Travel is a thrilling experience for many people, but it also holds its share of uncertainties. There are instances where flights may be delayed, medical emergencies may arise, and baggage may be lost. In such cases, travel insurance acts as a safety net, providing financial protection and peace of mind. The leading travel booking platform, Expedia, offers the option of travel insurance while booking. But what if you forget to add it at that time? Can you add travel insurance after booking on Expedia? In this blog post, we will be answering that question and everything you need to know about purchasing or adding travel insurance after you’ve already booked your trip.
What Types of Travel Insurance Are Offered by Expedia?
Expedia offers travel insurance through Travel Guard and AIG to help protect you during your travels. These are the types of coverage available on Expedia:
- Flight Insurance: This helps if you need to cancel your flight, face delays, lose your baggage, or need medical assistance while traveling. It can even cover accidental death.
- Hotel Insurance: This will protect you in case of cancellation, interruption, delay, and even baggage problems when staying at hotels. It also has medical coverage.
- Cruise Insurance: This will protect you if you need to cancel or delay your cruise, deal with a medical emergency, or lose your luggage.
- Vacation Package Insurance: This will cover the following, including trip cancellations, delays, medical expenses, and interruptions, if you book a package deal (flight + hotel + other services).
Normally, you can buy this insurance when you are booking your travel. However, if you forget to do so, don’t worry! You can still buy it after booking. Just remember that there may be some time limits and conditions for getting coverage after you have made your reservation.
Can I Add Travel Insurance After Booking on Expedia?
Yes, you can add travel insurance to a booked reservation on Expedia; however, it may include some limitations. Expedia lets those who did not book insurance initially add protection after making a reservation.
- Log In to Your Expedia Account: You will find your itinerary.
- Click Add Travel Protection: Expedia enables you to add travel insurance to your existing booking.
- Get a Quote: You’ll be quoted for travel insurance depending on the specifics of your journey.
- Confirm Your Purchase: Once you agree to the coverage and price, you can complete the addition.
However, adding insurance post-booking may not be as easy or inexpensive as buying it upfront.
What is the Limit of Adding Travel Insurance After Booking?
Although Expedia offers you the chance to buy the travel insurance after you book, there are some limitations and things to watch out for:
- Cost Increase: Buying the insurance after booking can be more expensive than buying it at the time of booking.
- Limited Coverage: After you finalize the booking, some of the coverage options might not be available. For example, some high-risk activities or extreme events might be excluded from coverage.
- Exclusions and Waiting Periods: There could be a waiting period before the protection begins to work; therefore, one needs to know when the coverage precisely starts.
Considering all such possible exclusions, one is recommended to buy the travel insurance as early as at the time of booking. This is because adding the insurance while booking would mean getting the best possible coverage with the most reasonable rates.
Is It Better to Add Travel Insurance During the Booking Process?
You can add travel insurance after booking, but it is always best to purchase it during the booking process. Here’s why:
- Better Inclusion of Policies: When you purchase during booking, you’re including all possible coverage under it, including flight cancellation insurance to the loss of a bag with fewer exclusion levels.
- Cheaper Quote: Travel insurance bought along with a ticket is more cost-effective than adding it after the ticket purchase.
- Instant Cover: When you buy through booking, your insurance becomes effective from the moment of that purchase.
In other words, booking in advance is the most effective way to get the best deal and comprehensive protection.
What happens if I need to cancel my Expedia Insurance?
In case you have bought travel insurance on Expedia and you change your mind later, there is a review period. You are given 10 days to cancel the insurance policy for a full refund. However, you can only do this in case you have not taken off for your trip.
- Full Refund: In case you want to cancel the policy within 10 days of purchasing, you are given a full refund.
- Refund Conditions: Be sure you haven’t filed a claim or begun your travel before trying to cancel for a refund.
This grace period puts your mind at ease and allows you to cancel the insurance if your plans change shortly after purchase.
Are There Alternatives to Expedia’s Travel Insurance?
If you cannot purchase travel insurance from Expedia or just feel like the options that are currently available are not great enough for your needs, these other options can help make sure your trip is a success.
- Buy from Third-Party Providers: There are many third-party providers who sell travel insurance. Such companies include Allianz, Travelex, and World Nomads. Some can offer you better rates and coverage options depending on specific travel requirements.
- Credit Card Travel Insurance: Some credit cards do offer travel insurance for card holders. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions surrounding your card’s coverage so you can rely on them.
- Travel Insurance Comparison Sites: Sites like InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth allow you to compare other policies and prices from numerous insurers to determine which will best fit your needs.
These options might provide more customized coverage if you’re not satisfied with the product offered by Expedia.
Points To Remember While Adding Travel Insurance on Expedia After Booking?
Expedia does allow you to add travel insurance after a booking. However it is better to add when you are making your booking to have the best coverage at the best value. These are the few tips to keep in mind:
- You can include post-booking insurance. However, this will cost more and only cover little.
- Adding insurance at the booking stage gives more coverage options with better prices.
- Understand the limitations and exclusions of the selected insurance package either at the time of booking or after.
- If you are not satisfied with third-party options from Expedia, consider other third-party providers, or you simply forgot to include it at booking.
- Lastly, travel insurance is that security blanket for any trip. And though you can buy it before or add it during your trip, with proper coverage. It will definitely make sure you spend your vacation free of unnecessary stress.