Cheap isn't always the way to go.

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You’ve waited for this special getaway for so long. Maybe you’re heading out on a safari through Africa, backpacking through Europe, or learning to make pasta in Italy. No matter where you’re headed or what you’re doing, there’s one last thing we recommend looking into before you leave Canada-travel insurance. As world travellers ourselves, we’ve put together a few tips on how to find the best travel insurance.   

Do I need travel insurance? 

Anytime you’re travelling, there are always going to be some things you can’t anticipate. We’ve experienced flight cancellations and have been left sitting at the carousel for the bag that never came. We’ve also known nomads who have dealt with everything from biking injuries to stolen iPhones.   

Nobody enjoys dealing with these things, but they happen. Because of those unanticipated situations, you should consider getting a quote and purchasing travel insurance. Not all insurance is created equal though, and the best travel insurance plan for one person may not be the best for another. Make sure you do your research and find the best travel insurance for your particular needs.  

What do I need to consider when looking for the best travel insurance?  

When you get a quote for travel insurance, there’s a few things you’ll want to take into consideration.

1. Make sure your travel insurance plan covers all of your planned activities  

The best travel insurance plan should cover you for the types of things you’ll be doing. If you’re planning to surf, hike, or scuba dive, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered for those things if you get hurt.  

World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Canadian residents. When you get a quote, you’ll need to list your planned activities. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time. It’s best to list out all possible activities you may do on your trip, even if you aren’t sure you’ll actually do them. This way you can travel worry-free, knowing you are covered. If you’re participating in an activity that isn’t listed in your policy wording, you can contact us to determine if you’ll be covered.  

2. Check what you’ll be covered for if you have to cancel your trip 

Travel insurance covers many unwelcome situations that can occur while you’re on your trip. However, we feel that the best travel insurance plans also offer coverage for certain sudden and unexpected circumstances that may happen before you leave, causing you to cancel your trip. What happens if you unexpectedly get sick before your trip and your doctor says you can’t travel? Or maybe your flight from Toronto to London gets cancelled because of a strike which causes a complete cessation of travel services? World Nomads travel insurance plans offer trip cancellation insurance that may help in these and some other unexpected situations.  

3. Check to see if you’ll be covered for medical emergencies when you’re travelling internationally 

Even if you have a Government Health Insurance Plan, it may only pay a small portion, if any, of your medical expenses while you’re travelling internationally. Because of this, the best travel insurance plan for Canadian travellers should include overseas emergency medical coverage. Travel insurance may provide reimbursement for those out of pocket medical expenses you incur if you unexpectedly become sick or suffer an injury and require medical attention. Medical providers in some areas may even require upfront payment and in some cases your travel insurance provider may be able to arrange payment directly with the medical provider.

With World Nomads travel insurance, you could be reimbursed for things like an ambulance transfer, medication, or a hospital stay. You will still need to have Government Health Insurance Plan coverage in your home province while you’re on your trip though. If you don’t, your total limit for all emergency medical expenses during your trip is limited to CAD $40,000.  

4. Verify that your travel insurance plan covers emergency evacuation and repatriation 

The availability of medical care is not the same in all destinations. If you get hurt hiking in a remote jungle in Thailand, you may find limited medical services available. World Nomads plans include local ground ambulance transportation and may also cover the cost of an air ambulance to transport you to the nearest qualified medial service provider. The best travel insurance plans should also include emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage. If your attending Physician and emergency assistance team recommend that you return to your home province because of your emergency medical condition, or that you return after your medical emergency, your travel insurance plan should provide assistance to get you home. World Nomads travel insurance plans offer this coverage.   

5. Make sure your belongings are protected too  

While travel insurance may cover the things that happen to you, the best travel insurance plans should also offer coverage for your belongings. Baggage insurance may help reimburse the cost to replace your belongings if your bag was lost by a common carrier. World Nomads travel insurance includes coverage for lost bags (up to policy limits), as well as delayed bags. If your luggage is delayed more than 12 hours, you could be reimbursed for the costs for essential clothing and toiletries.   

