World Nomads love Scuba Diving

As passionate divers ourselves, we’ve designed our plans to cover dives from the Great Blue Hole to The Yongala.

• Scuba diving (qualified divers to 30 meters – an additional premium may apply)
• Learn-to-dive courses or discover scuba dives (with qualified instructors)
• Shark cage diving
• Snorkeling, island escapes, live-aboard trips, and more

*Note: All plans are different and may require an upgrade to go scuba diving. Conditions and exclusions apply. Read the policy wording carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip.

Knowing your cover for accidents overseas is a critical part of planning for any adventure. Whether you’re exploring on the grid or hurtling off it, serious accidents can happen anywhere, anytime.

Does World Nomads travel insurance cover medical expenses overseas?

Yes. You’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and their claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team before incurring medical costs. You must let us know how you are going and keep in contact with our EA team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

What’s covered by World Nomads travel insurance if I have an accident overseas?

If you’re injured in an accident, Irish residents may be covered for emergency medical treatment overseas including:

• Hospitalisation.
• Day surgery and out-patient treatment.
• Visits to registered medical practitioners.
• Medical evacuation including air ambulance, where medically required.

Our 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Team can guide you to the nearest hospital, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, and give support to your family.

What’s not covered?

• If you’re intoxicated due to excessive intake of drugs or alcohol.
• If you’re doing an activity the policy doesn’t cover.
• If you’ve been acting recklessly or illegally.
• If you ride a motorbike without a helmet or the correct licence.

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.

Recent world events have shocked most of us with terrorist events on our doorstep and at many of our favourite holiday destinations.

Our travellers know that staying aware at all times is key to staying safe, but there are some things you can never anticipate, and a terrorist event is one of those.

What can travel insurance cover if there's a terrorist attack?

In the event of a terrorist attack, our travel insurance offers limited cover:

You decide to stay and travel: If you decide to stay and travel, as long as there is no directive from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or a similar body recommending evacuation, your policy will continue. There is still an exclusion for events related to terrorist activity, except for your medical expenses overseas if you are injured due to a terrorist event.

You’re injured or die in a terrorist attack: If you bought your policy on or after 1 August 2019 and you’re injured or die in a terrorist attack, our policies may provide cover for emergency medical and dental assistance overseas. You can’t have travelled against the advice of the Irish DFA or participated in the terrorist activity (obviously).

 Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team can help you navigate next steps if you’re caught up in the chaos and aftermath of an attack and are trying to continue your trip.

What’s not covered by travel insurance if there's a terror attack?

Terrorist attacks are understandably traumatic. If you’re worried one might occur, or following an attack you want to travel elsewhere or go back to Ireland, we consider that to be a change of mind and we won’t cover you for those costs to change your plans.

In addition, our policy does not cover:

• If you choose to travel to a destination for which the Irish DFA has advised against all, or all but essential, travel.
• Non-medical evacuation
• If you change your mind.
• Any pre-trip cancellation expenses.
• If you decide to return to Ireland early.
• If you have to leave where you are staying and leave your stuff behind, you will not be able to replace it.
• Buying a policy after the event happens will not cover you for any event-related injuries

You must also remember that if you knowingly put yourself in danger you may void your travel insurance. This means if there’s a warning of a terrorist attack or you were likely to have had knowledge there might be one, and you put yourself at risk by travelling to or staying in the vicinity of that area, then your cover may be void.

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.

Pregnancy shouldn't be a reason to stop your next adventure. But with a new addition on board, travel insurance may help you look after yourself and bub-to-be if you're suddenly injured or have unexpected complications with your pregnancy while travelling. 

What travel insurance will cover during pregnancy

If you're travelling and have a pregnancy complication due to an accidental bodily injury or unexpected illness on your trip, our policies may offer cover for:

• Emergency medical treatment overseas.
• Hospitalisation.
• Ambulance transfers.
• Transport to get you home for ongoing treatment (if medically required).
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance

You must not have been more than 28 weeks pregnant at the start of your trip (or 24 weeks for multiple births).

You must be able to provide confirmation from a medical practitioner or midwife that you were fit to travel, in the event of a claim.

