How to Avoid Common Travel Insurance Mistakes

Travel smarter. Stress less. Protect your trip the right way.

Whether you’re planning a bucket-list European cruise, a spontaneous solo trek through South America, or a well-earned family beach getaway, travel insurance is one of the most important investments you can make. Yet every year, thousands of travelers fall into the same avoidable traps — mistakes that can leave them underinsured, out-of-pocket, or entirely unprotected.

“Travel insurance” was searched more than 85,000 times in December 2024 alone​. That’s a lot of travelers asking, “Am I covered?” Let’s make sure the answer is yes by avoiding these common, but costly, travel insurance mistakes.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to avoid the most common travel insurance mistakes, such as waiting too long to buy a policy, choosing the wrong level of coverage, or missing out on important details hidden in the fine print. With the right approach, you can protect your trip and enjoy peace of mind wherever your travels take you.

1. Waiting Too Long to Buy a Policy

The mistake: Delaying your travel insurance purchase until right before departure.

The risk: You could miss the window for key benefits like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) or pre-existing condition waivers.

Many Aegis plans, like the Go Ready Choice Plan, require you to purchase within 14 days of your initial trip deposit to be eligible for full benefits. That includes coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and the ability to upgrade to CFAR coverage.

According to Squaremouth, purchasing too late is one of the most common mistakes travelers make, especially when it comes to pandemic-related coverage and last-minute trip changes.

Real-life scenario: A couple booked a river cruise through Eastern Europe but waited to purchase travel insurance until just a week before departure, after one of them had already started experiencing cold-like symptoms. When a positive COVID-19 test forced them to cancel just two days before departure, their claim was denied. Because the illness had started before they purchased their plan, the cancellation was considered a known event, leaving them out nearly $6,000.

Pro tip: If you’re considering travel insurance, buy travel insurance early. That way, you’ll have access to the full range of benefits, not just the basics.

2. Failing to Understand What the Policy Actually Covers

The mistake: Assuming your plan covers everything.

The risk: Being surprised by exclusions or coverage limits when you try to file a claim.

Many travelers skip reading the fine print of their policy or rely on assumptions about what’s included. This often leads to unpleasant surprises, like discovering your trip interruption, COVID-19 quarantine, or adventure excursions weren’t covered after all.

With Aegis, plans are clearly structured and customizable, giving travelers a full view of their benefits. Whether it’s trip cancellation, emergency medical, baggage delay, or optional upgrades for adventure sports or rental cars, there’s transparency in what you’re buying.

Real-life scenario: A young traveler on a European backpacking trip lost their bag containing a camera, passport, and laptop. Thanks to the Aegis Go Ready Choice Plan, they were reimbursed for electronics and received help replacing their passport​.

Pro tip: Read your plan documents before departure. If you’re unsure about any part of your coverage, contact our customer support team for clarification before your trip begins.

3. Choosing the Cheapest Plan Instead of the Right Plan

The mistake: Going with the lowest-cost option without comparing benefits.

The risk: Ending up with insufficient coverage for your travel needs.

When comparing options, it’s easy to gravitate toward the cheapest travel insurance plan. But lower cost often means lower limits, fewer included benefits, and important exclusions. A budget-friendly policy may not offer essential protections like trip interruption, emergency evacuation, or primary medical coverage, leaving you vulnerable if something goes wrong.

With Aegis, you can compare plans side by side to ensure you’re getting the protection that fits your trip, not just your budget. For example, the Go Ready VIP Plan includes $250,000 in medical coverage and $1,000,000 for evacuation and repatriation, which are critical for seniors, international travelers, and anyone visiting destinations with limited healthcare access.

Real-life scenario: A family booked a ski vacation in the Rockies and chose the lowest-cost plan. When a serious injury led to a $17,000 helicopter evacuation and hospital stay, they found out the plan only covered domestic medical costs up to $10,000.

Pro tip: Match your coverage to your destination, health, and activities, not just your wallet.

