Do I need to have all flights and hotels booked before I buy travel insurance?

We just asked a similar question to our insurance company. We were told to buy it after purchase of the airline tickets. Your credit card may also have some type of insurance coverage, but there would be a maximum limit.

You can definitely buy your travel insurance policy now. Some companies require that you buy the policy within days of making the first tour, airline or hotel reservation in order to cover pre-existing medical conditions.

The policy will start and end on the dates of your outgoing and returning flights, respectively.

Buy when you begin having expenses, then it is very common to "add to the policy" as you have additional expenses. We did that all the time. Keep a list of what your key dates are, when you made the "purchases" and when you added the extra insurance (and in what amount). Of course, if an expense is entirely refundable, then no need to insure that (unless there is some critical element about that expense that could mess up the rest of your trip........like a flight that gets cancelled, changes, etc. Or a rental car/train/ferry that just is "not there" when you go to pick it up/catch it.....if that might mean problems that will cost more or mess up your catching a cruise, or getting to your first overnight spot, etc.

Some insurance companies require that you insure every single penny of the non-refundable amount. Hotel cost is $500.03..........do not leave off the 3 cents, if otherwise non-refundable.....that could mess up your entire claim. Of course, in that case, you could choose to just not submit that charge for reimbursement.

Read every single word of any policy you are considering............boring........but worth it.

I buy it as soon as I made the initial tour deposit to take advantage of the coverage for "pre-existing conditions." Then I modify our policy, as needed.

My last experience was like Maggie's. I bought it when I booked the tour. Then when I booked airfare, I called to add it into the coverage and paid an additional amount.

Might vary from state to state but we have always purchased our travel insurance within 2 weeks of our first expense in order to qualify for pre-existing conditions coverage. I believe Cancel for any Reason may work that way too. We booked our My Way Alpine tour so far in advance that it was months before we had another expense to add to the policy.

I buy early and add as I go along, but one company told me I should wait to add until I had a bunch of stuff, not do it piece by piece. So, if you don't want to be scolded, you might consider that.

Thanks for all the replies! I decided to book the flights first and then do the insurance. I was still able to get it done within the 14 day window after my initial deposit.