Whether you're a newbie hitting the bunny slopes or a seasoned pro tackling the black diamonds, accidents can happen. With World Nomads travel insurance, you can shred the slopes and let your winter adventures be as smooth as the freshest powder.

• What does World Nomads travel insurance cover for snow sports?
• Choosing the right travel insurance policy for you
• What snow sports activities are covered?
• What’s not covered
• Tips for your winter sports adventures
• FAQs

What does World Nomads travel insurance cover for snow sports?

Depending on your country of residence and the plan you choose, our policies can protect you up to policy limits for benefits including:

• Medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation: if you suffer an injury while you’re shredding and need urgent medical assistance, our 24/7 emergency assistance team is here to help you organise treatment, evacuation and get home
• Trip cancellation: if you have to cancel your travel plans
• Baggage and equipment cover: if your baggage, ski or snowboarding gear is lost, stolen or damaged
• Cover for natural disasters: if you have to cancel or rearrange your travel plans due to a natural disaster such as an avalanche, or severe weather event
• Activities and sports coverage: we can cover you for up to 150 sports, activities and experiences.
• Coverage for families: our policies can cover up to eight dependents, so you can take the whole family on a winter vacation!

Choosing the right policy for you

We offer two travel insurance plans – Standard and Explorer – each of which offers different levels of coverage and benefits for your winter adventures. It is up to you to choose which plan has the right level of coverage to meet your travel needs and matches your specific snow sports plans.

With World Nomads you can get a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy instantly online, anytime, from anywhere.

What snow sports activities are covered?

As passionate ski bums, we’ve designed our plans to offer cover for the winter activities that our Nomads love the most. We can cover:

• Skiing and boarding within resorts, including off-piste
• Heli-skiing & heli-boarding (some plans only, check yours carefully)
• Sledding and tobogganing
• Snowmobiling, ice skating, snow rafting & more.

It’s important to note that all plans are different depending on your country of residence and may require an upgrade for cover to apply. Read the Policy Wording carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip. If you’re not sure whether the snow sports you want to do are covered, contact us.

What’s not covered

While there are several things we can offer coverage for, there are also things we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:

• Any competition, free-style skiing/snowboarding, ski/snowboard jumping, ski-flying, ski/snowboard acrobatics, ski/snowboard stunting, or ski racing or national squad training, the use of skeletons.
• Some winter and snow sports have special terms including exclusions for remote areas, racing, time trials and endurance events. Check the policy wording carefully.
• Any of your ski or winter sports items lost, stolen or damaged that are unsupervised or unattended, that are over 3 years old, or while in use
• If you travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to U.S. Department of State ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure
• Any adventure activities or sports that aren’t covered by our policies or where you don’t purchase the appropriate level upgrade
• Any pre-existing medical conditions
• Any costs related to illegal activities or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Tips for your winter sports adventures

Whether you’re a pro skier or planning your first ever winter trip overseas, these tips may be helpful when planning your next winter getaway:

• It pays to be prepared: check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your ski instructor – if any seem unreliable then reconsider if it’s a smart move to go.
• Don’t get in over your head: be responsible when choosing a skiing or snowboarding destination or winter sports activity. Does it suit your experience level? Are you using an accredited tour operator?
• Keep an eye on your ski gear: don’t leave your expensive ski and winter sports gear or any other baggage unattended - those 'I spaced out” moments might not qualify for coverage.
• Be aware of skiing or snowboarding no go zones: don’t go into back country areas without taking local advice and appropriate rescue equipment. You should follow the International Ski Federation code or the resort regulations.
• Proof of purchase: any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.
• Be responsible: choose a ski tour operator that promotes responsible tourism, works as part of the local community, as well as actively helps to conserve the environment.

Travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. All of the information we provide is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the plans described. Coverage may not be the same or available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage. If you have any questions, please contact us.

World Nomads loves the snow

As passionate ski bums, we’ve designed our plans to cover the style of riding our Nomads love the most*:

• Skiing and boarding within resorts
• Cross country skiing on marked trails
• Terrain parks and heli-skiing 
• Ice skating, snow rafting & more

*All plans are different and may require an upgrade for skiing or snowboarding cover to apply. Conditions and exclusions apply. Read the policy wording carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 27 June 2024, please see below.

