East Hartford, CT, May 28, 2010 – Vacationers were possibly tempted in 2009’s relatively quiet hurricane season and tough economy to save money by skipping travel insurance. However, the new 2010 hurricane season outlook from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center paints a more active, riskier storm picture this season, which starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The NWS meteorologists expect between 14 and 23 named storms, of which 8 to 14 may become hurricanes, including 3 to 7 major storms of Category 3 (111 m.p.h.) or larger.
The 2010 outlook, presented by U.S. Commerce under secretary and National Oceanic and Atmospheric administrator Jane Lubchenco, dramatically increases expectations for 2010 hurricanes compared to last year. The 2009 outlook called for 9 to 14 named tropical storms, with 4 to 7 hurricanes. Actual 2009 Atlantic storm season activity included 9 named storms with 3 hurricanes, below the normal season average of 11 named storms with 6 hurricanes.
“If the [2010] outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said the NOAA administrator, adding that more seasonal tropical storm activity increases the risk that one or more hurricanes will make a landfall.
Preparing for Hurricane Season Vacations with Travel Insured Coverage
While travel insurance provides peace of mind in protecting vacationers against hurricane-caused trip cancellations and delays when traveling during hurricane season, the key is to obtain a comprehensive plan early, preferably with initial trip deposit, before a potentially disruptive tropical storm or hurricane is named by the National Weather Service. Once a storm is publicly identified it no longer meets the “unforeseen” definition required for coverage. Plans bought after the storm is named are not covered for disruptions caused by the storm or its resulting weather patterns.
Having a Worldwide Trip Protector plan in force can protect vacationers on several levels of coverage:
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption: New this hurricane season is Trip Cancellation coverage in Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector and Trip Protector Gold plan when the insured is forced to lose 50% or more of his or her scheduled trip duration due to a covered Trip Delay reason. Defined reasons covered for Trip Delay include delay of a common carrier for six or more hours, including for inclement weather, or a delay due to a traffic accident en route to a departure, or a delay due to lost passports or documents, a hijacking, quarantine, or unannounced strike, or a natural disaster.
As disruptive storms strike, all of Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector line of plans can provide Trip Cancellation when weather causes complete cessation of the insured’s common carrier for 24 or more hours. Trip Cancellation can also apply when a natural disaster renders the destination accommodations uninhabitable, or when the insured’s primary residence is made uninhabitable by flood or other natural disaster within 10 days of a scheduled departure. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage in the Worldwide Trip Protector and Trip Protector Gold plans can apply when local authorities order a mandatory evacuation at the destination due to a hurricane and 50% or less of the insured’s trip remains when the evacuation is over.
Trip Delay and Missed Connection
Cancel for Any Reason: This is the right option for travelers who want to cancel the trip when a storm is threatening but has not yet reached their destination. The option allows the insured to cancel up to 48 hours prior to his or her scheduled departure for any reason to receive up to 75% reimbursement of the non-refundable prepaid vacation costs.
Trip Delay: A weather-caused delay of your common carrier for a minimum six or 12 hours, depending upon the selected plan, can provide Trip Delay coverage of up to $500, $1,000, or $1,500 as specified in the selected Worldwide Trip Protector plan.
Missed Port of Call: Worldwide Trip Protector, Trip Protector Gold and Trip Protector Lite Expanded plans offer an “Itinerary Change” benefit that addresses the rerouting of cruise or tour itineraries due to unforeseen events such as hurricanes. Insured passengers who prepay for a non-refundable shore activity in a port of call, or a scheduled stop on a tour, but miss the activity due to a change of itinerary, can be reimbursed up to $750 unless the missed activity is rescheduled during the trip.
Missed Connection: This coverage can protect you on most Worldwide Trip Protector plans if, as a result of a weather-related disruption of your common carrier for three or more hours, you miss your cruise or tour departure. Benefits can be paid up to the limits specified on your selected plan.
Get a Deal and Get it Covered
Hurricane season vacations in tropical destinations offer some of the best vacation discount deals anywhere because of the need to attract guests when seasonal storm disruptions pose a potential travel risk. Save on travel by taking advantage of off-season discounts in the tropics. But save on stress with a Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector plan to prevent those prepaid bargains from being lost due to weather disruptions.
About Travel Insured International
Travel Insured International, based in E. Hartford, CT, was founded in 1993 by the foresight of insurance industry executive Peter Gehris when he acquired the travel protection division of the Travelers Insurance Company. Coverage is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company (a Missouri corporation, NAIC #11150) with executive offices located in New York, NY. Arch Insurance is rated A (“Excellent”) for financial strength by the insurance rating service A.M. Best. Not all insurance products or coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Coverage is subject to actual policy language.