Am I covered if I need to cancel or reschedule my trip?

World Nomads travel insurance plans include coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. If you need to delay, cancel or reschedule your trip before you leave home, you may be able to make a claim for covered costs. 

What’s covered

There are a million reasons why you might want to cancel your trip. Maybe you’re fighting with your travel companions and can’t stand the thought of spending time with them. Or maybe you decided that the money might be better spent somewhere else. Or it could be as simple as you’ve just changed your mind.

While travel insurance won’t cover these reasons, there are a number of other events that qualify for trip cancellation cover. For example:

  • A death in your or your travel companion’s family.
  • You or your travel companion have developed a medical condition and your doctor advises that travel is not an option.
  • You or your travel companion are a victim of felonious assault.
  • Your accommodations at your trip destination are no longer liveable as the result of an unforeseen natural disaster.
  • You or your travel companion are required to serve on a jury or subpoenaed within 10 days of departure.
  • You or your travel companion are active military personnel and are being called to emergency duty to provide relief in the event of a natural disaster.
  • An unannounced strike causes your common carrier to stop services for at least 24 hours.
  • A terrorist attack happens within 30 days of your departure date, either at your departure point or destination.

What can I claim for?

If you need to cancel for a covered reason, you may be able to be reimbursed for pre-paid, non-refundable travel arrangements that you didn’t use. These could include accommodations, flights and tours.

You’ll need to notify your travel suppliers and World Nomads within 72 hours and send the following documentation with your claim (as it applies to your case) within 90 days:

  • Proof of payment for your travel arrangements.
  • Proof of any refunds received or denials of compensation, such as from your common carrier.
  • All unused air, rail, cruise, or other tickets.
  • For claims involving medical emergencies or death, signed patient (or next of kin) authorization to release medical information and an attending physician’s statement.
  • Claims involving other reasons also require documentation such as police reports, a copy of the jury notice, etc.

Claims can be reimbursed only for trip expenses paid in cash, credit or check (deposits and payments made in vouchers or mileage points don’t qualify for coverage). 

What’s not covered  

  • You’ve arranged travel already knowing of circumstances that could lead to the trip being disrupted or canceled.
  • A pre-existing medical condition(s) that was or is not stable during the required time period.
  • A travel visa or passport that is not issued in time for your trip due to your late application or a previous refusal.
  • A natural disaster or any other event that was forecast or announced before the purchase of the plan.

This is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the plans described. Please refer to the actual plans for complete details of coverage and exclusions. If you’re not sure if something is covered, contact us.