What to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured
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So, you’ve booked tickets and planned the itinerary, you’re all set for the adventure of a lifetime…then the unexpected happens; someone at home becomes sick or injured and is hospitalised as result, meaning, you’re travel plans are now changing.
Unfortunately, we can’t magically make loved ones better (sorry), but if you’re insured with a World Nomads travel insurance policy, we may be able to take some of the financial sting out of cancelling or rearranging your holiday and remaining in Australia.
Here are the steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation:
If you find yourself cancelling or postponing your holiday due to the illness or injury of a loved one, it’s essential you take immediate action by rearranging/cancelling all pre-paid and pre-booked travel expenses (think accommodation, tours, transportation etc.).
Traveller tip 1: Take time in the first instance to research all offers, compensation options, and cancellation alternatives available when rearranging/cancelling with your transport service providers. Some can be quite accommodating – especially in unavoidable situations such as illness and injury. Not only is it in your best interest to avoid or minimise your expenses, it’s important to keep in mind that World Nomads will only cover costs within policy limits, and where you’ve taken reasonable and necessary steps to minimise costs as much as possible.
We know you’ll no doubt be overwhelmed dealing with the sudden medical situation facing your loved one, which is why we try and make claiming cancellation or trip interruption expenses as straightforward as possible. We may require key documents, including:
Once you have these reports, you’re ready to make your online claim, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
It’s incredibly important that you hold onto all your source documents for your cancelled/postponed adventure – and we mean everything! Receipts, itineraries, booking confirmations, cancellation confirmations, e-tickets, vouchers…the whole shebang!
Also, make sure to keep all documentation outlining any cancellation/postponement offers you’ve secured, and refunds paid to yourself, as we’ll need to see those to keep your trip cancellation claim hassle-free.
Traveller tip 2: Paid for your travel expenses with frequent flyer or similar air travel points? All is not lost – if you can’t recover the lost points from any other source, World Nomads Travel Insurance may be able to reimburse you for the cost of any equivalent class ticket (up to the policy benefit limits).
If your travel plans are interrupted or cancelled because a close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, you may be covered for the reimbursement of your non-refundable travel expenses. We may offer Coronavirus coverage for cancellation and trip interruption expenses under our Explorer Plan.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveller tip 3: Wondering who we deem a ‘close relative’? Check out our article, Am I covered if I need to cancel my trip because a relative is sick/injured? for our definition of a close relative, and more information on what is (and isn’t covered) should you find yourself cancelling your trip because someone at home is sick or injured.
If your travel plans are interrupted or cancelled because a close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, you may be covered for the reimbursement of your non-refundable travel expenses. We may offer Coronavirus coverage for cancellation and trip interruption expenses under our Explorer Plan.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveller tip 3: Wondering who we deem a ‘close relative’? Check out our article, Am I covered if I need to cancel my trip because a relative is sick/injured? for our definition of a close relative, and more information on what is (and isn’t covered) should you find yourself cancelling your trip because someone at home is sick or injured.
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Contact the teamTravel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
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