What benefits is gained by purchasing trip insurance?
Many things cannot be anticipated. Trip insurance can provide some financial protection if you have to cancel because you or a traveling companion or immediate family member suffers an injury or sickness or death, or if you need emergency assistance during the trip.
Are pre-existing conditions a problem?
Yes, this is a frequent problem area. You should be sure you understand what your policy says about pre-existing conditions beforehand if you have any medical conditions.
Unstable pre-existing conditions that may flare up during your trip are generally not covered. But, some premium plans include a feature that will cover a sudden recurrence of a pre-existing condition. What constitutes a pre-existing condition varies from policy to policy.
Some travel insurance policies will waive exclusions (i.e. they will cover pre-existing conditions) if you buy your insurance close to the time (often within a couple of weeks) that you paid for your trip.
Again, it is recommended that you know how your particular policy handles pre-existing conditions so you know what to expect. For example, many cruise line policies do not cover pre-existing conditions.
