Some possible news...and I'm only posting because it's been mentioned to me by Cast Members* twice now:
I think we have all figured out that deferrals really are gone since they weren't offered for Disneyland Half weekend (I was hoping for an official announcement, but alas
). I have been told twice now that runDisney will start offering race registration insurance - HOWEVER - both times this has been mentioned to me (over the phone when talking with runDisney travel agents), it has been mentioned in the context of something that is included in booking an overall package - so you'd book a package through runDisney and would get insurance that covers your hotel, as well as your race registration. It hasn't been clear whether you can get it separately on its own and then stay in a hotel offsite or use DVC points or whatever (which - Active.com, the company that manages runDisney's race registrations,
has the capability to offer race registration insurance, so...).
I haven't been able to find any documentation on this related to runDisney yet, but since it came up today in the context of booking a room for Tink (the reservation specialist I talked to mentioned it when he was going over the cancellation policies because "deferrals are gone now"), I'm wondering if we'll see something about it soon, since early Tink registration begins tomorrow (and online booking for runDisney packages for that weekend will open tomorrow). Granted, the other time it was mentioned to me was just before Dark Side weekend, and that was months ago...and that same person said there wouldn't be any deferrals for that weekend, but there were.
Anyway - IF they offer this, I hope there is an option for race-only insurance, and that it doesn't have to be tied to booking a package. But with the recent change of TAs only being able to sell bibs as part of a package at WDW, I'm thinking runDisney sees this - the opportunity to purchase race registration insurance - as another way to get runners to stay onsite and book the rD packages.
The guy I talked to today specifically mentioned "injuries or illness." If they release info this week, I guess we'll know!
*Yes I know CMs aren't always super reliable with this stuff, but I have to think they'll do SOMETHING now that deferrals are gone.