How Travel Insurance Works During Geopolitical Instability

With political instability occurring in several areas of the world, it can help to understand how travel insurance works if you’re planning a trip in, through, or even near those regions. Before you buy your insurance, take the time to identify what is and is not covered. As always, your policy document is the contract that specifically and fully describes your coverage; read it in detail. Certain restrictions and exclusions may apply.

Trip Cancellation Coverage

If you are planning a trip to an unstable region of the world, you may want to purchase trip cancellation coverage. For most Arch RoamRight plans, trip cancellation coverage may be available in the following situations:

• When there is a Terrorist Incident (as identified by the U.S. Government) that occurs within 30 days of Your Scheduled Departure Date in a city listed on the itinerary of Your or Your Traveling Companion’s Trip;
• When Your or Your Traveling Companion’s previously granted military leave or re-assignment is revoked, including war. Official written notice of the revocation or re-assignment by a supervisor or commanding officer of the appropriate branch of service will be required.

Any situations outside of the two listed above are not included in standard Arch RoamRight policies. However, if you are concerned that there could be an event that affects your travels, you may still have trip cancellation coverage through the Cancel For Any Reason Upgrade.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)

CFAR coverage is an optional upgrade that can provide reimbursement up to 75% of your trip cost if you have to cancel for any reason at all prior to 48 hours before your scheduled trip departure.

In order to be eligible for Cancel for Any Reason coverage, you must:

1. Purchase your insurance coverage within 21 days of your initial trip deposit;
2. Insure 100% of the cost of all travel arrangements that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions by the travel supplier; and
3. Cancel your trip 48 hours or more before your scheduled departure date.

If you are planning a trip to a region that is plagued by war or political unrest, this upgrade may provide additional assurance in the event you need to cancel your trip.

Political or Security Evacuation

Arch RoamRight plans include coverage for political or security evacuations. This means what we may pay up to the Maximum Benefit Amount, for all reasonable evacuation expenses incurred for Your transportation to the nearest safe haven, if You must leave Your Trip for a covered Political or Security Event. Such events include:

1. a Natural Disaster;
2. civil, military or political unrest for which a formal written recommendation from the appropriate local government authorities, or the U.S. State Department, for You to leave a country is issued; or
3. You being expelled or declared a persona non-grata by a country You are visiting on Your Trip.

In order to use these benefits, you must use Arch RoamRight’s designated assistance provider as shown on your Arch RoamRight ID card.

However, it is extremely important to know that some destinations are excluded from coverage for Political and Security evacuations. Those countries are:

• Afghanistan
• Iraq
• Somalia
• Chechnya
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Iran
• Israel West Bank
• Israel Gaza Strip
• Ivory Coast
• Lebanon
• Libya
• North Korea
• Sudan
• Syria

Exclusions to Know

In general, travel insurance benefits are not payable for any loss due to war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities between nations (whether declared or undeclared), or civil war. This would include emergency medical benefits, trip delay benefits, accidental death and dismemberment benefits, and others.

In addition, political and security evacuations are not covered when the evacuation is from the traveler’s home country, when the event occurs prior to the traveler’s arrival in the country, or when seven days have passed between the event and the traveler’s request to for assistance. There are other exclusions that may also apply. These can be found in your policy documents.

If you are planning a trip to a volatile area of the world, make sure you understand your coverage limits and exclusions. If you have questions, please call our customer service team and they can help explain any details that may be most relevant to your situation.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.