Trip cancellation cover refunds non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a reason the policy lists, such as illness or injury. It doesn’t pay for a change of mind unless the plan includes broader optional cover. Buying soon after you book matters: some benefits only apply if you buy within a set time of your first payment.
What it usually pays for
Prepaid, non-refundable costs (flights, hotels, tours) when you cancel for a covered reason. The covered reasons are listed in the policy.
What to check
- The list of covered reasons.
- Whether optional, broader cancellation cover is offered, and what it refunds.
- Any deadline to buy after your first trip payment.
- Trip interruption: cover if you have to come home early.
Read the policy wording before you buy: what’s covered, the limits, the excess and the exclusions.
If the airline or the organiser cancels
When the airline or a package organiser cancels, they owe you a refund under the EU rules, before any insurance comes in. What to do when your trip is cancelled.
Each insurer’s own page for this
EKTA and SafetyWing have no page for this.
We earn a commission if you buy after following these links. It never changes what this page says, and we don’t give advice. Who each insurer is.
Questions
Does travel insurance refund me if I just change my mind?
Usually not. Standard cancellation cover needs a covered reason; some plans offer optional broader cover.
When should I buy trip cancellation cover?
Usually soon after booking, since some benefits only apply if you buy within a set time of your first payment. Check the policy.
Is cancellation cover the same as trip interruption?
No. Cancellation is before you leave; interruption covers cutting a trip short.
Keep reading
Updated 2026-10-24.