The novel coronavirus outbreak has crippled the travel industry worldwide. Cruises are canceled, major airports are empty and hotel bookings are bottoming out.

But is all of the disruption and money lost by travelers covered by trip insurance?

Probably not, experts say, even in the wake of a worldwide pandemic.

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“Unfortunately, there is limited cancellation coverage (for coronavirus) under most standard travel insurance policies,” Kasara Barto, of the travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, told the Los Angeles Times. “Virus outbreaks do not fall under the standard cancellation reasons on most travel insurance.”

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In addition to the ban President Donald Trump imposed on foreigners traveling to the U.S. from Europe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 3 travel alert for China, Iran, South Korea and most major countries in Europe, including Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland. That means all Americans are advised to avoid nonessential travel to those areas.

And the CDC says anyone at high risk for severe infection – older adults or people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions – should consider not traveling at all.

The restrictions and warnings, combined with worldwide cancellations and closures, have left travelers agonizing over whether to gamble with their health and continue their trips, or lose what could be thousands of dollars.

And it often doesn't matter whether their trip was canceled by choice or by circumstance.

Nate Edwards, who lives in Dallas, told NBC News he was denied coverage under the extra trip insurance he bought to accompany his wife to a work conference in Singapore in February. Edwards is pleading with the insurer to reconsider.

"Right now, I'm just fighting tooth and nail," he said. "If it was a couple hundred dollars, it wouldn't affect me that much. But $2,400 of my hard-earned money?"

Like anything, insurance rules aren't hard and fast. There are some caveats. For one, you might be covered if you get sick from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, or if you bought comprehensive trip insurance that covers every piece of your itinerary.

“Comprehensive travel insurance plans can cover prepaid, nonrefundable expenses such as hotels, tours, flights, etc.,” Meghan Walch, product manager for InsureMyTrip, told the L.A. Times in a separate report. “When purchasing a policy, the total of those costs would need to be insured in order to receive reimbursement if canceling for a covered reason.”

Travelers who upgraded to a more expensive type of insurance called CFAR, or "cancel for any reason," would also likely be covered.

The good news is that many airlines and cruise companies are waiving change fees or offering refunds. Some insurers are also offering more flexibility due to the virus, or might consider it going forward.

"Travel insurers respond to changing situations and may make changes based upon their customer's concerns," Barto told CNN.

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