When is it Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?
It is never too late… until it actually is
| All About You & Travel Insurance |
| I. “What are my travel insurance options?” |
| II. “Should I get travel insurance?” |
| III. “Is travel insurance reliable?” |
| IV. “How do I purchase travel insurance?” |
| V. “Can I get a last-minute travel insurance?” |
| VI. “When is it too late to buy travel insurance?” |
| VII. Main Takeaways (Summary) |
First off, I’m not an attorney and this is not legal advice. Rather, this is simply information gathered from conducting a fair bit of research. Look, if you’ve been researching anything that has to do with the journey of traveling to a new and exciting location, you may have already come across different websites, news articles, and blog posts, attempting to persuade you into either purchasing travel insurance or skipping travel insurance, altogether. The truth is that travel insurance can be quite helpful depending on your situation, travelling plans, and preferences. What you need to consider is if you want to have a safety net for your journey or if you want to just “wing it”. So, before it’s too late, you should read this travel blog post that addresses the question of, “when is it too late to buy travel insurance?”
I. “What are my travel insurance options?”—a lot of health, safety and money-pinching related stuff
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance for medical problems, transportation and accommodation failure, bad weather and sudden disasters, political issues and violence, and sudden work-related issues. Did you see how often I used the word ‘sudden’? Yes, you can’t get your money back if you conspired to set the whole thing up. It has to be an unforeseen event that you or anyone else had not expected.
- Missed connection coverage for delayed flights, rides and accommodation.
- Cancel for any reason coverage for, well, cancelling a trip for any type of reason. However, you won’t be getting a full refund.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance for any health hazards and issues caused during the trip.
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance for any transportation costs for you to reach a hospital or health facility caused by a health hazard or issues that occurred only during the trip.
- Emergency non-medical evacuation insurance not only are there threats to your health and life caused by accidents, there are threats by natural disasters and humans under oppression. This insurance option pays for your costs when going to and staying at an evacuation center or refuge while avoiding the chaos.
- Baggage and personal items insurance for lost, damaged or stolen baggage.
- Rental car collision insurance for rental car damage caused by issues that the travel insurance company covers (i.e. car accidents, theft, vandalism and natural disasters).
- Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) for coverage on your death caused by accidents, excluding health issues.
Now you see the basis to why you might need travel insurance. So, let’s go on and check if you actually need travel insurance or not. And if so, why.
II. “Should I Get Travel Insurance?”—Well, better safe than sorry
To rephrase that question, “Is travel insurance even worth it?” Yes and no. It all depends on how expensive your trip is, which is based on where you are going and when.
Imagine going on a trip over to the next town. Based on travel fees and safety, you would not be pulling out that much money from the bank. So, you don’t need to pay a heavy price for insurance on safe or refundable travels if you are not likely to be in harm’s way and/or encounter any issues going to and during the trip. However, if you’re going abroad where all the laws, uncertain events, new culture and weather and physical conditions of the country are very different from that you are used to at your hometown, it makes a lot more sense to get travel insurance for health and safety reasons. But geographic location is not all there is to consider.
There are times that the place you are going to is on the verge of political conflict that may cause riots and protests. Other times are when harsh weathers or even natural disasters usually occur at that time of year. So you might want travel insurance to insure your safety–and to insure you would not be spending a hell of a lot more than anyone would have bargained for.
Additionally, you get insurance if you are paying a large amount of money all in one go that is not even refundable! Now, it may not be usual for costly services to cancel on you but to be safe–which means saving your wallet from catching flies—you better get travel insurance that will get you a full or high percentage refund.
“Yes, travel insurance has its perks and benefits, but what about its downfalls and shortcomings?” The only downfall of getting travel insurance is if you actually do not need it. As for its shortcomings, not everything for your safety is covered by travel insurance.
DOWNFALLS — If you have a travel credit card that actually has similar benefits to that of a travel insurance, you can skip the travel insurance altogether! There is no point in spending more money for something you already have and do not need.
