How Late Can I Purchase Travel Insurance?
For some travelers, purchasing travel insurance can be an afterthought. Maybe they put off buying travel insurance until the last minute, or maybe they didn’t realize that most domestic health insurance policies don’t provide international coverage.
Fortunately, travelers can purchase travel insurance as late as the day before their departure date if they want to buy a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy, which includes cancellation coverage for their trip costs. For travel medical insurance policies without Trip Cancellation coverage, travelers may be able to buy a policy after their departure date.
For a better variety, travelers looking for Trip Cancellation coverage should purchase at least 24 hours before departure. Only a few providers write policies the day of travel or later. For travelers who are concerned about cancelling or paying for medical coverage during their time overseas, Squaremouth recommends looking for a policy as soon as possible.
It’s important for travelers to note that travel insurance is designed to coverage unforeseen and unexpected events. Once an illness occurs, it is likely be too late to be covered, even if the plan includes Pre-Existing Condition coverage.
Travelers should understand that Pre-Existing Condition, Cancel for Any Reason, and Cancel for Work Reasons coverages are typically only available for 14-30 days after the initial trip deposit date. Therefore, customers who look for coverage at the last minute may not be eligible for these benefits.