Government Shutdown Travel: Why You Need Insurance Now

When news broke that the government shutdown was officially over, most travelers breathed a huge sigh of relief. TSA workers? Back to normal staffing. Air traffic controllers? No more working without certainty. The system? Finally moving forward again.

But here’s the truth most people don’t realize:

Even when a shutdown ends… the ripple effects don’t.

Air travel is an incredibly delicate, interconnected system. When one part slows down — whether it’s staffing, scheduling, or operational capacity — the impact trickles through for days or even weeks.

So yes, the shutdown is done (for now)…But if you’re traveling soon, you should still expect:

• Longer TSA security lines

• Slower airport operations

• Increased flight delays

• Scheduling backups

• General “travel weirdness” as the system catches up

And to make things more interesting? This current funding only lasts until January 30.

Meaning: if another shutdown hits after that, it becomes a new event — one that can lead to more disruptions, cancellations, and delays.

Which brings us to the part I need every family to understand:

Why This Is One of the BEST Times to Buy Travel Insurance

Unpredictability is the #1 reason travel insurance exists. Shutdowns, winter storms, mechanical delays, missed connections… they aren’t scary. They’re just normal travel.

And if you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know why I’m passionate about this topic:

Travel insurance has saved our family more times than I can count — especially during winter travel.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve found ourselves in the middle of a storm system and had flights canceled, rebooked, delayed, or moved to the next morning, or spent most of the day sitting at the airport waiting for things to resolve.

But here’s the difference:

Because we always travel with a comprehensive plan (we love Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe or Platinum), we get $200 per person, per day for trip delays (this is with the Platinum plan).

For our family of five?That’s $1,000 per day to stay comfortable, well-fed, and warm while airlines work through the chaos.

Warm hotel? Covered. Food for the hungry kids? Covered. Uber rides, toiletries, extra clothes, snacks, whatever we needed? Covered.

And here’s the funny part:

My kids now hope and pray for flight delays — because they know it basically becomes a cozy little family staycation… paid for by our insurance. And when mom's not footing the bill she suddenly becomes more like Daddy Warbucks from Annie.

Winter storms feel stressful if you’re not protected. With travel insurance? They become minor inconveniences — sometimes even fun little memory-makers.

Government Shutdowns + Winter Weather = A Perfect Storm for Flight Disruptions = Travel Insurance

Even without the shutdown ripple effect, winter travel already brings:

• Snowstorms

• Ice storms

• Airport de-icing delays

• Crew timeouts

• Missed connections

• Aircraft being out of position

• Domino-effect cancellations

Combine that with a system still recovering from slowdown? You have even more opportunities for delays and disruptions. So while the government shutdown is "over", you should still consider travel insurance.

Which is exactly why now is the best time to buy travel insurance — before the next potential government shutdown on January 30.

Once a new shutdown begins, it becomes a “known event,” which most insurers can’t cover. Which is why when everyone was panicking over the shutdown and how it would effect them, it was too late to buy travel insurance for that reason - because at that point the shutdown was a known event. Coverage only applies when you purchase before an event is public knowledge.

So if you have:

• Winter break travel

• Ski trips

• Spring break coming up

• Holiday visits

• International travel

• Business trips

…this is your moment to protect your plans while everything is still calm.

What Kind of Travel Insurance Should You Get?

If you want the same $200/day/person delay coverage our family uses, look for:

✔️ Comprehensive plans

Not bare-bones credit card coverage.(Chase and AMEX do not come close to what a full policy can do.)

✔️ Strong trip delay benefits

Ideally $150/day/person or more. The more people traveling with you, the larger your benefit since it's per person. So when it's my family of 5, we can easily get a nice hotel at the airport, food, and snacks for the plane because we have a large budget. But when it's just one or two travelers, that $150 vs $200 in benefits makes a big difference.

✔️ Emergency medical + evacuation

Especially for international trips. US health insurance companies very rarely provide coverage when you're overseas, so medical coverage is essential in my opinion. In fact some countries highly encourage you to only travel with travel insurance.

✔️ Good customer service and 24/7 help line

This is where Travel Insured shines. Their response times and support during chaotic travel seasons are phenomenal.

My personal favorites (and what we use):

• Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe

• Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum

I’m officially partnered with Travel Insured as an advisor, which means I can help you understand what plan fits your exact trip.

➡️ If you want help finding the right plan, I offer free consultations. You can explore trusted options here: https://www.chasingmemories.co/travel-insurance

Final Takeaway: The Shutdown May Be Over, But the Chaos Isn’t

Air travel doesn’t bounce back overnight.And with another potential shutdown looming on January 30, now is the perfect time to protect your winter and spring travel plans.

Travel with peace. Travel with confidence. Travel with coverage.