Travel insurance for volunteering
Get cover for your good deeds
- As featured in:
As featured in:
Kiwis have always loved to volunteer — be it at the local school tuck shop, or further afield in another country. If you want to volunteer while you travel abroad, World Nomads Travel Insurance is a strong supporter of paying it forward and giving back too.
Our travel insurance allows you to participate in a range of volunteer activities and vacations, from summer teaching programs to clean water projects. What better way to strengthen communities, forge meaningful connections and open eyes (and hearts) than by contributing to a worthy purpose?
What’s covered for volunteers?
Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time? If you need volunteer travel insurance because you want to volunteer overseas, or you’re planning a volunteer vacation, World Nomads travel insurance plans may include coverage for:
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Medical emergency care
- Emergency evacuation
- Baggage delay
- Theft of baggage and personal belongings
What volunteer activities may I participate in?
While we don’t cover all kinds of volunteering (see the exclusions listed below) the kinds of volunteer work we might cover include:
- Hospitality which, for example might include serving the homeless dinner.
- Retail work such as helping out in a co-op shop.
- Teaching
- Clerical work.
- Childcare
If you purchase a higher level of travel insurance cover, you may have travel insurance coverage for volunteer work such as:
- Manual work or work with power tools or working under 5 metres in height.
- Volunteer instructor or guide of a covered sport or activity if you have the appropriate qualification, certification or license to participate in this covered sport, activity or experience.
Make sure you add the activity when you purchase your travel insurance so it’s included in your policy. If you can’t find the activity in our list, contact us for help.
Which volunteer activities are excluded
Some volunteer activities may not be covered as they’re just too risky, for example volunteer fire-fighting, panther minding or activities in places known to be unsafe or dangerous. This includes volunteer work that is:
- Work performed over 5 metres in height.
- Work performed offshore, underground or in caves.
- Operating machinery.
- Working with dangerous animals and / or big game.
What else isn’t covered?
As a global citizen contributing to good causes, we hope you’ll act responsibly and within your limits! But just to be clear, we won’t cover any incidents related to:
- Alcohol or drug abuse.
- Reckless behavior.
- Criminal or illegal acts.
- Changing your mind.
- Existing medical conditions unless specified under your Policy Document.
- Third party compensation and legal expenses.
- Your legal and personal liability following professional advice or other services performed by you as a volunteer.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered.
If haven’t yet chosen a volunteer program, you can find inspiration in our article about choosing ethical volunteer programs.
- Buy while travelling
- Get cover 24/7 online
- Instant confirmation
- Ongoing traveler support
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
Waiting periods apply
It's not always fun.
Due to mishap, my frenulum on my penis got severely damaged. During intercourse with my girlfriend it nearly ripped and caused me a lot of pain and blood. I went to the doctor and he operated on it. Now everything is okay again.
Danish Resident.
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
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy deceased?
- Close relative dropped dead?
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 drugs?
- 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 abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- 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 volunteering while traveling. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask the customer service team.
-
Will travel insurance cover me for countries other than those listed on my policy?
That depends on your policy and your country of residence. You may have to put in a request with the customer service team for a country to be added to your policy.
-
Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Travel insurance policies are designed for accidents or unexpected illnesses overseas. They don't stand in place of primary medical insurance or your home health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what’s happened. If it’s an emergency situation where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads may cover these costs upfront. You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
Travel insurance for volunteering
Get cover for your good deeds
- As featured in:
As featured in:
Clean Up Australia Day isn’t the only time us Aussies volunteer.
We have a long and proud history of helping out when we travel abroad, and World Nomads Travel Insurance is a strong supporter of paying it forward and giving back too.
Our travel insurance allows you to participate in a range of volunteer activities and vacations, from summer teaching programs to clean water projects. What better way to strengthen communities, forge meaningful connections and open eyes (and hearts) than by contributing to a worthy purpose?
What’s covered for volunteers?
Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time? If you need volunteer travel insurance because you want to volunteer overseas, or you’re planning a volunteer vacation, World Nomads travel insurance plans may include coverage for:
-
Trip cancellation
-
Trip interruption
-
Medical emergency care
-
Emergency evacuation
-
Baggage delay
-
Theft of baggage and personal belongings
What volunteer activities may I participate in?