If you’re confirmed not fit to travel, or if you will be more than 28 weeks pregnant at the start of your trip (or 24 weeks for multiple births), you can make a claim under Cancelling Your Trip provided you purchased this policy/booked a trip before you were aware you would not be able to travel.

To find out all the details on our travel insurance cover for pregnancy you can read our Help Center article for Irish travellers.

It’s also a good idea to check with the airline before you pay for your ticket to see if they have any restrictions on carrying a pregnant person.

What we won’t cover

We won’t cover a number of circumstances including, but not limited to:

• Having a pre-existing medical condition that results in complications.
• Normal costs associated with pregnancy or childbirth. This includes routine medical care such as your antenatal check-ups and scans, costs associated with giving birth, and care for a newborn baby. 
• Doing anything illegal.
• Travelling against the advice of a medically qualified doctor.
• Drugs or alcohol-related injuries or illnesses.
• Deliberate self-harm or wilful exposure to exceptional risk.

This is not a full list of what's covered and what's not covered. There are limits and conditions that apply, so please read your Policy Wording carefully before you buy for all the details.

How to get assistance if you're sick or injured while pregnant

You’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and their claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team before incurring medical costs. You must let us know how you are going and keep in contact with our assistance team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

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 after 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 Irish travellers get back on their feet our policy has been designed to help out when some unexpected illness or injury strikes and you’re ready to get back on the road again.

Keep in mind that you’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and their claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team before incurring medical costs. You must let us know how you are going and keep in contact with our assistance team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

What’s covered by overseas medical travel insurance?

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

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 including a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or medical facilities in your location or nearby.
• Hospitalisation.
• Out-patient care and day surgery.
• Ambulances and medical transport, including by helicopter if medically necessary and available.
• Prescribed medicines.
• Transport home to Ireland if we deem it medically necessary.

Am I covered for COVID-19 while overseas?

All our plans include emergency medical cover for travellers who get sick with Coronavirus while overseas (excluding pre-existing medical conditions, as outlined in the Policy Wording). If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas 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 policy. Cover may apply only if there is a sudden and unexpected accident or illness and for expenses for which there is no reciprocal health agreement in the country in which you are travelling.

If you are travelling to a country where Ireland has a reciprocal healthcare agreement, such as Australia or EU countries, you will need to apply for reciprocal health cover before you leave Ireland.

What’s not covered by travel insurance?

Though our policy may cover accidents and emergencies, it’s not a catch-all for every incident 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.
• If you’ve been acting recklessly.
• Pre-existing medical conditions as defined in the Policy Wording.
• Ongoing treatment at home.
• Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you get home.
• Medical expenses covered under a reciprocal health agreement in 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

For our Irish travellers, if you have private medical insurance (PMI) in Ireland, get in touch first with your PMI provider and follow their emergency assistance and claims procedures. If you do not have PMI or they can no longer assist, it’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team as soon as reasonably possible 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.

Serious accidents or illnesses can happen at any time during your trip, whether you’re trekking through the Eurasian Steppe or (not so) simply crossing the road in Vietnam. And if it’s bad enough to end your trip mid-way or if our medical teams recommend you return to Ireland for treatment, our repatriation cover can help get you home safely.

The cost of medical evacuations can vary, depending on a number of circumstances, including the remoteness of the location from which the evacuation might occur, as well as the type of medical care required for injuries or illnesses incurred. That's what our emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance in all of our plans is designed to cover.

Keep in mind that you’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and their claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team before incurring medical costs. You must let us know how you are going and keep in contact with our assistance team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

I need help now – what do I do?

The first step when you have been admitted as an inpatient for at least one night is to contact us is to get medical help, and as soon as is reasonably possible contact us (or get someone else to do so on your behalf). Our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team can make arrangements and get pre-authorisation for your repatriation home if it's required. Our doctors and nurses have seen some horrific accidents and illnesses and have helped thousands of travellers get home safely to fully recover.

Our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance teams are trained to help in these situations, negotiating the complexities of hospitals, specialist transportation, airline approvals and medical escorts so you (and your family) can focus on your recovery.

World Nomads offers benefits for medical issues related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) under the Emergency Medical Expenses & Medical Repatriation section; please note that benefit limits vary between our Standard and Explorer Plans.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas and it’s not considered a ‘pre-existing medical condition’ under our policy, your benefits include evacuation or repatriation if deemed necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.

