We have applied for passports. Will travel insurance cover our trip if the passports are not received prior to our departure date and we are unable to go?

No, most travel insurance policies do not consider this to be a “covered peril” for trip cancellation. Many policies have benefits for cancellation or travel delay in the event of lost or stolen passports which does not apply to your situation. You may want to consider a policy that offers a ”cancel for any reason” benefit, although these policies must be purchased within 14 days of your initial deposit date and have additional conditions. Always refer to your policy certificate for full details.