Extreme winter conditions are causing flight delays throughout the United States and Europe. Many travelers are now asking how travel insurance will benefit them. Squaremouth.com, America’s fastest growing comparison website for travel insurance, offers responses to some commonly asked questions.

Extreme winter conditions are causing flight delays throughout the United States and Europe. Many travelers are now asking how travel insurance will benefit them. Squaremouth.com, America’s fastest growing comparison website for travel insurance, offers responses to some commonly asked questions.

- After purchasing travel insurance, do travelers have to sleep in the airport if their flight is delayed?
No. The costs of a hotel, food and taxi are covered under travel delay. Depending on the policy, the required delay time will be as little as 5 hours or as much as 24 hours.

- If a flight is cancelled, will travel insurance cover a missed reservation?
Unused travel arrangements can be reimbursed by trip interruption coverage. For example, missed nights of a villa rental or a cruise that already set sail would be pro-rated and reimbursed. Look closely because some policies will not cover trip interruption due to inclement weather.

- What if a traveler misses a connecting flight because of weather? Will they be covered?
The cost of catching up to the trip can be covered under missed connection. However, not all policies cover a missed flight, some only cover a missed cruise or tour departure. Also, some policies don’t offer missed connection as a separate benefit, instead it is included with trip interruption.

- The delay was too long, most of the trip is over. Will the traveler be reimbursed?
Some policies will reimburse the entire cost of the trip if a travel delay lasts long enough. Look for a policy that specifies coverage if 50% or more of the trip has been missed.

“Subtle differences between policies can be the difference in a worry free experience,” advises Squaremouth executive Chris Harvey. “There are as many options for travel insurance as there are scenarios -from life-threatening, to simply annoying- that can arise unexpectedly when you travel. Make sure you thoroughly review each policy before you make your final purchase.”