Timing is important when it comes to travel protection. Many travelers assume they can buy protection at any point before departure and still receive the same level of coverage, but this isn’t always the case. A travel protection plan can help you unlock a suite of powerful offerings, but waiting too long after booking your trip to get insured may result in you being ineligible for certain travel protection highlights.

Let’s look at how you can avoid this undesirable scenario and ensure you’re ready to unlock your key protection benefits and waivers the next time you plan a new adventure.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Your Ultimate Safety Net

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage can be one of the most flexible and valuable add-ons offered by travel protection. Unlike standard trip cancellation coverage, which only reimburses you for cancellations due to specific covered reasons—such as illness, injury, or severe weather—CFAR allows you to cancel your trip for any reason at all, even if it’s as simple as changing your mind. 

The key advantage of CFAR is that it reimburses a portion of your non-refundable trip costs—typically between 50% and 75%—as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before departure. This can provide a crucial safety net for travelers who may need to cancel due to personal circumstances, global instability, or unexpected scheduling conflicts. 

Time-Sensitive Benefits

Time-sensitive benefits is a phrase you often hear with respect to travel protection, but many people aren’t clear about its meaning or how it’s connected to Cancel For Any Reason coverage.

CFAR is only available if you purchase your travel protection plan within a specific window of time after making your initial trip deposit. This window can vary but is typically between 10 and 21 days. If you wait too long to buy your plan, CFAR won’t be an option. 

Who Might Benefit Most from CFAR?

• Business travelers who may face last-minute work obligations.
• Families with young children, where a sudden change in plans is not out of the ordinary. - Travelers booking expensive vacations months in advance, where uncertainty is higher.
• Those who want full flexibility and don’t want to be locked into non-refundable bookings.

Imagine spending thousands on a dream vacation only to have a family emergency, unexpected work meeting, or personal hesitation force you to cancel. Without CFAR, you could lose most—if not all—of your trip investment.

Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waivers

For travelers with pre-existing medical conditions, purchasing travel protection early is particularly important. That’s because many standard plans exclude coverage for medical emergencies related to pre-existing conditions, which can leave travelers vulnerable to expensive medical bills if something happens while they’re abroad. 

However, most travel protection plans offer a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver if the plan is purchased within a specific timeframe—typically 14 to 21 days from your initial trip deposit. This waiver helps ensure that any medical conditions you’ve been diagnosed with or treated for before buying your plan can still be covered. 

Why Is This Important?

Without this waiver, any medical emergencies stemming from a pre-existing condition could be denied coverage, leaving you responsible for potential out-of-pocket expenses. For travelers with chronic conditions  this can be a priority. 

How to Qualify for the Waiver

• Purchase your plan within the required time-sensitive period.
• Be medically able to travel at the time of purchasing travel protection.

Real-World Example:

Consider a traveler who has been managing high blood pressure for years. They experience a spike in blood pressure while on vacation and need emergency medical attention. If they purchased travel protection after the eligibility window for the pre-existing condition exclusion waiver, their expenses may not be covered, forcing them to pay out of pocket. 

However, if they bought travel protection early and secured the waiver, the plan could cover their medical treatment, adding peace of mind throughout the trip. 

Maximizing Your Travel Protection: Key Takeaways

Timing Matters

Many of the most valuable travel protection benefits, waivers or additional covered perils are only available if you purchase early—usually within 10 to 21 days of your first trip deposit. Waiting too long can result in ineligibility for CFAR, the pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver, and financial default protection. 





CFAR Adds Ultimate Flexibility

CFAR coverage allows you to cancel for any reason, offering 50-75% reimbursement if you need to back out. However, this benefit must be purchased soon after booking your trip. 




Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waivers Protect Your Health

If you have any medical history, securing a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver can help ensure that medical emergencies related to past conditions can be covered—but only if purchased early. 




Protect Yourself Against Unexpected Disruptions

Financial default protection, adventure sports coverage, and trip cancellation for work reasons all require early purchase. If these benefits or covered reasons align with your needs, don’t wait too long to secure them. 




Secure Peace of Mind

Buying early isn’t just about coverage—it’s about confidence. When your trip is protected from the start, you can focus on the excitement of your upcoming travels rather than worrying about what could go wrong. 

Act Now, Travel Confidently

Time-sensitive travel insurance offerings exist for a reason—to ensure travelers have maximum protection against the unexpected. From flexible CFAR coverage to essential pre-existing condition exclusion waivers, purchasing your travel protection plan early is the best way to protect your trip investment. 

If you’re planning your next adventure, click here to tell us a few basic details about your itinerary and we’ll provide you with a fast quote and suggestions for the travel protection plan most suited to your needs.

*Offerings may vary based on plan and state. Optional benefits come at an additional cost. Terms and conditions of the plan apply.