How Travel Insurance Works for Small Business Owners

Recently, an article in Travel Market Report titled “Why Small Business Owner Clients May Have Travel Insurance Risks” told the story of a pair small business owners who suffered a fire at their business just before embarking on a cruise. Because of the type of travel insurance coverage they purchased, the couple’s trip cancellation claim was originally denied.

If you are a small business owner and are looking for travel insurance coverage that would cover claims like the one described above, there are a few things you should consider and a few policy details you should read closely.

What kind of coverage do small business owners have?

Small business owners are afforded almost all the same coverages under an Arch RoamRight travel insurance plan as non-business owners. This includes trip cancellation, interruption, and delay for reasons such as sickness, injury, death, and many others.

However, where small business owners may be excluded from coverage falls under the Cancel for Work Reasons optional upgrade.

What is Cancel for Work Reasons coverage?

Cancel for Work Reasons is an optional upgrade offered by Arch RoamRight that adds additional covered reasons for trip cancellation in case work, which is not typically a covered reason, forces changes to your travel plans.

As a business owner, below are the additional work reasons for cancellation that include you or your traveling companion:

• Being transferred by your employer more than 100 miles from home
• Has their place of employment rendered unsuitable for business or company operations is interrupted due to burglary, vandalism, or a natural disaster, product recall, or bankruptcy, and are therefore required to work during your scheduled trip.

In order to eligible for the Cancel for Work Reasons upgrade, you must purchase your insurance within 21 days of making the initial trip deposit.

The Cancel for Work Reasons optional upgrade is available with the Preferred and Elite plans on RoamRight.com. This coverage is automatically included at no additional cost in the partner-exclusive Pro Plus plan if it is purchased within 21 days of making the initial trip deposit.

How Cancel for Any Reason coverage can help

If you are a business owner and you are concerned that you may have to cancel your trip as a result of a merger or needing to work for a non-covered reason, consider purchasing Cancel for Any Reason coverage.

Cancel for Any Reason 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.

Cancel for Any Reason is available with the Preferred, Elite, Pro and Pro Plus plans.

Ask Questions

If you’re a small business owner and are shopping for travel insurance, it’s best to contact the insurance provider directly and ask questions about the policy before you buy. Don’t make the mistake and assume you’ll be covered for a business-related event.

In case you’re wondering, based on the information provided in the Travel Market Report article, the business owners who experienced the fire would likely have had coverage for their cruise if they had our Cancel For Work Reasons upgrade.

Arch RoamRight’s award-winning customer service team is available to answer questions pertaining to travel insurance for small business owners. Contact us at 800-699-3845.

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