Is it worth buying the priceline Hotel Cancellation insurance?

I am planning a trip to chicago with the name your own price feature. I will be spending in the neiborhood of 480-640 for a hotel for 8 days.

If the amount is 500 or over, should I consider the $40 travel cancellation/interruption insurance? If I don't, I think I am stuck if I have to cancel for illness. Of course it is a vacation, so I would still go unless I had something devistating.

take it! it's always better to have it. Either you lose $40 now or possibly lose $500 later. As a travel agent I have seen far too many people turn this down and lose out when something unexpected comes up.

Yes.

Anytime you buy a non-refundable ticket or hotel upfront, please buy the insurance. Otherwise you are totally out of the money if anything happens.

If you don't want to buy the insurance, try Travelocity or Expedia where you don't purchase up front. Or even get on the actual hotel website. Sometimes you can get a better rate.

In addition to what the others have said.. READ the fine print before you purchase.. as getting a refund can be very difficult -- they have some VERY specific limitations and reasons for getting your money back.