Cancel For Work Reasons Coverage

‘Cancel for work reasons’ coverage is an optional upgrade on some plans which expands the covered reasons for pre-trip cancellations. This coverage provides reimbursement for pre-paid travel costs if the insured has to cancel their trip for a covered reason.

Contents (click to jump down) What does ‘Cancel for work reasons’ cover? Coverage for other work reasons Important notes about this coverage What type of policy covers this? How much coverage does each company provide? Summary

Let us tell you a story

Luke planned a backpacking journey through Switzerland late in the summer. He purchased a travel insurance plan and added the ‘cancel for work reasons’ coverage, but he never expected to have to make a claim.

Early in the summer, however, the company Luke works for went through a round of layoffs and everyone who remained working had to put in extra hours to keep their projects moving forward. All previously approved vacations were revoked and all future vacations were on hold. Luke was able to recover his pre-paid travel costs and save the money for a later trip.

What does ‘Cancel for work reasons’ upgrade cover?

While many policies include cancellations for work conflicts in their trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits, some policies offer a ‘cancel for work reasons’ upgrade that allows trip cancellations for the following work-related reasons:

• You are required to work due to changes in work schedule
• You required to work because you are directly involved in merger, acquisition, product recall, or bankruptcy proceedings
• You are required to work because you place of business is rendered unsuitable as a result of natural disaster, fire, flood, burglary or vandalism

In each situation, you must not have known you would be required to work when you purchase your travel insurance plan.

If you are concerned about having to cancel for work reasons, it’s important to be sure the coverage you buy includes the specific reason you may need. Remember, if the policy doesn’t list the reason specifically, then you won’t have coverage for that situation.

Coverage for other work conflicts

There are a number of additional work-related reasons that may force you to cancel your trip, which are handled separately from ‘cancel for work reasons’.

These reasons include:

• Permanent transfer of employment
• Military duty
• Loss of employment through termination or layoff

If these are important protections for your trip, see Work Conflict Coverage.

Important notes about this coverage

• The effective date for trip cancellation coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. on the day the policy is fully paid an in effect
• This coverage ends at the earliest of either: the cancellation of your trip, or the date and time you start your trip
• A written statement by your employer or an officer of your company may be required with your claim, depending on the reason for the claim

What type of policy covers this?

Package plans, not travel medical plans, are the policy type to offer ‘cancel for work reasons’ upgrades. Some package plans now include ‘cancel for work reasons’ coverage in their travel package plans, and others offer it as an optional upgrade.

Summary

• Some plans include this coverage with their package plans, and some offer it as an upgrade
• The cancellation reason must be specifically listed in the policy for the trip cancellation to be covered
• Other work-related reasons for trip cancellation are described in the Work Conflict Coverage page
• Written statements may be required to back up claims on this coverage