What Happened?
Beginning last Friday (07/06/2018), Haitians performed protests following a 38% increase in gas and fuel costs in the nation. There were violent demonstrations, protests, and roadblocks, causing the U.S. and Canadian embassies to prohibit all non-essential travel to Haiti. So far, there have been several deaths, limited transit, and loss of communication services in the country. Airlines including Spirit and JetBlue cancelled flights on Sunday to Haiti because of the violence. More recently (07/10/18), the U.S. Department of State has just increased the travel advisory category from a Level 3 to a Level 4 because of the civil unrest, advising U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Haiti.
Can I cancel my trip to Haiti?
Unfortunately, the recent events in Haiti would be categorized as “civil disorder”. This means that there would be no trip cancellation coverage for this type of event.
What travel insurance usually does cover are events deemed as an “act of terror” or a “terrorist act” in your destination city, should the act occur with 7-30 days of your scheduled arrival. In order for this type of event to be covered, the United States government must declare the event an official act of terrorism.
So how can you be covered for events such as this one, or if you just generally feel unsafe traveling to a politically unstable country? Cancel for Any Reason is a flexible type of cancellation coverage which allows you to cancel for any reason at all! This coverage is only available if you purchase your travel insurance policy within 10-21 days of your initial trip deposit. However, this policy type only confirms 50-75% of your insured trip cost is covered.
Because travel insurance policies generally exclude civil unrest, it is important to double check your coverage for these types of exclusions. Use our instant quote tool for quick policy coverage information.
Meagan has spent over seven years at Yonder Travel Insurance mastering the "fine print" so travelers don’t have to. With a background spanning marketing and operations, she specializes in deconstructing complex policy jargon into clear, actionable advice that empowers travelers to explore with confidence. From selecting the perfect plan for a niche itinerary to navigating the intricacies of the claims process, Meagan provides the unbiased, expert travel insurance insights necessary to maximize benefits and minimize risk. By maintaining close partnerships with the travel insurance industry’s top providers, she stays at the forefront of emerging trends, ensuring her readers are always one step ahead of the unexpected.
