When to Buy Travel Insurance to Maximize Your Coverage

Even the best-laid travel plans can encounter unexpected bumps, whether for business or pleasure. Minor issues like flight delays or lost baggage can damage our trips. Or worse, we have significant problems— like medical emergencies, severe weather disruptions, or sudden trip cancellations due to illness— which are even more stressful. 

Don't leave your travel dollars at risk — make sure you're protected! An easy way to protect your travel plans is to purchase travel insurance. This guide will examine what travel insurance means for you and the suggested time to get one!
 

How Does Travel Insurance Work? 

Imagine this: Sarah Denver's sudden illness right before departing almost ruined her dream trip to Italy. A week before her international vacation, Sarah came down with pneumonia. Without travel insurance, canceling the thousands spent on non-refundable flights and hotel reservations would have been financially devastating. Luckily, Sarah had purchased an early in her planning. It reimbursed her entire trip cost since illness is a reason for covered cancellation. 

Travel insurance offers coverage against huge losses from unexpected disruptions to your travel plans. All travel— whether it’s domestically or abroad— involves numerous non-refundable reservation fees and activities. Issues like extreme weather, lost luggage, or medical emergencies could prove financially ruinous without travel insurance coverage. Travel insurance is a small price to pay for protection against such unforeseen circumstances. 
 

When Should You Buy Travel Insurance? 

Ideally, you want to purchase your plan as soon as possible, but we know that isn’t the case everytime. It's better to act sooner rather than later to get coverage for upcoming trips. The closer you get to your travel dates, the fewer options there may be available if a medical issue comes up. Timely travel insurance allows you to relax and enjoy your trips, knowing you're protected in case the unexpected occurs, like flight cancellations, lost luggage, or emergencies abroad. 

Right After Booking Your Trip 

The optimal time to purchase a travel insurance policy is immediately after booking your flight. As the first major travel expense you'll incur, it is important to ensure your flight is protected. Most experts advise purchasing travel insurance within 14 - 21 days of making your first reservation or initial trip deposit. Why so soon? Well, you'll want protection if you need to cancel your plans early on for any unexpected and covered reason. This maximizes your eligibility for other coverages, like approval for pre-existing medical conditions. 

When Traveling for Extended Periods or High-Cost Trips 

If you’re planning a long trip, a cruise, or a multi-stop itinerary, buying travel insurance early offers protection from trip interruptions that could affect several parts of your plans. Travel insurance can help if you need to make changes during extended travel, as issues on one segment of a trip may impact the entire itinerary. Booking your policy well ahead of departure can be a valuable step in protecting your trip. 

Before Possible Cancellation 

Sudden and unforeseen events like illness, injuries, or family emergencies sometimes require last-minute trip cancellations or shifts in travel plans. With travel insurance in place right before a possible cancellation for reasons outside of your control, you can qualify for reimbursement on your deposits. 

AXA Travel Protection offers trip cancellation coverage or curtailment due to unforeseen events outside of your control. Trip Cancellation coverage can reimburse non-refundable deposits, payments, and additional reasonable travel costs if a trip needs to be canceled or cut short due to a covered reason. 

Over Holiday Seasons 

Busy travel periods during holidays see an increased likelihood of travel disruptions, primarily due to severe weather. AXA Travel Insurance offer coverage for delays, cancellations, or curtailments due to unforeseen weather events. This plan reimburses additional travel costs, honors prepaid bookings, and protects holiday vacation budgets from losses due to weather-related trip interruptions outside your control. 

Last-Minute Travel Insurance Options 

While it’s possible to buy travel insurance at the last minute, some coverages may be restricted or may not apply immediately if purchased too close to departure. When buying travel insurance right before your trip, be sure to confirm any time-sensitive exclusions or restrictions to ensure your policy provides the protection you need. 

What Does Travel Insurance Cover? 

Travel insurance can offer a range of protections to help cover unexpected events during a trip, including cancellations, medical emergencies, and travel delays. Here’s a look at common areas that travel insurance may cover: 

Trip Cancellation and Interruption 

Trip cancellation and interruption coverages can help if you need to cancel or cut your trip short for a covered reason. These reasons might include illness, injury, family emergencies, or other unforeseen events that prevent you from traveling as planned. If you have to cancel before departure, this coverage may reimburse prepaid expenses like flights, hotels, and tours. If a covered interruption occurs while you’re traveling, travel insurance may help cover the cost of returning home early or rearranging travel plans. 

