Travel insurance can cover repatriation if you encounter a medical emergency abroad and need to be evacuated.
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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.
Whether you’re trekking to see Machu Picchu, surfing in Maui, scuba diving off the coast of Thailand, or skiing in Canada, accidents or sickness can happen at any time during your trip. If you’re far from appropriate medical facilities, emergency evacuation insurance can help get you the care you need.
Unexpected medical emergencies can happen at any time, whether you’re near or far from home. Appendicitis, a broken leg, animal bites and even a bout of severe food poisoning have all sent travelers to the hospital. But what happens if the nearest hospital or appropriate medical facility is dozens or even hundreds of miles away?
Medical transport – particularly Medevac flights – can cost tens of thousands of dollars. What could be a lifesaver could deplete your savings. Emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage may cover, up to the policy limits, the cost to get you to the closest appropriate medical facility or home for further treatment.
An emergency evacuation involves transporting patients to a hospital or other medical facility in order to be treated.
Repatriation is a type of evacuation that returns travelers back home, typically after their condition has stabilized and when a doctor advises that they should no longer travel.
And in a worst-case scenario, if a traveler dies on vacation, World Nomads travel insurance also covers repatriation of remains. It’s not an easy thing to think about, but it does happen from time to time.
Under your World Nomads plan, emergency medical evacuation is covered if it’s recommended by the attending physician and pre-approved by our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team. This benefit could include transportation costs and any related medical services or supplies. If you’re going to be at the hospital for a prolonged period of time, it may also include the transportation of a family member or companion to your bedside or the return of a dependent child back to your home.
Emergency evacuation and repatriation typically takes place through a commercial flight, though other modes of transportation could include:
The key thing to remember is that you need to get pre-authorization for a medical evacuation.
Our travel insurance plans exclude coverage for any of the following:
This is not a full list of what's covered and what's not covered. Other limits and conditions may apply. Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually Please read your policy wording in full and contact us if you have any questions, we’re happy to help.
In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call the local emergency authorities first to receive immediate assistance, and then contact our 27/7 Emergency Assistance Team, who can support you every step of the way.
Please be ready with the following:
On my second day in Burma, I woke up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal distress. I was rushed to the Asia Royal Hospital and immediately taken for evaluation and an ultrasound. I had a large mass in my abdomen and evacuated to Bangkok that evening to see a specialist. I was admitted to Bumrungrad International Hospital, where I stayed for eight days for a battery of tests, including several ultrasounds, a CT scan, and two aspirations of what turned out to be a renal cyst. After a conditional discharge, where I was restricted to rest, I was deemed stable enough to be evacuated. Two days later I was on a flight back to the U.S., where I am now continuing treatment.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions around medical repatriation and travel insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
Learn how travel insurance could help if your luggage misses your flight.
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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.
We’ve been stuck in some remote locations with only the clothes on our back, so we understand the need to freshen up when your bags don't arrive. If you’ve arrived at the snow without warm clothes, or the tropics without a fresh pair of underwear, we can help you navigate a common traveler gripe – delayed baggage.
When you arrive at your destination, but your bags don’t, and it’s looking like it will take some time for them to find their way back to you, World Nomads travel insurance* may help ease the blow.
If your checked-in bags are delayed by more than 12 hours en route to your destination, your plan can reimburse you for the essential items so you're not left wearing the same thing until your bags are found and returned.
Items you can claim reimbursement for if your bags are delayed include things like:
You may also be covered for other reasonable and (deemed) necessary essential items. For example, if you’ve arrived at the ski slopes in Europe without a warm jacket (and other clothing to suit the weather of your destination), or you’ve traveled for a big event like a wedding and your dress or tux was in your checked bag.
Get in touch if you’re unsure what you can claim and be sure to look at your plan wording, including per-day and maximum limits, before making any purchase to replace your delayed items. When you get a quote, you can compare the coverage and limits in our plans side-by-side.
If your checked baggage is lost or delayed by an airline, you should first talk with the airline and try to get it sorted out with them. If the bag is still lost, your next message should be to our non-insurance Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery service partner. They will get on the case and get your bag headed in the right direction, quickly. 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 on the requested form.
While things like a change of clothes and toiletries fall under the ‘items you can claim if your bags are delayed’ umbrella, not everything is reimbursable. The following items are excluded:
This is not a full list of exclusions. Please read your plan wording for full details including per-day and maximum limits.
If your bags are missing for an extended time, you’re probably going to need to make a claim. Travel insurance is secondary to other coverage you may have, so you will need to claim reimbursement with your common carrier first, then with us for the remaining amount your airline won’t cover.
There are limits on the amount you can spend, and if your bags are returned within the 12-hour waiting period, then coverage will not apply. So, before you go shopping for a new wardrobe, check your plan carefully on the limits, conditions and exclusions that may apply before you buy.
Sometimes it pays to squeeze everything into your carry-on luggage. Check out our handy tips for traveling with carry-on only and take care you don’t exceed luggage weight limits.
One of the best ways to keep your luggage safe is to keep your valuables with you. When in transit, take your most precious items out of your checked-in luggage and carry them with you in your carry-on luggage or daypack.
Finally, read our article on baggage and gear to learn about coverage for lost, stolen and damaged baggage.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.
I arrived in Delhi from Rome. Baggage claim help desk informed me that my bag had been delayed in transit. I was without my bag for almost a week before it was finally delivered to me. It was cold in Delhi (being winter, December) and my warm jacket was in my bag, requiring that I purchase a jacket and other items of warm clothing that I had not taken in my carry-on.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamLearn what’s covered for Americans if you need to cancel your trip.
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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.
Whether you love trying new foods, discovering different cultures or getting active outdoors, the joy of travel is hard to beat. If you have no choice but to cancel your trip, dealing with the disappointment is hard enough – the last thing you need is to be out of pocket for a trip you’ve planned, booked and paid for but can’t enjoy.
However, if this happens to you, you’ll be patting yourself on the back for getting travel insurance*. World Nomads insurance plans may reimburse you for the non-refundable, pre-paid dollars you’ve handed over for everything from activities and tours to transportation and accommodation. Now you can get on with planning your next adventure.
Trip cancellation is a benefit that reimburses you for pre-paid, forfeited, non-refundable trip payments if you need to cancel for an unforeseen, covered event such as an illness, injury, jury duty, a death in the family or an airline strike.
Reimbursable costs could include things like airfares, train tickets, hotel rooms or tour expenses. The amount you receive could be up to 100% of the trip cost, up to the maximum benefit amount specified in your plan.
Trip costs can add up, especially if you’re booking long-haul flights, extended hotel stays, group tours, cruises or packages. No matter how you travel, it’s no fun to lose what you’ve paid towards your trip when it turns out it’s a no-go. The next-best desirable outcome (other than going on your trip)? Getting reimbursed for your non-refundable expenses if you cancel for a covered reason.
Our single-trip and annual travel insurance plans all include trip cancellation coverage. Our Epic and Explorer plans also have the option to add-on a ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit. When you get a quote, you can compare the plans side-by-side and determine which one might be right for you.
All our plans include trip cancellation coverage that allows you to cancel your trip for a list of specified covered reasons, but if you purchase our Epic or Explorer plan for your travels within the time-sensitive period, you can also opt to include cancel for any reason add-on coverage. With cancel for any reason coverage, benefits will be paid for up to 75% of prepaid and non-refundable deposits and payments you made towards your canceled trip for a wider range of reasons. Broke up with your partner? You can safely cancel your trip. Sick dog? You don’t have to go. Change your mind about traveling? There’s no judgment here.
Keep in mind that conditions apply and last-minute cancellations (less than two days before departure) aren’t covered. Compare the plans to see which one best suits your needs. Cancel for any reason’ coverage is not available to residents of New York.
To be eligible for trip cancellation benefits, you’ll need to explain why your trip was canceled. You could be covered for the specific reasons listed in your travel insurance plan. Examples of covered reasons include:
To have coverage, you must also meet the plan conditions and eligibility requirements. For example, if you cancel your trip because of a terrorist incident, the incident must have occurred in a city listed on your itinerary within 30 days of your departure. And if your plans are disrupted by a strike, it must cause your common carrier to stop services for at least 24 hours. Read your full plan wording for a full list of requirements.
It's important to note that no coverage will be available for an event or circumstance that is known before you purchase your trip protection plan. Examples include but are not limited to an already-announced strike, an already-named hurricane, or a pre-existing medical condition (without the exclusion waiver).
Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, even though some circumstances are beyond your control. Our plans don’t offer trip cancellation coverage for:
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.
Depending on your case, you'll need copies of:
I had to cancel my trip to Tanzania because my wife hurt her back in an accident. I was supposed to leave in three days, but it is impossible now because I have to take her to the hospital for a scan. I paid for a Kilimanjaro climb which is not refundable because it was too close to my departure date. I also put down a deposit for a three-day safari and had to cancel flights and my volunteer job.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere 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.
Protect your luggage and personal belongings with World Nomads travel insurance for Americans.
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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.
If you’ve ever been the last one standing at the baggage carousel at an airport, waiting in vain for your belongings to appear, you know the sinking feeling that comes with losing your luggage.
While this is one of the most common ways your bags can go missing, other issues with your stuff can arise too, like delays, damage, and theft.
Our travel insurance* may help when your bag’s plans go awry.
We know how much your bags mean to you while you’re traveling. They hold all your carefully packed items, like your favorite hiking boots, your journal, and that special something you bought just for this trip. Sometimes all your worldly processions are in those bags! That’s why baggage coverage is your best bet when your bags go AWOL.
No matter which plan you choose (compare them, and then get a quote), you may be able to get assistance if any of these common problems happen to you:
You will need to prove you owned the items you are claiming for, including the clothes in your bag or the electronics in your backpack. The easiest way to do this is to save receipts and take photos of what you are packing, prior to leaving on the trip. However, if you don’t have either of those, you may still be able to make a claim. Also, it’s important to remember that depreciation will be taken into account in all lost bag claims.
Coverage is secondary to any coverage from your common carrier and are subject to per-item and total maximum benefit amounts as shown on your plans.
It’s important to read through your plan wording to become familiar with what is and isn’t covered, so there are no surprises if you need to make a claim.
If your checked baggage is lost or delayed by an airline, our partnership with a Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery Service could come to your rescue. This non-insurance 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 fill out the form. You’ll need the file reference, record locator number, and Property Irregularity Report.
While World Nomads travel insurance is designed to cover your trip essentials, travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Certain situations and circumstances may mean your baggage is not covered by your travel insurance. Travel insurance does not cover:
Had your bag stolen while on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? Or perhaps it got lost in transit en route to Peru? Bags can lose their way for a variety of reasons. It helps to know how to pick yourself back up again if you find yourself without your stuff while traveling.
If your luggage has been stolen or is lost along the way, there are a few things you need to do to increase the likelihood of your travel insurance reimbursing your loss. Take a look at this easy-to-follow guide for what to do if your luggage is stolen. Remember, the first rule of thumb is always to report it.
In addition, if your luggage is delayed more than 12 hours, you may be entitled to replacement costs for essential clothing and toiletries. Check your policy wording carefully as terms and conditions apply.
While stealthy thieves and misplaced bags are a traveling reality, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can keep in mind while traveling to help reduce the risk of losing your most valued processions.
From always packing and carrying your own bags to safeguarding your bags with zip ties, follow these essential tips from travelers on how to keep your belongings safe while you travel.
Ready to pack your bags? When you get a quote you can compare our single-trip and annual plans and decide which one might best suit your needs.
Still not sure? Get in touch and we can help you decide which travel insurance plan is best for your next adventure.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for delayed baggage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
When I arrived in Delhi from Rome, the baggage claim desk informed me that my bag had been delayed in transit. I was without my bag for almost a week before it was finally delivered. Since it was winter in Delhi, and my warm jacket was in my bag, I had to purchase a new jacket and other warm clothing that I had not packed in my carry-on.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamRobust medical coverage for Americans traveling abroad
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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.
We’ve seen some pretty hairy accidents and illnesses, from aneurysms to scooter crashes, and at least one shark bite! When the unexpected happens, you will want to know who to call and how to get help. When you purchase one of our travel insurance* plans, you can rest a bit easier on your trip knowing you made plans for the “just in case”.
One of the key reasons many travelers purchase travel insurance is to make sure they are covered for an unexpected injury or illness while on vacation. Food poisoning, bike accidents and serious illnesses happen more than you might imagine. Sometimes you might just need advice on where to find a local doctor to get some medicine. But a serious illness or injury may require hospitalization, surgery or other medical treatment. In many cases, if you get sick or injured, a hospital may not treat you without upfront payment or providing proof you purchased a travel insurance plan.
World Nomads travel insurance covers a wide range of overseas medical expenses, including:
This is not a full list of what's covered. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Coverage may depend on your past medical history, what's happened to you and any other conditions, limits, or exclusions of coverage as described in your plan.
With the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team, you’re never alone during a medical emergency. The team provides support to find local medical facilities and can even arrange repatriation if needed, ensuring your safety and well-being.
Our Single trip or Annual travel insurance plans for US residents all offer support should you unexpectedly get sick while traveling. Our medical coverage includes benefits for serious illnesses, such as COVID-19, or being placed under strict quarantine by a physician or government mandate, among other scenarios.
Your travel insurance plan may help with emergency medical treatment for unexpected injury or sickness, including contracting COVID-19 while you are traveling. You may also be eligible for Trip Interruption benefits if your travel arrangements have changed mid-trip because you’ve contracted COVID-19 and a doctor diagnoses you as too sick to travel.
For more information on benefit limits, conditions and exclusions, read our What’s Covered for Coronavirus article.
While our travel insurance offers extensive coverage, certain exclusions apply, such as some pre-existing medical conditions and non-emergency treatments that can wait until you return home. The following situations are excluded from coverage:
Here are a few other things you may want to keep in mind as you plan your trip:
It’s essential that you get in contact with our assistance teams as soon as possible so that our teams can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you're well again.
So that our Emergency Assistance teams can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
While visiting the Monkey Forest in Bali, I was bitten by a monkey and blood was drawn. After returning to our hotel we then visited a local doctor the same evening of the bite. I received the first Rabies vaccination and then went to the International SOS office in Bali for an examination. There I received a second rabies shot, and then immunoglobin shots.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Desk or you can ask our customer service team.
Get covered by World Nomads, even if you're already overseas
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Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
Already travelling, decided to extend your stay and realised your travel insurance has expired? Or worse… realised you never bought it in the first place?
With World Nomads, if you live in the United Kingdom and you’re 69 years or younger, you can buy a policy online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.
We’ve designed simple and flexible travel insurance so you can buy what you need, when you need it, even while travelling. If you forgot to buy a policy before you started your trip, are outside the UK, 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 after leaving home or when already overseas, a waiting period may apply, which means you may have to wait up to 72 hours for full cover to apply, and certain benefits (like pre-trip cancellation) may not be available as you’ve already left home (for trips solely winthin the UK) or boarded your transportation for international trips. Where the insurance is purchased after your trip has commenced, your country of residence will determine the laws, regulations and tax that apply.
Any illness or injury that occurs during the waiting period may be considered a pre-existing medical condition and, as a result, will not be covered. However, no waiting period applies if you're seriously injured as a result of an accident, if it’s witnessed by someone else, after you buy a policy.
Lastly, if you buy a new policy before your current policy expires, you'll have continuous cover. However, as your new policy terms and conditions may differ from your previous one, be sure to read the Policy Wording before you buy, as it will have full details of the cover, limits, conditions, and exclusions.
Waiting Periods apply
On the 25th of December I woke up feeling nausea, fever, headache, and lethargy. After two days with the symptoms not ceasing I went to a clinic and was admitted with severe malaria. I stayed in the hospital for two days taking shots for malaria and also saline drip.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamWith World Nomads, you can easily get travel insurance while already travelling.
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You’ve waited for this special getaway for so long. Maybe you’re heading out on a safari in Africa, backpacking through Europe, or learning to make pasta in Italy. With all the excitement of packing your bags, jumping on a plane, and jetting off to a faraway destination, travel insurance may have been the last thing on your mind. If you’ve already left Canada, you may now be asking yourself “Can I buy travel insurance while already abroad?” The answer is yes!
If you’ve left home without travel insurance, or your policy has run out and you’re still on the road, don’t panic. With World Nomads, you can easily get travel insurance while already travelling.
Anytime you’re travelling, there’s always going to be some things you can’t anticipate. Because of this, travel insurance may be something you want to consider. As travellers ourselves, we’ve experienced cancelled flights and have been left sitting at the carousel for the bag that never came. We’ve also known nomads who have dealt with everything from biking injuries to stolen iPhones. Nobody enjoys dealing with these things, but they happen.
If you don’t start thinking about all of the “what if’s” until you’ve left Canada though, that’s ok. It’s still easy to get travel insurance while already abroad.
You just need a good internet connection to get a quote for travel insurance while overseas. You’ll answer a few simple questions about your trip and follow the prompts that will outline the coverage and benefits offered by World Nomads travel insurance. You can then compare our Standard and Explorer plans side by side and select the best travel insurance plan for your needs. You’ll see that the Explorer plan costs more but has higher benefit limits and/or sub-limits than the Standard.
Make sure to add any activities you plan to participate in, read and accept the terms and conditions, pay for your insurance, and you’re done. It’s a simple process to buy travel insurance while already travelling, and within just a few minutes you’ll be back to lounging by the pool at your resort.
When you get a quote and purchase your travel insurance while overseas, you’ll see there’s several things that are covered.
World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Canadian residents. When you get a quote and purchase your World Nomads travel insurance, you’ll need to list your planned activities. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time. It is best to list out all possible activities you may do on your trip, even if you aren’t sure. This way you can travel worry-free. If you plan on participating in an activity that isn’t listed in your policy wording, you can contact us to determine if you’ll be covered.
Even if you have a Government Health Insurance Plan, it may only pay a small portion, if any, of your medical expenses while you’re travelling internationally. Unless you have travel insurance that includes emergency medical coverage, you will be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur when you see medical attention. Medical providers in some areas may even require upfront payment and in some cases, if you have travel insurance, the 24-hour Emergency Assistance team may be able to arrange payment directly with the medical provider.
Travel insurance from World Nomads includes overseas emergency medical coverage for Canadian travellers, and you could be reimbursed for things like an ambulance transfer, medication, or a hospital stay. You will still need to have Government Health Insurance Plan coverage in your home province while you are on your trip though. If you don’t, your total limit for all emergency medical expenses during your trip is limited to CAD $40,000.
Note that if you buy your World Nomads travel insurance plan while already abroad, there will be a 48 hour waiting period before you have emergency medical coverage for injury or sickness.
The availability of medical care is not the same in all destinations. If you get hurt hiking in a remote jungle in Thailand, you may find limited medical services available. Even if you’ve purchased your travel insurance while already abroad, local ground or air ambulance transportation and emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage will still be included in your World Nomads travel insurance plan. This coverage may help get you to a place that offers the level of care that you need, and could even assist with getting you back home to Canada if your attending physician and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team agrees that’s best for your treatment.
Baggage insurance may help reimburse the cost to replace your belongings if your bag was lost by a common carrier. World Nomads travel insurance includes coverage for lost bags, as well as delayed bags (up to your policy limits.) If your luggage is delayed more than 12 hours, you could be reimbursed for the costs of things like toiletries and a change of clothes.
Travel insurance covers many unwelcome situations that can occur while you’re on your trip. What happens if you unexpectedly get hurt while skiing in Japan and have to cut your trip short? Even if you wait to purchase your travel insurance while already abroad, your trip interruption coverage could help you be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you can’t recover those costs from the travel supplier.
The Canadian government offers travel advice and advisories for destinations across the world, and you can easily see if there are specific risks for your destination. For example, the Canadian government offers warnings about volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis in Chile. You often can’t plan for the unpredictable forces of nature, and World Nomads offers coverage for unanticipated natural disasters that may cause the Canadian Government to issue a travel advisory against travel.
Even the best travel insurance plans don’t cover everything. If you’ve thrown back too many cervezas in Mexico and trip and fall, you wouldn’t be covered for that.
A few other things that wouldn’t be covered include:
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions, just ask us.
On Christmas Day, I woke up feeling nausea, fever, headache, and lethargy. After two days the symptoms hadn’t disappeared so I went to a clinic and was admitted with severe malaria. I was in the hospital for two days and had to take medication.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
Yes. If you buy travel insurance while already abroad, there is a waiting period. There will be no coverage for any injury or sickness that occurs in the 48-hour period after your departure date (as defined in the policy).
World Nomads offers two different options for Canadian travellers. When you get a quote, you can check out the Standard and Explorer plans to compare coverage side by side. You can then determine the best travel insurance plan is the best for your particular needs.
You can get an instant quote for travel insurance online and the whole process only takes a few minutes. Be sure to read your policy to see exactly what coverage is included.
Yes, World Nomads covers domestic travel for Canadians travelling within Canada. Your travel insurance can be used anywhere outside of your home province and you can still get a quote and purchase World Nomads travel insurance if you have already started your trip to another province.
You can start a claim online at any time. Make sure you keep all receipts and documentation that you may need for your claim.
With World Nomads travel insurance has options for solo travelers, as well as couples and families. You can include up to 2 adults and up to 7 children per policy. When you get a quote, you’ll be asked for information on the others in your travel party.
Americans can get travel insurance while already overseas. Learn what coverage you can expect.
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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.
With all the excitement of packing your bags, jumping on a plane, and jetting off to a faraway destination, travel insurance may slip your mind. You may be asking yourself “Can I buy travel insurance after departure?” The answer is yes!
If you’ve left home without travel insurance* or your plan has run out while you’re still on the road, don’t panic. World Nomads has got you covered with simple and flexible travel insurance plans that you can buy online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.
It’s easy - all you need is a good internet connection. Head to our website to get a quote. Answer a few simple questions about your trip and follow the prompts that will outline the coverage and benefits we offer. We offer two types of plans – Single Trip or Annual. Within our single trip plans, we also have three levels of coverage– you can compare them before you get a quote and select the one that best suits your needs. Then read and accept the terms and conditions, pay for your plan, and you’re done.
If you buy a plan while traveling, waiting periods, conditions and restrictions may apply. World Nomads policies for U.S. residents take effect at 12:01am local time the day after you purchase your plan. So, if you’re already traveling and want to get coverage for a day trip or ski weekend, you’ll need to buy your insurance at least the day before you need coverage.
Also remember that travel insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions (unless you purchased the Epic or Explorer plan during the time-sensitive period and were medically able to travel at the time of purchase) or known events, so we think it’s a good idea to buy your travel insurance as soon as possible, so you’ll be covered for that future illness, future hurricane, etc. The future you will thank you!
We’ve designed our travel insurance to be simple, flexible and include the things our travelers have told us are most important to them.
All our plans offer coverage, up to the plan limits, for the following, when you need it the most:
Some of our higher tier plans (Explorer and Epic) also offer coverage for:
You can also add optional “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage to the Explorer and Epic plans, although an additional cost will be incurred (not available in NY). You may want to consider this if you are planning a big trip and have invested a lot of money, or if you are worried something could come up in the future that could cause you to miss it.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.In the 25th of December I woke up feeling nausea, fever, headache, and lethargy. After two days with the symptoms not ceasing I went to a clinic and was admitted with severe malaria. I stayed in the hospital for two days taking shots for malaria and also saline drip.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamGet covered by World Nomads, even if you're already on the road.
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I’m already overseas – can I get travel insurance?
Are there any special conditions?
How does a waiting period work?
Need to extend your policy?
FAQs
If you're a New Zealander and 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, no matter where you might be travelling.
If you forgot to buy a policy before you started your trip, are outside New Zealand 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 travelling, 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 Document will have full details to understand the cover, limits, and exclusions.
If you buy a policy while you’re already travelling, you will need to wait 72 hours after purchasing before your cover will start. This is called a waiting period.
With World Nomads you can Get an instant quote anytime, anywhere, before you leave home or while you’re on the road.
While there is a 72-hour waiting period if you purchase your travel insurance after you’ve started travelling, both our Standard and Explorer policies offer cover if you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident after the policy departure date and before the end of the 72-hour waiting period.
If something goes wrong and you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident, there's cover for emergency overseas medical and dental expenses, and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses, without having to wait 72 hours.
All other cover and benefits still begin 72 hours from when your certificate of insurance is issued, and only for events first occurring after the 72-hour waiting period.
If you’re travelling and decide you want to travel for longer, we can help you stay covered by extending your existing policy for up to 12 months. It’s easy! Simply sign into your World Nomads membership to check eligibility and extend your cover before 11:59pm AEST/AEDT on the return date shown on your certificate of insurance. Check out our Helpdesk guide for more information on how to extend your cover.
Traveller tip: our 24/7 emergency assistance team is here to help if things go wrong. They can help organise medical transport, payment of hospital bills and assist with medical emergencies.
If you aren’t sure of anything, or have questions, be sure to check out our comprehensive FAQs or you can also contact us.
Waiting periods apply
Watch our video to learn more about how to buy travel insurance away from home.
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.
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.
Upon arrival to Spain on the 4th of April I had been displaying fever, headache, exhaustion and dizziness. This lasted for a week, so I went to the doctor at the hospital in Malaga, Andalucia where they gave me a consultation and blood test showing results that indicated a mosquito-bourne virus which makes sense as I arrived in Europe from Mexico a week before the symptoms started.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about buying away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
Get covered by World Nomads, even if you're already overseas.
As featured in:
I’m already overseas – can I get travel insurance?
Are there any special conditions?
How does a waiting period work?
Need to extend your policy?
FAQs
If you're an Australian and 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, no matter where you might be travelling.
If you forgot to buy a policy before you started your trip, are outside Australia without insurance, or your cover has ended but your trip hasn’t, you can buy a World Nomads policy 24/7 online.
Traveller tip: our 24/7 emergency assistance team is here to help if things go wrong. They can help organise medical transport, payment of hospital bills and assist with medical emergencies.
If you buy a policy while you’re already travelling, you will need to wait 72 hours after purchasing before your cover will start. This is called a waiting period.
With World Nomads you can get an instant quote anytime, anywhere, before you leave home or while you’re on the road.
While there is a 72-hour waiting period if you purchase your travel insurance after you’ve started travelling, both our Standard and Explorer policies offer cover if you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident after the policy departure date and before the end of the 72-hour waiting period.
If something goes wrong and you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident, there's cover for emergency overseas medical and dental expenses, and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses, without having to wait 72 hours.
All other cover and benefits still begin 72 hours from when your certificate of insurance is issued, and only for events first occurring after the 72-hour waiting period.
If you’re travelling and decide you want to travel for longer, we can help you stay covered by extending your existing policy for up to 12 months. It’s easy! Simply sign into your World Nomads membership to check eligibility and extend your cover before 11:59pm AEST/AEDT on the return date shown on your certificate of insurance. For more information, read our article on how to extend your cover.
If you have any questions, be sure to check out our comprehensive FAQs or you can also contact us.Waiting periods apply
Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the full description of cover in the PDS for the full details on what’s not covered as well as the terms, conditions, limitation, and exclusions. If you are unsure of anything, please contact us for help.
I contracted dengue typhoid fevers in Bali. The doctor and medical expenses incurred, were all paid within 10 days of claim, which I submitted by email from Bali. Monies were paid into my bank account - efficient and simple!
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about buying away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.