A blizzard in the Midwest. A hurricane in the Caribbean. An earthquake in Indonesia. A transit strike in London.

What do all these have in common? They’re major events that have the potential to disrupt travel for many people. When an event like this occurs, Allianz Global Assistance issues a Coverage Alert.

Coverage Alerts (which can be found at the bottom of our homepage) signal to our customers that their travel plans may change if they’re traveling to or from a place where an adverse event has occurred. We’ll explain a few key things to know about Coverage Alerts — including how they can affect what travel insurance covers.

1. If you purchase travel insurance after a Coverage Alert has been issued, then your plan won’t cover losses related to the event described in the alert.

Here’s a common scenario: A couple has planned a week-long honeymoon at a beach resort in Jamaica. A few days before they depart, they’re shopping for travel insurance and they see that a Coverage Alert has been issued for a tropical storm that’s bearing down on the island. Uh-oh. So they rush to buy a plan that includes trip cancellation, just in case. If the tropical storm wrecks their resort, can they get reimbursed for the ruined trip?

No. Travel insurance exists to protect travelers in case of unforeseeable events — not things that have already happened. If a storm has been identified as a threat and a Coverage Alert has been issued, then it’s a foreseeable event.

Now, the procrastinating couple’s travel insurance can still protect them in case of other, non-storm-related problems. If the bride suffers a concussion in a fall, for instance, and a doctor advises her to cancel the trip, they could file a trip cancellation claim for that covered reason. Just remember that it’s always smart to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, so you can maximize your coverage window. Or, if you’re a frequent traveler, consider an AllTrips annual insurance plan! These plans protect all your travels in a 365-day period, so you don’t have to worry about rushing to buy travel protection for a particular trip.

Haven’t purchased insurance yet? Don’t delay — get a quote today!

Read more: When's the Best Time to Buy Travel Insurance?

2. A Coverage Alert doesn’t guarantee coverage for losses related to that event.

Here’s another scenario: A recent college grad has planned a three-week backpacking trip through Bolivia. But when he arrives in La Paz, everything is in an uproar: recent political shifts have caused widespread strikes and demonstrations, and so Allianz Global Assistance has issued a Coverage Alert. The strikes cancel all public transportation, forcing the traveler to cut his trip short. Bummer — but at least he can get reimbursed for lost prepaid trip costs, right?

That depends on his travel insurance plan. If he purchased a plan with trip interruption benefits, then an interruption for a covered reason (such as missing at least 50% of your trip due to covered strikes or unrest) can be reimbursed. But if he bought the OneTrip Emergency Medical plan, which doesn’t include trip cancellation/interruption, then his unused trip costs won’t be reimbursed. Just because an event is listed in Coverage Alerts, that doesn’t automatically mean your travel insurance plan will reimburse losses caused by that event.     

3. Your travel insurance plan can cover an adverse event even if it’s not listed as a Coverage Alert. 

You’ve planned a trip to Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, with the hope of seeing the aurora borealis. Then, an unusually severe winter storm closes the airport, cancelling all flights and forcing you to call off your trip. You don’t see any Coverage Alert listed for this storm, however. Does that mean your claim will be denied?

No! An event does not have to be listed in Coverage Alerts in order for a resulting loss to be reimbursed. Our Coverage Alerts page is not a comprehensive list — we only issue alerts for significant events that have the potential to affect a large number of travelers. This could mean a natural disaster at a popular tourist destination, or a tour operator’s bankruptcy that leaves thousands of people stranded.

4. If your travel is affected by an event described in a Coverage Alert, Allianz Global Assistance can help.

You and your sister are enjoying a week of wine tasting and fabulous food in Napa Valley. Then, your B&B host wakes you at 2 a.m. to tell you a wildfire has broken out and you must evacuate immediately. You jump into your rental car and start to drive — but you’re terrified and you don’t know where to go.

Call 24-Hour Hotline Assistance. This service, included in every travel insurance plan from Allianz Global Assistance, provides personalized help for travelers in emergencies. Our team of travel experts closely monitors situations around the world so they can help you stay safe and return home as quickly as possible. Access 24-Hour Hotline Assistance instantly from the Allyz® app .

Once you’re safe, you can file a claim for any eligible losses you suffered as a result of the adverse event. Allianz Global Assistance adjusts our staffing levels in response to Coverage Alerts, so you can be assured that we’re standing by, ready to help you. When you file a claim, you may see the event from the Coverage Alert listed in a dropdown menu. This means we’re aware of what happened, and you don’t have to describe the event in detail. Just tell us how it affected your travels, and provide supporting documentation.

Learn more about our plans and find the best protection for your trip.

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