Broken bones in Mykonos, mystery illness in Madrid and bus accidents in Thailand, we’ve seen it all and know overseas medical travel insurance can literally be a lifesaver.

In order to help our travellers get back on their feet, our policy has been designed to help out when some unexpected illness or injury strikes, to get back on the road again.

What’s covered by overseas medical travel insurance?

World Nomads travel insurance covers accidents and emergencies when you’re travelling abroad.

If you’re accidentally injured or suddenly become ill while traveling, our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team is on hand to help you. Cover may include:

• Assistance locating and paying for medical care abroad.
• Hospitalisation.
• Out-patient care and day surgery.
• Ambulances and medical transport, including by helicopter if medically necessary and available.
• Transport back to your country of residence if we deem it medically necessary.

Am I covered for COVID-19 while overseas?

Depending on your country of residence, our plans include emergency medical cover for travellers who get sick with Coronavirus while abroad (excluding pre-existing medical conditions, as outlined in the policy wording). If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while abroad your benefits may include:

• 24/7 access to our Emergency Medical Assistance Team, who can help you access local medical care;
• Medical costs including hospitalisation;
• Evacuation or repatriation if deemed necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.

You can check out our What’s covered for Coronavirus article which has all of the details, including benefit limits and exclusions.

Reciprocal health agreements and medical cover

World Nomads policies cover accidents and emergencies only, and it is not a private health insurance/private medical insurance policy. Cover may apply only if there is a sudden and unexpected accident or illness and for expenses for which there is no available reciprocal health agreement in the country in which you are travelling.

If you are travelling to a country where there is a reciprocal healthcare agreement in place with your country of residence, such as Australia, you will need to apply for reciprocal health cover before you leave home, including obtaining a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

What’s not covered by travel insurance?

Though our policy may cover accidents and emergencies, it’s not a catch-all for every scrape you might find yourself in. Medical conditions or circumstances we don’t cover include:

• If you were doing anything illegal. (You didn’t really think we’d cover that did you?)
• Injuries or illness from drugs or alcohol abuse.
• If you’ve been acting recklessly.
• Pre-existing medical conditions as explained in the policy wording.
• Ongoing medical treatment at home.
• Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you get home.
• Cosmetic treatments.
• If there is a reciprocal health agreement between your country of residence and the country in which you are travelling.
• If you booked a one-way ticket to your destination, we will not pay for your return ticket home.

How to get medical assistance

It’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team as soon as you are aware that you will be admitted as an inpatient for at least one night so that the team can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you're well again.

So that they can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:

• Your policy number
• A contact number for where you are now
• The nature of your problem
• Your location

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the policy wording for full details, so there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered get in touch.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 27 June 2024, please see below.

Having insurance to cover some dental incidents can mean the difference between a taste adventure or a disaster. That’s why we offer travellers some cover for dental treatment just in case you happen to indulge in some tasty food but which may leave a bad taste in your mouth if you chip a tooth or you get an infection.

Whether you’re sampling the ktefa in Morocco or taking the durian challenge in Thailand, sudden and serious pain in your teeth can stop you in your tracks.

What’s covered?

All of our plans can cover emergency dental treatment abroad if you urgently need to see a dentist for the immediate relief of sudden and acute pain while travelling such as if:

• You get an unexpected infection
• You've broken your tooth

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team who will help you locate a qualified dentist nearby.

What’s not covered?

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common dental claims we see where there's no cover include:

• Dental work other than that related to emergency dental pain relief
• Cosmetic dentistry or whitening
• Pre-existing dental problems as explained in your policy wording
• Major dental work, such as crowns, dentures, bridges and implants
• Any dental treatment after your return to your country of residence

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the policy wording for full details, so there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered get in touch.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 27 June 2024, please see below.

Having been on the road for long periods ourselves, we know that waiting until you get home to lodge a claim isn’t always ideal. World Nomads gives you the freedom to claim from wherever you are and whenever you like, so you can keep travelling.

How to claim on your travel insurance

If you're already a World Nomads member, you'll just need to sign in, and follow the steps to make a new claim. 

