Travel Insurance for Death Overseas
Learn how travel insurance could help your family if you die overseas.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 03 February 2022, please check the PDS provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 03 February 2022 please see below.
It's not something anyone wants to talk about, but fatal accidents and illnesses do happen. For those worst case scenarios, your family will need help and support; emotional, logistical and financial.
Our Emergency Assistance Team can help your loved ones get you home – they're available 24/7 for help, they have the expertise to handle some aspects of international bureaucracy such as helping out with the paper work and working with relevant government departments and the policy can help with the associated costs.
The priority of your loved ones will be to bring you home; we’ll be there to help take away the added stress of navigating overseas laws, different languages and formalities.
What’s covered by travel insurance if you die overseas?
If you die overseas as the result of an accident or a sudden and unexpected illness, you may be covered for:
- Bringing your remains back to Australia.
- Local cremation or burial overseas.
- When necessary, reasonable and necessary travel and accomodation costs for your next of kin to travel with your remains.
We also have access to some of the Australian Government's DFAT services, so for countries where the local laws are complex, we can call on some additional support.
Note: In case of death, the death certificate and a medical report must be included with any claim.
What's not covered by travel insurance?
A lot of the exclusions to medical cover do also apply here, so take the time to read the policy. In the event of a fatal illness or injury, if we're not going to cover your medical expenses and you then pass away, there won't be any cover under this part of the policy either.
- Suicide.
- Deaths as a result of drugs or alcohol.
- Any illness or death arising from a metastatic or terminal prognosis that was made prior to the issue of the Certificate of Insurance.
- If an existing condition causes your death (unless otherwise stated in the policy).
- Any costs within your home country once your remains are returned to your next of kin.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS 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, please get in touch.
How your family or friend can get assistance if you die overseas.
It’s essential that your family or travel buddy get in contact with our Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible, so that our teams can support them from the time you die until your remains have returned home.
To help our Emergency Assistance teams assist them quickly, they'll need the following:
- Your policy number
- Your location
- As many details as possible about the circumstances surrounding your death
So, leave a copy of your policy with your family or friend, just in case they need to use it.
How we help.
Overseas deaths are the most heartbreaking cases to help with. No one is ready to deal with the sudden death of a close relative overseas, let alone having to deal with the complex organisation and unexpected high costs. The World Nomads Emergency Assistance team can coordinate a local burial or bringing home loved ones with trusted partners on the ground, and ensure that families and friends are supported throughout such a difficult time.
Operations Manager.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
- Has one of your relatives died?
- Has a bushfire damaged your home?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need medicine?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up overseas?
- Medivac needed home?
- You died overseas?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Damaged docs?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Contact the teamTravel Insurance for Trip Cancellation
Learn what's covered if you have booked and paid for your trip and unexpectedly need to cancel.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 03 February 2022, please check the PDS provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 03 February 2022 please see below.
Unlike all the other benefits, cancellation cover starts from the moment you buy your policy, not when your trip starts. So if you've got travel booked starting a month from now and you buy insurance now, if you suddenly need to cancel your trip, you may be covered.
What can World Nomads travel insurance cover if I need to cancel?
If you're an Australian, World Nomads can cover you for various reasons if you have no choice but to cancel your trip. Cover is provided for the value of your unused arrangements, less any refunds you receive and up to the benefit limit of your plan. Always ask for refunds from your transport or accommodation providers – you'll be surprised how often you can get something back! And most importantly, get supporting documents for the reason you had to cancel.
We won't list all covered reasons for cancellation here, but the main ones that travellers claim on are:
- A medical practitioner certifies that you're medically unfit to continue with your original travel plans.
- You, a travel mate or a close relative is hospitalised or dies unexpectedly.
- Your transport is cancelled or delayed because of severe weather, natural disaster, hijacking, or strike.
- You're made redundant or your employer cancels your pre-arranged leave (you need to be in full time permanent employment), the event must occurr before your departure date.
- You're called to jury duty.
If you want to see the other reasons for cancellation World Nomads covers, read this article which will also give you further advice on conditions.
Is cover for Coronavirus available?
World Nomads can offer benefits for medical issues related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas and it’s not considered an ‘existing medical condition’ under our policy, your benefits may include:
- 24/7 access to our Emergency Assistance team, who can help you access local medical care;
- Medical costs including hospitalisation;
- Evacuation or repatriation if deemed medically necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.
In addition, our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including benefit limits and exclusions.
What's not covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance isn't designed to cover everything. Common claims we see where there's no cover for cancellation include:
- A loss arising from a change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel.
- A loss arising from travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is the subject of a ‘Do not travel’ warning issued by the Australian Government (see smartraveller.gov.au).
- A loss arising from any act of war (whether war is declared or not).
- Any existing medical conditions.
- A loss arising from errors or mistakes in any booking arrangements, including, but not limited to, failure to book a portion of a trip or obtain appropriate travel documents or visas.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS 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, please get in touch.
Be prepared if you need to claim for cancellation.
Depending on your claim, you'll need copies of:
- Receipts
- Itineraries
- Doctors/death certificates
- Medical history
- Written documentation from the travel provider of reason for cancellation and any refunds
Upper respiratory tract infection cancels U.S trip.
I was to commence my journey from Townsville to Brisbane, then on to Los Angeles. As I was unwell on that day I sought medical attention and was diagnosed with an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection and was deemed by the Doctor as unable to fly and therefore unable to travel. (Medical Certificate provided for claim) After seeing the Doctor immediate cancellation action was taken with all service providers.
K.W. Australian Nomad.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
- Has one of your relatives died?
- Has a bushfire damaged your home?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need medicine?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up overseas?
- Medivac needed home?
- You died overseas?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Damaged docs?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech Trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Contact the teamFAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance for cancellation. You can also find the answers to other questions in our helpdesk or you can ask the customer service team.
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Is there a time period that I have to claim within?
You're welcome to submit a claim whenever you're ready. If you're waiting on documentation, just let our customer service team know, so they can make a note.
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If I'm having trouble getting documents from my travel provider, will you get them for me?
It's up to you to provide all of the documentation to support your claim.
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Can I get a refund on my policy as I'm not travelling?
If you're making a claim, or you're outside of the cooling off period, there are no refunds.
World Nomads give back
We believe that as travellers we have a responsibility to give back to the places we love. Buy a policy and donate now!
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As intrepid travellers, we often find ourselves off the beaten path, travelling through remote communities, many of which could greatly benefit from basic infrastructure, quality education and economic opportunities.
This is why World Nomads has teamed up with reputable charities to support projects in destinations that you care about. When you buy our travel insurance, you can choose to make a micro-donation to one of these global community development projects.
World Nomads covers all administration costs so that 100% of your donation goes directly to these projects. Now, with one click, you can join the one million strong donors who are changing the world in a simple, easy and transparent way.
Making the world a better place.
Today I decided to buy World Nomads travel insurance for my upcoming trips in The Netherlands and Belgium. I had no regrets because I could also contribute through their Footprints program which gives back to communities who need it the most. It's amazing that I can travel while at the same time contributing to make the world slightly better. Keep up the good work, World Nomads!!
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Contact the team
