Travel Insurance Probably Won’t Save You From Coronavirus Cancellations

The novel coronavirus outbreak has crippled the travel industry worldwide. Cruises are canceled, major airports are empty and hotel bookings are bottoming out.

But is all of the disruption and money lost by travelers covered by trip insurance?

Probably not, experts say, even in the wake of a worldwide pandemic.

“Unfortunately, there is limited cancellation coverage (for coronavirus) under most standard travel insurance policies,” Kasara Barto, of the travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, told the Los Angeles Times. “Virus outbreaks do not fall under the standard cancellation reasons on most travel insurance.”

In addition to the ban President Donald Trump imposed on foreigners traveling to the U.S. from Europe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 3 travel alert for China, Iran, South Korea and most major countries in Europe, including Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland. That means all Americans are advised to avoid nonessential travel to those areas.