Good Neighbor Insurance
  • plans
    • Travel InsuranceFor trips from 2 days to 2 yrs
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • Best for Missionaries
      • Pre-existing Conditions
      • Trip Cancellation
      • Annual Plans/Frequent Fliers
      • Traveling While Pregnant
      • Senior Travel
      • Emergency Evacuation Only
      • Adventure Sports
      • Inside the USA
      • More Options
    • Int’l Health InsuranceFor relocating/moving abroad
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • Exclusively for Missionaries
      • Nomads
      • Maternity Coverage
      • For Canadians
      • International Term Life
      • For Furlough/Sabbatical
      • Supplemental Plans
      • International Students
      • Local Nationals
      • More Options
    • Group Travel Insurance PlansFor teams traveling together
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • Trip Cancellation
      • Senior Travel
      • Pre-existing conditions
      • Personal Liability
      • To the USA
      • COVID-19 Coverage
    • Int’l Group Health Plans(For organizations/employers)
      • Group Health Plans
      • Top International Business Group Health Insurance Plans
      • NGO+ Non-Governmental Organization Plans
      • Faith-Based Group Insurance Plans
      • Supplemental Plans
      • Other International Insurance Options
      • Group Insurance Videos
      • Group Resources
  • resources

    Resources

    • Blog
    • Ask Doug
    • FAQ
    • Guides & E-Books
      • Top Three Travel Risks
      • Guide To Travel Safety
      • Travel Medical Guide 101
      • Guide on Preventing Jet Lag
      • Trip Guides
    • Videos
    • Helpful links:
      • Ask Jeff
      • Glossary
      • Get Involved
      • Mission Resources
      • Responding to Crisis
      • Social Good Resources
      • Gap Year Resources
      • Volunteer Opportunities Overseas
    • Infographics
  • company

    About us

    • Who We Are
    • Our Values
    • Testimonials
    • Meet Our Team
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Get a Quote
(480) 813-9100 Quote WhatsApp

How early should I buy travel insurance when moving overseas?

January 30, 2017 By : Web Administrator

Purchasing travel / international health insurance can be stressful. You’ve got suitcases to pack, air travel plans to sort out, and not a lot of time to figure out insurance. How much time ahead is the best time to purchase an insurance plan? How early should I buy travel insurance?

First, just to clarify the difference between “travel insurance” and “international health insurance”: 

  • Travel insurance is for those going overseas for less than a year. Short-term mission trips or vacations / honeymoons would fit under this category.
  • International health insurance is for those going overseas for more than a year/relocating/becoming an expatriate. If you were going overseas for work assignment or otherwise moving overseas, you need international health insurance.

For travel insurance:
Usually up to 30 days before going overseas (but you can SELECT the best plan earlier – Read more below)

For international health insurance (if you or your family are moving overseas for more than a year):
Usually up to 30 days in advance, but in some cases, plans will allow you to sign up earlier. Certain plans may even cover you in your home country until you depart if you have to leave your current job. Quitting your job usually means losing your health coverage within a certain time frame. (We deal with these scenarios every day. It’s very common. If you call, we can discuss the best options so you always have coverage and save you the most money.)

Most international health insurance plans and travel insurance plans are available to buy up to 30 days before you leave. Travel insurance plans can be purchased even i the airport while waiting to take off. We recommend that you buy travel insurance or contact us and get your insurance sorted out as soon as you are thinking about it or as soon as you make your travel plans. There are a couple reasons for this:

You can decide which plan you need and get your questions answered now while you’re thinking about it. The agents at Good Neighbor Insurance will assist you in finding the best plan, and you can either purchase it right then or they can set up a reminder for you to buy it at the right time before you leave based on your choice and quote now. Or add us to your address book.

Read our “Ask Jeff” page here on when you should buy insurance: https://www.gninsurance.com/resources/ask-Jeff/general-q-and-a/when-to-get-insurance/ (more follows after the image.)

Why shop for travel insurance early / now ?

1. If you wait until right before you travel, you’ll be thinking of other last minute details and may forget. OR have to deal with last minute anxiety over the right plan/filling everything out last minute.

Imagine you’re a college student getting ready to go on an overseas trip with your friends through the summer. In the midst of finals and packing and getting details set for both the trip and packing up for school break, you don’t have time to think about something like travel insurance! It is SO MUCH EASIER if you talk to us beforehand so we can find you the right plan. Then once you receive the email reminder, say 20 days before your trip, you would simply follow the link, finish the form, pay the $24 (or ?), and immediately receive your medical travel ID. Boom! You are one well-prepared traveler! And rather than look down on all your fellow travelers, tell them how they can do it too!

Talk to us while your questions and concerns are fresh on your mind. Don’t let insurance get pushed to the end of your to-do list.

