Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Volcanoes: Does Your Travel Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?

You’re halfway through a two-week trip when an earthquake strikes. Or a hurricane changes course toward your resort. Or a volcano grounds all flights. What does your travel insurance actually cover?

Before You Leave: Trip Cancellation

If a natural disaster strikes your destination before you depart and triggers a government travel advisory (“Avoid non-essential travel” or higher), your Trip Cancellation insurance covers your prepaid, non-refundable costs. You get your money back.

Important: The advisory must be issued after you purchased your insurance. If the advisory was already in effect when you bought the policy, it’s not covered.

While You’re There: Emergency Medical

If you’re injured in a natural disaster while travelling, your Emergency Medical coverage applies. This includes:

• Hospital treatment for injuries
• Emergency evacuation to a safe location or adequate medical facility
• Repatriation to Canada if medically necessary

Getting Home: Trip Interruption

If a natural disaster forces you to cut your trip short, Trip Interruption insurance covers:

• The unused portion of your prepaid trip costs
• Additional transportation costs to get home (or to a safe location)
• Extra accommodation if you’re stranded

What’s NOT Covered

• Choosing to leave voluntarily when no advisory has been issued
• Known risks at the time of purchase (e.g., buying insurance during hurricane season for a destination already under warning)
• Property damage to your belongings (this falls under baggage coverage, with per-item limits)

Earthquake-Prone Destinations

Japan, Chile, Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico — these are among the most visited countries by Canadians that sit on major fault lines. Travel insurance doesn’t cost more for seismically active destinations. The coverage is the same whether you’re going to Florida or Fukuoka.

Coverage from $4.25/day — all destinations, all risks →