If you're not a member, you can either create an account which lets you lodge most claims  electronically or you can lodge a claim online or by phone with the claims service teams at Collinson Insurance Solution Europe Limited on the details below, Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm. 

Belgium 

Phone: +44 (0) 333 333 9621  
Website:  https://worldnomads.collinsoninsurance.com 

Denmark 

Phone:  +44 (0) 333 333 9619 
Website:  https://worldnomads.collinsoninsurance.com 

Germany 

Phone:  +44 (0) 333 333 9618 
Website:  https://worldnomads.collinsoninsurance.com 

Netherlands 

Phone:  +44 (0) 333 333 9617 
Website: https://worldnomads.collinsoninsurance.com 

As always, if you’re unsure of something please contact us and be sure to take the time to read your policy to understand the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions.

How do I make a claim on my travel insurance?

Learn more about how make a claim by watching this video.

Make a claim

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 14 July 2021 12:00am UTC, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 14 July 2021 please see below.

You haven’t even had a chance to pack your bags or get your passport and you get ill – so ill in fact that as much as you want to go on that planned overseas getaway you’ve been looking forward to, you aren’t well enough to do so.

That’s where our travel insurance for pre-trip cancellation kicks in. Sure, it can’t fix the disappointment you feel at not being able to travel or make you well, but it can help you recover the costs of cancelling your trip.

How does travel insurance cover pre-trip cancellation?

If you’re injured or medically unfit to travel, our policies offer cover for your non-refundable, pre-paid:

• Travel costs, such as flights, rail and bus tickets you’ve already paid for
• Accommodation expenses
• Any tuition or course fees you’ve had to pay upfront
• Tours

You’ll need to provide us evidence that your trip costs aren’t refundable, and if the airline or hotel says they’ll give you your money back, then you won't be getting a reimbursement from us.

How sick must I be to be covered for pre-trip cancellation?

This insurance is for when you’re seriously unwell and really can’t travel (for example, if you get appendicitis). If you’ve got a cold or mild attack of hay fever, we’re not going to be able to help you out.

In order to be covered, you must either be:

• Declared medically unfit to travel; or
• You, your fellow traveler or your close relative in your country of residence must be unexpectedly hospitalized or die as a result of a sudden serious illness or sudden serious injury.

The coverage is conditional on the death, sudden serious illness (including any symptoms) or injury  being unexpected and occurring after you booked and/or paid for the trip and after you purchased the insurance.

Am I covered for Cancellation due to Coronavirus?

As part of our efforts to assist our global nomads in the Coronavirus (COVID-19)-era, we are now offering cover for some Coronavirus-related events.

While epidemics and pandemics (World Health Organization declarations of a public health emergency of international concern) are excluded from the Cancellation & Interruption and Travel Disruption sections of our policy, there may be some benefits available to you if you purchased our Explorer Plan which includes a Coronavirus Travel Costs section, providing you cover for additional Coronavirus-related events.  

 If you have purchased the Explorer Plan, you may have some cover for trip cancellation events which are outside of your control and caused by:

• You or a member of your traveling party being diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Your close relative back home being hospitalized or dying due to COVID-19.
• You or a member of your traveling party who are permanently employed as a healthcare worker, residential care worker or law enforcement officer having pre-approved leave cancelled due to COVID-19.

You can check out our Coronavirus article which has more information, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions. 

What's not covered by travel insurance?

If you change your mind about your trip overseas or decide you might want to delay it then we won’t cover you for cancellation.

This coverage is for those situations where you are physically unable to hop on that plane, train or boat due to illness or injury. Other things we won’t cover include but are not limited to:

• If you booked your travel insurance and/or trip after the symptoms of the injury or illness occurred.
• You, your fellow traveler or your close relative had refused, not sought or given up medical treatment even though the illness had deteriorated or you should have known it needed medical treatment.
• Expenses you have not taken reasonable and practical steps to recover from the carrier, accommodation provider, booking agents, travel agents, any compensation scheme, or any other source. 
• You cancel only part of the insured trip.
• If the cancellation is due to a change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel; changed weather conditions; acts of terrorism; acts of war (whether war is declared or not); nuclear disaster.

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the Policy Wording for full details so that there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to June 27 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from June 27 2024, please see below.

