Travel Insurance War and Terrorism Coverage Explained

When traveling internationally in today’s world, unfortunately situations of civil unrest or terrorism are not uncommon. Terrorist attacks can occur anywhere, and this can be a genuine fear for travelers.

Since travel insurance offers a wide range of protection for travelers when venturing outside of one’s home country, you may also wonder whether or not travel insurance can provide protection for unforeseen circumstances such as war or terrorism.

Let’s take a look at whether or not travel insurance can cover travelers during these instances.

Does Travel Insurance Cover War?

War or act of war is a general exclusion for most travel insurance policies, meaning that any benefit claimed as a result of war would not be covered.

Acts of war typically include invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostility between nations (whether declared or undeclared), rebellion, insurrection, and civil war. 

Does Travel Insurance Cover Terrorism?

Many travel insurance policies offer coverage for situations related to acts of terrorism. This coverage can look different depending on the policy you have, but there are many ways in which travel insurance can offer vital benefits in the event of a terrorist attack during or before your travels.

Travel Medical Insurance Terrorism Coverage

Travel medical insurance offers travelers short-term health coverage, among a wide range of other benefits, as they travel outside of their home country.

This type of travel insurance can offer coverage for eligible medical expenses for the treatment of an injury or illness that resulted from an act of terrorism.

This means that if you were injured in a terrorist attack abroad and needed medical attention, your travel insurance policy could cover your eligible medical expenses under certain circumstances.

Trip Insurance Terrorism Coverage

Trip insurance is travel protection insurance that provides coverage for your nonrefundable and prepaid trip expenses in the event of trip cancellation or interruption for a covered reason.

Trip Cancellation Due to Terrorism

The trip cancellation benefit of trip insurance can offer coverage for acts of terrorism, as long as you purchase your travel insurance policy before such a terrorist incident occurs.

This coverage would include reimbursement of your eligible nonrefundable and prepaid trip expenses up to the percentage mentioned in your plan’s benefit summary if you have to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen terrorist incident in your destination city.

The attack must typically be deemed an act of terrorism by the U.S. Department of State and has to have happened within a certain time period before your scheduled arrival.

Trip Interruption Due to Terrorism

The trip interruption benefit offered by trip insurance can provide protection for travelers in the event a terrorist attack occurs in their destination city.

This coverage would typically apply if a travel warning of level 4 or higher, an evacuation order, or travel ban was issued after the start date of your policy and during your trip abroad.

Possible Exclusions for Travel Insurance Terrorism Coverage

Depending on your plan, there may be some exclusions to be mindful of when it comes to terrorism coverage.

For example, terrorism coverage may be excluded if the country you are traveling to has had a travel warning or emergency travel advisory issued or in effect within a certain time period before your planned arrival in the country.

Additionally, you must not have any direct or indirect involvement in the terrorism, and you must leave the country following the date that a warning is issued by the U.S. government or other appropriate authorities. 

There can be further exclusions for this type of coverage, which can be found in your plan’s wording, so it is important to review this information.

What Is Considered an Act of Terrorism in Travel Insurance?

Each travel insurance policy will likely have its own definition of what an act of terrorism is. However, in general, an act of terrorism can refer to violence or force of people or groups of people connected to governments or organizations for political, religious, or ideological reasons. 

Political Evacuation Coverage for Terrorist Incidents

Many travel insurance plans will offer coverage for political evacuation in the event that you need to evacuate your destination city immediately due to a terrorist incident.

Coverage can include the cost of transportation for you to either get to the nearest safe country or back to your home country.

However, most plans will require that the U.S. Department of State issues a level 3 or higher travel advisory after your arrival in the country and that your coverage was effective prior to the advisory being issued.

Cancel For Any Reason Coverage for Terrorism Fear

If you are traveling abroad and are worried in any way about potential terrorism incidents, you may want to consider getting trip insurance with Cancel For Any Reason coverage.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage can be added on to a trip insurance plan when available for a higher premium. This coverage allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason at all and still receive a portion of your prepaid and nonrefundable expenses back including costs such as your flight, hotel, tours, and more.

With this additional coverage, you can have peace of mind when traveling to an area that you are worried about knowing you can cancel your trip plans if you so choose and still get a large portion of your money back.

Stay Protected With Travel Insurance

Traveling abroad can always come with some uncertainty, but travel insurance can give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your trip and provide extra security against the unforeseen.

Frequently Asked Questions