Does travel insurance include wildfire benefits?

While Canada is home to some of the most diverse cities, like Toronto and Montreal, the real beauty lies in its  incredible wildlife, national parks, and natural scenic beauty. But, if you’re setting off to explore the heartland of Canada’s back country, it’s important to think travel advisories due to wildfire.

Unfortunately, as climates change around the globe, this disastrous natural occurrence can wreak havoc on flora, fauna and even the best laid travel plans. Which is why it is important to learn how your travel insurance may help you be better prepared for unexpected delays and interruptions due to wildfires. At Allianz Global Assistance, we offer comprehensive travel insurance plans that include unexpected emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation, and trip interruption benefits.

However, the extent of these coverages can be impacted by government-issued travel advisories, such as an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory. Understanding how these advisories may affect your travel insurance coverage is crucial for making informed decisions.

• Emergency medical coverage is one of the key benefits offered by Allianz Global Assistance. This type of coverage aims to address the cost of medical emergencies that arise while you are travelling abroad, such as hospitalization, surgery, and prescription medications.. In most cases, Allianz’s travel insurance plans offer robust benefits for a range of unexpected medical issues that might arise during your trip.
  
  However, it’s essential to be aware of how your medical insurance coverage may be impacted by travel advisories. If the Canadian government issues an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory to your destination either before or during your trip, it may significantly affect your travel insurance coverage.
  
  Pre-Departure Advisories: If a travel advisory is issued before you leave for your trip, Allianz may not cover any emergency medical expenses you incur in that destination. It’s important to review the terms and conditions of your policy before traveling to a region with a known advisory.
  
  Post-Departure Advisories: If an advisory is issued while you are already at your destination, you may still be eligible for coverage for emergency medical expenses under certain circumstances. However, Allianz encourages travellers to return to Canada as soon as it is safe to do so to limit potential risks. Check the terms and conditions to understand the specifics of how post-departure advisories might impact your claim.
  
  If you are travelling to a country with an existing advisory, you may need to explore alternative accommodation options in nearby regions with safer conditions. Allianz travel insurance plans may not include booked accommodation costs if the advisory was in place prior to departure.

Allianz Global Assistance also offers trip cancellation benefits, which reimburses travellers for non-refundable expenses if they need to cancel their trip before departure due to covered reasons. However, coverage for trip cancellation due to a travel advisory can vary depending on the circumstances.

Pre-Booked Trips: If you have a trip booked to a destination that suddenly becomes the subject of an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory, you may be eligible to cancel your trip and receive reimbursement for non-refundable costs. It’s important to notify your insurance company as soon as possible to initiate the claims process. However, if the advisory was already in place at the time you purchased your insurance, the travel insurance benefits may not apply.

Voluntary Cancellation: If a travel advisory makes you uncomfortable but does not meet the criteria outlined in your policy, voluntarily cancelling your trip may not be eligible for coverage by your trip cancellation insurance. It’s essential to review the terms and conditions to understand what situations qualify for coverage.

In some cases, Allianz may help with rebooking travel arrangements to an alternative destination, depending on the specific circumstances of the advisory and your policy coverage.

Trip interruption insurance is designed to provide the benefit of returning home at no cost, due to unforeseen events, such as a natural disaster or a sudden illness. If a travel advisory is issued while you are already abroad, your trip interruption insurance may assist with the expenses of cutting your trip short and rebooking your flight back to Canada.

Interruptions Due to Natural Disasters: If a wildfire, hurricane, or another natural disaster leads to an avoid all travel advisory in your destination, Allianz’s trip interruption coverage may help with the cost of your return home. This coverage may also include refunds for unused portions of your trip, including booked accommodation that you could not use.

Involuntary Interruption: If you are forced to end your trip early due to a government-mandated evacuation or the closure of local services, your travel insurance may assist with the disruption and any additional travel costs incurred because of the advisory.

With increasing instances of natural disasters such as wildfires, Canadian travellers need to be prepared and know what to do in these situations. Wildfires may disrupt travel plans and create safety concerns, especially if an advisory is issued during your trip.

1. Stay Informed: Before you leave, stay updated on the situation at your destination by monitoring government websites such as the Government of Canada's travel advisories page. It provides real-time updates on the safety of different regions and can help you avoid areas affected by wildfires.
2. Contact Your Insurance Provider: If a wildfire breaks out while you are travelling, immediately contact Allianz Global Assistance at 1-844-310-1578 to confirm the specifics of your coverage.
3. Prepare to Evacuate: In the event of an emergency evacuation, Your travel insurance plans may help with the costs associated with early departures or finding new accommodation away from the disaster zone.
4. Document Everything: If a wildfire forces you to leave your booked accommodation early, keep all receipts and records of expenses. This documentation will be essential for submitting claims related to trip interruption or cancellation.
5. Consider Annual Travel Insurance Plans: For frequent travellers, it may be beneficial to invest in an annual travel insurance plan. These plans provide ongoing protection for multiple trips throughout the year, ensuring you are eligible for coverage in the event of natural disasters or other unexpected events during any journey.

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