Cancellation insurance is there for when life throws you a curve ball, making sure you’re not out of pocket if you’ve had to put your journey on hold.

From jury duty to an unexpected illness or redundancy, there are many reasons why you may have to stay put instead of taking a cooking class in Chiang Mai… even if that’s the last place you want to be.

What’s covered by Cancellation insurance?

As long as you haven’t left your home yet, we may cover you if you have to cancel your trip under certain circumstances like:

• You oran immediate relative or a traveling companion is injured, gets a serious illness or dies.
• You are unexpectedly called to do jury service or appear in court as a witness (but not as an expert witness).
• You’re made redundant.
• Your home is damaged and unsafe to leave (as confirmed by an emergency service) within 7 days of the start of your trip.  
• There’s been a theft of travel documents from your home within 7 days of your trip start date and you are unable to replace them before leaving.

In addition, travelers with the Explorer Plan may be covered if the Foreign Ministry of your Country of Residence advise agianst all or all but essential travel for your intended destination.

Am I covered for Cancellation due to Coronavirus?

While epidemics and pandemics are excluded from the Trip Disruption section of our policy, there is an exception around Covid-19.    

You may have some cover for trip cancellation events which are outside of your control and caused by:

• You are certified as too ill to travel due to COVID-19 by a medical practitioner. 
• An immediate relative in your country of residence being hospitalised or dying due to coronavirus.

Our article What’s covered for Coronavirus explains the benefits available if you get COVID-19 and need urgent assistance.

What’s not covered by travel insurance?

There are a number of things you’re not covered for if you cancel your trip. These include but are not limited to:

• Pre-existing medical conditions as explained in the policy wording.
• The policy excess.
• Additional costs incurred as a result of not immediately telling the travel agent, tour operator or provider of transport or accommodation that you need to cancel the trip.
• Costs recoverable from elsewhere.
• Costs incurred by or on behalf of traveling party members who are not on the Certificate of Insurance.

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the policy wording for full details, so there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered get in touch.

This information is for all travellers except: Americans, Australians, Brazilians, British, Canadians, Irish, and New Zealanders. 

If you’ve left home without travel insurance or your policy has run out and you’re still on the road, World Nomads has got you covered. With World Nomads, you can buy a policy online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.

We know it’s easy to forget to buy travel insurance. That’s why we’ve designed simple and flexible travel insurance so you can buy what you need, when you need it, even while traveling. If you forgot to buy a policy before you started your trip, are outside your home country without insurance, or your cover has ended but your trip hasn’t, you can buy a World Nomads policy 24/7 online.

If you buy a policy while traveling, you'll have to wait up to 72 hours for full cover to apply. However, you can be covered straight away if you're injured in an accident after you buy a policy. Your policy wording will have full details to understand the cover, limits and exclusions.

Left home without travel insurance?

Learn more about how to buy travel insurance.

Physical and sexual assault aren't something you want to think about for your trip, but the unfortunate truth is that these attacks happen way too often to travelers. While some destinations have higher incidents than others, no destination is immune.

To add complexity to already horrific circumstances, the laws and customs of some countries can see innocent victims imprisoned, so knowing what to do following an attack can be difficult.

Our Emergency assistance teams have extensive experience understanding and liasing with medical providers on the ground, so that you can get the care you need, when you need it.

Does travel insurance cover assault?

If you’ve been assaulted overseas, all of World Nomads travel insurance policies have the following benefits which can help patch you up and get you on the road to recovery:

• Hospitalisation
• Day surgery and out-patient treatment
• Visits to registered medical practitioners
• Prescribed medicines
• Ambulances
• Extra expenses to get you home, if medically necessary

Depending on the policy you buy and your country of residence, there are limitations that will apply. So, it’s a good idea to do some research on where you’re going, so you can pick a policy that’s best for you.

Does travel insurance cover counselling following assault?

What's not covered by travel insurance?

If you pick a fight and end up coming out worse for wear, there's a pretty good chance you won't be covered because of needless risk and stupidity.

There may be specific terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that apply depending on what you'll be doing. Of course, always read the full terms, conditions limitations and exclusions in the plan you choose so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use it. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.