Travel Insurance Coverage for Military Action or Airspace Closures
Key Statistics
- In February 2026, Mexico carried out a military operation to capture a wanted cartel leader, which resulted in his death and multiple others. The situation has escalated and resulted in widespread violence throughout the country. Many flights have been suspended, leaving tourists stranded and urged to shelter in place.
- This is the second major military situation in 2026 that has impacted and stranded thousands of travelers.
- The first took place in January 2026, when the U.S. attacked Venezuela with roughly 150 aircraft, leading to FAA-mandated airspace closures over parts of Venezuela and nearly two dozen nearby Caribbean countries like Puerto Rico, Aruba, and the British Virgin Islands.
- It’s important for travelers to note that standard travel insurance policies, unfortunately, exclude cancellation coverage related to acts of war and military action. However, you may still be covered under other travel insurance benefits.
- If you have an upcoming trip and you are concerned about a military event impacting your plans, Cancel For Any Reason and Interruption For Any Reason are the best ways to ensure you are protected from delays or cancellations caused by these scenarios.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Military Action?
Unfortunately, travel insurance plans typically exclude cancellation coverage for military action, acts of war, or government-related airspace closures. This means a standard travel insurance plan will likely not cover cancellations stemming from situations like the current events in Mexico and recent disruptions affecting Venezuela and surrounding countries. However, you may be covered by certain delay and disruption benefits.
If you are traveling to a country that has been impacted by a military action and you have travel insurance, review the fine print of your policy and reach out to your provider as soon as possible to understand if coverage applies to the situation and what exclusions may exist.
If you have an upcoming trip and are concerned about military action impacting your travel plans, consider a travel insurance policy with Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR). These are the only travel insurance benefits that can cover you to cancel your trip in situations like this.
How Might Travel Insurance Cover Military Action?
There are certain circumstances where travel insurance might cover military action. This coverage is largely dependent on the policy you bought. While standard travel insurance policies typically have exclusions related to military action or government-related airspace closures, every provider, plan, and travel situation is different.
Review your policy, or the policy you’re considering purchasing, and pay close attention to the specific policy terms, benefits, and exclusions. In addition, we recommend saving all communications with your travel supplier, such as your airline or hotel, and all of your out-of-pocket expenses receipts. These items will be needed if you file a travel insurance claim.
Below are potential travel insurance protections that may apply:
Cancel For Any Reason and Interruption For Any Reason Coverage
The Cancel For Any Reason and Interruption For Any Reason benefits offer the most cancellation flexibility. However, they are time-sensitive benefits, requiring you to purchase them within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit.
With CFAR, you can cancel for any reason not covered under your policy’s standard Trip Cancellation coverage, such as not wanting to travel if you don’t feel safe. CFAR typically reimburses up to 50-75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. To qualify, you must cancel your trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.
CFAR protects you before your trip begins, while IFAR provides additional flexibility once your trip is underway. This optional benefit allows you to cut your trip short for reasons not covered under standard Trip Interruption coverage. For example, if a military event occurs at your destination and forces you to return home and miss a portion of your trip, IFAR can partially reimburse you for those lost expenses.
If you haven’t purchased a travel insurance policy yet and have an upcoming trip that could be affected, consider CFAR and IFAR for maximum protection. Not all plans offer these benefits, but you can compare policies and find options that do on our website.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that you may still receive some coverage without these add-ons, but it’s far less certain. It’s important to carefully review the policy details of any plan you’re considering, as coverage can vary heavily by provider and plan.
Non-Medical Evacuation Coverage
If you find yourself in danger due to military action, the Non-Medical Evacuation benefit may help. It can reimburse the cost of evacuating to the nearest safe location if you are physically at risk and the situation is not deemed safe by local authorities or the U.S. Department of State. This can include situations related to civil unrest, war, or other security threats.
Non-Medical Evacuation coverage is included in some comprehensive travel insurance plans, but not all. It’s important to review the policy details to see if this benefit is included.
Before traveling, we also recommend checking if any U.S. Department of State travel advisories are in place at your destination so you are aware of potential risks before leaving for your trip.
Travel Delay Coverage
Although Trip Cancellation coverage doesn’t apply to these situations, Trip Delay coverage may. If you experience a significant delay, Trip Delay coverage can pay for your meals, accommodations, and local transportation. This can be common following military actions, as we’ve seen these situations result in flight groundings and surrounding airspace closures.
What is Not Covered by Standard Travel Insurance?
