What Is CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) Travel Insurance?
CFAR is a separate plan that lets you cancel for any reason at all and recoup 60% of your prepaid trip cost. It's useful when your standard plan's covered-reasons list isn't enough.
What does CFAR stand for?
CFAR stands for Cancel For Any Reason. It's a separate travel insurance plan that gives you the option to cancel your trip for literally any reason, including reasons that would never appear on a standard plan's covered-reasons list. Worried about a work conflict that hasn't materialized yet? Nervous about the weather forecast a week out? Changed your mind about the destination? A family member tested positive for something and you'd rather not travel? CFAR pays out anyway.
When you cancel under CFAR, the plan reimburses 60% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip cost. The 40% you don't recover is the trade-off for the broader coverage. But if your alternative is losing 100% under a strict cancellation policy, getting most of your money back is a meaningful safety net.
How is CFAR different from a standard plan?
A standard Trip Cancellation plan only pays if your reason for canceling matches a defined list: illness or injury (you, a traveling companion, or a family member), death in the family, jury duty, military deployment, employer termination, severe weather, and a handful of other named scenarios. If your reason isn't on that list, you get nothing. The trade-off is that when a covered reason does apply, the plan reimburses up to 100% of your trip cost.
CFAR flips that math. It covers ANY reason at all, but caps reimbursement at 60%. Most travelers who buy CFAR don't replace their standard plan with it; they buy a standard plan AND add CFAR on top, so they have 100% coverage for the common scenarios and a 60% backstop for everything else.
| Coverage scope | Reimbursement | Cost | Eligibility window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard: defined covered reasons | Up to 100% | ~7% of trip cost | Anytime before departure |
| CFAR: any reason at all | 60% | ~10.8% of trip cost | Within 14 days of first deposit |
When can I add CFAR?
CFAR has a hard eligibility window: you must purchase it within 14 days of your first trip deposit. Past that window, CFAR is no longer available, at all. There's no "I'll add it later if things look risky" path. The underwriter's logic is straightforward: CFAR is the most flexible coverage on the market, so it has to be purchased before anyone has a chance to anticipate why they might want to cancel.
The strong recommendation, then, is to buy CFAR at deposit time, alongside whatever standard plan you're considering. Even if you're 80% sure you won't need it, the 14-day window is the only chance you'll have. More on the buy-early windows →
How much does CFAR cost?
CFAR runs about 10.8% of your trip cost, compared to roughly 7% for a standard plan. On a $4,000 trip, that's about $432 for CFAR vs. $280 for standard. Pricing is per-trip and covers the whole party listed on the plan, not per-person.
The cost premium reflects the broader coverage. You're paying for the optionality of canceling for any reason at all, not just the named list. See current CFAR pricing on the Coverage page →
When is CFAR worth buying?
CFAR earns its premium when the trip cost is high and non-refundable, when you're booking far in advance (more variables can change between now and departure), or when there's elevated cancellation risk in your situation: kids with unpredictable schedules, work changes on the horizon, or a destination in a weather-prone region. It's also the right call when you simply want maximum flexibility and the peace of mind that comes with it.
CFAR is not worth it when your bookings are mostly refundable on their own (a flexible-rate hotel, a refundable flight) or when the trip is on a tight schedule with low cancellation risk. In those cases, a standard plan covers the real risks (medical, evacuation, delay) and CFAR adds cost without proportional benefit. For the standard plan's covered reasons, see the breakdown of what travel insurance actually covers →.
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Get a QuoteFrequently asked questions
What does CFAR stand for?
Cancel For Any Reason. It's a type of travel insurance plan that lets you cancel and get partial reimbursement regardless of why.
Is CFAR worth it?
Worth it for high-cost trips, far-in-advance bookings, or trips with elevated cancellation risk. Not worth it for fully refundable bookings.
Can I add CFAR after I buy a Standard plan?
Only within 14 days of your first trip deposit, per Nationwide's eligibility rules. After that window, CFAR is no longer available.
Does CFAR refund 100% of my trip?
No. CFAR reimburses 60% of your prepaid non-refundable trip cost. Standard Trip Cancellation reimburses up to 100%, but only for covered reasons.
What's the difference between CFAR and a covered reason?
Standard plans only pay if your reason for cancelling matches a defined list (illness, injury, jury duty, etc.). CFAR pays for any reason at all.
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