While we don’t cover all kinds of volunteering (see the exclusions listed below) the kinds of volunteer work we might cover include:
We cover various kinds of volunteering such as
-
Hospitality including serving the homeless dinner
-
Retail work such as helping out in a co-op shop.
-
General farm work which may include activities such as conservation and environmental work
-
Teaching.
-
Clerical work.
-
Childcare.
If you purchase a higher level of travel insurance cover, you may have travel insurance coverage for volunteer work such as:
-
Manual work or work with power tools or working under 5 metres in height.
-
Volunteer instructor or guide of a covered sport or activity, if you have the appropriate qualification, certification or license to participate in this covered sport, activity or experience and it must not be one of our excluded activities.
Make sure you add the activity when you purchase your travel insurance so it’s included in your policy. If you can’t find the activity in our list, contact us for help.
Which volunteer activities are excluded
Some volunteer activities may not be covered as they’re just too risky for us to cover, for example, volunteer fire-fighting, panther minding or activities in places known to be unsafe or dangerous.
This includes volunteer work that includes:
-
Work performed over 5 metres in height.
-
Work performed offshore, underground or in caves.
-
Operating machinery.
-
Working with dangerous animals and / or big game.
What else isn’t covered?
As a global citizen contributing to good causes, we hope you’ll act responsibly and within your limits! But just to be clear, we won’t cover any incidents related to:
-
Alcohol or drug abuse
-
Reckless behavior
-
Criminal or illegal acts
-
Changing your mind
-
Pre-existing medical conditions unless specified under your policy
-
Third party compensation and legal expenses
-
Your legal and personal liability following professional advice or other services performed by you as a volunteer.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered.
If haven’t yet chosen a volunteer program, you may find inspiration in our article about choosing ethical volunteer programs.
- Buy while traveling
- Get cover 24/7 online
- Instant confirmation
- Ongoing traveler support
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
Waiting periods apply
It's not always fun.
Due to mishap, my frenulum on my penis got severely damaged. During intercourse with my girlfriend it nearly ripped and caused me a lot of pain and blood. I went to the doctor and he operated on it. Now everything is okay again.
Danish Resident.
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
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy deceased?
- Close relative dropped dead?
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 drugs?
- 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 abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- 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 volunteering and travel insurance cover. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask the customer service team.
-
Will travel insurance cover me for countries other than those listed on my policy?
That depends on your policy and your country of residence. You may have to put in a request with the customer service team for a country to be added to your policy.
-
Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Travel insurance policies are designed for accidents or unexpected illnesses overseas. They don't stand in place of primary medical insurance or your home health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what’s happened. If it’s an emergency situation where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads may cover these costs upfront. You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
Why buy travel insurance?
Wanting to know more about travel insurance and what it does?
- As featured in:
As featured in:
In most cases, traveling overseas goes without a hitch. So, you may be asking yourself, “why would I need travel insurance?”.
- Want more of our plan details?
- Cancellation cover
- Baggage and valuables cover
- Cover for Coronavirus-related events
- What you should look out for when considering travel insurance
Travel insurance may not always be required, but when that illness, injury, baggage delay or trip interruption occurs, and you’re left out in the cold it could come in very handy. World Nomads may offer travel insurance for several events, some of these include:
- Hospitalization due to a severe injury or illness
- A flight is delayed or canceled
- If your bags and valuables are delayed, stolen or damaged
- When you urgently need 24-hour Emergency Assistance
- If you’re planning to be active and doing outdoor adventures (we offer over 200+ activities, sports and experiences)
- If you need cover for a multi-destination trip
- If you’re travelling with family and need cover for dependants
- Cover for some Coronavirus-related events
If you’re still not convinced, then consider the following: you’re overseas on your European ski trip enjoying the French Alps, you have a bad skiing accident and end up in hospital injured. Depending on your injuries your recovery could take days. You may also need to think about medical repatriation, paying for extra accommodation, prescribed medication, and any other unforeseen costs.
We always want our travelers to enjoy their holiday, but it doesn't always go smoothly. Luckily, we’ve seen great outcomes from countless cases where our customers were covered under our Standard or Explorer plans. Many happy customers have received the timely assistance they needed without needing to max out their credit card and avoided some major headaches along the way.
Traveler tip 1: if you’re in need of urgent medical assistance, all you have to do is call the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. They will guide you through issues such as: providing assistance on how to recover a lost or stolen passport; directions to the nearest medical facility; and, if necessary, determine how to safely transport you back home; and much more.
