Travel Insurance 101

When to Buy Travel Insurance and Assistance Services: Timing is Everything


Key Takeaways

  • Purchase travel protection when you make your first trip payment to maximize your Trip Cancellation coverage period and qualify for time-sensitive benefits.
  • Generali Global Assistance plans can be purchased up to 18 months before departure and as late as the day before you leave—but coverage cannot be purchased on your departure date, or once your trip has begun.
  • To qualify for Cancel For Any Reason coverage, your Premium plan must be purchased within 24 hours of your initial trip deposit.
  • Pre-existing medical condition coverage is available on the Premium Plan when you purchase prior to or within 24 hours of your final trip payment, are medically able to travel at the time of purchase, and insure 100% of prepaid trip costs, subject to cancellation penalties.
  • Once an event becomes foreseeable, such as a named storm or announced strike, coverage for related cancellations or delays may be limited, so buying before conditions develop is advisable.

 

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Timing your travel protection purchase

While you're busy planning and booking your trip, you shouldn't have to worry about when to buy travel insurance with assistance services for the trip. We’ll help you answer that question, so you can focus on having a great trip.

In this post, we break down the best time to buy travel protection and when it's possible to get a plan, including buying last minute and details on when you should buy in order to qualify for coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and Trip Cancellation for Any Reason.

Some coverages and features of our travel protection plans include time sensitive factors that are important to understand in order to get the most out of your plan. At Generali Global Assistance, we try to make our plans easy to understand.

Imagine.... you set up your trip way in advance, paid for it all and even shopped around for travel protection. You didn't buy a plan right away, thinking you had plenty of time before you left. But when you get around to making the purchase to help protect your trip, you realize it's too late to qualify for coverage for your pre-existing medical condition! You can avoid this kind of situation by considering a key factor—when to buy travel insurance with assistance services.

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When is the best time to buy travel protection?

We suggest you buy a travel protection plan when you make your first trip payment, like airfare or a cruise. That way, you maximize your coverage period in case you need to cancel your trip.

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A helpful approach is to consider purchasing travel protection once you have money invested in your trip. If you buy non-refundable airfare, which most do, your money is at risk right away.

For cruises and tours, it may not be an issue until cancellation penalties start to kick in. That could be at six months prior to departure.

You can also add coverage to the same plan later for hotels, tours, and other prepaid, non‑refundable trip costs. It’s best to contact us to add coverage as soon as possible after you make new trip payments to be sure you have coverage for your full trip cost.

When can you buy travel insurance with assistance services?

Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans can be purchased online up to 18 months before the trip departure date and up until the day prior to departure.

Often, travelers pay for a trip in installments, and they wonder when they can buy travel protection, since they haven't paid fully yet.

When getting a quote, simply enter the total trip costs that you will be paying, and you can modify the plan if those costs change, as long as you have not left on your trip, filed a claim or incurred any losses.

When Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance and Assistance Services?

You cannot buy a Generali Global Assistance travel protection plan on the day you are leaving on your trip or once you are on your trip. At 12:00 a.m. the day you depart for your trip, it becomes too late to buy travel protection. 

Can You Buy Travel Protection After Booking a Flight?

Yes, you can buy travel protection once you've booked your flight. In fact, you should wait to buy it until you book your flight and know the ticket price.

Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans can be purchased up to 18 months before the trip departure date and up until the day prior to departure.

Also read:

Oftentimes, travelers will pay for a trip in installments, and they wonder when they can buy travel protection, since they haven't paid fully yet. Rest assured—you can. When getting a quote, simply enter the total trip costs that you will be paying, and you can modify the plan if those costs change, as long as you have not left on your trip or incurred any losses.

clock with figures walking on it

Last Minute Travel Protection

We understand that sometimes life gets busy and you might need to purchase travel protection closer to your departure date. While we don't suggest waiting too long before insuring your trip, you can get a near last minute travel protection plan from Generali Global Assistance. The last chance for you to buy a plan from us is the day before you leave on your insured trip. Unfortunately, you won't be able to purchase a plan at the airport as you're leaving, when you leave your home, or once you arrive at your destination.

Keep in mind that once an event is foreseeable—such as a storm being named, a strike being announced, or a government advisory being issued—it may be considered a known event, which may limit coverage for related cancellations or delays. For more details, review your plan and our How Does Travel Protection Work guide.

Trip Cancellation coverage starts the day after purchase at 12:01 a.m. We'll email your plan confirmation, so you'll have all of the information you need when you leave in case you need to contact us for assistance on your trip.

One downside to buying last minute travel protection is that certain coverages are dependent on when you buy your plan and may not be available if you buy last minute. Read the next section for more details.