6. Confirm that you’ll be able to easily reach someone if something happens 

Hopefully you’ll never have to use your travel insurance or make a claim. If something happens though, you’ll want to be able to easily reach someone. The best travel insurance should offer assistance services whenever you need it. Since emergencies can happen at any time, World Nomads offers an Emergency Assistance Team that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

7. Think about what level of coverage you need 

Not all travel insurance plans are the same. When purchasing travel insurance, you should ensure that you purchase a plan that meets your needs. Different travel insurance plans offer different covered risks and benefit limits. World Nomads offers two plans for Canadian residents – the Standard and Explorer plans. The Explorer plan costs more, but has higher benefit limits and/or sub-limits than the Standard plan. Depending on how much you paid for your trip and what you plan to do, you may decide that you need more or less coverage. When you get a quote, you can compare the coverage of both plans side by side.  

8. Check and see if your destination has any specific risks that you need to be aware of 

The Canadian government offers travel advice and advisories for destinations around the world. Check and see if there’s any specific risks that exist in your destination. For example, the Canadian government offers information on safety and security, entry and exit requirements, health, laws and culture, and natural disasters and climate, such as warnings about volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis for Chile. What happen if after you have booked a trip to Santiago, a volcanic eruption occurs? The best travel insurance plans should include coverage if the Canadian Government issue a travel advisory warning you not to travel to a certain destination. World Nomads travel insurance plans include trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage which provides cover if, after you have booked your trip and purchased your travel insurance coverage, the Canadian Government issues a travel advisory warning against travel to a destination, country or region listed on your itinerary. If it is still safe to travel to Santiago, but your destination residence was destroyed by a natural disaster, what would you do? You should make sure your travel insurance plan, such as World Nomads Standard and Explorer plan, offers coverage for natural disasters. A travel insurance plan without that coverage may not be the best travel insurance for you.  

Do I really want the cheapest travel insurance? 

Whether you’re travelling within Canada outside of your home province, or to the other side of the world, low-cost travel insurance is only good if it meets your needs. Going too cheap can mean you may not be covered when it matters to you. And if you’re not covered… your trip of a lifetime can get very expensive, very fast. Keep in mind that the cheapest travel insurance is not always the best travel insurance. Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all, so think about what's most important to you, and read your plan wording for your chosen plan before you buy. 

What isn’t covered by travel insurance? 

Even the best travel insurance plans don’t cover everything. If you’ve thrown back too many cervezas in Mexico and trip and fall, you wouldn’t be covered for that.

A few other things that wouldn’t be covered include:  

  •  Certain pre-existing medical condition(s) as explained in the policy wording 
  • Participation in other activities not listed as covered in your policy 
  • Travelling against your doctor’s advice 
  • Not following government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure 
  • Travel within your home province  

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions, just ask us. 

Bitten by a monkey.

I was bitten by a monkey at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. I went to a nearby clinic and they gave me a rabies shot, antibiotics to take for 4 days, pain medicine, and anti-inflammatory medicine.
T.R,
Canadian in Malaysia

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: $5,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
  • Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
  • Strike at your departure or arrival point?
  • Official travel advisory warning not to travel?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Explorer Plan: $10 million
  • Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?
  • Need prescription meds?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.

  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • You or a family member deceased?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.

  • Explorer Plan: $3,000
  • Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or gear stolen?
  • Tech trashed?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Medical Expenses
  • Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
  • Return to Your Trip Destination
  • Return of Remains
  • Travel Accident
  • Flight Accident
  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
  • Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
  • Travel Documents Theft or Damage
  • Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
  • Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
  • LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Adventure Travel Hotline
  • 24/7 Security
  • Travel Medical Assistance
  • Bag Trak
This is a general summary for Canadian residents only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all provinces. Check the Travel Insurance Policy for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)

Contact the team