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.
Travel Insurance cover for COVID-19 related events
So, you want to start planning your next trip... but you're worried about COVID-19 and if your travel insurance will cover your expenses if you catch it. It’s smart to be prepared and taking the time to make sure you've got the travel insurance coverage you think you might need is always a good idea.
How World Nomads travel insurance for COVID-19 works
We have two plans, Standard and Explorer, and the benefit limits vary depending on which you purchase. Both plans can provide cover for emergency medical and some cancellation events.
At a glance
- Medical expenses abroad and evacuation: On all our Standard and Explorer plans, we cover emergency medical assistance, medically necessary evacuation, and repatriation if you get sick or die from Coronavirus (COVID-19) while travelling abroad.
- Coronavirus Travel Costs: Trip Disruption if your trip is cancelled or curtailed. We also offer cover for some cancellation costs associated with some COVID-19 related events. Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so read your policy terms and conditions carefully and make sure you know what’s covered and what’s not before you buy. Benefit limits also apply.
What’s covered
If you, your friends or your family you’re travelling with fall ill with COVID-19 while on the road, our travel insurance may help you. On the Standard and Explorer Plan, we offer cover for:
- Hospitalisation
- Prescribed medication
- Doctors’ visits
- Repatriation to your home, if deemed medically necessary (pre-approval from the insurer required); and
- If the worst happens – repatriation of your remains or local cremation or funeral abroad and when necessary, costs for your next of kin to travel with your remains (pre-approval from the insurer required).
It's important to note you need to contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team before making any plans, regardless of whether you’re already receiving treatment and what your treating doctor says. They can guide you to appropriate local medical facilities, and help set up direct payments so you’re not out of pocket. Their network has a global reach, so wherever you are, they can help.
If you are eligible for medical services in Europe under your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you will need to seek care under EHIC arrangements before claiming on your travel insurance.
In addition to the emergency medical expenses abroad and medical evacuation cover, we offer cover under the Trip Disruption section for some COVID-19 related events up to the benefit limits outlined in your policy wording for:
Cancellation costs: You may be able to claim for your cancellation costs, up to the benefit limit, if you have to cancel or curtail your trip because:
- You are certified by a medical practitioner as too ill to travel due to COVID-19; or
- An immediate relative, travelling companion or someone you were planning to stay with is hospitalised or dies due to COVID-19.
- If you are a certified medical practitioner, police, fire or armed forces and your pre-arranged leave is cancelled by the employer, we’ll pay the non-refundable portion of your pre-paid travel arrangements. (Pre-trip cancellation only.)
Traveller Tale:
“Our family of Nomads were in the UK when they got ill and were unable to travel on. As the hospital system wouldn't admit them as it was overwhelmed with Coronavirus cases they had to find help elsewhere. Our EA team facilitated payment for a doctor to see them in their hotel, and a nurse to visit daily to administer their treatment, they also helped reschedule their flights through their airline.” Australian family visiting the UK - Claim Paid was AUD$28,953.45.
What’s not covered for COVID-19 related events under any of our plans
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common claims scenarios where there's no cover include:
- Insolvency
- The purchasing of a policy, or making travel arrangements, after you become aware of circumstances that may impact your travel plans
- Ignoring your doctor’s advice
- A change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel, including if you’re fit to travel
- Travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region for which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country of residence has advised against all travel.
- Any expenses incurred once you return home.
- If a pre-existing medical condition causes your illness, injury or death.
- If you refuse repatriation, we will limit our cover for that condition to what it would have cost to return home. After that, your medical and related costs will have to be paid out of your own pocket.
- Any other exclusions listed in the Section Exclusions of the policy wording.
This is not a full list of what's covered and not covered. There are terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that apply, so for more information, read your policy carefully before you buy and if you’ve still got a question, get in touch.
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