Travel Insurance In a World with COVID-19

Be Prepared - Protect Your Travels with Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance has never been more important or helpful than in a world with COVID-19. Purchasing appropriate and adequate travel insurance will protect your travel investment and decrease stress if you are not able to travel as planned.

COVID -19 has changed the travel insurance landscape significantly, but there ARE insurance providers who are now covering medical issues, cancellations, and interruptions to travel that are COVID-19 related. That said, finding the right coverage and purchasing at the right time does take some careful planning and pouring through the fine print, but never fear we are here to help!

$50 per person-credit for purchasing insurance

As our thank you to you for being prepared by having travel insurance, we will offer you a $50 per person-credit towards your tour cost if you provide evidence of a valid Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance policy that will cover your tour costs if you were unable to join your tour.

*While not insurance experts, here is what we have learned through our research:

Cancel For Any Reason Insurance (CFAR)

In this environment with so many unknowns and for the greatest peace of mind, we highly recommend purchasing insurance known as Cancel For Any Reason Insurance (CFAR). CFAR policies vary by provider, but the general idea is that as the name implies you can cancel for any reason and receive a partial to full refund depending on the policy, specific circumstances, and date of your cancellation.

Things to know about Cancel For Any Reason Insurance (CFAR)

CFAR has to be purchased shortly after paying for ANY portion of your travel/tour. The exact window for purchase varies from 72 hours to 20 days depending on the provider after payment has been made.
CFAR will cover 100% of your non-refundable expenses when canceling for reasons covered as part of typical cancellation insurance i.e. you or an immediate family member break a leg and can no longer travel.
When canceling for a reason that is not covered by standard cancellation insurance i.e using the Cancel for Any Reason clause- only a portion of your non-refundable expenses will be covered, often 75%. Examples of reasons for cancellation, in this case, could be canceled because of no longer having the desire to travel, or your dog is sick or any other reason not covered by standard cancellation insurance, etc.
CFAR policies have different amounts of coverage based on when you cancel your trip. The closer you get to your tour departure the amount of coverage/refund you would be eligible for changes.
CFAR policies are sold with coverage for cancellations but also usually include trip interruption and medical coverage which can be helpful once you have started your journey.

BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANY PORTION OF YOUR TRAVEL/ADVENTURE

Use our handy insurance selector or give us a call and we would be happy to direct you to insurance companies that can help you find the right policy for you and your needs.
Read through the fine print of the policy and ensure that you, and your specific circumstances and those of your travel companions will have appropriate and adequate coverage. Double-check wording regarding pre-existing conditions, activities covered, the maximum duration of travel, total amounts covered, etc. FYI: to receive the $50per person credit from Spirit of the West for purchasing travel insurance, it has to be a Cancel for Any Reason policy.

IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL YOUR TOUR/TRAVEL

We recommend giving us a call before you reach out to your travel insurance provider and we will help ensure that you have everything you need for them.
It is really helpful to read through your policy to understand what is covered when it is covered and why before starting your claim.

Top Tips and What We Have Learned Researching Travel Insurance

Which policy you can purchase depends on where you live, by country, but also by province/state/region
When you purchase your insurance there can NOT be a warning issued to not travel to your destination (the exact level of warning varies by policy). If a warning is issued after you purchase your insurance you should be able to trigger your cancellation, interruption, or CFAR coverage.
On your date of departure, there also can NOT be a warning against travel and or traveling to your destination.
You can’t buy CFAR insurance without medical, cancellation, and or interruption coverage, it always comes as part of a package or as an add-on to these ‘comprehensive’ type policies.
Spend some time determining which expenses you need coverage for and which wouldn’t be covered by travel insurance because they are refundable or you would be offered a future use credit. This helps you get the right coverage for your expenses while keeping the cost of the insurance reasonable.
Some policies cover your travel companions and if something happens to them, but be sure that the coverages offered will indeed work for you all. Sometimes the amounts are too low to really provide adequate coverage ie max payouts wouldn’t get your family of 4 home if you needed a flight change etc.

Do I really need to purchase travel insurance? I never have purchased it before…

The simple answer is YES! Travel insurance has become an incredible tool for having peace of mind when traveling in a world with COVID – 19 and the associated travel restrictions, border closures, and many other uncertainties. Having the right insurance helps you to focus on trip planning, having fun, and enjoying versus worrying about the ‘what if’s’. While canceling or unexpected changes to your travel would be no fun, it is much less stressful when you aren’t worried about losing all your hard-earned dollars.

applicable policies

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If you are from Canada…

If you are a US Resident…

If you are from outside Canada/US…

TRAVEL INSURANCE 101

What is Travel Insurance? Why would I need it? To learn about the basics of what general travel insurance is all about please visit our:

travel insurance 101

Travel Insurance FAQ

+ Is Travel nsurance Mandatory?

While travel insurance is not mandatory, we can’t recommend it enough. Having adequate coverage can really take the stress out of the unforeseen or the challenges of the ever-evolving travel landscape as a result of COVID. While helpful for everyone, we especially are encouraging guests from outside of Canada to purchase coverage that will cover you if travel restrictions etc.

+ How do I claim the $50 per person credit for purchasing adequate Travel Insurance?

If you purchase a Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance policy that covers the duration of your travels and provide evidence (a copy of your payment receipt and policy wording) to Spirit of the West Adventures, we will provide you with a $50 credit towards the cost of your tour with us. This is our way of saying thank you for being proactive and prepared. As a small company, we have many expenses that happen in advance of your tour departure and our Terms and Conditions reflect this. If you have to cancel or are unable to travel it is hoped that your Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance policy will hopefully help with any retained fees or non-refundable prepaid expenses.

+ I have COVID coverage from my airline/credit card company etc. Does this insurance qualify for the $50 credit toward my trip with Spirit of the West?

Unfortunately not. The insurance coverage offered by these companies usually does not include Cancel for any Reason coverage. With COVID 19 being what insurance companies call a ‘known risk’ NON-CFAR policies, such as those offered by airlines typically don’t cover things like border closures, public health advisories, being uncomfortable with travel, being called to work to cover for a sick colleague, having a family member need your care etc. Each policy differs and it is worth checking the fine print but the complementary policies offered by Canadian airlines at this time are very basic and really only cover your medical insurance if you get sick while traveling. While CFAR coverage is more expensive, it gives you the most flexibility to manage when, where and how you travel.