Imagine this: You're all set for your dream vacation. You've booked the flights, reserved the hotels, and planned every detail of your itinerary. Excitement is building as your departure date approaches. But just days before you leave, the unexpected strikes, forcing you to cancel your trip. This is where travel protection enters the room.

One of the biggest mistakes travelers can make is waiting too long to purchase coverage. Many travelers wrongly assume they can buy a plan any time before their trip, but purchasing too close to departure can mean losing out on valuable time-sensitive benefits. From covering pre-existing medical conditions to offering price stability and greater flexibility, early buyers can enjoy a significant advantage.

Like so many things in life, when it comes to travel protection, timing, as they say, is everything.

The Early Bird Gets the Most Inclusive Coverage 

The earlier you purchase your travel protection plan, the more robust the coverage options available. Many people don’t realize that certain travel insurance benefits are time-sensitive, meaning they are only available if you buy your plan within a specific timeframe after making your initial trip deposit—often within 14 to 21 days. 

By purchasing protection early, you gain access to extra coverage options for an additional cost such as Cancel and Interrupt for Any Reason Bundle (CFAR & IFAR). With travel protection such as our Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe and Platinum Plans, CFAR & IFAR allows you to recover up to 75% of your non-refundable trip cost, even if the reason for your cancellation or interruption isn’t listed under the standard covered reasons. This can be a game-changer if unexpected situations arise, such as sudden work commitments, family drama, or a change of heart about your travel plans. 

Additionally, early purchase helps ensure that you’re protected before potential disruptions occur. Remember that winter holiday when you were snowed in? Or the friend’s destination wedding that got called off at the last minute, leaving you with a new outfit and nowhere to wear it? If unforeseen circumstances arise after you’ve booked your trip but before you’ve bought travel protection, you may not be eligible for coverage. Buying early means you have coverage before such situations develop—including your friend’s change of heart.

Pre-Existing Conditions: Protecting Your Trip Investment 

One of the biggest advantages of purchasing travel protection early is the ability to secure a waiver for pre-existing medical condition exclusions. Most plans only offer this benefit if they are purchased shortly after the initial trip deposit—usually within 14 to 21 days. 

Why is this important? Because without this waiver, any medical conditions you were diagnosed with or treated for before purchasing your plan could be excluded from coverage. That means if you have a pre-existing condition and something related to it causes you to cancel or interrupt your trip, you might not be reimbursed for your losses. 

With early purchase, you can help ensure that any pre-existing condition exclusions are waived.

Price and Flexibility on Your Side 

Another compelling reason to buy travel protection early is the potential for cost savings and increased flexibility. 

When you purchase protection well in advance, you have more time to compare different plans and find the one that offers the best value for your specific needs. This allows you to make an informed decision rather than feeling rushed into choosing a plan at the last minute. 

Our Worldwide Trip Protector Plans give you the option to customize your trip with optional add-on bundles. (Additional costs and terms apply) These include bundles like the cruise bundle, sports equipment bundle, rental car damage and theft coverage, and even a hotel & amusement & theme park bundle. Once you’ve purchased a base plan, most of these bundles can be added on up until the moment you’re ready to travel, giving you the flexibility to adjust your plan as your trip (and the adventures you’re planning to have while traveling) evolves.

Just don’t wait too long to buy coverage as you may not have the option to adjust your travel protection plan to match your updated travel plans. 

Easier Travel Planning 

Travel planning should be exciting, not stressful. One of the biggest benefits of purchasing travel protection early is the added peace of mind it provides. Knowing that you have robust coverage in place allows you to focus on the enjoyable aspects of your trip—choosing excursions, exploring local attractions, and preparing for new experiences—rather than worrying about what might go wrong. 

Without protection, last-minute emergencies like an injury, illness, or severe weather event can cause unnecessary anxiety and financial strain. Securing coverage early means you’re better prepared for the unexpected, whether it’s a sudden family emergency, a missed connection, or even lost luggage. 

In short, purchasing travel protection early on offers numerous advantages, including:

• Broader coverage options
• Protection for pre-existing condition exclusions
• Flexibility in adjusting your plan as needed
• Added peace of mind 

By filling out a few basic details about your upcoming trip such as your dates of travel, where you plan to go, and your trip cost, we will immediately provide you with suggestions for the plan best suited to you. And, of course, you can customize this base plan with as few or as many optional add-on bundles as you like.

When it comes to protecting your trip - don’t let the clock run out.