How soon should I book travel insurance?

O.W.E.I

We are going to America on a (very) belated honeymoon in December, and flights etc are all booked and paid for.

However, I'm unsure about how soon I need to buy travel insurance to be covered?

Thanks.

cubegame

Buy it now. If you are injured tomorrow without insurance you would not be covered.

iamana1ias

You should always buy it at the time of booking.

O.W.E.I

Thanks!

Do I need to add extra cover for surfing/jetskiiing?

Susan1942

I always buy my insurance immediately as the others hav said. I think that you need to buy a policy where this is covered and to disclose this if it is a standard policy. Yes it will probably cost a little more but think of the cost if you had an accident! and your insurance would not pay out.

Sue

Pollycat

You need to read each policy that you're considering and decide which suits you.

For example, do you want to pay a higher premium for a smaller excess?

There should be some small print about 'dangerous sports'.
If you are considering either surfing or jet-ski-ing (or para-sailing etc), then you need to know what your policy covers you for.

Our policy covers us for surfing (occasional) at no extra cost but would charge extra for jet-skiing.

It might be that if you are injured in a jet-skiing accident and you haven't paid the premium for that and you need hospital treatment or even repatriation, your policy might be deemed invalid.

O.W.E.I

Thanks, I'm investigating now.

Do I need it to start now or the day we fly out?
(I'm getting an annual policy)

Quentin

Now (otherwise you have no cancellation cover)

O.W.E.I

Great - thanks again everyone.

benjus

I went to Italy recently and didn't bother with travel insurance. About a week before I was due to leave they announced the plan to strike and close the airport around the time I was due to be away. Once they'd announced it, it was obviously too late for me to buy any insurance that would cover me if I was unable to fly. Luckily the strike was called off, but it illustrates the point...

O.W.E.I

I'm trying to get a policy now!

I'm somewhat confused as to whether having asthma is classed as a medical exclusion, though.