You’re heading off on that dream trip abroad you’ve been planning for months. As departure day gets closer, you start to worry about what could go wrong. Lost luggage, flight delays, medical emergencies – yikes! Suddenly you’re wondering if you should get travel insurance. But isn’t it too late? Don’t kick yourself yet. The best time to buy travel insurance is before you book your flights and hotels. Purchase it at least 2-3 weeks prior, if you can. That way you’ll have the widest range of affordable options and complete coverage. Waiting too long can limit benefits and jack up costs. For complicated trips like cruises, buy early to allow time for pre-existing medical checks. Getting covered ahead of time brings peace of mind. You can relax knowing you planned ahead to protect your investment. So don’t wait until the last minute! Lock in the right travel insurance early so you can fully enjoy your upcoming adventure.
Why You Should Buy Travel Insurance Early
Waiting until the last minute to buy travel insurance is risky business. Miss the deadline to purchase a policy and you could be out of luck if something goes wrong before or during your trip.
Buy too late and you may face limited options, higher costs, or even lack coverage for pre-existing medical conditions or events like natural disasters. The ideal time to secure travel insurance is within 7 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. This gives you a range of competitive policies to choose from and ensures all trip components are covered.
For cruises, the timeline is even earlier, within 14 days of your deposit. Cruise lines have strict deadlines to add a travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage and the option to cancel for any reason. Miss these early deadlines and you’ll likely pay a higher premium or lose the chance to purchase a policy altogether.
Booking travel insurance in advance comes with some nice perks. You’ll have more providers and policies to compare, often at lower costs. You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing you’re protected from day one in case anything unexpected pops up before your trip. Early birds get the best rates and most comprehensive coverage.
Travel insurance gives you coverage for events out of your control so you can sit back and enjoy your holiday. Take advantage of competitive rates and optimal coverage by purchasing your policy within a couple of weeks of booking your trip. The small upfront investment will be well worth the security and savings. Your dream getaway awaits!
How Far in Advance Should You Purchase Travel Insurance?
Listen up, procrastinators-when it comes to travel insurance, sooner is always better. Waiting until the last minute to buy a policy can limit your options and increase costs. In some cases, you might not even be able to get coverage if you’ve already started your trip or have a medical condition that arises shortly before departure.
To have the most choice and the best rates, you should buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve made a substantial non-refundable payment on your trip, like booking flights or a cruise. For most vacations, aim for at least 1 to 2 weeks before you leave. That gives you time to compare policies, read the fine print, and make sure you understand exactly what’s covered.
If you’re taking a cruise, purchase insurance immediately after booking. Cruise lines often require proof of coverage within 14 to 21 days of your initial deposit. They want to ensure all passengers have emergency evacuation and medical coverage in case something happens at sea. Not complying with their deadline could mean losing your cabin or your entire fare.
Buying in advance also gives you more flexibility to choose a policy that suits your needs. Maybe you want coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, extreme sports, or the cost of missing a connection. The earlier you shop, the more options you’ll have.
Last but not least, advance purchase equals peace of mind. With coverage in place ahead of time, you can relax knowing you’re protected financially if anything unexpected pops up before or during your trip. That’s worth avoiding the stress of last-minute shopping in our book!
So do yourself a favour-make travel insurance one of the first things you check off your pre-trip to-do list. Your wallet and sanity will thank you.
The Risks of Buying Last Minute Travel Insurance
Limited Options
If you wait until the last minute to buy travel insurance, you’ll likely find your options severely limited. The further out you purchase from your trip, the more companies and plans you can compare. Maybe you want coverage for adventure sports or pre-existing medical conditions. If so, shopping early ensures you’ll find a policy that suits your needs. Last minute, you may have to settle for whatever leftover policies remain, even if they don’t fully meet your requirements.
Higher Premiums
Insurance companies charge higher premiums for last minute travel insurance. They see customers purchasing at the last second as riskier, so they increase rates to offset that risk. You’ll end up paying sometimes hundreds more for the exact same coverage. Why not save that money and buy a month or more ahead of time? The peace of mind will be worth it.
Lack of Coverage
Some travel insurance policies require you to purchase within a set number of days of your initial trip deposit. Miss that deadline, and you may find yourself unable to get coverage for prepaid, non-refundable trip components like airfare or cruises. Nobody wants to lose money because they didn’t buy travel insurance in time!