Medical Emergencies and Evacuation 

Medical coverage is an important part of travel insurance, especially for international travelers. Many domestic health insurance plans may not offer medical coverage abroad, and travel insurance can help bridge that gap. Travel medical insurance may cover emergency medical expenses for doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical procedures if you experience an illness or injury on your trip. Some policies also include emergency medical evacuation, which can cover the cost of transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility or even back home if medically necessary. 

Baggage Loss, Theft, and Delay 

Baggage coverage can provide reimbursement if your luggage or personal items are lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip. This coverage often includes compensation for essentials if baggage delay happens for a certain period, usually 12-24 hours, allowing you to purchase items like clothing, toiletries, and other necessities. Lost or stolen baggage coverage may reimburse you for the replacement of your belongings up to the policy limit, which can be particularly helpful if you’re traveling with costly items. 

Travel Delay 

Travel delay coverage may offer reimbursement for additional expenses if your trip is unexpectedly delayed due to reasons like severe weather, mechanical issues, or other factors outside your control. This coverage can help with costs like meals, lodging, and transportation if the delay requires you to wait before reaching your destination or returning home. Coverage usually applies after a specific delay period, such as six hours, as defined by the policy. 

Additional Coverage Options 

Travel insurance policies may also offer other types of protection based on your needs and the type of trip. Some policies provide rental car coverage, which can help with costs related to rental car damage or theft while traveling. Others may include benefits like 24/7 emergency assistance services, concierge support, and cancel for any reason, which is usually an optional upgrade that allows partial reimbursement even if you cancel or interrupt your trip for reasons not covered in standard policies. 
 

What Exclusions Should I Be Aware of? 

AXA Travel Protection actively offers coverage for numerous issues but excludes certain situations and activities from coverage. Travelers need to understand what types of losses or expenses are not actively covered when they purchase travel insurance. Travel protection plans actively exclude several situations from coverage, including but not limited to: 

• Taking part in professional sports, 

• Motorized activities like driving or racing, unless specified as covered, 

• Self-inflicted harm, illegal acts, drug/alcohol abuse, or taking unnecessary risks, and 

• Costs beyond trip interruption/cancellation expenses, like replacing lost keys. 
   

Can I Add Options to a Plan After I Buy It But Before My Trip Begins? 

Yes! You can modify your AXA Travel Insurance before your trip if you have yet to depart or file a claim. Common changes after you purchase travel insurance include the addition of winter sports coverage or Cancel for Any Reason coverage with the AXA Platinum. As long as it is a day before your scheduled departure date, you can contact AXA through our website to check eligibility and make alterations to customize your travel insurance coverage as needed. 
 

Can I Modify My Plan After My Trip Begins? 

Modifying existing travel protection plans is only allowed before your trip starts. Once travel is underway, you can no longer change dates, costs, or other coverage details. That is why it is essential to know when the best time to buy travel insurance is, so as to have buffer time for alterations, if need be. 
 

How Many People Are Covered Under One Plan? 

Most travel insurance can cover individuals, couples, or families, depending on the plan type. Individual plans cover one person, while family plans may include a spouse or partner and dependent children. Some family policies allow up to eight people under one plan, though details vary.  

At the same time, you may also get travel insurance options that cover multiple travelers, often available for groups of 10 or more. To determine coverage specifics, it's essential to review each plan’s terms since eligibility and the number of people included can differ by provider.  

How Much Time Do I Have To File A Claim? 

You must contact AXA Travel Insurance and inform them of the occurrence of any incident or event that may lead to a claim under the policy within 31 days of when it occurred or as soon as is reasonably possible. You make the claim directly to the claims department to validate your coverage. 
 

What Documentation Do I Need To Present To Support A Claim? 

The documentation you need depends on your specific travel insurance plan and will vary depending on the type of claim. You may also be required to provide medical certificates, photographs, receipts, or other supporting evidence. We advise you to retain your property or items related to the claim until we finalize it. If you have also purchased travel insurance with us at AXA, you can head to our "File a Claim" page to get the necessary forms. Note that they are for the gold, silver, and platinum packages. 

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