Travelers are learning the hard way that their insurance doesn't cover a pandemic


Government travel alerts and health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic have caused a spate of travelers to rush to cancel trips. While airlines such as JetBlue and Delta are waiving cancellation fees or change fees, some travelers are learning the hard way that they can’t get a refund — even if they paid for travel insurance.

a traffic light hanging from the ceiling: Image: People walk through an empty international departure terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport as concern over the coronavirus grow

“This is one of those cases where people need to read the fine print,” Erik Josowitz, an insurance analyst at InsuranceQuotes.com, told NBC News. “It’s certainly worth looking at what are the acceptable reasons for making a claim against that insurance and understanding what it does and does not cover.”

Epidemics are usually not included in standard travel insurance coverage, said Josowitz. Most travel companies won’t refund travelers who cancel a trip because they are worried about contracting a virus — no matter how novel, he added.

Related video: What happens to your trip if you cancel due to coronavirus? [Provided by Today]


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