Another factor that you might want to consider before you spend your hard earned savings on travel insurance that saves you from something that might not even happen is the time you actually apply and get travel insurance. Insurance costs are generally lower when bought 10 to 15 days before you buy your travel reservations. If you buy insurance after you bought that ticket for your trip, the travel insurance company is going to think that you suddenly changed your mind and wanted insurance because it is more probable of you needing the insurance. Hence, the higher costs.
SHORTCOMINGS — Issues on travel insurance are not only from your end. It may stem from the lack of coverage too. Here are the usual suspects of what is excluded from most travel insurances:
- Costs of health issues during the trip that were developed from pre-existing health conditions.
- Costs of health issues during the trip that were developed from injuries sustained during criminal acts.
- Costs of dental treatment if not from an accidental injury.
- Costs of accidents and expenses caused under the influence of drugs or intoxicants.
- Costs of health issues of mental or emotional disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression, neurosis and psychosis).
- Costs of health issues and accidents that occur during the trip during the willing participation in certain sports athletic competitions (i.e. skydiving, hang gliding, parachuting, horse racing, motor vehicle racing, motorcycle racing, bungee cord jumping, spelunking or caving, rock climbing, mountain climbing, heli-skiing, skiing outside marked trails and other types of adventure sports).
- Costs of health issues and accidents that occur during the trip during scuba diving below 120 feet or without a divemaster.
- Refund or costs of cutting the trip short or delaying your return for reasons not outlined in the policy.
- Costs of cosmetic surgery if not from an accidental injury.
- Costs of accidental injury or illness when traveling against the direct advice and orders of a physician.
- Costs of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Costs of lost, damaged or stolen goods (i.e. eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses, artificial teeth, dental bridges and hearing aids, keys, money, stamps, securities and documents, deeds, food stamps, bills, credit cards, stocks and bonds, postal or money orders, tickets, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics and perishables) under personal effect coverage types.
Again, if you want to save a buttload of money, you should get that travel insurance. However, you don’t have to buy it if it costs you more than your trip or if it is not even applicable to you. Remember that buying insurance depends on your situation. There is no universal, one-size-fits-all insurance that is fit for everyone. But there are guidelines that will walk you through why and when you should get insurance, and when you do not need to.
Now that you know why and why not buy travel insurance. Let us answer the other questions that you have probably come up with by now.
III. “Is travel insurance reliable?”—Absolutely
The better the travel insurance company, the more reliable they are. Sort of like elitism. However, there aren’t really any bad travel insurance companies because they all have set out policies that cannot be broken. It all depends on their coverage and policies that determine whether they are good or bad (for a traveler like you).
IV. “How do I purchase travel insurance?”—Online or through the Travel Agency
As you have read, there are strict rules that you need to abide by. Thus, you must do your research on the travel insurance policies before you buy it. You should even keep them in mind because you do not want to spend even more money for something that’s supposed to help you save money! Also, costs of insurance vary based on the type of travel insurance you want, the range of policies that the company has, and when you will buy insurance. To make life easier, we can use modern technology to show you all the rates and coverage (or policies) of the travel insurance companies side-by-side for you to evaluate and choose from. Thank goodness for innovative thinking and the great minds of humanity. You can check and compare travel insurance costs and policies through these handy websites:
- Square Mouth (https://www.squaremouth.com/travel-insurance-quotes)
They have a page for custom search with filters to sift out the travel insurance companies that fits your travelling needs. Compare policies side-by-side to find the right policy at the best price for your trip. For more information or inquiries, you can call them at 1-800-240-0369 from 8AM to 10PM ET every day.
