Global Travel Gridlock: What Passengers Need to Know About Travel Insurance Coverage Amid the Computer Outage

Toronto, Jul. 19, 2024 /GLOBE NEWSWIRE/ — The computer outage linked to cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike continues to cause major issues for travellers around the world – grounding planes for hours.

As a result, InsureMyTrip anticipates an increase in travel insurance claims, with the most commonly expected to be Travel Delay and Missed Connection.

In the current economic climate, taking chances with your hard-earned vacation, which likely required significant saving and planning, is not advisable. Many Canadians rely solely on their credit card provider for travel insurance, unaware of the potential risks. So, the experts at InsureMyTrip.ca are highlighting the pitfalls of depending on credit cards and Canadian government health coverage while journeying abroad – while offering advice on how to protect yourself fully while staying on budget.

Impacted policyholders may have coverage under the following:

• Travel Delay is designed to reimburse expenses related to covered delays that meet the required number of hours, such as meals, transportation, and accommodations if an overnight stay is required.
• Missed Connection is designed to provide travellers with coverage if a delayed flight causes a traveller to miss a connection.
• All-inclusive Plans include the most benefits of all plan types, offering the best protection for investment.

Policyholders can also access emergency assistance services, which may help rebook flights or find other services needed during the travel delay.

“It’s important to read your policy to understand what issues may be covered, and now that this is a known issue, coverage can’t be purchased for it,” says InsureMyTrip Director of Product Meghan Walch.

Filing a Claim:

While InsureMyTrip does not handle claims directly (providers handle those), we have some tips to help expedite the travel insurance claims process.

1. Know your plan: Carefully read the wording in your policy to understand coverage details and the claims process.
2. Have documents ready: You must show proof of purchases or money lost due to the delay. So, compile receipts and proof of expenses to accurately be reimbursed – including:
   • Receipts and itemized bills for all expenses
   • Unused travel tickets and proof of payment for those tickets
   • Proof from the airline that your baggage was lost or delayed
3. File right away: Due to the outage, claims may take additional time to process because of the volume, so don’t wait to file a claim. Some plans may even have cut-off dates.
4. File online: When possible, submit a claim on the provider’s online portal. This can help speed things up and allow you to check the status of your claim. InsureMyTrip representatives can help contact the provider to see what’s holding things up if it has been more than three months without a decision.

InsureMyTrip CEO Suzanne Morrow is available for an interview about travel insurance coverage related to the computer outage.

Media Contact:
Meghan Kayata
InsureMyTrip.ca
[email protected]

About InsureMyTrip

You like options. We do, too. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan every time. We are committed to empowering travellers to make the best insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is based in the U.S. with an office in Toronto.

SOURCE InsureMyTrip