Before the pandemic, Lauren Mack, 44, a author based mostly in New York City, “did not routinely purchase travel insurance,” she wrote in an e-mail. Covid-19 satisfied her in any other case, and of six journeys taken since the onset of the pandemic, she has needed to file claims for 3 — twice for climate delays and as soon as as a result of her travel companion examined constructive for the virus. Two are nonetheless beneath overview, and the first took almost two months from declare to reimbursement.
Though understanding what’s coated beneath travel insurance and what’s excluded continues to journey up shoppers, complete and “cancel for any reason” insurance policies have emerged as a solution to hedge nonrefundable bookings and search restitution for travel interruptions as travel continues to be buffered by coronavirus waves and uncertainties associated to the struggle in Ukraine.
Now, getting a call on a declare has change into the newest drawback shoppers are experiencing with travel insurance, whether or not it has something to do with Covid or not.
“The vetting and approval process of claims has slowed as a result of the pandemic,” stated Kendra Thornton, the proprietor of Royal Travel & Tours, a travel company based mostly in Winnetka, Ill., who attributes the slowdown to the quantity of claims. “Approved claims that typically used to be paid in under two months are now taking as much as five or more months.”
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