Hurricane travel insurance covers trip cancellation, interruption and delays caused by named storms when purchased before official naming. Most comprehensive plans reimburse prepaid costs if hurricanes make your destination uninhabitable or cause mandatory evacuations.
Hurricane Travel Insurance Coverage
Hurricane travel insurance costs $69-$125 for comprehensive storm protection on a $2,500 Caribbean trip. Buy before tropical storms get named, or lose coverage.
Learn about hurricane travel insurance coverage for your next trip.
Updated: December 17, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Buy hurricane coverage within 24 hours of booking during June-November season. Waiting until storms develop means you'll only have access to more expensive Cancel For Any Reason options.
Comprehensive plans cover 100% trip cancellation and 150% trip interruption when hurricanes cause mandatory evacuations or make accommodations uninhabitable.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage costs 40-50% more but reimburses 75% of trip costs without requiring proof of hurricane impact, ideal when tropical systems are already developing.
Best Travel Insurance Companies for Hurricane Coverage
We evaluated travel insurance plans based on hurricane-specific coverage terms, cost, overall MoneyGeek scores and delay requirements. The best plans cover common carrier delays, accommodation uninhabitability and mandatory evacuations.
1 | Tin Leg | Tin Leg Luxury Plan | 87 | $86 | Any length carrier delay |
2 | BHTP | BHTP ExactCare | 90 | $69 | 6-hour delay |
3 | BHTP | BHTP LuxuryCare | 89 | $125 | 6-hour delay + CFAR option |
Based on Caribbean destination, 7-day trip, purchased August 4 for October 1-7 departure.
Best Overall Hurricane Coverage
Tin Leg
MoneyGeek score: 87/100
Tin Leg Luxury Plan covers carrier delays of any length, with no 6-hour or 24-hour wait required like competitors. This means immediate reimbursement when flights cancel due to named storms. The plan includes 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, and mandatory evacuation coverage for $86 on a $2,500 Caribbean trip.
Best Value Hurricane Protection
BHTP
MoneyGeek score: 90/100
BHTP ExactCare earned the highest score, delivering the lowest price among top-rated plans. At just $69 for a $2,500 Caribbean trip, it covers 100% trip cancellation, 150% trip interruption, and accommodation uninhabitability with a 6-hour carrier delay requirement, which is 20% less than Tin Leg Luxury.
Most Flexible Hurricane Coverage
BHTP
Moneygeek score: 89
BHTP LuxuryCare stands out with optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage, perfect when tropical systems are developing but haven't received official names yet. Purchase within 15 days of initial deposit for 75% reimbursement without proving hurricane impact. Standard benefits include 100% trip cancellation and 150% trip interruption with 6-hour carrier delays. Cost: $125 on a $2,500 Caribbean trip.
How Hurricane Coverage Works
Hurricane coverage operates on specific triggers and timing requirements that determine when you receive reimbursement.
Named storm by National Hurricane Center | Must purchase before storm receives official name | Policy purchased after storm named |
Mandatory government evacuation order for your destination | Once named, storm becomes foreseen event (excluded) | Voluntary cancellation based on forecasts or personal concern |
Accommodations certified uninhabitable by authorities | Purchase within 14-21 days of deposit for pre-existing condition waivers | Storms affecting areas outside your travel route |
Common carrier cancellation or significant delay due to named storm | Fear of travel without official evacuation or carrier cancellation |
Hurricane Coverage Types and Limits
Travel insurance provides four main types of hurricane-related coverage, each with specific reimbursement limits and trigger conditions.
Trip Cancellation | 100% of prepaid, non-refundable costs | Up to insured trip cost ($2,500-$30,000) | Hurricane causes mandatory evacuation or makes accommodations uninhabitable before departure |
Trip Interruption | Unused trip portion + return transportation | 150% of trip cost on comprehensive plans | Hurricane forces mid-trip evacuation or accommodation closure |
Trip Delay | Meals, accommodations, essential items | $150-$250/day, $500-$2,000 maximum | Carrier delays 6-24 hours (varies by plan) |
Natural Disaster Evacuation | Emergency transportation from hurricane zone | $50,000-$150,000 on premium plans | Emergency relocation needed due to hurricane (separate from medical evacuation) |
Hurricane Travel Insurance Cost
Hurricane travel insurance costs vary based on trip value, coverage level, and specific hurricane protection features.
Tin Leg Luxury Plan | $86 | Any length carrier delay |
BHTP ExactCare | $69 | 6-hour delay |
BHTP LuxuryCare | $125 | 6-hour delay + CFAR option |
Tin Leg Standard Plan | $82 | 48-hour carrier delay |
Seven Corners Basic Plan | $81 | 24-hour delay |
Based on $2,500 trip cost, 7-day Caribbean trip, purchased August 4 for October 1-7 departure.
