What is Trip Interruption Coverage?

Key Takeaways

Trip interruption coverage reimburses 100% to 200% of your trip cost when covered emergencies force you home early.

Policies cover medical emergencies, family illness, severe weather and other unforeseen disruptions after your trip begins.

Premium plans from Allianz, Nationwide, and Generali offer the highest reimbursement limits for trip interruption protection.

What Is Trip Interruption Coverage?

Trip interruption coverage reimburses unused portions of your trip when you must return home early because of a covered event. You'll recover prepaid, non-refundable travel costs and get reimbursed for emergency flights home.

Coverage starts once you leave as trip cancellation protects you before departure. The coverage activates when unforeseen emergencies cut your journey short: illness, injury, family crises, natural disasters, or transportation failures.

MoneyGeek's analysis of more than 30 travel insurance plans shows policies reimburse 100% to 150% of your insured trip cost, while premium plans extend to 175% to 200% to cover rebooking and extra transportation.

Trip Interruption vs. Other Travel Benefits


When It Applies	Before departure	After departure, trip ends early	After departure, temporary delay	Before departure, any reason
Coverage Amount	100% of trip cost	100-200% of trip cost	$100-$300 per day (capped)	50-75% of trip cost
Unused Costs	Full trip cost	Unused portion only	Not covered	Full trip cost
New Flight Home	Not applicable	Covered	Not covered	Not applicable
Must Be Covered Reason	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Typical Premium	Included in base plan	Included in base plan	Included in base plan	+40-60% of base

Comprehensive travel insurance plans bundle these four benefits together. Interruption covers unfinished trips, not delayed or abandoned ones.

What Does Trip Interruption Coverage Cover?


Unexpected illness or injury certified by physician	Personal preference or change of mind
Death of immediate family member	Fear of travel without actual incident
Severe weather or natural disaster	Known weather events before purchase
Government-ordered evacuation	Visa denial due to incomplete application
Terrorism at destination	Missed connection from late arrival
Stolen passport or travel documents	Pre-existing conditions (without waiver)
Carrier bankruptcy or strike	Work obligations or schedule changes
Jury duty or court subpoena	Financial circumstances

Trip Interruption Example Scenarios

You're hiking in Italy and break your ankle. After treatment, you must fly home early. Interruption coverage reimburses unused hotel nights and pays for the new flight.

Your parent is hospitalized mid-semester during your study abroad program. The plan covers your return airfare and non-refundable housing costs, with no questions about whether the emergency qualifies.

A hurricane closes your Caribbean resort three days into your week-long stay. You'll get evacuation costs plus refunds for the remaining lodging balance.

Who Qualifies as an Immediate Family Member?

Trip interruption coverage extends to emergencies affecting your immediate family, but "immediate family" has a specific definition that varies slightly by insurer.

Most policies cover illness, injury, or death of these family members:

Core Family: Spouse, domestic partner, common-law spouse, children (including stepchildren, adopted children or foster children), parents, stepparents, parents-in-law, siblings, stepsiblings, siblings-in-law, grandparents, grandparents-in-law or grandchildren

Extended Family: Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, legal guardians or wards

Special Cases: Caregivers for policies covering dependent care, and ex-spouses on some policies only

Insurers define domestic partners more strictly than married couples. You'll need proof of cohabitation for at least six months plus documentation of shared financial responsibilities. Your policy certificate lists the exact family member definition for your plan. Definitions vary between insurers and sometimes between plan tiers from the same company.

Trip Interruption Coverage Limits: What You'll Actually Receive


Allianz Travel	Prime	150%	$150,000	Up to $7,500	Up to $22,500
Nationwide	Prime	200%	$60,000	Up to $10,000	Up to $30,000
Travelex	Ultimate	150%	$75,000	Up to $7,500	Up to $22,500
Generali	Premium	175%	Varies	Up to $8,750	Up to $26,250
Seven Corners	Prime	150%	Varies	Up to $7,500	Up to $22,500

Note: Actual reimbursement depends on unused portion of trip and additional return costs.

Who Offers the Best Trip Interruption Coverage?

Compare rates across multiple providers since pricing varies significantly based on trip cost, traveler age and destination. Basic plans from these providers start around 4% to 6% of trip cost while still including trip interruption benefits.

Highest Reimbursement

Nationwide

Reimbursement: 200%
Max Benefit: $60,000
Best For: Expensive trips where emergency return costs could exceed your original trip price
Starting Cost: 4-6% of trip cost

Best Overall Balance

Allianz

Reimbursement: 150%
Max Benefit: $150,000
Best For: Most international travel and cruises needing high coverage limits
Starting Cost: 4-6% of trip cost

Premium Mid-Tier

Generali Global Assistance

Reimbursement: 175%
Max Benefit: Varies
Best For: Above-standard protection without top-tier pricing
Starting Cost: 4–6-% of trip cost

How Trip Interruption Claims Work

Trip interruption coverage activates once travel begins. A claim unfolds through five steps: disruption occurs, you notify your insurer, you return home, you submit documentation, and you receive reimbursement.

1
Disruption Occurs:
A covered event interrupts your trip.
2
Notify Your Insurer:
Call the 24-hour assistance line for guidance.
3
Return Home:
Policies reimburse added airfare for emergency return.
4
Submit Documentation:
Receipts, medical or official statements required.
5
Receive Reimbursement:
Payment for unused, prepaid costs plus extra expenses.

