Hi,

I've read the posts about travel insurance and they have been helpful. After looking through the policies on insuremytrip.com, I'm confused though. I have already paid for my airline tickets and my safari deposit and gorilla trekking permits. It looks like because I didn't buy my trip insurance BEFORE I made these expenses, that the trip insurance will not cover financial default on the part of any of the operators. Does anyone have advice?

Thanks.

Generally coverage for supplier default, pre-existing medical conditions and terrorism only applies if you purchase the policy within X number of days of making your initial deposit (doesn't have to be before, just shortly after). Usually X is between 7-21 days depending on the insurer. Has it been over 21 days?

Ahhh..thanks for that. Well I booked my airline tickets a while ago and my $100 safari deposit obviously isn't a big deal, but I will be paying the rest of the safari deposit later this month. So does this mean if I didn't purchase the insurance within 21 days of purchasing my airline tickets they won't pay if my safari tour operator (different than my airline ticket agent) defaults? I'm so confused. Thanks for the help.

Try calling or emailing insuremytrip. They may be able to answer your question.

Thanks. It looks like you are right and 21 days since the purchase is the only way to insure against financial default (without paying a huge sum of money for additional insurance). Do you think insurance against financial default on the part of the airline or operator is essential? I'm way past the 21 days.

Anything can happen but since you're leaving soon (your trip is in August, right?), I'd say you're at less risk than someone who booked a trip for next year or beyond. And since you can't get coverage for it any more, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.