I bought some United international award flights for me and my family, purchased some months prior to the planned trip, and added United's Travelguard trip insurance (I think $27/person per flight). A couple months after purchase, we had to cancel the trip and the award tickets, which was easy and the miles and flight fees were refunded. However, I later noticed the insurance cost was not refunded for the cancelled itinerary. I saw their insurance fine print says you must cancel insurance within 15 days of purchase to qualify for a refund. Of course, I didn't know until much later that I couldn't take the trip, so obviously wouldn't/couldn't cancel it within 15 days. I called AIG/Travelguard to ask for a refund, twice actually in case it was rep error, but got only the fine-print answer, sorry, no can do, it's more than 15 days.

How is this legal to keep the fee for insuring cancelled trips that will never be taken, regardless of how long after purchase? I had assumed it to be obvious that a cancelled trip should have its insurance refunded, but I guess maybe not. It seems wrong. Has anyone else had this problem, or managed to get an insurance refund in this kind of situation?