be reimbursed.

For US travelers, AXA’s approach allows some pre-existing conditions to be covered under certain circumstances to minimize the risk of losing the value of the trip due to unexpected medical issues. Be sure to check your policy details to see how these apply to you.

Death of Traveler or Family Member

If you as a traveler fall sick, have an accident or a tragic event occurs and you die or a medical professional imposes medical restrictions and you cannot continue the trip… the coverage kicks in.

However, the medical professional must advise you of trip cancellation or interruption on or before your return date for the policy to apply.

A death in the family can also disrupt travel plans and often lead to cancellations. In the unfortunate event of sickness, accidental injury, or death of a non-traveling family member AXA Travel Protection’s trip interruption coverage will cover you.

Natural Disasters or Severe Weather

Hurricanes or floods that stop you from traveling are covered by trip cancellation insurance. If the destination is uninhabitable or your common carrier has stopped services for at least 48 hours, AXA can reimburse non-refundable expenses. But this does not apply if the disaster was forecasted or named before you purchased your policy.

AXA’s coverage is different for rescheduling and canceling. If severe weather forces you to reschedule, AXA may cover associated costs.

Terrorism or Political Unrest

Terrorism, war, and civil unrest can be tricky when it comes to travel insurance. Policies vary. Some cover trip cancellations and interruptions due to these events, while others exclude them entirely.

If you’re traveling to an area with a current travel advisory or warning, your claim will be denied. Check your policy’s terms and conditions to know what’s covered.

For travel to high-risk areas, talk to a travel insurance agent to find specialized policies. Also, visit the U.S. travel advisory page for your destination and keep emergency numbers handy.

If you’re purchasing AXA travel insurance plan, review the Terms and Conditions for coverage for specific countries.

Make sure you read your policy’s terms and conditions thoroughly. If you’re unsure, contact AXA Travel Insurance or a travel agent for help in choosing the right coverage for you.
 

Job Loss or Work-Related Obligations

Job loss before your trip can be a valid reason for trip cancellation insurance. If you lose your job just before departure, many policies, including AXA’s, do cover it. AXA requires documentation such as a termination letter and proof that the job loss was sudden and not anticipated at the time of booking.

Some mandatory work obligations like jury duty or non-rescheduled meetings may also be a valid reason for trip cancellation. AXA’s policy covers these scenarios as long as you provide the necessary documentation, such as a jury summons or official notice from your employer, to prove that the obligation was unexpected and cannot be avoided.

Legal Obligations

Legal obligations like court appearances or jury duty may require trip cancellations. If you receive a legal summons or are required to serve on a jury, many travel insurance policies including AXA’s can cover your cancellation costs.

AXA will require documentation to support your claim, such as a copy of the summons or official notice. This is to prove that the legal obligation was unexpected and unavoidable, so you had to cancel the trip.

Travel Supplier Cancellations

If a travel supplier like an airline or cruise line cancels your trip or goes bankrupt, AXA’s travel insurance covers supplier defaults. Benefits are available if the supplier’s bankruptcy or default stops all travel services and no alternative transportation is available. If alternative options are provided, AXA will only cover the change fees to transfer to another airline or service.

Available if your departure date is within 15 months of the policy start date. AXA will require proof of supplier default or cancellation and no alternative travel arrangements were made.

Less Common but Important Reasons

Less common but important reasons for trip cancellation include military deployment, adoption of a child and quarantines due to epidemics.

• Military Deployment: If you’re an active duty military personnel and receive unexpected deployment orders, this can be a valid reason for trip cancellation. Coverage will reimburse non-refundable travel expenses if your deployment prevents you from taking the trip. AXA requires deployment orders and proof that the deployment was unexpected and unavoidable.

• Adoption of a Child Travelers: Those who are adopting a child may find themselves in situations where they need to be present immediately for the finalization of the adoption process. In these cases, trip cancellation insurance can cover your non-refundable expenses if the adoption requires your immediate presence.

• Quarantine or Epidemic-Related Cancellations: If you contract COVID-19 before your trip, you may be eligible for trip cancellation if the illness is confirmed by a treating physician and a diagnosis prevents you from traveling. AXA requires proof of illness and a medical statement that you are unable to travel at the time of departure.
   

If you’re quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure before or during your trip, this may also be covered under Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption or Emergency Medical Expenses. Coverage can be as long as the quarantine is medically imposed, with necessary documentation, including proof of quarantine or diagnosis required for claims.

Exclusions Under Trip Cancellation Insurance

While trip cancellation insurance provides valuable protection, it’s important to be aware of its limitations:

• Personal fear or anxiety about traveling, even if significant, is not covered. Insurers require a concrete, unforeseen reason for cancellation.

• If a government imposes a travel ban not officially advised against, your policy may not cover cancellations related to it.

• Financial issues or job loss are generally not covered unless tied to a covered event. For example, job loss due to company closure may be covered if it’s directly related to a covered reason.

To protect yourself from scenarios not covered by standard trip cancellation insurance, consider buying “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage which covers almost any reason.

Review your policy thoroughly and keep records of any potential issues, such as medical documents or travel advisories, to support your claims. This will help you get more coverage and minimize the chances of uncovered scenarios affecting your trip.

FAQs About Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation

1. When should I buy Trip Cancellation?

Buy trip cancellation as soon as you book your trip, ideally within 14 days of your first deposit to get full coverage.

2. Can I cancel for any reason?

Standard trip cancellation does not allow cancellation for any reason. But “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage can if you buy it. It’s usually available as an add-on and not a standalone policy.

3. How do I know if my trip cancellation is covered by AXA?

Review your AXA policy details to understand the specific coverage terms. Contact AXA for clarification on any doubts regarding your coverage.