Travel Insurance That Covers War and Terrorism: Essential Guide When Traveling to High-Risk Destinations

March 18, 2025 - Meagan Palmer

Traveling to areas with potential risks can be challenging, especially when it involves war or terrorism. It’s important to know if your travel insurance covers these types of situations. Many travel insurance policies offer limited coverage for acts of war or terrorism, but specific conditions often apply. Finding travel insurance that covers war and terrorism is a bit complex, so let’s break it down.

Key Takeaways

• Standard plans typically do not cover war, but they usually cover terrorism.

• Consider opting for Cancel for Any Reason coverage for the most robust cancellation benefits.

• Review policy details and assess safety factors before traveling to high-risk areas.

What’s Considered a Terrorist Event Under Travel Insurance?

Terrorist attacks, although rare, are occurring more frequently around the world. Most travel insurance policies will define these violent as happening from a foreign terrorist organization deemed as such by the U.S. State Department in which property damage or loss of life occurs. 

Understanding Travel Insurance Coverage for War and Terrorism

Travel insurance policies can protect against high-risk events like terrorist acts. However, war is commonly excluded from coverage. Terrorism coverage often applies if an attack happens close to your departure date. We’ll help you understand the specific inclusions and exclusions in your policy below.

Key Components of Terrorism Coverage

Although most travel insurance policies include coverage for terrorism under trip cancellation and interruption, it’s usually under specific policy language. For coverage to apply, the terrorist attack must have happened in an area listed on your trip itinerary by a known terrorist group. Trip cancellation coverage is typically valid if the terrorist attacks occur within a certain time frame, often 30 days before your trip.

If an attack directly affects your travel destination, some policies may allow you to cancel or cut short your trip. Coverage may also extend to medical emergencies and accidental death and dismemberment caused by terrorism. It’s crucial to check these details in your policy, as terms can vary significantly between providers.

Some travel insurance policies also include political or security evacuation coverage. This means if you are recommended or required to leave a country by the local government or U.S. State Department due to civil, military, or political unrest, the travel insurance could coordinate an evacuation either back to your home country or to the nearest place of safety. You can get a quote for a travel insurance plan that covers war and terrorism below.

Coverage Exclusions

Travel insurance usually doesn’t protect against war or acts of war. Your policy may not cover acts of civil unrest or insurrection unless it explicitly states otherwise.

While travel insurance typically does not provide war coverage, purchasing Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance allows you to receive partial reimbursement if you cancel your trip due to war-related issues. CFAR allows you to cancel for any reason, even for reasons not listed in the policy, and receive 75-80% of your insured trip costs. Additionally, CFAR is a great benefit if you just change your mind or have some fears about travel. Although CFAR is generally more expensive, it offers flexibility and the ability to recover costs that standard policies don’t.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for War and Terrorism?

When planning trips to areas impacted by war or terrorism, securing travel insurance is essential for safeguarding your investment and ensuring peace of mind. It can protect you from risks like travel delays and trip cancellations. Here are key factors to evaluate to determine if travel insurance is right for your trip.

Evaluating High-Risk Factors

Before traveling, assess the terrorism risk levels in your destination. Check government travel advisories and recent news for updates on terrorism or civil unrest. This source usually reports on increased violence, attacks, and terrorism incidents. Read Yonder’s travel safety guides for specific destination information. Travel insurance may cover unexpected events like terrorist attacks or escalating conflict.

“Traveling to higher-risk areas requires carefully weighing the potential dangers, including risks from terrorism and conflict”, says Terry Boynton, co-founder and president of Yonder. “By securing the right travel insurance, you can gain peace of mind, knowing you’re protected against these uncertainties and can focus on making the most of your journey.”

Understanding the Impact of War and Terrorism on Travel Plans

War and terrorism can greatly impact your travel plans. Delays or cancellations may affect your flights, and you could have difficulty accessing accommodations. Since many hotels, airline tickets, and tours are nonrefundable, having travel insurance can be invaluable in recovering any trip costs you might lose.

Example: Your destination experiences a terrorist attack two weeks before your trip start date from a known terrorist group recognized by the U.S. State Department. If you opt to cancel your trip, it’s likely your travel insurance policy would provide trip cancellation coverage because the event occurred within 30 days of your departure in a city listed on your trip itinerary. Without a travel insurance policy, it’s possible you might lose your nonrefundable trip costs if you choose to cancel your trip.

Example:

Political tensions rise while you’re visiting your destination. A civil unrest event occurs and you need to be evacuated to refuge. Without insurance, you may face significant out-of-pocket costs. Planning for these possibilities ensures you can handle disruptions smoothly.

Accessing Travel Assistance During Terrorism Emergencies

In emergencies, travel insurance often provides access to travel assistance services. These services might include arranging emergency medical transport or locating local healthcare facilities. They can also help you find safe accommodations or rebook flights in the event of political or civil unrest. For example, if a terrorist attack occurs in your destination, access to travel assistance can guide you quickly to shelter. 

Most policies have strict terms that determine when an evacuation can be covered. The first is having the insurance company coordinate the evacuation. For that to happen, the event must be very specific in which the destination country considers you a persona non grata.

Since not all plans include coverage for security and political unrest events, the CAP Tripside Assistance Service plan offers more robust benefits in these cases. This plan would help arrange and pay for the cost to coordinate an evacuation even if it’s just a security or civil unrest threat causing concern, without limit. 

If you want extra flexibility and assistance in an emergency related to terrorism or unrest, Yonder recommends getting a CAP plan in addition to your base travel insurance policy.

Where to Buy Travel Insurance that Covers War and Terrorism

The best way to get the coverage you need when traveling to a destination with a higher risk of war or political unrest is by shopping via a comparison site like Yonder Travel Insurance. This way, you can compare multiple plans from the top travel insurance providers in one place. Plus, you can then use our quote results filter cancellation coverage in case “there was a terrorist act where I’m traveling” like below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Grasping the nuances of travel insurance that includes coverage for war and terrorism is vital for anyone venturing into high-risk areas. To help you navigate this complex landscape, we’ve compiled essential questions and answers that will empower you to better understand travel insurance for war and terrorism.