Have you ever booked a trip, but then had to cancel because something unexpected came up?
Maybe you got an invitation to a wedding you didn’t want to miss or a new job opportunity — both valid reasons to cancel, but maybe not valid enough for your travel insurance.
While travel protection insures your trip, plans often exclude work conflicts or simply changing your mind.
Cancel for any reason insurance adds extra protection to give you more flexibility and peace of mind.
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What Is “Cancel For Any Reason” Insurance?
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance is supplemental coverage that financially insures your trip for, well, any reason. This includes reasons not covered by a standard policy.
For example, a comprehensive travel protection plan will cover a travel disruption like a delayed flight or a cancellation due to a natural disaster. But it won’t cover you if you have to cancel an upcoming trip because of a work conflict.
Key features of CFAR insurance
CFAR insurance reimburses you for nonrefundable aspects of your trip. The reimbursement amount typically ranges from 50-75% depending on the policy and provides coverage beyond what’s covered in a standard insurance policy.
CFAR offers protection for a variety of reasons, including scheduling conflicts, family emergencies, or simply changing your mind.
How CFAR differs from standard cancellation policies
Standard travel protection policies provide coverage for specific events. Some policies may refund you for a missed flight while others may cover you if you experience a medical emergency abroad.
CFAR provides a partial reimbursement for your trip that goes beyond the coverage offered in a standard policy. You don’t need a specific reason to submit a claim under a CFAR policy.
Let’s say you planned a trip to Portugal and booked your flight using points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. But you miss a connecting flight due to a delay.
Luckily, flight interruptions and delays are covered events under most travel protection plans, so you can submit a claim with Chase and they’ll reimburse you for the delay up to $500 per ticket.
RELATED: Flight Delay Compensation: What You’re Entitled to and How To Get It
But what if a scheduling conflict at work forces you to cancel your trip? This isn’t a covered event under standard plans and you’ll forfeit the cost of any nonrefundable expenses.
If you have an insurance policy with Travel Guard, for example, that includes CFAR coverage, you can submit a claim and get reimbursed up to 75% of the cost of your trip.
Another option is Allianz Travel Insurance, which offers what they call “Cancel Anytime” and reimburses you up to 80% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs.
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Benefits of Adding CFAR to Your Travel Plan
While you might not think you need CFAR coverage, there are some reasons why you might consider adding it to your travel protection plan.
Flexibility for changing plans
CFAR coverage gives you the most flexibility over your trip. It’s ideal if you’re concerned about something coming up or have made tentative travel plans that might need changing down the road.
Let’s say you’ve been invited to a bachelorette party at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. You’re starting a new job right before the trip and you’re not sure if you’ll be able to get the time off work. At the same time, you don’t want to miss out on spending time with your friends.
CFAR coverage gives you peace of mind to commit to the trip, but if something comes up at work, you can cancel and not lose all your money.
Financial security for high-cost trips
Adding CFAR coverage can also be a smart move if you’re planning an expensive trip, such as guided tours or stays at luxury resorts.
Let’s say you book a trip on a luxury cruise but decide right before your departure you just don’t want to go. Because you didn’t cancel within the cancellation window, you forfeit the entire cost of the trip.
While a change of mind isn’t a covered reason under a standard policy, a portion of your trip’s cost would be covered under CFAR insurance.
Peace of mind for group or family trips
Aside from the financial benefits, CFAR provides peace of mind, especially when traveling with other people.
Let’s say you were able to get the time off work to go on the bachelorette trip but right before you’re supposed to leave, the bride-to-be falls ill and cancels the trip. CFAR makes it easier to change plans.
Erika Recommends
- Allianz Travel Insurance
Reimburses up to 80% of prepaid costs with “Cancel Anytime” upgrade. - Travel Guard
Travel insurance policies with CFAR options. - VisitorsCoverage
Search flexible policies with CFAR add-ons.

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Limitations of CFAR Insurance
While there are good reasons to get CFAR insurance, there are some drawbacks to consider before adding a policy to your travel protection plan.
