7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Indonesia: Yonder Explains What Travel Insurance Covers

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at China Weekly News -- A damaging 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Sulawesi region of Indonesia Friday, demolishing homes and killing at least one person. The initial tsunami warning has since been lifted.

How does travel insurance help when an earthquake hits? Experts at Yonder Travel Insurance break down coverage in the event an earthquake strikes your destination.

Travel Insurance Coverage for Earthquakes: Trip Cancellation

If you purchased comprehensive travel insurance before the earthquake and your hotel or resort is made uninhabitable, you can cancel and receive a refund for your insured trip cost. You may also receive a refund if your airline delays or cancels your flight.

However, if your flight is still on time and the lodging at your destination was not damaged, you most likely will not receive a refund for cancelling.

For extra flexibility regarding reasons to cancel, consider Cancel for Any Reason coverage. You must purchase this time-sensitive benefit within 7-21 days of your initial trip deposit date, and it will provide a partial refund of 50-75% of your total trip cost when you cancel for any reason whatsoever.

Travel Insurance Coverage for Earthquakes: Trip Interruption

If an earthquake occurs at your destination during your trip and your resort or hotel is made uninhabitable or a mandatory evacuation is issued, travel insurance will cover your transportation home.

Travel Insurance Coverage for Earthquakes: Evacuation

If an earthquake occurs at your destination and you're injured in the event, the emergency assistance provider of your policy will arrange your medical evacuation to a safe location for treatment and then transportation back home once you're in a stable condition.

Some travel insurance policies include Non-Medical Evacuation coverage, which provides evacuation services to the nearest safe haven and then home, even if you are not injured.

"If you're booking a trip to an earthquake-prone destination, always consider travel insurance," says Terry Boynton, President and Co-Founder of Yonder. "Our team strongly recommends Cancel for Any Reason coverage and Non-Medical Evacuation coverage when traveling to destinations like these."

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)