When Is The Best Time To Buy Travel Insurance? (2024)

FAQs

When Is The Best Time To Buy Travel Insurance? ›

Buying travel insurance right after booking your trip is best, as some coverage options are time-sensitive. Cancel For Any Reason policies and coverage for pre-existing coverage require early purchase.

In general, you can buy coverage any time before the date of your trip. That said, it's always best to buy coverage as soon as you make your reservations. The sooner you buy travel insurance, the sooner you'll be protected and the more benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Our simple answer is to get travel insurance as soon as you have booked and paid for your holiday, especially for a non-refundable trip. Although it is tempting to leave booking travel insurance until the last minute, it's more beneficial to get it in advance as the sooner you buy cover, the sooner you are protected.

Unlike other aspects of your travel experience like airfares or hotel-room rates, the price of travel insurance doesn't increase the closer you get to your travel date. There's no financial penalty if you wait to buy travel insurance (except for those bonus coverages, of course).

While it's possible to buy travel insurance up until just before — or even after — you depart, the best time to do so is shortly after you begin booking the trip.

The good news is that you can buy travel insurance at any point–even if you already started your trip. However, you might not get all the coverage you were hoping for. Your coverage options become more and more limited the longer you wait. The price typically stays the same no matter when you buy travel protection.

Travelling against medical advice or to get medical treatment. If your doctor says it's not safe for you to travel, then you won't be covered. Similarly, if you go abroad to get planned treatment, sometimes called 'medical tourism', a standard policy will not cover this – you'll need specialist insurance instead.

Allianz is a popular choice among business travelers due to its AllTrips Executive travel insurance policy with coverage for lost, stolen or damaged business equipment and rental car insurance. Earning 4.1 out of 5 stars, our expert reviewers think Allianz is a great choice for international travel insurance.

You need to postpone your trip — but it's too late to buy trip cancellation benefits. Can you buy trip cancellation insurance after booking your trip? Absolutely. Trip cancellation protection begins on your plan's effective date, as long as we receive your premium before you cancel your trip or make a claim.

Cancellation cover is a common inclusion with most standard travel insurance policies, but you can take it out separately if it doesn't offer enough cover. Alternatively, if you only want cancellation cover to protect you against cancelled flights rather than baggage protection, you can get it for that.

Does AARP offer international travel insurance? ›

While there are no AARP travel insurance products or discounts available for seniors, members can use the AARP website for trips and tricks on how to plan for international travel and information regarding how to choose the right insurance plan for older travelers.

Tips for keeping the cost of travel insurance down

A change of country could save you a little cash. A holiday to Paris will usually cost you less in insurance premiums than a trip to New York. It's also important to check the country you are travelling to is actually covered by your travel insurer.

Most Comprehensive Plans will offer a waiver of pre-existing conditions if you meet the following conditions: You purchase the policy within 10 - 21 days of making your first trip payment; insure ALL prepaid non-refundable expenses prior to your departure date; and be medically fit to travel the day you purchase the ...

It could be particularly useful if: You've spent a lot on prepaid, non-refundable expenses. You're traveling internationally where your health insurance won't apply. You're traveling to a remote area.

So, what does travel insurance cover? Here's the very short answer: Cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, loss or delays, and 24/7 assistance. These are the 5 basic types of coverage provided with vacation insurance.

Typically, travel insurance will cover you for missed flights and travel delays, provided it's not your, or your airline's, fault. Many travellers wrongly assume that travel insurance covers flight delays or rescheduling due to operational, technical or mechanical reasons caused by the airline. This isn't the case.

Definition: You have to change the dates on your airline ticket for a covered reason. Travel insurance can reimburse you for the fees charged by the airline to change these dates up to the benefit limit described in your plan's letter of confirmation.