2. If you wait at all, you will probably forget who to call (And may up with something with less than great coverage).

Having travel insurance / international health insurance when you go overseas for any reason is important, so get that out of the way first. The last thing you want is suddenly remembering that you haven’t gotten insurance yet, and having to frantically finding a plan while waiting in the airport! Can we help you with a plan in 5 minutes while at the gate? Yes, but why do that to yourself? That leads to my next point…

Some tips for applying for insurance online can be found here: https://www.gninsurance.com/resources/ask-Jeff/general-q-and-a/applying-online/

3. Choosing now keeps you from making a bad decision at the last moment.

You should always know exactly what you’re getting before you buy insurance. Don’t be caught off guard and forced to make decisions quickly! Or accidentally buy “flight insurance” / some other junk policy in the airport! Call us far in advance (if you want) so you’ll be aware of, and secure in, an informed choice. For travel insurance, you should never be paying more than $1-2 a day. You can always bookmark our plan page for later, or ask us to send you a follow-up email closer to your date of travel. Esp. if you are going for a longer period or have children, allow yourself more time due to underwriting (The risk is higher the longer you go so insurance companies need to know what kind of health risks and health conditions they are being asked to insure). And if there are some medical conditions now, we’ll have a chance to submit to another carrier in case of rejection or a rider blocking coverage for that particular condition.

4. It takes away the pressure and allows us to go to work for you at no additional cost.

Preparing to move your family overseas? You would have a lot going on. Selling the house, making arrangements for the pets, saying “goodbyes.” International health insurance for you and your family can be just another thing scribbled on your ever-growing list. Instead, a quick conversation will allow us to do a lot of the work for you while you get other things done. You’ll gain time for other personal priorities.

International health insurance can also “backtrack” and cover you in the USA before you leave as well, so getting it well in advance has its additional benefits. For instance if you quit your job 30 days early but still need health insurance protection in the US for those last 30 days.

Read about when you should submit your application for international health insurance here: https://www.gninsurance.com/resources/ask-Jeff/general-q-and-a/submitting-application/

So now you know.

“How early should I buy travel insurance?”

Today if you are thinking about it. We can set up a reminder even a year or two out at the beginning of that 30-day window so you don’t forget. So get in touch with us today if you are planning to travel. We’re here to help make your travel planning easier. And to keep you safe overseas. Call 480-813-9100! And if you will want an email reminder, here’s a good tip: Make sure you add us to your Contacts or Address book, so our email reminder doesn’t go to SPAM or a “promotions folder.” (That wouldn’t be very helpful!)

You can click this icon to download our contact information to your phone or computer. 

Web Administrator

Search Results

5 Tips for a Successful Short-Term Trip

January 22, 2024

Short term mission trips have exploded in popularity over the last 20 years. Many churches and organizations send groups of people to a different country to complete a specific task. These trips can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The purpose of these trips is often to make a positive impact […]

Read Article

Spain – A look at Health Care Systems around the world

August 14, 2023

Spain is a great place to visit and to live! Nestled between Portugal and France in Southwestern Europe, Spain is both geographically and culturally diverse. It’s a storied country of stone castles, snow-capped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated cities. It’s hard to top the food, markets, and architecture of this beautiful country. If you’re planning […]

Read Article

Our Best Tips to Survive Getting Stranded in an Airport

February 23, 2011

Traveling can be adventurous and fun – until it’s not! Flight cancellations and delays can quickly suck the joy right out of it. And while Tom Hanks made living in an airport look cool in the 2004 movie “The Terminal”, you only need to look at the face of stranded passengers to see how miserable […]

Read Article
bigstock-Airport-73802

How to Celebrate Christmas in America

December 16, 2024

The Right Way to Celebrate Christmas in America Understanding How People in America Celebrate Christmas If you’re a student, a recent immigrant to the USA, or simply visiting over the holidays, welcome! As you may know, Christmas is the most popular holiday celebrated in America. Below you will find a quick guide to understanding how […]

Read Article

How Can I Avoid Serious Illness When Traveling Overseas?

February 24, 2023

Good Neighbor Insurance agents understand the importance of making sure all health precautions are taken care of prior going overseas. I travel overseas regularly to far off lands to scuba dive. Therefore, I need to make sure all my shots are up-to-date and take those extra health precautions. Some of the world’s most spectacular destinations […]

Read Article

5 Things to Do at the Cliffs of Moher

February 17, 2025

Cliffs of Moher main attractions The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction. They receive around one million visitors a year. Yes, the cliffs are stunning and mesmerizing. But, there are many things to do at the Cliffs of Moher besides only observing. We share with you some other ways to enjoy your […]

Read Article

Copyright © 2025 Good Neighbor Insurance All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Site Terms
  • Privacy Policy
Scroll Up