You may be weighing up the pros and cons of travel insurance for your next trip overseas, especially if you’ve never used it before. With Coronavirus adding an extra level of uncertainty, now could be the right time to consider travel insurance.
World Nomads offers insurance for travelers aged between 18 and 69. Our policies are available to travelers from more than 100 countries worldwide. You can get a quote online and be covered in no time.
If you’ve never had the need for travel insurance but you are thinking about buying it for your next trip, some of the scenarios where it may help include:
- If you need to cancel or curtail your trip because you’re sick.
- If you want your tech gear, valuables, and baggage covered.
- If you need emergency treatment during your trip due to an unexpected illness or injury.
- If you plan to do several activities and sports and need that extra level of cover.
- If you end up stuck at the airport for an extended period due to a travel delay or trip interruption.
What to look out for when considering travel insurance
Get a doctor to approve your fit to travel: know your own medical needs, for example, whether you have pre-existing medical condition(s) that may invalidate your cover. You may need to have a doctor’s sign off that you’re fit to travel, for example, if you’re pregnant and having pregnancy-related complications or if you’re unsure about a specific medical condition.
Research all your travel destinations: always do your research on the countries or regions you plan to visit. Check government travel advisories as they can change rapidly. Check out our travel alerts, and health organizations advisories, such as the World Health Organization.
Take time out to read the fine print: check your policy’s benefit limits, terms and conditions and exclusions to ensure you are getting the right level of cover for your travel plans and destinations to cover any potential claims. You can always get in touch with the Customer Service team who can help answer any questions.
Ensure all activities and sports are covered: our plans include cover for more than 200 activities globally, from backpacking to kayaking, hiking, and bungee jumping, but not all are covered under every plan – you can find out what is available for your Country of Residence here. You may need to pay an additional premium for higher-risk activities or choose a different plan. Read the policy wording carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip.
We’re here to help in case of emergency: make sure to know what to do in case of an emergency, which you can discuss with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team.
I have never bought World Nomads travel insurance. Why should I consider it?
For manyfirst-time buyers,buying travel insurancecan be daunting and confusing. At World Nomads, we havemade choosing a travel insurance planless time-consuming and stressfulbyofferingtwo travelinsuranceplanswithdifferentlevelsof cover depending on your travelneeds.
Standard Plan: includes a range of benefits such as overseas medical, coverage for your belongings, pre-trip cancellation and certain adventure activities.
Explorer Plan: has all the benefits of a Standard Plan and a fewmore, butit is more expensive.
Check outourStandard vs Explorer articlefor information on coverage,benefit limits, terms and conditionsand exclusions.
Can I buyor extendmy travel insurancewhile overseas?
Witha World Nomads policy,you can buy cover anytime, anywhere. Plus, ifyou decide to stay longer somewhereor want to change direction on a whim, we are happy to extend your policyas long as it’s donebeforethe end date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
Travelertip:if you buy a policy while traveling overseas, youmustwait 72 hours before any cover is activated.The maximum duration available for any policy, including extensions, is 12 months from the start date.
Does World Nomads travel insurance include cover for Coronavirus-related events?
Weoffercover for some Coronavirus-related events, howeverlevel ofcoverageunder our Standard and Explorer Planswill depend on your Country of Residence and the planyou’veselected.
If you are diagnosed with Coronaviruswhile overseas, your benefits may include:
- 24/7 access to our Emergency Assistance Team, who can help you access local medical care.
- Medical costs including hospitalization.
- Evacuation or repatriation ifdeemedmedically necessary by us and in consultation with your attending medical practitioner.
Some of our Explorer plans offer cover for someadditional Coronavirus-relatedinsuredevents, such as cancellation following aCOVID-19diagnosis, toassistourtravelers.
To find out what cover applies to you, readour What’s Covered for Coronavirus article, which hasall ofthe details, including benefit limits,conditionsand exclusions.
Things tolookoutforwhenbuyingtravelinsurance:
- Make sure you correctly choose theright tripdates, age limit,andlevel of cover.
- Ensureallyourdestinationsarecovered.
- Make sureyouunderstand whata pre-existingmedicalconditionis under our policy.
- Some activities and sports may require extra level of coveror may not be covered.
- Makesure youclearly understandthe benefit limits and the excessas per thelevel ofcoveryou’veselected.
- Understand that there will be General Exclusions in your cover for which youwon’tbe coveredunder any circ*mstances.
- Make copies of travel documents and keep receipts in case youneed tomake a claim.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, pleaseget in touch.
