Going to Central Europe (Budapest, Krakow, Prague) for 17 days. Finishing in London in October. We are on our own. All transportation is already booked. Is it still possible to get trip insurance? Last time we traveled with a tour group to Asia and I think you had to book as soon as you paid the down payment. This time no group, no down paymwnts. We are in our 60s.
Thanks

You need to check with carriers. Might depend on what you have bought so far, what you want covered (air, hotels, medical, etc) and if you have any pre-existing conditions.

There are several respectable travel insurance companies listed on the internet you can check including Seven Corners (www.sevencorners.com) and Insure My Trip (www.insuremytrip.com).

You can "get" a trip insurance. The key is what it covers. The major issue is the pre-existing condition. Insurance companies have policies that do not cover pre-existing conditions of any type to policies that cover them if purchased within certain time limit, which you have to read the fine prints. Some insurance have 1,2,3, etc week time limit after which you put down initial non-refundable deposit where the difference in the time limit depends on the comprehensiveness of coverage: the more expensive and comprehensive policies have the longest time limit. For airfare to be covered, the policy must be purchased before the carrier declares bankruptcy.

I'm heading for Prague next month, then an AMA river cruise on the Danube. I'm in my 60s, and babysitting my 86 year old mother. She insisted on getting travel insurance for both of us.

Something I've never had before. Because we are together, I can understand her concern.

If you have firm dates, are healthy, then I would recommend not getting trip insurance.

Like all insurance, you pay the premiums hoping you'll never need to make a claim. I recommend taking travel insurance mainly for cancellation and medical cover (if you're not already covered by private health insurance). You can never predict what may go wrong - all you have to do is fall down the stairs and you can end up in serious problems. I think I'm lucky that I've never had to make a claim.

In Australia (I don't know where you live), you can buy cover up until the day you depart and some policies will even start after departure. Every insurer offers different levels of cover with corresponding premiums.

There are two main components of travel insurance - trip cancellation and interruption coverage, and medical and evacuation coverage. I was very glad to have the trip cancellation coverage when I had to cancel a fully prepaid and non-refundable tour to China two weeks before departure for a completely unforeseeable medical reason. My Travel Guard policy refunded everything right away.

So, it's a judgment call as to whether the loss you would incur if you had to cancel is acceptable. Expenses for illness or injury during a trip, especially if you have to return home, can run into thousands.

I always use Travel Guard because of my positive experience with them. They have helpful people at their toll-free number who will answer any questions. There are many other companies offering coverages and I agree that checking www.insuremytrip.com or a similar comparison site is a good starting point.

Of course you can get trip insurance, just go on a website and fill in the details. You can get it up until date of departure, as far as I know. I know you absolutely can get it after you paid for things, as I've done that many times, in fact, most of the time. In fact, I don't know how you would buy it before you paid for things as you wouldn't even know how much to insure. Buying from the same person you are paying for the trip is a completely different issue.

The main thing it won't cover is the pre-existing medical conditions things, if you buy it after a couple weeks or something like that, but that has nothing to do with most of the things it covers which don't change in any way until you actually leave (cancellations or delays during the trip, loss of luggage, etc).

As so many have already recommended, take a look at www.insuremytrip.com

There you will be able to do side-by-side comparisons of policies. You can also contact a representative online or by telephone if you have any questions about a policy. I have found these representatives to be friendly and knowledgeable.

Read ALL the fine print. You want to make sure that you are fully and adequately covered in case of a loss.

I usually recommend Travelex, and you can purchase insurance at any time. If you purchase within 21 days of deposit, you are also covered for pre-existing conditions … but even now, you can get a policy with the amount of cancellation insurance you want and with medical coverage, etc., while abroad. Try this link to get quotes and info: http://tinyurl.com/cyps7xw

If you have firm dates, are healthy, then I would recommend not getting trip insurance.>>

very poor advice, IMO, rastaguy. what if you get run over/develop appendicitis/caught up in a natural disaster? decent travel insurance will cover you for all this PLUS give you someone to help you get home.

I'm glad that your mum has more sense than you.