Source: Forbes Advisor research. Average prices are based on rates for seven different trips with a variety of traveler ages. Note that plans have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.
Our analysis found that AIG, Seven Corners and WorldTrips offer the best “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance. If you cancel for reasons beyond those listed in your policy, a travel insurance plan with CFAR partially reimburses your insured trip costs.
You’ll want to look for optional upgrades—such as CFAR—when shopping for the best travel insurance so you can expand the scope of coverage.
- Summary: Best “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance Ratings
- Best “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance Companies
- What Is “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance?
- How Does “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage Work?
- What Does “Cancel For Any Reason” Insurance Cover?
- Do I Need “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance?
- How Much Does “Cancel for Any Reason” Insurance Cost?
- Methodology
- Other CFAR Travel Insurance Ratings
- “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
- Next Up In Travel Insurance
Summary: Best “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance Ratings
What Is “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance?
“Cancel for any reason” insurance lets you cancel a trip for a reason not listed under your trip cancellation insurance and receive partial reimbursement. For example, if you get sick right before your trip and can’t go, that’s generally covered by standard trip cancellation coverage and you can make a claim for 100% reimbursement of the trip costs you lose.
But if you want the flexibility to cancel for reasons not listed in the base policy, CFAR can help.
You will generally be reimbursed for 75% of your prepaid, forfeited and non-refundable trip costs. The percentage for CFAR reimbursement will be listed in the policy.
To get CFAR travel insurance you’ll have to purchase a base travel insurance plan and add “cancel for any reason” coverage within a certain time frame after your first trip payment. This is usually 14 days but make sure to check your plan.
The deadline for adding CFAR will depend on the travel insurance company, and not all companies offer it. Being eligible to buy CFAR is one of the advantages of buying travel insurance right after you book a trip.
You generally have to cancel your trip no less than 48 hours before your departure. For example, if you’re leaving tomorrow and you want to cancel the trip today, you probably won’t be able to make a CFAR claim.
Make sure to read the policy’s fine print and know the deadline for canceling the trip if you buy CFAR insurance.
How Does “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage Work?
Like any other type of insurance, CFAR has some rules that apply to how you’re compensated when you file a claim.
Summary: “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage | |
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What does CFAR do?
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CFAR gives you the ability to cancel a trip for any reason and receive partial reimbursement.
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How much money do I get back?
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With a CFAR claim you get back only a portion of what you lose in prepaid and non-refundable deposits, usually 75%.
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Can I buy CFAR at any time?
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You generally need to buy CFAR coverage within two to three weeks after your first trip deposit by adding it to a base travel insurance policy. If you want to buy CFAR coverage, make sure to know the purchase deadline so you don’t miss it.
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Can I cancel my trip any time and make a CFAR insurance claim?
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You generally need to cancel no less than 48 hours before your departure in order to make a CFAR claim. Once you’re within two days of leaving on the trip, CFAR coverage generally ends.
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How much does “cancel for any reason” coverage cost?
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Expect CFAR to add an average of 50% to your travel insurance cost.
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What Does “Cancel For Any Reason” Insurance Cover?
CFAR covers the prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses that you have insured. It reimburses you for a percentage of the total cost if you cancel the trip for a reason not listed in the base policy..
For example, using CFAR coverage you could make a trip cancellation claim because:
- You’ve developed a fear of travel.
- It looks too rainy or too hot.
- You’ve seen bad reviews of your resort.
- You’ve decided to visit family instead.
- Your child care arrangements have fallen through.
- You got into a fight with your travel companions.
- Your pet has fallen ill.
If you file a CFAR claim, you can be compensated for the following types of trip expenses if you can’t get a refund for them:
- Airfare.
- Boat charters or rentals.
- Concert tickets.
- Day trip excursions.
- Hotel accommodations.
- Museum tickets.
- Theme park passes.
- Private or guided tours.
- Spa services.
Here’s a look at how much you may get reimbursed by filing a CFAR claim: Let’s say you booked a non-refundable round trip plane ticket for $1,000 and five nights of lodging at $200 a night, also non-refundable. You would insure the trip for $2,000.
If you cancel your trip for a reason that’s not listed in your travel insurance policy, you would be out $2,000 without CFAR insurance. But a CFAR policy would reimburse you for a portion of the costs.
- If you have a CFAR policy with 50% reimbursement, you would get $1,000 from a CFAR travel insurance claim.
- If the policy has 75% reimbursement, you would get $1,500 back from a CFAR claim.
Remember that CFAR coverage is only for non-refundable costs. Any prepaid costs that are reimbursed to you aren’t eligible for CFAR coverage.
Do I Need “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance?
You may need CFAR travel insurance if you plan an expensive trip with lots of non-refundable costs. CFAR is also beneficial if you think it’s possible you may have to cancel your trip for a reason not listed in the policy.
How Much Does “Cancel for Any Reason” Insurance Cost?
Travel insurance with “cancel for any reason” coverage costs an average of $723 per trip, based on our analysis. CFAR usually adds about 50% to the cost of travel insurance.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
Methodology
We analyzed travel insurance policies that include “cancel for any reason” coverage. We scored 23 policies on the following:
Cost (75% of score): Average prices for CFAR policies are based on rates for seven different trips for a variety of traveler ages and trip costs:
- Couple, age 30 for a Mexico trip costing $3,000.
- Couple, age 40, for an Italy trip costing $6,000.
- Family of four for an Italy trip costing $15,000.
- Family of four for a France trip costing $15,000.
- Family of four for a U.K. trip costing $15,000.
- Couple, age 65, for an Italy trip costing $6,000.
- Couple, age 70, for a Mexico trip costing $3,000.
CFAR reimbursement level of trip cost: (25% of score): Policies providing 75% reimbursement were awarded points.
Other CFAR Travel Insurance Ratings
Company | Policy name | Forbes Advisor rating |
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Aegis (formerly GoReady)
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Go Ready Choice
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Safe Travels First Class
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Gold
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Prime
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Classic
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TripProtector Preferred
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Luxury
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Diamond
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Platinum
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iTravelInsured Travel LX
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“Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Is CFAR travel insurance worth it?
CFAR travel insurance is likely worth it if you are worried that you will have to cancel your trip and you can’t afford to lose your non-refundable deposits. You’ll also want to weigh the costs of a CFAR travel insurance upgrade. Buying CFAR usually hikes your travel insurance policy cost by an average of 50%. But you can find policies with a lower increase for CFAR by comparison shopping.
Is fear of traveling covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance policies don’t cover fear of travel. But with CFAR coverage it doesn’t matter what your reason is—you can get partial reimbursement of your non-refundable trip costs.
What if I don’t have CFAR but I want to cancel my trip?
If your reason for canceling is listed in the policy, you can make a trip cancellation insurance claim. Common acceptable reasons include a natural disaster or terrorist attack at your destination, suffering an injury before the trip, or needing to attend the birth of a family member’s child.
What does CFAR not cover?
CFAR won’t compensate you for refundable trip costs. It also generally won’t reimburse you for your insured trip costs if you cancel less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure.