For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.

• Does World Nomads travel insurance cover my tech?
• Can I get medical coverage as part of my travel insurance plan for digital nomads?
• What's not covered by travel insurance for digital nomads?

The 9-5 grind of work isn’t so bad if you have your toes in the sand and a fruity drink by your side. How about a lunchtime surf lesson? Yes, please! These days, you can work from just about anywhere in the world with a strong WiFi connection. For good reason, an increasing amount of people are becoming digital nomads. If you are thinking about jumping on this trend, you may want to consider what happens if something unexpected pops up like a jellyfish sting or beach-side theft.

World Nomads’ travel insurance plans* are great for digital nomads and are designed to adapt to the choice and flexibility of your lifestyle on the road, beach, trail or mountain-side hut. Coverage is available for Americans on international trips or for domestic trips at least 100 miles away from home.

Does travel insurance for digital nomads cover my tech?

In today’s tech-centric world, taking your gadgets on the road is just as common and essential as packing an extra pair of socks. Whether you’re plugging into your social network or updating your blog in a hub, our plans may provide cover for your personal laptop, smart phones and other devices that you take with you on your trip. Our travel insurance plans are designed with digital nomads in mind.

Our plans are designed to provide cover for your baggage and personal effects, including electronic devices, personal computers, and cameras. Note though that our plans provide cover for your personal electronics that you own and take with you on your trip; we will not cover your professional gear that is owned by someone other than yourself or used for professional purposes.

The benefit limits available under our plans will depend on the plan you have selected. Our Single-Trip and Annual plans offer different per-item and total limits. The plans may offer coverage if:

• Your gear is stolen, provided you have taken all reasonable measures to protect and recover your property.
• Your electronics are lost or damaged by a common carrier (an airline, for example).

If your checked baggage is lost or delayed by an airline, our partnership with a Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery non-insurance service can help with a prompt recovery. The service tracks and expedites your lost luggage, allowing you to continue your travels smoothly. Included in all plans, this service covers every flight on any airline worldwide. You'll receive updates at every step. Just report your lost bags to the airline, then provide the file reference, record locator number, and Property Irregularity Report.

Note: Depreciation and wear and tear will be considered when calculating the value of your electronic items.

Can I get medical coverage as part of my travel insurance plan for digital nomads?

Another important consideration for traveling for extended periods is medical coverage. What should you do if you get into an accident or get terribly sick?

First things first. You shouldn’t think of travel insurance as a replacement for a health care plan that you would purchase at home — or depend on the charity of another country to pick up your medical bills. Travel insurance won’t pay for everyday or preventative care, such as allergy medications, birth control pills, nutritional consultations or the CBD cream that could relieve the back pain that’s been nagging you for years. But a snake bite, bout with food poisoning or ski accident? You can count on World Nomads plans to come in handy during medical emergencies — and that includes evacuation when you need to get to a hospital urgently or back to the United States for care. Travel insurance is designed to cover losses from unforeseen and emergency circumstances only.

When you’re far from home, the last thing you want to do is to face a crisis alone. Don’t forget about the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team. You should contact us when you find yourself in an urgent situation. Besides offering hospital and physician referrals (we vet our providers very carefully), the team can provide other methods of support, such as notifying your family or even arranging food delivery to your hospital room.

What's not covered by travel insurance for digital nomads?

When it comes to baggage and personal belongings, the following exclusions apply:

• When you leave your personal belongings behind in an unsupervised place (this includes your car).
• Gear or equipment that you use for professional purposes.
• Electronic malfunctions (You'll have to hit up the manufacturer).
• When you fail to file a loss or theft report with the local authorities or the representative of the venue where it took place, such as a common carrier, tour operator or other travel provider.
• Items that you can’t prove you own (for example, you don’t have a record of their purchase).

For emergency medical treatment and evacuation, coverage is not provided for:

• Any medical bills related to a pre-existing condition, unless you purchased the Epic or Explorer plan during the time-sensitive period were medically able to travel at the time of purchase.
• A non-emergency treatment or surgery, such as routine physical examinations (it’s not regular health insurance; it’s for medical emergencies).
• Pregnancy and childbirth (except for complications of pregnancy).

Getting it wrong can mean not being able to replace your lost baggage, or shelling out for ski hire when yours fails to arrive off the luggage conveyer belt.

How do I compare travel insurance policies?

You must make sure the policy you select will adequately cover you, so we suggest the best starting point is determining:

1. What you are planning on doing
2. Where you are going
3. How long you’ll be gone for

Once you’ve done that, the next step is to consider the level of cover you’ll need and what you’ll need coverage for. To help you, the claims we most often see are:

• Overseas medical
• Baggage
• Cancellation

The other must have is 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance so no matter where you are or what time it is, there’s someone just a phone call away waiting to help you and your family.

Which travel insurance policy do I need?

To compare travel insurance policies just enter a few details online about yourself and you'll be able to compare our Standard and Explorer options, their benefits, and how much you’re covered for.

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 you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Taking the time to compare travel insurance policies can be the difference between making sure you get help when you need it most… or being left uncovered.  That’s why World Nomads has made comparing our travel insurance simple, so you can see at a glance what is and isn’t covered.

Getting it wrong can mean not being able to replace your lost baggage, or shelling out for ski hire when yours ski gear fails to arrive off the luggage conveyer belt.

How do I compare travel insurance policies?

