Young woman in international airport looking at the flight information board, holding passport in her hand, checking her flight
Thousands of flights have been canceled since the start of the war in Iran, and many travelers looking for insurance reimbursement might be out of luck.
War, military actions and government-mandated airspace closures aren't covered under most standard travel insurance policies. Unless a traveler chose the "cancel for any reason" option when purchasing coverage, they likely won't be reimbursed for any cancellations, evacuations or related costs.
Still, experts are saying travelers should review each policy carefully in case they are eligible for reimbursement and to call their insurance provider if they're confused about their coverage.
"My advice is to save every receipt and always ask for a refund," said Brian Kelly, the Points Guy founder, in an interview with ABC News. "Even if you're not owed one. Submit to the airline, credit card company, travel insurance provider, and see if anyone covers any portion. It never hurts to ask."
The Insurance Council of Australia said war and conflict are excluded from policies because they would make most travel insurance policies unaffordable if they were included.
"These exclusions exist because the scale and unpredictability of armed conflict create risks that are difficult for insurers to price," the council said in a statement. "Without this exclusion, premiums for all travelers would be unsustainable given the risks the coverage would need to account for."
The U.S. State Department has issued a "depart now" advisory for 16 Middle Eastern countries. The advisory applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and Israel are now classified as Level 3 ("reconsider travel"). Saudi Arabia and Oman are Level 2 ("exercise increased caution"). The State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, and the UAE.
Photo credit: Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Adobe Stock
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