Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for holiday season in 2026 

There’s nothing worse than having your travel plans ruined by something uncontrollable. It not only ruins the trip but also creates a financial burden that you wouldn’t want. This has made contingency planning more essential than before.

Travel insurance has grown more important for people looking to book future trips. Why? Because travel insurance offers coverage for unexpected events during a trip. Now that the hurricane season is upon us, it’s the best time to buy travel insurance and secure all future travel plans.

So, let’s go into what travel insurance is and what it provides.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance protects you against risks and financial losses while traveling. The losses can be minor, like delayed luggage, or significant, like a medical emergency or last-minute trip cancellation.

Each travel policy offers different benefits, so choosing a plan that fits your budget, your needs, and your travel plans is essential. Since travel insurance covers unforeseeable events, it’s best not to wait until a significant event occurs or is going to happen.

What does travel insurance cover?

Depending on the coverage you choose, travel insurance can cover a multitude of possible damages and losses.

What travel insurance may not cover

While there are several reasons you should purchase travel insurance, there are things that it may not cover. If you have a preexisting medical condition, your policy may not cover any claims related to that condition. Some policies may cover preexisting conditions if certain conditions are met, such as purchasing the policy within a specified period and being medically fit to travel when you book your trip.

If you plan to participate in risky activities, like mountain climbing, your policy may not provide coverage if anything goes wrong. Your policy may exclude coverage against war, terrorism, self-inflicted injuries caused by alcohol, and drug-related incidents.

If you’d like to have the option to cancel your trip for any reason, you’ll need to purchase a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on. On top of allowing you to cancel your trip, you can receive around 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses back, depending on the policy.

Is travel insurance worth it?

Travel insurance can be worthwhile in two situations: to protect your trip and to protect your health.

If you’ve already paid for your trip and there are penalties for cancelation, it is a good decision to consider purchasing travel insurance. This insurance can cover your reservations if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.

If weather-related problems, such as hurricanes, affect your travels, travel insurance can protect your non-cancelable reservations. Some policies even offer emergency evacuation in case of dangerous situations.

When traveling abroad, some U.S.-based health insurance policies tend to offer coverage anywhere within that country. But if you fall ill or injure yourself while traveling internationally, most policies may not cover you. Additionally, medical providers in your destination may not accept your insurance. Without travel insurance, you may end up paying for these expenses out of pocket and then seeking reimbursement from your healthcare provider.

If your credit card already provides some travel insurance protection, such as cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage delay, consider getting a separate travel medical insurance policy to cover medical emergencies that may occur on your trip.

Travel insurance for this active hurricane season

Meteorologists are forecasting an above-average hurricane season this year, meaning there is a higher chance of multiple hurricanes. Since there’s nothing you can do about natural events, this can greatly impact your travel plans. If you’re planning on traveling to a hurricane-prone state or going close to the sea, it’s ideal to have a good travel policy in place.

If you plan to travel between June and November, watch out for these two coverage options on your travel insurance.

Trip cancellation coverage

You will get full reimbursement for prepaid and non-refundable expenses, like flight tickets and hotel bookings, should your trip get canceled, or you cancel it for any covered reason. You will have to meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for a claim:

• Your carrier airline is significantly delayed.
• Your destination is under a hurricane warning.
• Your destination is uninhabitable due to severe weather or evacuation orders.

Trip interruption coverage

This coverage on your policy will cover prepaid, non-refundable deposits if you miss any part of your trip. If you have to cut your trip short due to a reason covered in your policy, it will also cover an emergency flight home.

Travel insurance only covers unexpected events, so don’t wait until a storm has been named. It will be too late to get insurance once the storm is named. So, buy travel insurance as quickly as possible and check for endorsements and changes you can make to build a policy that fits you best.

How much does travel insurance cost?

What you pay for travel insurance may vary a lot depending on a number of factors, such as the duration of your trip, the destination, the cost of your trip, the level of coverage you need, and your age and health status.

According to Forbes Advisor’s analysis, the average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip costs. For a $5,000 trip, the average travel insurance cost is $228, ranging from $154 for a basic plan to as high as $437 for a plan with extensive coverage.

How to use your travel insurance?

Travel insurance works like any other insurance policy. You purchase coverage to protect yourself from certain risks. If a covered event occurs, you can make a claim with your insurer to request payment or reimbursement for any financial losses incurred.

Travel insurance policies generally only cover prepaid or non-refundable reservations. If you can get a complete refund by canceling your reservations, you should do so directly with the company. Also, most travel insurance plans don’t cover reservations made with hotel points or airline miles.

You will be required to provide evidence of your loss when filing a claim. This could involve documenting the reason for the problem, such as a flight delay or cancelation, and providing receipts to support your claim. Since many potential types of losses could arise, the claims process can vary depending on the insurance company and the nature of your loss.

So, should you get travel insurance?

If you already have your next travel plans made, it’s best to get travel insurance. You can see that it’s a smart way to protect your trip against any unexpected events. It is important to note that coverage limits and benefits may vary depending on the insurance provider and budget.

Hence, it is recommended to evaluate all available options and choose the one that suits you best. We also recommend reviewing your travel policy to ensure you aren’t paying more than necessary and getting the best possible coverage.

If you require help finding the best insurance policies, quotes or the best insurance agents, Agency Height is here to help.