You must make sure the policy you select will adequately cover you, so we suggest the best starting point is determining:

1. What you are planning on doing
2. Where you are going
3. How long you’ll be gone for

Once you’ve done that, the next step is to consider the level of cover you’ll need and what you’ll need coverage for. To help you, the claims we most often see are:

• Overseas medical
• Baggage
• Cancellation

We believe the other must have is 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance so no matter where you are or what time it is, there’s someone just a phone call away waiting to help you and your family.

Which travel insurance policy do I need?

To compare travel insurance policies just enter a few details online about yourself and you'll be able to compare our Standard and Explorer options, their benefits, and how much you’re covered for.

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 Policy Document 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.

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 home for treatment, our repatriation cover can help get you home as safely as possible.

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.

Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any statutory health insurance, or any available reciprocal health agreements (including your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Where urgent medical assistance is required, 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 Emergency Medical Assistance team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

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.

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 home. 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 the United Kingdom.

World Nomads offers benefits for medical issues related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) under the 'Emergency Medical Expenses & Medical Repatriation' section. 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 medically necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.

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

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 as soon as possible (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.

What's not covered by World Nomads travel insurance

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. 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).
• When you refuse 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.

This is not a full list of what's covered and what's not covered. There are limits and conditions that apply, so for more information check out our article on medical transport and repatriation

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.  

Get a quote today.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.

This content is for New Zealand travellers.

It's just about the ultimate travel nightmare. You reach for your passport... and it's gone! It happens a lot. Sometimes it's a deliberately targeted item, sometimes it's just something in a bag that got snatched. Either way, you need help, and quickly.

What does travel insurance cover if my passport is stolen?

After you've spoken to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to notify them that the passport's been stolen, lost or damaged, you'll probably need to make your way to the nearest consulate or embassy.

Keep your receipt for that taxi fare – you can claim it. Worst case scenario, the nearest embassy isn't in the same city as you. You can claim the cost of travelling to where you need to be to replace the passport.

If you have to cancel other bookings because you're waiting for a new passport to be issued, you can claim that too. We'll also cover the cost of a temporary replacement passport. If you need a full replacement of your passport, our cover will be based off the amount of time remaining on your original passport (e.g. you paid NZD$480 for your passport 5 years ago. It's valid for 10 years, so we'd pay you NZD$240).

What's not covered?

All the exclusions that apply to other pieces of luggage also apply to passports. Leaving it somewhere by accident or leaving it unattended means it won't be covered. If we don't cover the passport itself, then we won't cover the costs relating to getting a new one.

We also won't cover it without the report from MFAT or the embassy/consulate – you must report a lost or stolen passport under New Zealand law, so you'll want to do that anyway... not to mention that they probably won't let you leave the country without a valid passport!

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 Policy Document 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.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.

Travel Insurance for health emergencies

Travel insurance is there to help you when you need it most. If you've been involved in an accident or you've fallen ill and need medical care, our travel insurance policies can help patch you up and get you back on the road. 

Just keep in mind that our policies are travel insurance policies not health insurance policies, and many policies don't cover existing medical conditions. Make sure you read through your policy carefully to see how and if you can be covered. 

So this isn't a health insurance plan?

No, it's a travel insurance policy. It's there for overseas unexpected medical emergencies. It's not designed to cover cover ongoing illness, routine check-ups or treatment overseas, or any treatment when you get home. 

What does travel insurance cover if I'm sick or injured?

If you’re injured in an accident or suddenly become ill while travelling, you can be covered for overseas emergency medical treatment including:

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

We also have 24/7 Emergency Assistance teams who can guide you to the nearest hospital, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, and give support to your family. Coverage may depend on your past medical history, what's happened to you and any other conditions, limits or exclusions of cover as described in your policy.

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?

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

• If you're intoxicated as a result of taking drugs or alcohol.
• Where you've been acting recklessly.
• Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you return home to New Zealand (that's what your health insurance or national health coverage at home is designed to do).
• Any existing medical conditions.
• Ongoing treatment at home.

For more information check out our articles on overseas medical coverage and adventure sports coverage.

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 Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form, and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 8 November 2022, 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 8 November 2022, please see below.

Looking for comprehensive travel insurance to cover your (or your child’s) adventure overseas? World Nomads has designed our travel insurance cover with the adventurous in mind and covers many activities up-front.

Are you looking for comprehensive travel insurance?

While we won't say our travel insurance is comprehensive (because it doesn't cover everything), our travellers get up to all sorts of different things, so we offer two levels of cover - Standard and Explorer - with options to include extra activities to cover both the more, and less, adventurous.

As you'd expect, every policy is different and has multiple benefits. However, all of them include:

• Medical expenses abroad
• Cancellation
• Luggage/baggage cover
• 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance

You also have access to World Nomads’ community of like-minded travellers, language guides, safety information, travel guides and more.

There are limits, conditions and exclusions which apply, so be sure to read the policy wording before you buy a policy. 

What's not covered?

If you put yourself in danger then we won’t cover you. This includes going to places the Foreign Ministry of your Country of Residence tells you not to, doing activities that you’re not qualified for or are too dangerous. We have a list of covered activities in our policies and if you’re not sure, give us a call and we’ll let you know if we’ll cover it or not.

Other things we won’t cover include:

• Anything illegal (you didn’t really think we’d cover that did you?)
• Drugs or alcohol abuse
• Pre-existing medical conditions (however if you're pregnant, read the policy wording to understand cover that's available, including for 'complications of pregnancy')

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 you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.