The bottom line is that you should aim to purchase travel insurance as soon as you put down a deposit on your trip. At a minimum, buy it within two weeks of booking to ensure you get the coverage you need at a competitive price. For cruise insurance or policies covering pre-existing medical conditions, you may need to purchase even earlier. Don’t gamble with your vacation investment-get travel insurance right away so you can relax and enjoy your trip!
In summary, to avoid the risks of limited options, higher costs, and lack of coverage, we highly recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. For the best deals and widest range of plans to choose from, start comparing options at least a month before your departure date. Have a safe trip!
Tips for Finding the Best Travel Insurance Deals
If you want the best deals on travel insurance, the earliest you purchase a policy, the better. Book at least 1 to 2 weeks before your trip for the widest range of options and most competitive rates. Waiting until the last minute can limit your choices and increase costs.
For example, if you book within a week of departure, you may find that cheaper policies have sold out or rates have increased significantly. Some insurers may no longer offer coverage for your destination or trip activities. Pre-existing medical condition waivers are less likely to be available on last-minute policies.
Cruises typically have earlier deadlines, often requiring purchase within 2 to 4 weeks of booking to qualify for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions. Adventure or extreme sports trips also need more advance planning, as fewer insurers offer policies for these destinations and activities.
Booking in advance gives you peace of mind that your investment is protected and avoids a stressful rush to find coverage. You’ll have time to compare multiple policies and choose one tailored to your needs. Look for a reputable company with 24/7 emergency assistance, medical coverage, and optional extras like baggage, gadget or adventure sports insurance based on your trip details.
For the best deals, start by checking comparison sites that allow you to filter results by factors like trip duration, coverage amounts and optional add-ons. Compare quotes from multiple insurers side by side. Look for promo codes and discounts offered to members of organisations you belong to. When you find a competitive policy, go directly to the insurance company’s website to purchase – they often offer the lowest rates.
While travel insurance is not mandatory, for many trips the potential financial risks make the cost of a policy worthwhile. Allowing adequate time to find the right coverage for you will ensure your vacation is stress-free from start to finish. With so much to organise before travel, cross ‘find travel insurance’ off your list as early as possible.
Travel Insurance FAQs: Your Top Questions Answered
When should I buy travel insurance? The earlier the better. Most experts recommend purchasing a policy within 7 to 14 days of booking your trip. Waiting until the last minute limits your options and often means higher premiums. Some policies require you to buy coverage within a certain number of days of your initial trip deposit.
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Cruises and medical coverage
If you’re going on a cruise or need coverage for medical conditions, buy insurance as soon as you book. Cruise lines typically require proof of insurance at the time of final payment, usually 60 to 90 days before sailing. And most insurers require you to buy policies with medical coverage within 14 to 30 days of your first trip payment. After that, pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered.
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Peace of mind
Buying early also gives you peace of mind that you’re properly covered in case you need to cancel for any reason. Travel insurance protects you financially if something unexpected happens before or during your trip like illness, injury, job loss, or bad weather. The closer you get to departure without coverage, the more stressful it can be!
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More options and lower cost
Purchasing in advance, ideally at the same time you book your trip, gives you the widest range of policy options to choose from at the best price. Rates often increase as your trip gets closer, especially if you’re booking a policy with add-ons like “cancel for any reason” coverage or needing coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.
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Make sure you have home insurance when travelling.
Home insurance protects your home and things when you’re away. This gives peace of mind.
Theft coverage means insurance covers theft. Your home may be easier to steal from when you’re away. Weather damage coverage deals with floods, storms and other damage that can happen when away. Accidental damage coverage still applies when travelling if included. These are more likely when away, so check your policy covers this.
Tell your insurer before travelling how long you’ll be away and contacts to check your property. Home and travel insurance together means you can enjoy your trip knowing your home is protected.
So the bottom line is don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to get travel insurance!
Start comparing policies and prices at least a few weeks before your trip. AA Travel Insurance offers a range of travel insurance products that provide the coverage you need:
- Single trip travel insurance for one-off trips
- Backpacker travel insurance for extended trips
- Annual multi-trip travel insurance for multiple trips within one year
For single trips, AA Travel Insurance offers single trip travel insurance policies that cover medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost baggage, and more.
Taking out travel insurance early gives you time to find the right product for your needs. AA Travel Insurance policies have a range of optional add-ons available to customise your cover. So secure a policy now through AA Travel Insurance so you can focus on enjoying your upcoming travels. The earlier you buy, the more options and lower prices you’ll have.