In general, travel insurance is designed to protect you from unforeseen events. For military action, the situation is considered “known” once the operation begins and becomes public knowledge. At that point, it is too late to buy a plan with coverage for related cancellations.
Military action and government restrictions are also not covered by most travel insurance plans, unless you have specific benefits such as CFAR and IFAR.
Fear of traveling is another common travel insurance exclusion. If you have a trip planned and no longer feel comfortable visiting the destination, standard travel insurance will not cover you to cancel or end your trip. Again, only CFAR and IFAR coverage can apply here, as these benefits allow you to cancel for any reason, even if that reason is for fear of traveling.
What to Consider When Buying Travel Insurance if You’re Concerned about Military Action
- Consider Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR)
CFAR and IFAR can provide the most flexibility and coverage before and after your departure, allowing you to cancel or end your trip for any reason. This can include reasons that are often excluded by standard plans, such as military actions or government travel restrictions. Remember, these are time-sensitive benefits, requiring them to be purchased promptly. - Know What Exclusions Apply
It’s important to know what exclusions apply when purchasing a travel insurance policy for any trip. Military actions are often excluded. Even if you have what seems like a very comprehensive, solid policy, there is a chance for claims to be denied depending on exclusions. Always read the fine print and policy exclusions carefully. - Consider a Plan with Non-Medical Evacuation Coverage
Non-Medical Evacuation coverage can be very helpful when traveling to riskier destinations. This benefit can pay for transportation to safety if local authorities or your insurance provider deem your location to be unsafe.
FAQs: Travel Insurance for the Military Actions
Can I Still Buy Travel Insurance for a Trip to a Country That’s Impacted by Ongoing Military Actions?
Yes, you can still buy travel insurance for future trips to a country with ongoing military actions. However, because that situation would be considered a known event, cancellation coverage would likely be excluded. If you buy a new plan, CFAR is strongly recommended, as it gives you the most possible flexibility.
Although Trip Cancellation claims related to this specific situation would not be covered, buying a new policy can protect against other unforeseen events that could impact your trip. This can include cancellations caused by other covered reasons, delays as a result of common carrier issues or severe weather, Emergency Medical coverage if you were to get sick while on your trip, or other travel disruptions.
How Do I Buy CFAR Coverage?
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is an optional add-on available with certain travel insurance plans. Roughly one-third of the policies available on Squaremouth.com offer CFAR as an upgrade.
To buy CFAR coverage:
- You must select it as an add-on when getting travel insurance quotes, as it is not available as a standalone benefit.
- CFAR is a time-sensitive benefit and must be purchased within a specific timeframe, generally 14-21 days from the day you made your initial trip deposit, though the exact timing varies by provider.
- You can learn more about CFAR coverage and compare providers who offer the add-on here.
Due to the added flexibility it provides, CFAR increases your travel insurance premium, typically costing 40-50% more than plans without CFAR benefits.
We recommend CFAR for trips to destinations with uncertainty or elevated risk. Since Trip Cancellation coverage for geopolitical events is typically not available under standard policies, CFAR provides an added layer of flexibility and protection should you need to cancel your trip.
What if My Upcoming Trip is Impacted by a Military Action?
If your upcoming trip is impacted by a military action, contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible to confirm what coverage might be applicable.
If you feel your policy no longer meets your needs, ask if you are still within their money-back guarantee window, also known as a “free look period”. This period, typically 10-14 days from the policy’s purchase, allows you to cancel for a full refund on most travel insurance plans.
Can I Cancel if I Don’t Want to Travel Anymore?
Cancelling your trip because you changed your mind or have a fear of traveling is never covered under standard travel insurance policies. However, you may be able to change your policy dates for a later trip during the year. We recommend you reach out to your provider to ask if this is an option.
CFAR is the only travel insurance benefit that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, such as no longer wanting to travel. While you cannot purchase CFAR as a standalone benefit, it is an optional upgrade offered on many plans listed on our website.
Learn about the best CFAR travel insurance here.
Does Travel Insurance Exclude Countries with a Level 4 Travel Advisory?
Depending on the policy, some travel insurance plans might exclude coverage for destinations that are under a Department of State Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory. As with any travel insurance plan, coverage can vary depending on the benefits it includes, when you bought your policy, and how the provider addresses exclusions for high-risk or government-advised travel.
You should review your specific policy thoroughly and reach out to your provider for confirmation on what is covered.
You can find more information about Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories here.