‘Interruption For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance (2024)

Cutting a dream vacation short can be a nightmare, but if a family emergency or sudden illness or injury happens, you may have to return home earlier than planned. In that case, standard trip interruption insurance can help you recoup non-refundable trip costs if you curtail your trip for a reason covered by your policy.

But what if you want to make a trip interruption claim for a reason not listed in your policy? That’s where trip “interruption for any reason” (IFAR) insurance comes in. It’s an upgrade to a standard travel insurance policy that permits you to cut short a trip for any reason and get partial reimbursem*nt for the non-refundable money you lose.

How Does ‘Interruption for Any Reason’ Travel Insurance Work?

Standard trip interruption insurance is included in the best travel insurance plans. It can reimburse you for a last-minute flight home and for deposits and prepaid expenses that aren’t refundable. So, for instance, if you return home early and miss out on a private tour, you can file a claim.

If you need to make a trip interruption claim, your trip must be interrupted due to a reason covered in your policy.

“Standard trip interruption requires a specific list of events to occur before the benefit becomes payable, including unforeseen illness or injury, inclement weather, natural disaster, or terrorism,” says Sarah McWilliams-Guerra, spokesperson with Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.

An “interruption for any reason” upgrade gives you the freedom to file a claim, no matter the reason for the interruption. It allows you to recoup the prepaid and non-refundable trip money that you lose.

Angela Borden, spokesperson for Seven Corners travel insurance company, provides these examples of when IFAR can help:

• You have a disagreement with your host and want to leave, so you decide to go to your next destination early.
• You have a falling out with a friend you are traveling with and want to come home before your scheduled return date.
• You have an unexpected financial crisis and want to cut your trip short.
• You are not comfortable with the steps your resort is taking regarding Covid, and you don’t feel comfortable staying there, so you decide to return home early.
• You’re unhappy with the condition of your Airbnb or rental and decide to leave before your trip is over.

‘Interruption for Any Reason’ Insurance Details

While you get the greatest flexibility for interruption benefits under IFAR, here is what McWilliams-Guerra says you need to know if you’re considering buying IFAR coverage:

• You will not be reimbursed as much as 150% of your trip costs, as with standard trip interruption benefits. IFAR reimburses up to 75% of the insured trip costs.
• IFAR is an optional benefit.
• You must typically purchase IFAR within 15 to 20 days of your first trip payment or deposit.
• To be eligible for this benefit, you must insure 100% of your prepaid and non-refundable trip costs.
• IFAR coverage typically adds 3% to 10% to the cost of your travel insurance.

The most significant stipulation of IFAR insurance is that coverage typically doesn’t start until 48 hours or more into your trip, says McWilliams-Guerra. So, for example, let’s say you arrive at your destination and decide to go home on the first day because the forecast calls for rain during your golf trip. Your IFAR benefits will not be applicable if it’s within the 48-hour window from your departure.

Some IFAR plans have a 72-hour waiting period before coverage kicks in, so be sure to check your policy for the details.

There are also some expenses that are not eligible for reimbursem*nt under IFAR. “A cancellation penalty imposed by a hotel or airline would not be payable, but the prepaid costs of the flight or hotel can be reimbursable,” says McWilliams-Guerra.

Additionally, IFAR does not cover money you lose because your travel supplier fails to provide the agreed-upon travel arrangements for your trip. “IFAR was designed for you to interrupt your trip for any reason you wish, not because your travel supplier failed to fulfill their agreement with you,” says Borden at Seven Corners.

Does ‘Interruption For Any Reason’ Insurance Cover Quarantines?

Standard trip interruption insurance can compensate you for missed parts of a trip if you must quarantine due to a positive Covid test—assuming your travel insurance policy includes Covid coverage.

With IFAR coverage, you can file a claim for expenses booked in advance that you miss if you are forced into quarantine during your trip—whether or not you contracted Covid.

These costs could include hotel rooms, activities and tours where you paid non-refundable deposits. Note, however, that to be eligible for a claim, you would have to be in quarantine after the waiting period before coverage kicks in, which can be at least 48 hours, or more depending on your policy.

Related: Understanding Travel Insurance Coverage For Covid Test Problems, Border Closures, Travel Advisories And Quarantines

Who Offers ‘Interruption For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance?

Below are travel insurance plans that offer an IFAR upgrade. All but Nationwide’s cruise plans provide 75% reimbursem*nt of nonrefundable, insured trip costs

• IMG iTravelInsured Travel LX. You must purchase IFAR coverage within 20 days of your first trip deposit. There’s a 48-hour waiting period after departure before IFAR coverage starts.
• Nationwide Cruise Universal, Choice and Luxury Plans. There is a 48-hour waiting period after departure before benefits apply. Benefits for the Universal plan are $250; for Choice they are $500; and for Luxury they are $1,000.
• Seven Corner RoundTrip Basic and RoundTrip Choice. There is a 48-hour waiting period after departure before benefits kick in. You must buy IFAR coverage within 20 days of your initial trip deposits.
• Travel Insured International Worldwide Trip Protection. You must purchase your plan and IFAR within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. There’s a waiting period of 72 hours after your trip departure before IFAR benefits start.

What About ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ Travel Insurance?

“Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage is an upgrade that partially reimburses you if you cancel a trip at least 48 hours before you leave for your destination.

It generally reimburses 50% or 75% of lost trip costs if you cancel your trip, regardless of why. “Cancel for any reason” coverage adds an average of 50% to the cost of your base travel insurance policy. Like IFAR, you typically must buy CFAR within a few weeks of making your first trip deposit.