I was on a 3-month surf trip and forgot to check my email. My travel insurance expired on Tuesday. I renewed it on Wednesday. Thursday, my knee (which I tweaked 2 months ago) blew out. I filed a claim. Denied. “Since your policy lapsed, this is a new policy. Your knee issue predates the start date of this new policy.”
Key Takeaways
- The “Reset” Button: If your policy lapses—even for 1 minute—the renewal is treated as a brand new application.
- Pre-Existing Conditions Reset: Any illness or injury you developed during the first policy period is now considered “Pre-Existing” for the second policy. Coverage for it is gone.
- Continuous Coverage: To protect your medical history, you must have “Continuous Creditable Coverage.” Gaps destroy this.
- Auto-Renew is Vital: Never rely on manual payments. 2026 banking glitches happen. Set up auto-renew.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Policy Period Definitions.”
Travel insurance is sold in blocks (e.g., 28 days). If you miss the payment, the contract ends. When you buy again, the insurer looks at your health today. Since you hurt your knee yesterday (when you were uninsured for that 24 hours, or during the previous policy which is now closed), they have no obligation to cover it.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- SafetyWing: It’s a subscription (every 28 days). If the payment fails and you don’t fix it within the grace period (usually 10-15 days), the policy cancels. If you restart it later, “any medical condition you had before the NEW start date is pre-existing.”
- World Nomads: You cannot “renew” a policy after it expires. You must buy a new one. All medical history from the first trip is pre-existing for the second trip.
- Cigna Global: They have a grace period (usually 30 days) to pay. If you pay within that window, coverage is continuous. This is why “Annual” plans are safer than monthly ones.
Comparison Table: Lapsing Risks
| Feature | Monthly Travel Insurance | Annual Global Health |
| Lapse Consequence | Immediate termination | 30-day grace period |
| New Policy Status | Resets Pre-Existing Clock | Continues Coverage |
| Ongoing Claims | Denied on new policy | Covered |
[IMAGE: Timeline graphic. ‘Policy A’ ends. ‘Gap’ in red. ‘Policy B’ starts. An arrow from an injury in Policy A points to ‘Excluded’ in Policy B]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Enable Auto-Pay: Use a credit card with a high limit, not a debit card that might be empty.
- Check Email Spam: “Payment Failed” emails often go to spam. Whitelist your insurer.
- Buy Annual Plans: If you are long-term, buy a 12-month policy. You only have to worry about renewal once a year, not 12 times.
- Grace Periods: Know your grace period. SafetyWing gives you ~13 days to fix payment. World Nomads gives 0 days.
FAQ
If I renew on time, does it cover old injuries?
SafetyWing: Yes, as long as the subscription is continuous.
World Nomads: No, usually buying a “new” policy resets the clock even if back-to-back (check specific policy wording, this varies by residence).
Can I backdate the policy to cover the gap?
No. That is insurance fraud.
What if my card expired?
Update it NOW. Do not wait for the failure email.