If you’ve recently booked a trip, you’re likely eager for the experience, but there are important details to handle beforehand. One common concern is whether to purchase travel insurance.
Can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight? Yes, you can, but timing is crucial. Here’s what you need to know about when to purchase travel insurance for your upcoming trip.
Key Takeaways
- Travel insurance can provide financial protection from unexpected events, delays and disruptions during a trip.
- The best time to purchase travel insurance is as soon as possible after booking your flight, cruise or train.
- You can buy a policy the day before or after you depart, but it does not cover trip cancellation, trip disruption, or preexisting medical conditions.
Why Should You Buy Travel Insurance After Booking a Flight?
If you’re wondering, “Can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight?” you’re not alone. Trips can be expensive. That is why the best time to buy travel insurance is typically right after booking your flight to find options that provide better coverage for the money spent on your travel plans.
Protection Against Trip Cancellation or Interruptions
Offered through the credit card used for your booking or travel insurance, this policy covers you and anyone traveling with you. It reimburses you if your trip doesn’t happen or ends abruptly because of something unforeseen, such as a natural disaster or illness. It may even cover the cost of your return if your trip is cut short.
Coverage for Preexisting Medical Conditions
Preexisting medical conditions are commonly excluded from travel insurance. An injury or medical condition within a specific period, typically 60 to 180 days, of purchasing a policy is considered preexisting.
If you buy your travel insurance shortly after booking or paying a deposit on your trip, you can waive the exclusion. However, if you buy later, your medical condition might not be covered.
Gain Access to a Wider Selection of Insurance Plans
Buying travel insurance early allows you to comparison shop and find the insurance that meets your needs. Carriers often offer multiple plans or allow you to customize your travel insurance, or you can inspect benefits and coverages side-by-side on a marketplace or comparison website.
For example, you may need to customize a plan for participating in extreme sports, provide comprehensive coverage for a group or get a specialized plan for an extended stay abroad.
Maximize 10- to 15-Day Review Period Before Your Trip
Called the “free look period,” most insurance policies give you 10 to 15 days to review your travel insurance. If the insurance doesn’t meet your needs, you can cancel it or look at other options without losing money.
Keep in mind that the review period ends when your trip begins. Buying your travel insurance well before your departure gives you time to verify you have the coverage you want.
When Can You Buy Travel Insurance?
Can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight only? Or can you also purchase it before booking?
Fortunately, you don’t need your trip locked down to buy travel insurance. You can purchase insurance before you book, especially if you travel regularly throughout the year and want annual coverage.
However, the best time to purchase travel insurance is usually as soon as possible after you book your flight, cruise, or train. Buying insurance within 15 days after booking a flight can even qualify you for bonus coverage, such as cancellation for any reason (CFAR) coverage.
How Late Is Too Late to Secure Travel Insurance Coverage?
Most travel insurance companies will sell a policy the day before you depart. However, you likely won’t get trip cancellation coverage, a waiver for a preexisting medical condition, or CFAR coverage.
Also, a few companies allow you to purchase insurance after your trip begins, but your benefits may be limited. For instance, you might deal with waiting periods and coverage for medical emergencies only.
How to Add Travel Insurance After Booking a Flight
If you don’t purchase travel insurance offered by your airline at booking, there are several ways to add it later.
Contact Your Airline or Travel Agency
Airlines offer travel insurance during booking or require you to do it separately. If you weren't offered insurance before, contact your airline about adding it. You can also talk to your travel agency about finding a plan.
Consider Buying Travel Insurance From a Third-Party Provider
Purchasing third-party travel insurance depends on your financial situation and risk tolerance. Read reviews to guide you to a reputable company.
The upsides are that you can cover medical expenses and emergencies, guard against loss, and receive travel assistance. The downsides are that you might not use the insurance, the policy may not cover everything you need, and it can be expensive.
Check Your Credit Card
Some credit card companies offer degrees of travel insurance when you use your card to book a trip. Call your card company to find out whether you can receive coverage when you book a flight and the level of coverage.
Review the Terms and Coverage
Reading an insurance policy may be the last task on your list of to-dos when preparing for a trip, but understanding the terms and coverage options could save you a headache and hundreds or thousands of dollars later. Consider reading through your policy before signing on the bottom line.
Pay Any Additional Premium
Travel can be expensive, especially with rising airfares and airline fees. It’s easy to be tempted to pass on an additional premium to add travel insurance to your flight booking. However, that incremental cost could save you significant money if your flight is canceled, your trip is interrupted or your luggage is lost.
Finding the Right Travel Insurance for Your Trip Is Key
Travel insurance can help guard against financial loss if severe weather or illness delays, cancels, or interrupts your trip. You can also get coverage for lost baggage or medical emergencies. Do your research to get the coverage you need, and the incremental cost of an insurance policy can add comfort to being away from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy travel insurance closer to the travel date?
Yes, but the longer you wait after booking, the fewer coverage and benefits options you may have. You can purchase travel insurance up to the day before your trip, and some companies allow you to buy a plan after you depart.
Does the cost of travel insurance change if you buy it later?
The cost of travel insurance generally holds steady no matter when you purchase it. However, you may get less value buying insurance later.
Does buying travel insurance early or late affect the claims process?
Whether you buy travel insurance early or late only impacts the benefits and coverages available to you and therefore, what you can claim. It doesn’t affect the claims process.
Do all travel insurance providers allow you to buy a policy after booking airfare?
Yes. However, don’t wait too long after booking your flight. The longer you wait, you may limit your options for coverage.
Is it better to buy travel insurance through the airline or a third-party provider after booking?
Travel insurance through the airline might appear less expensive, but it often offers less coverage and fewer options. Buy insurance for your needs, and compare apples to apples.