Still a little skeptical that such a great website is available for free? Well, don’t be. This company has stacked up a total of 20 national and international awards for their service! These include:
- Florida Trend’s Best Companies to Work For in Florida, 2015-2020
- Silver International Customer Service Award, 2020
- Gold in the International Best in Biz Awards for Most Customer Friendly Company of the Year, 2019
- Gold in the 2019 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for Travel Agent Organizations – Travel Insurance
- Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Company, 2013-2019
- Gold in the CSS World Awards for Customer Service Outstanding Performance of the Year, 2019
- Bronze in the CSS World Awards for Customer Service Department of the Year, 2019
- one of Tampa Bay’s 50 Fastest-Growing Companies, 2011-2019
- One of the Best Places to Work in America, 2017-19
- One of the Best Places to Work in Tampa Bay, 2019
- Wins Bronze International Customer Service Award, 2019
- Gold in the 2018 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for Travel Agent Organizations – Travel Insurance
- Gold in the International Best in Biz Awards for Most Customer Friendly Company of the Year, 2018
- Gold in the CSS World Awards for Customer Service Department of the Year, 2018
- Silver International Customer Service Award, 2018
- Gold International Customer Service Award, 2017
- Gold in the CSS World Awards for Customer Service Team of the Year, 2016
- Bronze Stevie Award Winner for Customer Service Department of the Year, 2016
- No. 2 Best Workplace for Women by Fortune Magazine, 2015
- Silver Stevie Award Winner for Customer Service Department of the Year, 2014
You can expect quality service when you are looking for that company that works around your needs and budget.
- Travel Insurance (https://www.travelinsurance.com/)
That name doesn’t get any clearer than that! It is similar to Square Mouth where you have to fill in some questions to act as filters. Once you open this website, it instructs you to, “Enter your trip details below to quote, compare and buy travel insurance from reputable insurers,” and it also ensures, “…Safe and secure purchase with instant confirmation of coverage.” So, not only will you be able to find what you’re looking for, you will also be able to get that insurance straight from the ‘Travel insurance’ website. Talk about efficiency! As for their quality, they are promoted by National geographic, TripAdvisor, and NBC to name a few.
If you have more inquiries on their services, you can dial them at 1-877-906-3950
from Monday to Friday at 9AM EST to 8PM EST or you can leave them a message at https://www.travelinsurance.com/contact-us/#.
- Travel Agency
If you are more of a hands-on person and prefer to go directly to the insurers, you can visit a travel agent. However, be aware that travel agents are usually commission-based, so you need to do your research on the regular and fair prices of travel insurances and make sure you are getting what you need from the insurance before you make a deal and part with your cash.
V. “Can I get a last-minute travel insurance?”—Yes, but preferably do not do so
You should book within 10 to 15 days of trip purchase to qualify for full coverage of your trip cost. However, if you completely forgot about that wallet-saving travel insurance, you can usually still buy it even on the day you leave for your trip! This is because most of these companies ensure your trip from the moment you get on the airplane. However, this policy is not applicable to all travel insurance companies. Some companies cover insurance starting on your way to the airport, so this requires you to purchase insurance ahead of the flight date. Basically, you can purchase travel insurance until the last minute depending on the coverage. This brings us to that question, “when is it too late to buy travel insurance?”
VI. “When is it too late to buy travel insurance?”
As a consequence of the previous subtopic, it is too late to buy travel insurance depending on the coverage of the insurance that you want. If you wanted the insurance that covers the start of you getting on a plane and the end of you landing home, it would be too late to get insurance if you have checked in and made it past the airport gates or customs airport. Also, if you wanted to get insurance to cover your refunding or rebooking of flight if you missed your flight because of traffic or a natural disaster, then getting insurance on the flight date is too late for that.
VII. Main Takeaways (Summary)
Travel insurance is undoubtedly a huge benefit for all of us who do not want to take risks and leave the faith of your safety and money to the hand of chance. You must consider your own unique travelling situation and circumstances to find the travel insurance company that can accommodate all your insurance needs and be sure to pay it on time before you need the insurance to take effect or pay when the travel insurance company demands so.
