Ask An Agent: Should I Get Life Insurance Before Traveling?

Even after choosing what to pack, booking your transportation and selecting your activities, there could be one more thing to decide before you start your vacation: Should you be covered by a life insurance policy before you travel?

To get an experienced point of view, we asked AAA life insurance agent Candice Burroughs.

Would you recommend getting life insurance before a trip? How soon in advance?

“Life insurance before a trip can be beneficial, but it’s not necessary,” said Burroughs. “Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere and life insurance provides protection for that.”

Having life insurance coverage is a smart safeguard for anyone, no matter your lifestyle or age. If you don’t already have a policy, frequent travel or knowing you have upcoming vacation plans could be a good motivator to finally put one in place.

If you do choose to get life insurance before a trip, consider the timeline and plan ahead. Depending on multiple factors, including the type of coverage you’re seeking, securing a policy with a licensed life insurance agent could take longer than you think — up to a few months in some cases.

While its coverage is different from life insurance, travel insurance is also worth considering and can help with specific travel-related incidents, like trip cancellations, emergency medical transport, lost baggage and more. Learn about getting travel insurance through AAA.

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Does traveling affect your life insurance in any way?

When applying for life insurance, you may be asked about your past and planned travel.

Frequent trips to destinations considered high-risk for crime, conflict or natural disasters, may increase your chances of receiving a higher premium or coverage denial. That said, most travel plans won’t prevent you from getting approved.

The duration of a trip can affect your coverage as well.

“A standard one- to two-week trip won’t affect things, but the longer you are abroad, the more prone to risk you become,” said Burroughs.

If you will be abroad for an extended period of time — think a month or more — your carrier may choose to underwrite you as a foreign national, even if you are a U.S. citizen.

All in all, honesty is the best policy when it comes to life insurance. Being upfront about your plans, past and present, gives your insurance carrier the full picture and allows them to be able to create a policy that works with you and everywhere you want to go.

For answers to more of your insurance questions, check out our Ask an Insurance Agent series.

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Sarah Vincelette

Based in Rhode Island, Sarah has been a copywriter and content producer with AAA Northeast since 2021. When she’s not scouring the best spots for all things food and drink or whipping up her own versions of tasty meals, you can often find her in the garden, planning her next trip or sipping on (another) hot coffee.