How to cancel a travel insurance policy and get a refund

Plans change, and sometimes a policy you bought is no longer needed. Cancelling and recovering some or all of the premium is often possible — the key is knowing what the wording allows and acting at the right time.

Start with the cancellation terms

Every policy sets out how cancellation and refunds work, so that section of the wording is your first stop. It will tell you whether there is a review period, how refunds are calculated, and what disqualifies a refund — most commonly a claim already made or coverage already used. Reading these terms before you act means you ask for the right thing and have realistic expectations.

The review period

Many travel insurance policies include a short review period — sometimes called a free-look period — after purchase. If you cancel within that window, you can typically receive a full refund of the premium, provided your trip has not yet started and you have not made a claim. This exists so you can buy, read the full wording, and change your mind if the plan is not right. If you are within that window and the trip has not begun, cancelling is usually straightforward.

After the review period

Once the review period has passed, refunds depend on the wording and on whether coverage has started. If your trip has not begun, some plans will still refund all or part of the premium. If coverage has already started and you have been travelling, the insurer has been carrying your risk, so refunds are generally limited or unavailable — though an unused portion may be refundable in certain cases. The specifics are in the policy, so check before assuming either way.

Super Visa and Visitors to Canada refunds

Super Visa insurance has its own common scenario: the visa is refused. Many Super Visa and Visitors to Canada policies allow a refund of the premium if the application is refused, subject to providing proof of the refusal and meeting the terms in the wording. If there is any chance of refusal, confirm this feature before you buy, and keep the official refusal document so you can support the refund request. Some of these policies also allow adjustments if entry dates change.

How to actually cancel

When you are ready, contact the insurer and request cancellation in writing where possible, so you have a record. State your policy number and the reason, and attach any supporting documents — for example a visa refusal letter. Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and of any refund amount and timing. Keep that confirmation with your records. A clear paper trail avoids confusion if the refund takes time to appear.

A few things to watch

Timing is everything: the earlier you cancel relative to your trip and the review period, the more likely a full refund is. Remember that a claim generally ends any refund possibility. And do not simply stop paying or ignore the policy — follow the proper cancellation process so there is no ambiguity about whether coverage was in force.

If you are weighing whether to cancel, read your policy’s cancellation section first, then contact the insurer. And if your plans have simply changed rather than disappeared, it may make more sense to adjust or extend coverage instead — compare your options and get a quote that fits your new plans.