Want more of our plan details?
You can compare our Standard and Explorer plans and prices through getting an instant online quote.
Here are just some reasons travel insurance may be a good idea to consider on your next overseas vacation:
Overseas medical and dental cover and medical evacuation
If there's one big reason to consider buying travel insurance, this is it. In many cases, if you get sick, the hospital won't treat you without upfront payment or providing proof of an insurance policy. World Nomads travel insurance can cover overseas emergency medical expenses including:
- Hospitalization
- Out-patient treatment (that doesn’t require hospital admission)
- Prescribed medicines
- Dental care
- Transport to get you home for ongoing treatment if we decide it's medically necessary.
This is not a full list of what's covered. There are limits and conditions that apply, so for more information check out our article on overseas medical coverage, and read your policy carefully before you buy.
Cancellation cover
Have to cancel your trip? When you start paying for your airfares and accommodation, it makes sense to protect what you've spent in case you can't travel. All our policies can help cover flights and accommodation if:
- You become sick or injured
- You, your traveling companion or a family member suffers a serious covered illness or injury
- You, your traveling companion or a family member dies
- You can't stay at your destination because it's uninhabitable due to a natural disaster
If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason, our travel plans may help save you money and time, but if you don’t have insurance, you could be paying for a trip you were unable to take and many more headaches.
Baggage and valuables cover
Bags can go missing from airline check-ins and things get stolen when left unattended while on holidays. If you are taking several bags and have valuables such as skis, a camera and lenses, or a fancy designer dress that you would like to cover, then our policies can help with cover for high-value items in case of loss, theft, or damage when your bag is checked in with a carrier or because of a theft. We can also cover your essential items if your bag is delayed – think toiletries, underwear, a clean shirt, and some socks.
Cover for Coronavirus-related events
Coverage for any COVID-19-related events under our Standard and Explorer plans will depend on your Country of Residence and the plan you’ve selected. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas, your benefits may include:
- 24/7 access to our Emergency Assistance Team, who can help you access local medical care
- Medical costs including hospitalization
- Evacuation or repatriation if deemed medically necessary by us and in consultation with your attending medical practitioner.
Some of our Explorer plans also offer cover for some additional COVID-19-related events such as cancellation following a diagnosis to assist our travelers. To find out what cover applies to you, read our What's Covered for Coronavirus? article, which has all the details, including benefit limits, terms and conditions, and exclusions.
Note: don't forget to read the policy wording when you hit the quote button as all plans are different – don't just assume you are covered in every situation, as terms and conditions, benefit limits, and exclusions may apply.
Buy or extend travel insurance while overseas
With a World Nomads policy, you can buy cover anytime, anywhere. Plus, if you decide to stay longer somewhere, we are happy to extend your policy if it's done before the end date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
Traveler tip 2: if you buy a policy while traveling overseas, there may be a waiting period before your cover is activated. The maximum duration available for any policy, including extensions varies based on your country of residence. For some regions it is 12 months from the start date indicated on your Certificate of Insurance, except for US and Brazil-based residents which is 180 days.
What you should look out for when considering travel insurance:
- Make sure you correctly choose the right trip dates, age limit, and level of cover.
- Ensure all your destinations are covered.
- Make sure you understand what a pre-existing medical condition is under our policies (coverage varies by country of residence).
- Some activities and sports may require an extra level of cover or may not be covered.
- Make sure you clearly understand the benefit limits and the excess as per the level of cover you've selected.
- Understand that there will be General Exclusions in your cover for which you won't be covered under any circumstances.
- Make copies of travel documents and keep receipts in case you need to make a claim.
Watch Anton's true claim story
I fell on my side and heard the sound of a dry stick breaking, I realized my leg was broken, then I just lay on the beach... The first phone call I got was from World Nomads and they basically told me, you don't worry about this Anton, just focus on getting better...and we'll take care of the rest.
Anton,
World Nomads customer from Iceland
About World Nomads
World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance. Featuring coverage for more than 200 activities, you can get a quote, claim, or extend your policy online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a summary 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 countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.
Want all the details?
You can compare the Standard and Explorer plans and prices through getting an instant online quote.
True Claims Stories
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
- Come to a sticky end?
- Called to jury duty?
- Been made redundant?
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 drugs?
- 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 abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- You or a family member dead?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- 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 team