4. Ignoring Exclusions and Limitations

The mistake: Skipping the fine print.

The risk: Learning too late that your situation isn’t covered.

Most travel insurance policies include exclusions, which are specific situations, conditions, or activities they won’t cover unless you’ve added the appropriate upgrade. Common examples include high-risk sports, pre-existing conditions, and cancellations due to events that were known before booking, like named storms or civil unrest.

Real-life scenario: A Gen Z traveler added a scuba diving tour in Thailand to her itinerary last minute but didn’t upgrade her coverage. When she had to see a doctor for a mild decompression issue, her claim was denied due to a sports activity exclusion.

Pro tip: If your trip involves risk or special circumstances, ask if your plan offers adventure sports or pre-existing condition upgrades. The Go Ready Choice Plan lets you add coverage specific to your trip needs.

5. Overlooking Stress Less Benefits

The mistake: Thinking all insurance requires you to pay first and claim later.

The risk: Facing delays, financial strain, and stress during emergencies.

Unlike many providers, Aegis offers Stress Less Benefits on every policy. This means we can step in during a covered event and pay providers directly, whether it’s rebooking a missed flight, securing a hotel after a cancellation, or coordinating emergency medical care.

Real-life scenario: A solo traveler missed a connecting flight in London due to a delay and couldn’t find a hotel nearby. Aegis arranged a room, rescheduled the flight, and paid for both upfront, saving hours of stress and several hundred dollars out of pocket.

Pro tip: Save the emergency assistance number and understand how to activate Stress Less Benefits. It’s one of the most valuable features of any Aegis plan​.

6. Underinsuring or Forgetting to Include All Trip Costs

The mistake: Only insuring part of your trip.

The risk: Receiving partial reimbursement for cancellations.

Travelers frequently forget to include excursions, prepaid activities, or rail passes when listing their total trip cost, but if you don’t insure it, you can’t claim it.

Real-life scenario: A family of five booked a trip to Hawaii, including pre-paid surfing lessons, luau tickets, and a volcano tour. When they had to cancel due to a medical emergency, they were only reimbursed for flights and the hotel because the activities hadn’t been included in the insured amount.

Pro tip: When calculating your insured amount, include anything non-refundable: flights, hotels, tours, tickets, and transfers.

7. Assuming Your Health Insurance Works Internationally

The mistake: Believing your domestic health insurance will cover you abroad.

The risk: Being stuck with major medical bills in another country.

Most U.S. health plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, don’t provide international coverage. If you’re hospitalized overseas or require emergency evacuation, costs can easily exceed $100,000.

Aegis plans like the Go Ready Annual/Multi-Trip Primary Plan include up to $80,000 collectively in emergency medical coverage and evacuation services—ideal for frequent international travelers, retirees, or digital nomads​.

Real-life scenario: A retired couple in Portugal had a medical emergency when one partner suffered a heart attack. Their domestic insurance didn’t apply, but their Aegis plan covered the local hospital stay and arranged medical repatriation back to the U.S., totaling nearly $60,000.

Pro tip: Never travel internationally without confirming that your travel insurance includes medical care, evacuation, and repatriation.

Protect Your Trip by Avoiding These Travel Insurance Mistakes

Travel insurance isn’t just a checkbox at the end of the booking process; it’s your safety net when things go sideways. From missed connections and medical emergencies to lost luggage and unexpected cancellations, a well-chosen policy can make all the difference between a ruined trip and a minor inconvenience.

By avoiding these common travel insurance mistakes—like buying too late, underinsuring your trip, or skipping over exclusions—you’re giving yourself the peace of mind to truly enjoy your journey.

Whether you’re planning a multi-country adventure, a family reunion across states, or a once-in-a-lifetime cruise, Aegis offers travel insurance plans built for real life. Our plans are flexible, transparent, and tailored to meet the needs of every kind of traveler—families, seniors, young explorers, and everyone in between.

Explore your travel insurance options from Aegis and find the right plan for your next trip!