The Travel Insurance Options:
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance for medical problems, transportation and accommodation failure, bad weather and sudden disasters, political issues and violence, and sudden work-related issues.
- Missed connection coverage for delayed flights, rides and accommodation.
- Cancel for any reason coverage for, well, cancelling a trip for any type of reason. However, you won’t be getting a full refund.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance for any health hazards and issues caused during the trip.
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance for any transportation costs for you to reach a hospital or health facility caused by a health hazard or issues that occurred only during the trip.
- Emergency non-medical evacuation insurance not only are there threats to your health and life caused by accidents, there are threats by natural disasters and humans under oppression.
- Baggage and personal items insurance for lost, damaged or stolen baggage.
- Rental car collision insurance for rental car damage caused by issues that the travel insurance company covers.
- Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) for coverage on your death caused by accidents, excluding health issues.
The Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance:
- If you go abroad where there are different laws and possible events and disasters that might occur which could cost more in a foreign land.
- To be able to get a full or partial refund when paying a large amount of money all in one go that is not even refundable.
The Reasons Not to Purchase Travel Insurance:
- If you are travelling within the country.
- If you have a travel credit card that has similar benefits of travel insurance.
- To buy expensive travel insurance when it is late (past the 10 to 15 days of booking a flight).
- If the things that are important to you but are not covered by insurance, which are:
- Costs of health issues during the trip that were developed from pre-existing health conditions.
- Costs of health issues during the trip that were developed from injuries sustained during criminal acts.
- Costs of dental treatment if not from an accidental injury.
- Costs of accidents and expenses caused under the influence of drugs or intoxicants.
- Costs of health issues of mental or emotional disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression, neurosis and psychosis).
- Costs of health issues and accidents that occur during the trip during the willing participation in certain sports athletic competitions (i.e. skydiving, hang gliding, parachuting, horse racing, motor vehicle racing, motorcycle racing, bungee cord jumping, spelunking or caving, rock climbing, mountain climbing, heli-skiing, skiing outside marked trails and other types of adventure sports).
- Costs of health issues and accidents that occur during the trip during scuba diving below 120 feet or without a divemaster.
- Refund or costs of cutting the trip short or delaying your return for reasons not outlined in the policy.
- Costs of cosmetic surgery if not from an accidental injury.
- Costs of accidental injury or illness when traveling against the direct advice and orders of a physician.
- Costs of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Costs of lost, damaged or stolen goods (i.e. eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses, artificial teeth, dental bridges and hearing aids, keys, money, stamps, securities and documents, deeds, food stamps, bills, credit cards, stocks and bonds, postal or money orders, tickets, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics and perishables) under personal effect coverage types.
The Reasons Why Travel Insurance is Usually Reliable:
- The more well-known a travel insurance company is, the wider its coverage and/or the more considerate it is to its clients.
- Travel insurance companies typically will have displayed on their websites, clear policies and rules that they implement.
The Places to Purchase Travel Insurance:
- Square Mouth
- Telephone number is 1-800-240-0369 which is available from 8AM to 10PM ET every day.
- Travel Insurance
- Website is https://www.travelinsurance.com/.
- Telephone number is 1-877-906-3950 which is available from Monday to Friday at 9AM EST to 8PM EST
- Messaging them is possible through https://www.travelinsurance.com/contact-us/#.
- Travel Agency
This requires you to go directly to the insurers and talk with a travel agent to discuss your travel insurance-needs.
Last Minute Travel Insurance:
You can get insurance even at the last minute depending on what insurance you aim to purchase and its coverage. As long as the coverage of the insurance that you need does not start, you can purchase the insurance. However, be aware that the longer you postpone buying it, the higher the rates for the travel insurance.
When Purchasing Travel Insurance is Too Late:
When you want to buy insurance after your desired coverage has already begun, then purchasing that type of insurance is no longer possible. However, this also greatly depends on the rules and policies laid out by each travel insurance company.
