The 5 parts of a policy

World Nomads attempts to present the terms surrounding travel insurance with clarity, but despite our best attempts, it is ultimately a legal contract created by lawyers and one that you should spend the time to read through and ask questions about.

So here we outline simply what each part of a policy actually does.

1. Medical emergencies & evacuation

If there is one reason to buy travel insurance, this is it. Hospital costs in the USA can approach $10,000 per day, while medical evacuation can easily exceed $100,000. Definitely take the time to read this part of the policy in detail, especially the areas of cover for emergency evacuation, limits on medical expenses and cover for emergency dental work. Also make careful note of the policy exclusions which we highlight for you in the policy wording.

2. Trip Cancellation

This covers you for costs if you suddenly find you can't go on your trip for some unforeseen reason such as illness or a death of a close relative. The important thing to remember here is that for this section of the policy to be useful, you have to buy the policy when you start booking tickets and not the week before you leave. Not all World Nomads policies cover cancellation, so please read the policy wording relevant to you carefully.

3. Personal Belongings

While loss of your personal belongings is often the main reason most people buy travel insurance, it is arguably the least important: your things can be replaced but your health often can't. World Nomads expects you to take 'reasonable care' of your belongings which means a claim will be probably denied if you leave your baggage unattended in a public place and it's stolen.

4. Personal liability

First off this is not insurance for liability while you are driving your car. If you cause an accident when abroad and injure someone, insurance can cover your liability and legal expenses. This could be from hanging your dirty laundry on the sprinkler pipes in the local hostel and drenching the entire building to knocking over that expensive vase with your backpack while shopping in Venice. Once again not all World Nomads insurers offer this type of cover so please read your policy wording

5. Resumption of your journey

Travel insurance usually ends the minute you arrive home, so if you have bought a policy for 12 months and come home after 4 you aren't entitled to a refund on the 'unused' portion.

World Nomads policy wording

The terms of our policies are different depending on your country of residence. Select your country and we'll display the correct policy benefits and wording for you.