Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth It? – Forbes Advisor

Planning an Airbnb vacation but worried about the host’s strict cancellation policy? Trip disruptions like flight delays or rental issues can quickly derail the best-laid plans. But Airbnb offers travel insurance to safeguard your stay. Adding this optional insurance during booking reimburses you if problems covered by your policy disrupt your trip.

To determine if Airbnb travel insurance is worth it, you’ll need to know the details of how it works, what it costs, how to cancel the policy and how to file a claim if needed.

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Does Travel Insurance Cover Airbnb?

Travel insurance policies generally cover your Airbnb, and similar rentals, the same way they cover a hotel stay. As long as your Airbnb booking is paid in advance and nonrefundable, a comprehensive travel insurance policy will reimburse you if the unexpected happens and you experience pre- or post-departure problems.

Here are examples of common issues a travel policy can compensate you for if you have Airbnb accommodations booked:

• You have to cancel your trip because you or a travel companion gets sick or injured.
• You need to return home early from your trip due to an emergency.
• The Airbnb is uninhabitable due to severe weather.

Does Airbnb Offer Travel Insurance?

Airbnb offers travel insurance policies you can purchase when booking a stay. These are optional add-ons provided through a partnership with Generali Global Assistance.

Airbnb’s travel insurance plans are underwritten by Generali and include the following key coverage:

• Trip cancellation: If you must cancel due to illness, flight delays or other reasons listed in your policy, you’ll get reimbursed up to 100% of your Airbnb booking cost.
• Trip interruption: If you must cut your trip short, you can recoup prepaid rental costs for the unused portion of your stay. You may also get help with transportation costs.
• Travel delay: If your travel is delayed 24+ hours for covered reasons like severe weather or mechanical issues, you can be compensated for expenses incurred during the delay, like hotels, meals and airport parking, up to $750 total per person.
• Medical: Emergency medical treatment needed during your trip is covered up to $50,000 per person. This includes hospitalization, ambulance transportation and doctor-ordered care.
• Baggage: Lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal items are covered up to $1,000. High-value electronics like cellphones and laptops are excluded.
• Covid-19: You may be able to file a claim for Covid-related cancellations and medical expenses if you can provide documentation of a positive test proctored by a medical professional.

Each travel insurance plan covers you and up to nine other people staying with you at the Airbnb without having to be named on the policy. There are no age restrictions, so children are covered, too.

Generali’s Airbnb policies typically have these limits:

Visit Airbnb’s Travel Insurance Page to learn more about what’s covered and what’s not.

Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth It?

Whether Airbnb’s travel insurance is a wise investment depends on your specific trip details. Benefits like trip cancellation coverage and trip interruption coverage apply only to the Airbnb rental itself, not transportation, excursions or other nonrefundable travel costs.

Before purchasing a policy, review what protections you already have. Many credit cards include basic travel coverage that may sufficiently cover an Airbnb cancellation. Also, consider the individual host’s cancellation rules. Some have strict cancellation policies where you must cancel within 48 hours of booking to get a refund. Others are more flexible and allow you to cancel up to 24 hours before check-in for a full refund.

If you want more complete coverage, consider a comprehensive, third-party plan from one of the best travel insurance companies. These third-party plans may cost more than Airbnb’s policy. But they usually reimburse you for up to 100% of all your nonrefundable trip expenses, not just the Airbnb itself.

Also, standard travel insurance plans often have higher policy limits for things like travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation.

As you weigh your options, consider your trip cost, length, distance from home and personal risk tolerance. For costly dream vacations, third-party travel insurance may make more sense as it covers more expenses and may have higher limits. But for getaways closer to home—where the cost of your Airbnb is your biggest expense—Airbnb travel insurance may be worth it.

How Do You Get Airbnb Travel Insurance and How Much Does It Cost?

When reserving an Airbnb, you’ll have the option to purchase a guest travel insurance policy for your trip at checkout. You can also purchase a policy after booking by going to your confirmation email.

The cost varies based on the total trip price and your location. Airbnb’s travel insurance is priced as a percentage of your total booking amount. The exact insurance rate offered will be clearly listed during checkout, so you can decide if you want to add it. If you opt to include it, the insurance coverage will be confirmed in your booking email.

We received these estimated travel insurance prices for a variety of two-night Airbnb rentals:

How Does Airbnb Travel Insurance for Guests Differ from Airbnb AirCover for Guests?

Airbnb AirCover and Airbnb Travel Insurance are two very different products. With AirCover, you’re protected if your booking doesn’t match the description. For instance, if certain amenities are missing or if the booking is inaccurate. AirCover is a free backup included automatically with every booking.

Airbnb Travel Insurance is an extra add-on you can choose to purchase. It reimburses you for your Airbnb if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to external issues like flight delays, illness or bad weather.

How to Cancel and File a Claim for Airbnb Travel Insurance

If you want to cancel your Airbnb travel insurance or if you need to file a claim, here are the processes to do that:

How to Cancel Your Airbnb Travel Insurance

You can cancel your Airbnb insurance purchase within 10 days of purchasing. To cancel, go to your Airbnb account and find the insurance policy overview page. This was emailed to you when you added the insurance to your booking. On that page, select the “Cancel Plan” button.

Note: you can’t cancel the insurance after your trip starts, even if it’s still within the cancellation window.

How to File a Claim for Airbnb Travel Insurance

To start a claim, go to your Airbnb insurance policy page and select “Start a Claim.” You can also contact the insurance provider directly—Generali for U.S. guests.

During the claims process, you’ll provide details on your trip interruption or delay and any associated costs. The claims team will confirm if it’s covered under your policy and process eligible reimbursements. Keep any receipts and documentation handy in case the claims team requests it.

If you get stuck or have questions about your claim, reach out to Generali’s customer support:

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