Factors Affecting Cost
- Trip cost: Higher trip value increases premium proportionally
- Traveler age: Seniors pay 40-60% more than 30-year-olds
- Destination: Hurricane-prone regions cost more during peak season
- Plan tier: Shorter delay requirements increase premiums
- Purchase timing: Prices may increase as hurricane season progresses
When and How to Buy Hurricane Travel Insurance
Timing your hurricane insurance purchase correctly determines whether you'll have coverage for developing storms.
When to Buy
The National Hurricane Center names tropical storms when sustained winds reach 39 mph. You must purchase insurance before this official naming occurs, as named storms immediately become foreseen events excluded from standard coverage.
Tropical depressions labeled "Invest 95L" or similar designations don't trigger coverage exclusions since they lack official names.
Hurricane Season Timing:
- Atlantic: June 1-November 30 (peak August-October)
- Pacific: May 15-November 30 (affects Mexico's Pacific coast and Hawaii)
- Caribbean high-risk period: August-October (78% of major hurricanes occur during these months)
Where to Buy
Purchase hurricane travel insurance directly through provider websites when booking your trip to ensure immediate coverage before any storms develop. Compare multiple plans using insurance aggregator sites to find the best combination of coverage terms and pricing for your specific destination.
Hurricane Coverage vs Cancel For Any Reason
Standard hurricane coverage requires storms to be unnamed at purchase, but Cancel For Any Reason offers an alternative when tropical systems are already developing.
- Reimburses 100% of trip cost
- Must purchase before storm is named
- Requires mandatory evacuation or uninhabitable accommodation
- Standard premium (no additional cost)
- Storm must directly impact your destination
- Reimburses 75% of trip cost
- Must purchase within 14-21 days of initial trip deposit
- No proof required, cancel for any reason
- Adds 40-50% to premium
- Covers concern about any tropical activity
When CFAR Makes Sense:
- Tropical systems developing but not yet named when you book
- Travel during peak season (August-October) to Caribbean or Gulf Coast
- Expensive trips where 75% reimbursement acceptable
- Want flexibility to cancel based on forecasts rather than official orders
BHTP LuxuryCare with CFAR runs $125 compared to $69 for BHTP ExactCare's standard coverage. That's an 81% premium increase for cancellation flexibility.
How to File a Hurricane Travel Insurance Claim
Filing hurricane travel insurance claims requires specific documentation proving the storm directly impacted your travel plans.
- 1Contact your insurance provider.
Call your insurance provider immediately when a hurricane affects your travel plans
- 2Gather required documentation.
Policy certificate with purchase date, National Hurricane Center advisories showing storm naming date, government evacuation orders or accommodation closure notices, trip receipts, and booking confirmations
- 3Save all receipts.
This is for additional expenses, including emergency transportation, extended hotel stays, and meals during delays.
- 4Submit your claim.
Submit claim within 20-90 days of returning or your original return date if canceled (check policy for specific deadline).
- 5Prepare for further steps.
Respond promptly to any requests for supplemental documentation from your claims adjuster.
Hurricane Travel Insurance: FAQ
Does travel insurance cover hurricanes after they're named?
No. Travel insurance only covers hurricanes if you purchase before the National Hurricane Center assigns an official name. Once named, the storm becomes a known event, and standard coverage no longer applies.
What's the difference between trip cancellation and trip interruption for hurricanes?
Trip cancellation reimburses prepaid costs if a hurricane forces you to cancel before departure (100% coverage). Trip interruption covers situations where a hurricane disrupts your trip after you've left home, reimbursing the unused trip portion plus additional costs to return home (typically 150% of trip cost).
Do I need hurricane insurance for Caribbean travel?
Hurricane insurance provides financial protection during the Caribbean hurricane season (June-November, peak August-October). Without coverage, you risk losing non-refundable costs if a hurricane causes mandatory evacuations or makes your accommodations uninhabitable.
How long do I have to file a hurricane travel insurance claim?
Most travel insurance providers require you to file claims within 20-90 days of returning from your trip or your original return date if canceled. Contact your insurer immediately when a hurricane affects your plans for guidance on documentation requirements.
How We Evaluated Hurricane Travel Insurance
We analyzed hurricane coverage across 13 major travel insurance providers to identify plans offering the best storm season protection.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Hurricane-Specific Coverage (40%): Common carrier delay requirements, accommodation uninhabitability coverage, mandatory evacuation inclusion, and named storm timing rules
- Cost Analysis (30%): Caribbean premium rates during peak season, value across coverage tiers, and CFAR upgrade costs
- Overall Plan Quality (30%): MoneyGeek scores for coverage breadth, financial stability, customer service, and affordability, plus trip cancellation and interruption limits, and claims processing reputation
Data Sources: We reviewed direct policy documents from 13 insurers and collected premium quotes for 30-year-old travelers on $2,500, 7-day Caribbean trips purchased August 4 for October 1-7 departure. MoneyGeek's proprietary scoring methodology analyzed 40+ plan features to produce comprehensive ratings.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.