Diane,
Sorry but clearly no refund. You paid to insure something and you did insure it for months (your trip at the original cost). They provided coverage. The fact that you decided to change (lower) the amount of coverage at the last minute does not give you the right to a retroactive lower premium for the entire period of time the policy has been in effect. (I also know you really didn’t want the change but events brought it about).
Although you have not gone on your trip yet your coverage has been in effect the entire time (I think you are hung up on the idea that you haven’t left yet so no coverage until you go which is not correct). You had an active policy this entire time. What if you fell and shattered a hip, 5 ribs, and a shoulder the day after you booked air, bought your coverage and now required extensive surgery and a year of therapy. You would have collected on that policy based upon your original fares. You have had a running active policy insuring you this entire time. That doesn’t come free.
In simpler terms you if bought insurance based upon a $500 per night hotel for a week long stay in Paris.. Two days before the flight a neighbor tells you that their rental apt in Paris is open and as a gift for house sitting their dog last summer they offer it for free. So you instantly cancel your expensive hotel. No insurance refund as you were insuring that expensive hotel for months right up until the eve of the trip and you were entitled to payment if something had happened that entire time.
Even simpler. You insure your car with a $500,000/$1,000,000 liability policy for a year. No accidents or claims. At 11 months into your policy period you realize, hey we are off to Europe for 2 months. The car will just be sitting in the garage, I’m not going to run anyone over during the final 30 days of this policy period. So you call your agent and change your coverage to state minimum requirements: $15,000/$30,000 which is a whole lot cheaper. Do you think they are going to make that change retroactive for the prior 11 months of the policy period and give you back most of the premium you paid?
The 14 day rule is just a rule for that company in terms of canceling or adding to a policy (either as a cancellation benefit or a preexisting condition waiver benefit). Sure cancel your current policy, get some money back, but you won’t have a preexisting condition waiver on your new one....
Travel safe
One Fast Bob