Lower reimbursement percentages
CFAR is only a partial reimbursement. Depending on the policy, you will only get reimbursed for roughly 50-75% of nonrefundable trip costs. A comprehensive travel plan, on the other hand, will cover 100% of your costs under a qualified event.
Let’s say your trip to Portugal costs $5,000. If you have a comprehensive travel plan, it will usually cover 100% of rebooking a flight due to a delay, as well as lodging and meals if the delay forces you to stay overnight.
But if you have to cancel the trip due to a work conflict and have CFAR insurance, you can expect to get at most $3,750 back.
Purchase and cancellation timeframes
You have to commit to CFAR insurance early on. Usually, this is within two to three weeks of booking a trip.
And if you decide to use your policy, you have to cancel within 48 hours of your scheduled departure.
While CFAR covers any reason, you can’t wake up the morning of and decide not to go.
Higher premiums compared to standard policies
While CFAR coverage can add peace of mind, it’s going to come at a cost.
CFAR insurance can increase premiums by up to 50%. That means a $500 policy could go up to $750.
How To Decide If CFAR Is Worth It
CFAR comes with a lot of benefits, but it might not make sense for everyone.
Here’s what you should consider to decide if CFAR is worth it.
Evaluate your trip’s uncertainty
Before you select a travel protection plan, evaluate the risks of your trip.
Is it likely that your work schedule could disrupt your travel plans? Or, are there some big life events coming up in your family that you want to plan around?
CFAR is best when you’re likely to cancel due to a scheduling conflict or personal circumstance.
Consider trip costs and nonrefundable expenses
Look at the cost of your trip. CFAR is good for expensive trips with nonrefundable expenses like cruises or an all-inclusive guided trip.
Let’s say you book a $1,000 cruise. With CFAR, you expect to get $500 to $750 back. Based on your premium, you might decide you’ll just eat the loss if you have to cancel.
Compare that to a $10,000 all-expenses paid trip around Asia. With a CFAR policy, you can expect to get up to $7,500 back, which might be a better return on the premium you’ll pay.
Compare policies with and without CFAR
Read the fine print of any travel plans you’re considering to understand what they cover.
Booking a flight with your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a lot of the same benefits as standard travel plans. That being said, it doesn’t offer the option of adding on CFAR.
And you may be able to get a plan that still offers you a lot of protection without the added costs of CFAR. Use a platform like VisitorsCoverage to compare quotes from different providers.
FAQs About CFAR Insurance
Can I buy CFAR coverage after I’ve already booked my trip?
You have to buy CFAR coverage within a specific window after you book your trip. This varies by insurer but is usually two to three weeks.
What types of trips benefit most from CFAR coverage?
Trips that benefit most from CFAR coverage include:
- Trips with nonrefundable deposits like luxury cruises
- Group trips where scheduling conflicts may arise
- Trips planned far enough in advance that something could come up
Does CFAR cover cancellations due to pandemics or travel restrictions?
CFAR covers a personal decision to cancel a trip due to a pandemic or travel restriction. Standard policies may or may not cover some events, depending on the circumstances.
Are all travel insurance providers required to offer a CFAR add-on?
No, insurance providers are not required to offer CFAR. Some may offer it as an add-on but not all insurers do.
TL;DR: Should I Get CFAR Insurance?
CFAR offers flexibility for you to cancel a trip for whatever reason. While standard policies only cover certain events, CFAR doesn’t limit your reasons for canceling.
Before adding a CFAR policy, determine if it makes sense for your trip. Evaluate the benefits across all the plans you’re considering to find the one that meets your needs.

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Amanda Claypool is a writer, entrepreneur, and strategy consultant. She's lived in the Middle East, Washington, DC, and a 2014 Subaru Outback but now resides in Austin, TX. Amanda writes for popular sites including, Forbes Advisor, Erika.com, and The College Investor. She also writes about the future of work and the state of the economy on Medium.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.