When is it “too late” to buy travel insurance?

Purchasing travel insurance before a trip is usually recommended, whether you’re travelling internationally or going on an extended, possibly expensive vacation. 

Travel insurance is unlike other insurance policies in that it’s a one-time purchase. So, when is the best time to buy it? Is there such thing as “too late” when buying travel insurance? 

Travel insurance isn’t required by any means, but travelers often buy it to protect themselves against unexpected circumstances, like trip cancellation due to injury or sickness, lost baggage, medical emergencies, and more.  

Here are a few of the reasons why it might make sense to buy travel insurance for you upcoming adventure: 

Mitch has seen the value of travel insurance in the past. We’ve had injuries during seemingly harmless recreational activities while vacationing which were cause for medical coverage to kick in! Remember: while Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, breaking your ankle in the U.S. without travel coverage could rack up a medical bill into the thousands.  

Travel insurance isn’t necessary in every circumstance. It can depend on the risks of the trip you’re planning, the length of time you’re gone, who/what you’re taking with you, etc. Ask an insurance broker if buying coverage is worth it depending on the circumstances of your upcoming trip. 

Travel insurance can cost as little as $25/week for each traveler, but it can go up depending on additional destinations, your specific travel needs, and the level of coverage you’re buying. Ask Mitch for more information on travel insurance companies and rates.  

With travel insurance, you can purchase it any time after you have made and confirmed your booking up until you depart for your trip. Sometimes you’ll want to get everything – including all your activities – in order so you can purchase the right travel insurance plan for your trip. Here are the best options for when to purchase your travel insurance policy: 

The most optimal time for purchasing travel insurance is the moment you’ve finished your bookings. This ensures the maximum coverage out of your policy, as purchasing travel insurance early ensures that if a covered event (death of a family member, serious injury or illness, etc.) arises between the booking of your trip and departure, you’ll be covered. There are endorsements you can purchase that will cover trip cancellation for any reason. Note as well that trip cancellation must be included in your policy, as it isn’t automatically covered.

Whatever the case, if you’re forced to cancel your trip before you’ve purchased travel insurance, you’re unlikely to get a refund. Getting your travel insurance earlier than later lessens the odds of this happening. 

Although the best time to purchase travel insurance is immediately, the second best time is before departure. The sooner the better, of course, but if you were busy trying to pull everything together and simply forgot about buying insurance up until now, it’s a good time to get on that. Even if it’s the day before departure, don’t worry about it being “too late” – you still haven’t left! If something unexpected  happens, you’ll thank yourself for it later down the line, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar country having to seek out hospital care for an accidental injury or illness. 

Go ahead and contact a Mitch Insurance broker and start the process of finding quotes to see what your most affordable travel insurance options are. 

As with all types of insurance, you can’t buy a policy after something goes wrong. That’s simply not how insurance works. If you were out enjoying the sun in Hawaii and unexpectedly had an allergic reaction to something they were serving at the buffet, you couldn’t purchase travel insurance after-the-fact to avoid the U.S. hospital bills. If you’d already had a plan in place, you could have been reimbursed. 

Travel insurance is designed to protect a traveler from the unforeseeable, not from what’s already happened. Buying insurance as soon as possible is recommended to avoid any mishaps or road bumps. Make it a part of your trip planning and buy it as soon as you purchase your tickets!  

Note that some travel insurance providers have limits to how early you can purchase. It’s worth asking how early a provider allows you to purchase insurance, but the majority (and Mitch’s travel insurance partner) will allow you to purchase whenever your trip has been booked.

Looking to buy travel insurance for an upcoming vacation to the Bahamas? Gearing up to go explore Kenya? Wherever you’re planning to go, having a travel insurance policy in your back pocket isn’t a bad idea. Most travel insurance plans are considered quite affordable, but if your budget is tight Mitch can help you find a great deal!