Travel Insurance FAQ
Unsure how travel insurance works, and why you might need it? Get your answers here.
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We do our best to make travel insurance both simple and flexible, but questions still come up. Here's a quick overview of the basics.
For more details, or if you have a specific question about World Nomads insurance, please visit our online Help Center or contact us.
What is travel insurance and how does it work?
Travel insurance is designed to help cover your expenses if something unexpected goes wrong on your trip. It's not a substitute for your primary health insurance and won't cover non-essential overseas medical treatment, such as routine exams.
Travel insurance usually covers travel at a certain distance from your home. You pay the insurance company a fee, called a 'premium,' which can vary based on where you're traveling, how long your trip is, your age and what activities you plan to participate in. The insurance company agrees to cover costs (up to a certain limit) for things like emergency medical treatment, damaged or stolen luggage, delayed flights, or non-refundable expenses should you have to unexpectedly cancel your trip.
Travel insurance can be an affordable way to protect yourself against specific unforeseen events. Having to cancel your long-anticipated trek in Patagonia due to an unexpected family medical emergency is bad enough without having to forfeit all your costs as well. Also, your personal health insurance may not cover costs while traveling out of the country or might exclude certain activities. With travel insurance, you can explore your boundaries (within reason, of course) and still be covered.
What's covered and what's not?
The full list of things we cover is too long to include here, but in general our coverage includes:
- Overseas emergency medical and dental expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Trip delay, cancellation,or interruption due to an unforeseen event
- Delayed, damaged or stolen gear or bags if they've been checked in with a carrier
- Coverage for some Coronavirus (COVID-19) medical and travel related events, but please note coverage depends on your Country of Residence and varies between plans.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our What’s Covered for Coronavirus article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Travel insurance isn't designed to cover everything. Terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions do apply, so be sure to read your full policy wording to avoid surprises.
Here are the main things that aren't covered:
- Expenses related to pre-existing medical conditions unless your policy says otherwise
- Non-emergency medical expenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, routine medical check-ups or cosmetic procedures
- Items left unsupervised in a public place
- Gear damaged while in use.
Have more questions?
If you have more questions about travel insurance, feel free to contact us.
Did you know travel insurance covers...
- Trip cancellation
- Emergency medical
- Evacuation and repatriation
- Lost or damaged gear
- Delayed baggage
- Death overseas
- Terrorism
- And more...
You can also buy away from home or buy more cover if you extend your trip. Plus, you can claim online anytime, anywhere in the world.
True Claims Stories
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamWherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Emergency Assistance, World Nomads
Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel - Need to know before you buy
Some but not all of our policies provide cover for some coronavirus-related events – select your Country of Residence to find out more. Cover is not available for loss arising from: government intervention including travel bans, border closures or broadly imposed quarantine requirements; events for which the Government (see your policy) has issued a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning or its equivalent, for your destination(s); or failure to follow advice from official bodies. Your ability to travel may be affected by travel restrictions. Check your cover and the latest government advice and our travel insurance alerts.