Travel Insurance for Overseas Medical
A visit to the hospital shouldn't put your credit card into intensive care
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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.
That’s why our policy is designed to help British travellers when unexpected illness or injury strikes and to get you back on your feet and, ideally, back on the road.
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 EA 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 travelling overseas, 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 the UK 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 travelling overseas, where it is not considered a ‘pre-existing medical condition’ per the definition 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 is not a health / private 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 the NHS has a reciprocal healthcare agreement, such as Australia or New Zealand, you will need to apply for reciprocal health cover before you leave the UK.
What’s not covered by travel insurance?
Though our policy may cover accidents and emergencies, it’s not a catch-all for every incident. 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.
- If there is 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.
If things do go wrong contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team. They can advise on your cover and get you in contact with medical help as quickly as possible.
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.
So that's the policy details - why not get a quote and see if it's right for you.
How to get medical assistance
It’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team as soon as 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
Sick in Vietnam
I was so relieved and grateful to all of the World Nomads team to get insurance cover for my treatment this week whilst I have been sick in Vietnam. Thank you for all your hard work and understanding to manage my complicated case with negotiations and international correspondence. I received a truly professional service from you.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: £5,000
- Standard Plan: £3,000
Trip Protection
- Come to a sticky end?
- Called to jury duty?
- Been made redundant?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Abroad Medical Expenses
Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling abroad.
- Explorer Plan: £10 million
- Standard Plan: £5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need drugs?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
Expenses included in Emergency Medical limits.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- You or a family member dead?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your lost, stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: £3,000
- Standard Plan: £1,500
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Baggage & Personal Belongings
- Cancellation
- Trip Curtailment
- Personal Accident
- Loss of Passport or travel documents
- Personal Liability
- Legal Expenses (Personal Liability)
You are not eligible to buy a policy if you travel against medical advice, travel with the intention of receiving medical treatment, or have a terminal illness. World Nomads policies cannot cover claims due to Pre-Existing Medical Conditions (PEMC), regardless of whether the condition is serious or not. You can still purchase a World Nomads policy, but the PEMC exclusion cannot be removed, and you will be responsible for any related costs.
For information on travel insurance providers that offer cover on PEMC, visit Money Helper or call 0800 138 7777.
24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of Emergency Medical Assistance right now?
For policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024
+44 (0) 144 444 2021 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)
For policies purchased before 27 June 2024:
Phone: +44 (0) 203 093 1750 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what’s happened! If it’s an emergency situation where hospital admission and/or medical evacuation is required, the insurer covers these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording, of course).
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Do you have a list of doctors/dentist so I know where to go in case something happens and make sure I’m covered?
We don't have a list of doctors or dentists. If you need help finding one, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance teams, and they'll guide to the most appropriate medical professional.
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Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Travel insurance policies are designed for accidents or unexpected illness overseas. They don't stand in place of the NHS or your private health insurance.