Learn more about travel protection:
• What is Travel Insurance?
• How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
• Top 5 Reasons to Get Travel Insurance

Top Reasons to Buy Early

Buying travel protection early may give you more time to use time-sensitive benefits and features, including:

  • more time for Trip Cancellation coverage before departure
  • eligibility for time-sensitive benefits that may have purchase deadlines
  • more options before severe weather becomes a known event
  • peace of mind while you finalize your trip plans

Trip Cancellation

Life is unpredictable, so it makes sense help cover your trip for as much time as possible before you start traveling.  Unexpected events can arise after you’ve paid for your trip, potentially forcing you to cancel, such as:

  • illness
  • family emergency
  • severe weather
  • work schedule changes

It's beneficial to insure your trip as early as possible rather than waiting until the week before you leave. 

When travelers can’t go on their trip due to a covered reason, Trip Cancellation coverage helps pay for forfeited, pre-paid, non-refundable travel arrangements.  Travelers may benefit from purchasing travel protection soon after making their first trip payment, as it allows coverage to begin earlier and provides more time for Trip Cancellation protection.

If you're interested in Trip Cancellation for Any Reason*, an available add-on coverage with our Premium Plan, don't wait to insure your trip. Your plan must be purchased within 24 hours of the initial deposit for your trip to qualify for the coverage. Learn more about Trip Cancellation for Any Reason and other requirements that must be met.

Also read: Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance—Is it Really that Simple?

Pre-Existing Conditions

Some travelers may need to look for plans that offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions sure their trip, and it’s important to understand the purchase window to qualify for that feature. If you don't buy a plan during the right timeframe, you might not be covered for Trip Cancellation, Medical and Dental, and other claims related to that pre-existing condition.

Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with our Premium Plan, but you must meet all requirements, including but not limited to these below:

  • Buy coverage prior to or within 24 hours of the final trip payment.
  • Be medically able to travel at the time the coverage is purchased.
  • Insure 100% of their pre-paid trip costs that would be subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions.

Coverage for pre-existing conditions is only available on the Premium Plan if certain requirements are met.

 An important advantage offered by our plans is that the exclusion for pre-existing conditions does not apply to non-traveling family members. In other words, if a family member who is not traveling with you has a pre-existing medical condition, and you must cancel your trip because their illness unexpectedly arises, you can still be covered. 

Also read: Pre-Existing Conditions and Travel Insurance—5 Things Most People Get Wrong

Travel Protection Free Look Period

Another reason to buy travel protection soon after booking is how easy it is to get a refund of the plan cost if you review the details and decide it’s not right for you.

Travelers who have bought a plan but wish to cancel it and receive a full refund of their plan cost, may do so within a designated number of days from the date of purchase as long as they haven’t left for their trip or filed a claim.  This is referred to as a “free look” period and is available with all Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans.

While the timeframe for the free look period varies from state to state, it is generally 10 days from purchase. Travelers should refer to their Plan Documents to determine the number of free look period days available in their state of residence.

When You’re Ready to Buy, What Should You Do First?

The first step to getting travel protection is to give us some information about your trip so you can compare plans and prices. It’s easy and you can jump right into it at our Get a Quote page. We’ll take you through the step-by-step process of choosing and buying a plan, and if you need more guidance, you can follow our How to Buy Travel Protection Guide.

Other Timing FAQs

   
When does my travel protection plan go into effect and when does it end?

Trip Cancellation coverage starts at 12:01 a.m. the day after you buy your plan, and other benefits may start on your departure date. Coverage generally ends at 11:59 p.m. on your scheduled return date, and you should confirm your timing in your Plan Documents.

   
When should I buy travel protection for a storm?

It’s generally best to purchase travel protection before a storm is named or officially forecast for your destination. Once a storm becomes a known event, coverage for related cancellations or delays may no longer be available. If a storm is already a known event when you buy your plan, it’s important to review the Plan Documents to understand any applicable limitations or exclusions.

See our Storm Coverage Alerts for more information.

   
How soon must I buy travel protection to get Cancel for Any Reason coverage?

Trip Cancellation for Any Reason is available as an add-on coverage with our Premium Plan. To qualify, your plan must be purchased within 24 hours of your initial trip deposit, and you must insure 100% of your pre-paid trip costs that would be subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions.

Requirements may vary by state. Please review your state-specific Plan documents for more information.

   
Can I increase my covered trip cost if I add expenses later?

Yes, you may be able to add coverage to the same plan for additional pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs before you leave on your trip, as long as you haven’t filed a claim or incurred any losses. Changes in the plan may result in an additional premium due.

Learn more: How does travel insurance work?

As you might expect, the best time to buy travel protection is usually as early as possible, just in case you need to cancel your trip. But, no matter when you decide to help protect your trip, travelers should remember to consider travel protection from a reputable provider such as Generali Global Assistance.

If you have other questions about travel insurance and assistance services, we're here to help.

Travel Resources

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B006552401,  11060002604

* This coverage is not available to residents of New York.

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