Why Trust MarketWatch Guides
Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.
20
Companies Reviewed
500
Quotes Collected
36
Rating Factors
Can You Buy Travel Insurance Last Minute?
Travel insurance protects against the same things regardless of when you purchase the policy. However, events that begin before you purchase the insurance won’t qualify for coverage, nor will pre-existing conditions.
The protections and benefits of travel insurance almost always outweigh the drawbacks, so a policy is a good investment even if you purchase it at the last minute.
How Late Is Too Late For Travel Insurance?
Most travel insurance companies will sell trip protection policies until you depart. However, they won’t cover any events or illnesses starting before you buy coverage.
For instance, if a hurricane forms before you buy your policy and eventually affects your destination, the insurer will not reimburse you under its trip cancellation insurance rules. You should always look at the fine print to find out such details.
Benefits of Getting Travel Insurance at the Last Minute
The advantages of travel insurance are comparable whether you purchase a policy after booking or right before takeoff.
- The policy still protects against events causing trip cancellation before takeoff.
- Coverage extends to any companions or family members listed on the policy.
- You can get reimbursem*nt for trip interruptions or delays occurring after departure.
- If you purchase a plan with health insurance, you won’t have to pay for emergency treatments or medical evacuation if you become ill or injured during your trip.
- Many policies have reimbursem*nt for lost baggage or stolen items.
Overall, the coverage provides peace of mind by giving your protection from the most common travel-related risks.
Disadvantages of Getting Travel Insurance at the Last Minute
You should be aware of the potential pitfalls of a last-minute travel insurance purchase.
- Issues arising before the purchase aren’t covered. If an illness or natural disaster in your destination started before you bought insurance, the policy will not reimburse you for cancellation. Also, some ongoing events, such as a conflict or pandemic, may require additional coverage.
- Pre-existing medical conditions may be covered, but insurers often require you to purchase a waiver within 14 days of your first trip deposit. If you wait until the last minute to buy insurance, you won’t be eligible for the waiver.
- If you wait until the last minute, you may not have time for an in-depth comparison of travel insurance providers.
You will need to decide if the protection offered by insurance services outweighs these negative aspects of last-minute coverage.
Travel Insurance Coverage Options
Here are the different types of coverage available if you purchase a last-minute travel insurance policy. Many travel insurers offer comprehensive single-trip plans covering each of the following areas.
| Trip cancellation | Reimburses you for the trip cost if canceled due to covered reasons that started after you purchased the policy. |
| Trip interruption | Pays costs associated with canceling or significantly adjusting your travel plans after departure due to covered reasons. |
| Medical emergency | Covers hospital costs and other medical expenses if you require emergency care due to an illness or injury while on your trip. |
| Medical evacuation | Arranges medical transport from your location to the nearest location providing acceptable care. |
| Repatriation | Transports your body back home if you pass away during your trip. |
| Lost or stolen baggage | Replaces items lost by the airline, stolen or misplaced during your journey. Some insurers also pay for replacement items if luggage gets delayed. |
| Rental car coverage | Many insurers offer a rental car add-on for people who need liability coverage when driving a rental vehicle during their trip. |
Covered reasons are typically those events beyond your direct control. They may include an unexpected illness, death in the family, natural disaster, transportation shutdowns or legal obligations you were unaware of before purchasing the insurance.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Policy
You want to be sure your travel insurance covers all your potential risk areas. However, you cannot purchase a random single-trip comprehensive policy. You should consider the details carefully before buying.
Coverage Limits
A coverage limit is the maximum amount the insurer will pay for each covered event. For instance, if you have $25,000 in medical emergency coverage, the insurer will pay for hospital bills totaling $25,000. However, if your bill is $30,000, you would have to pay the remaining $5,000 out of pocket.
You should always ensure that the coverage limits match the potential costs in your destination.
Exclusions and Pre-existing Conditions
Insurers will list exclusions, which are events and conditions they won’t cover. Pre-existing conditions are the most common exclusion. You need to ensure your last-minute insurance purchase covers pre-existing conditions or see if it is possible to purchase a waiver to get coverage. Many insurers require you to purchase your policy a minimum of 14 days before departure in order to qualify for a waiver for pre-existing conditions.
Other exclusions could include injuries occurring due to risky adventure sports or activities like scuba diving or mountain climbing.
Deductibles
Deductibles are out-of-pocket payment amounts you are responsible for before insurance coverage takes over the cost. Deductibles are most common for medical insurance. Cheaper travel insurance may have higher deductibles.
Existing Coverage
You might already have some trip insurance through another source. For example, some credit cards offer cancellation coverage if you pay for airline or hotel bookings using the card. In these cases, you would not need coverage for cancellation, or you could purchase a comprehensive plan with the lowest possible coverage limits.
Finally, if you take many last-minute trips, annual travel insurance, which provides coverage for an entire year, may be a better investment than a single-trip policy.
How To Obtain Last-Minute Travel Insurance
In addition to insurance, these providers also offer travel assistance and services to help you find medical care abroad.
Here are the steps for getting immediate travel insurance:
1. Research Companies
Carefully research the limits, policies and details of each of your chosen providers to ensure the coverage meets your needs. Reputable travel insurance providers, including AIG, Seven Corners, Travelex, Trawick and IMG, among others, offer standard policies that you can purchase up until departure.
2. Compare Coverage
After finding potential policies, you should compare coverage limits and costs before making a final purchase. We suggest getting a policy with 100% trip interruption coverage and at least $250,000 in international medical insurance.
3. Buy Online
After choosing your company and plan, you can purchase a policy easily online by providing your personal information, trip details, and payment method. Most companies offer 24/7 customer service if you need assistance with signing up or potential claims.
Frequently Asked Questions About Last-Minute Travel Insurance
You can purchase comprehensive travel insurance policies until departure. Some insurers allow you to purchase medical coverage after you leave. However, they typically require a waiting period of 48 to 72 hours before the insurance goes into effect.
You can get travel insurance after booking a trip. However, there may be some limitations for purchasing pre-existing condition waivers and getting reimbursem*nt for trip cancellations caused by events that started before you bought the policy.
Travel insurance premiums are based on risk and coverage limits, not time before departure. The price will be the same regardless of when you buy it.
Travel insurance is effective immediately in most cases. However, some insurers require a waiting period for insurance purchased after departure.
If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
Josh LewAuthor
Josh Lew is a travel journalist and writer based in the midwestern U.S. He has been active for the past decade, covering airlines, international destinations and ecotourism for sites like TravelPulse and TreeHugger. He currently contributes to content writing agency World Words.
Sabrina LopezSenior Editor
Sabrina Lopez is an editor with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she is not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.