Processing time: Most claims take one to two weeks for initial review and four to six weeks for payment.

Documentation by Trip Interruption Type


Medical Emergency	Physician's note certifying inability to travel, hospital records, prescription documentation
Family Member Illness/Death	Death certificate or hospital admission records, physician statement, proof of relationship
Natural Disaster/Severe Weather	Government evacuation order, airline cancellation notice, hotel closure notification
Terrorism/Civil Unrest	State Department travel warning, official government advisory, proof of incident date
Lost/Stolen Documents	Police report filed within 24 hours, embassy documentation, original document copies
Carrier Failure	Bankruptcy filing notice, cruise line closure announcement, financial insolvency documentation

Note: Missing documentation is the top reason for claim denial. Keep digital copies while traveling.

Common Claim Mistakes to Avoid


Delayed notification	Violates policy terms	Call insurer within 24-48 hours, suppliers within 72 hours
Missing receipts	No proof of expenses	Photo all receipts immediately; keep digital and physical copies
Didn't try to continue	Shows negligence	Document attempts to rejoin cruise/tour with emails and calls
Under-insured trip	Prorated reimbursement	Insure full non-refundable amount, not rounded-down figure
Wrong covered reason	Doesn't qualify for payout	Read certificate before filing; call to confirm coverage
Didn't report refunds	Considered fraud	Disclose all refunds/credits from suppliers honestly

Do You Need Trip Interruption Coverage?

Your need for trip interruption coverage depends on your trip cost, refund policies, and personal circumstances. Use this framework to evaluate your situation:


$500 domestic weekend trip, all refundable	Low	Skip or use credit card coverage
$2,000 domestic trip, 50% non-refundable	Medium	Basic plan (100-150% coverage)
$5,000 international trip, mostly non-refundable	High	Comprehensive plan (150% coverage)
$10,000+ cruise or tour package	Critical	Premium plan (175-200% coverage)
Multi-generational family trip	High	Comprehensive with high limits
Traveling with pre-existing conditions	Critical	Plan with pre-existing waiver
Frequent traveler (4+ trips/year)	Medium-High	Annual multi-trip plan

You likely need this protection if your trip includes non-refundable tours, cruises or deposits, you're traveling abroad or for an extended stay, family or health concerns could require an early return, or you want coverage for emergency flights home.

Premium credit cards cap trip interruption at $1,500 to $5,000. Comprehensive travel policies extend to $10,000 to $300,000, based on plan tier.

Our guide on whether you should buy travel insurance can help you evaluate your overall protection needs.

Types of Trip Interruption Coverage and Plan Options

Single-Trip Plans:

Standard for vacationers, reimbursing 100% to 150% of trip cost. Allianz Prime offers 150% ($150,000 limit), Travelex Ultimate offers 150% ($75,000 limit), and Nationwide Prime offers 200% ($60,000 limit).

Annual Plans:

For frequent travelers with flat caps of $2,500 to $10,000 per year. Allianz Executive caps interruption at $10,000 per trip, while Seven Corners Annual Multi-Trip offers up to 150% of cancellation limit.

What to Compare: Reimbursement percentage (150% to 200% for higher tiers), maximum cap ($10,000 to $300,000), covered reasons (look for broad lists), and exclusions. When evaluating plans, check our complete guide to travel insurance coverage types to understand how interruption fits into comprehensive protection.

You can buy travel insurance after booking your trip, but purchasing within 14 days of your initial deposit often qualifies you for pre-existing condition waivers and other time-sensitive benefits.

Trip Interruption and CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason)

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) applies before travel begins and reimburses a portion, usually 50% to 75%, of your trip if you cancel for a reason not covered by standard insurance.

Coverage shifts once you leave: CFAR no longer applies, and trip interruption takes over. Use both together for end-to-end protection as CFAR handles pre-departure changes while interruption covers on-trip emergencies.

Trip Interruption Coverage and COVID-19

Comprehensive policies treat COVID-19 like any other illness. If you test positive mid-trip and a doctor confirms you can't continue, interruption benefits apply.

Quarantine without diagnosis or "fear of infection" isn't covered unless you add Cancel For Any Reason.

Credit Card Trip Interruption Coverage vs. Travel Insurance


Max Reimbursement	$1,500-$5,000	$10,000-$300,000
Covered Reasons	Limited (illness, weather)	Comprehensive (25+ events)
Family Coverage	Cardholder + companions	All listed travelers
Claim Filing	Through bank insurer	Through dedicated travel insurer

Credit card benefits help for short domestic trips, but frequent or high-value travelers need a full policy.

Tip Interruption Coverage FAQ

What's the difference between trip interruption and trip delay?

Trip interruption covers ending a trip early. Trip delay covers temporary postponements and daily expenses until you continue traveling.

Does trip interruption cover COVID-19?

Yes, if a physician confirms illness during travel. Comprehensive policies treat COVID-19 like any other illness. Interruption benefits apply when a doctor confirms you can't continue. Quarantine without diagnosis or "fear of infection" isn't covered unless you add Cancel For Any Reason.

Can I buy trip interruption insurance alone?

Rarely. Most insurers bundle it with full travel insurance plans.

Which companies offer the best trip interruption coverage?

Allianz, Nationwide, Travelex, Generali, and Seven Corners lead in coverage generosity per MoneyGeek data.

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.

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