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

How World Nomads travel insurance can get you home

Travel insurance is made to cover emergency treatment overseas and, if necessary, cover to rearrange your initial travel plans or for specialist medical transportation to get you back to Ireland. If our medical teams believe it’s necessary to bring you home for treatment or ongoing care, there’s cover in all of our policies for:

• Air Ambulance
• Sea Level Aircraft
• Ground Ambulance
• Flight changes, upgrades or just more space
• Flight upgrade + medical staff

Please note that cover is up to the amount shown in your Policy Wording and is subject to our Emergency Medical Assistance team or us, on the advice of a medical practitioner appointed by us in consultation with your medical practitioner overseas, first deciding that:

• Transportation is medically necessary; and
• The style and timing of the transportation are reasonable and appropriate; and
• You're medically fit to be evacuated; and
• You should be transferred to Ireland.

What's not covered

There are some cases where it's just not possible to provide cover:

• Flight upgrades, new flights or changes without our approval (or where it's not medically necessary).
• Refusal to return home for treatment.
• Changing your mind to not continue your trip, even if you're fit to travel.
• Medical expenses once you're back in your home country.
• A joy flight to get down off the mountain after you've reached Base Camp.

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.

Having insurance for emergency dental can mean the difference between a taste adventure or a disaster. That’s why we want to offer our Irish travellers cover for emergency 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 overseas if you urgently need to see a dentist for the immediate relief of sudden and acute pain to your teeth while traveling if:

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

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, contact our 24/7 Emergency 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 Ireland

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.

When you’re travelling, you don’t always have control over what happens to your gear: it can get stolen, damaged, be sent to the wrong airport or get lost permanently in transit. That’s where baggage and personal belongings cover can help.

Baggage and personal belongings travel insurance: what's covered?

All World Nomads plans for Irish residents include coverage for your luggage and personal items you take with you. Cover includes:

• Necessities (e.g underwear & toiletries) if your baggage is delayed for at least 24 hours.
• The depreciated value of any items lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
• Specific high-value items you have paid an additional insurance premium for and which are shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
• The additional cost of obtaining a replacement passport or visa including accommodation, travel and fees that you would otherwise not have paid.
• If you buy the Explorer Plan, the policy also covers accidental loss or theft of your own money while you were carrying it or if you left it in a locked safety deposit box.

What’s not covered?

There are a number of items our policy for Irish residents doesn’t cover and if you don’t look after your belongings properly, you may not be covered either.

• If you don't keep your gear safe and secure. 
• If you don't report the loss to the police and appropriate carrier or authority within 24 hours of the loss being discovered. Get a written report!
• Any item that is covered under another insurance policy or where it is recoverable from another source.
• Sporting equipment while in use. 

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.

Don't make your family pay to bring your remains home.

Travel Insurance cover overseas death ensures that your remains can be brought home without placing a financial burden on your loved ones, helping to ease their distress during an already challenging time. 

What’s covered by my Travel Insurance if I die while overseas?

If you die due to a sudden illness or injury while overseas we will pay for the reasonable cost (up to the benefit limit) for the following:

• Transport your remains back to Ireland or for local funeral expenses (cremation or burial).
• Any statutory arrangements required to transport your remains or for a local funeral (such as embalming and a zinc coffin).
• Cremation overseas and transport of your ashes to Ireland.

Most importantly, our 24 hour Emergency Medical Assistance Team will be able to keep your family informed and help them navigate (through trusted third-party assistance) the often difficult local regulations and administration required after your death.

This may include putting them in touch with consular officials, navigating and understanding local processes and helping access the services you need locally to transport your body back home.

What’s not covered by travel insurance?

There are exclusions and conditions that apply to travel insurance cover, including, but not limited to:

• Loss of life through suicide.
• Dying from drugs or alcohol.
• Pre-existing medical conditions, as explained in the Policy Wording.
• Doing anything illegal that results in your death.
• Any costs within Ireland once your remains are returned to your next of kin.

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 complex requirements and unexpected high costs. The World Nomads Emergency Assistance team can coordinate a local burial or bring home loved ones with trusted partners on the ground and ensure that families and friends are supported throughout such a difficult time.

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.