What to do if you can’t go?
What to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured
- As featured in:
As featured in:
So, you’ve booked tickets and planned the itinerary, you’re all set for the adventure of a lifetime…then the unexpected happens; someone at home becomes sick or injured and is hospitalised as result, meaning, you’re travel plans are now changing.
Unfortunately, we can’t magically make loved ones better (sorry), but if you’re insured with a World Nomads travel insurance policy, we may be able to take some of the financial sting out of cancelling or rearranging your holiday and remaining in Australia.
Here are the steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation:
- Rearrange or cancel your bookings
- Get it in writing
- Keep your itineraries and receipts
- What if someone gets COVID-19 and I can't travel?
- Need to know more?
1. Rearrange or cancel your bookings
If you find yourself cancelling or postponing your holiday due to the illness or injury of a loved one, it’s essential you take immediate action by rearranging/cancelling all pre-paid and pre-booked travel expenses (think accommodation, tours, transportation etc.).
Traveller tip 1: Take time in the first instance to research all offers, compensation options, and cancellation alternatives available when rearranging/cancelling with your transport service providers. Some can be quite accommodating – especially in unavoidable situations such as illness and injury. Not only is it in your best interest to avoid or minimise your expenses, it’s important to keep in mind that World Nomads will only cover costs within policy limits, and where you’ve taken reasonable and necessary steps to minimise costs as much as possible.
2. Get it in writing
We know you’ll no doubt be overwhelmed dealing with the sudden medical situation facing your loved one, which is why we try and make claiming cancellation or trip interruption expenses as straightforward as possible. We may require key documents, including:
- Doctor or other medical practitioner’s report, confirming the illness or injury
- Hospital admission report
- Ambulance report (if applicable)
- Police report (applicable)
- Any other applicable documentation
Once you have these reports, you’re ready to make your online claim, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
3. Keep your itineraries and receipts
It’s incredibly important that you hold onto all your source documents for your cancelled/postponed adventure – and we mean everything! Receipts, itineraries, booking confirmations, cancellation confirmations, e-tickets, vouchers…the whole shebang!
Also, make sure to keep all documentation outlining any cancellation/postponement offers you’ve secured, and refunds paid to yourself, as we’ll need to see those to keep your trip cancellation claim hassle-free.
Traveller tip 2: Paid for your travel expenses with frequent flyer or similar air travel points? All is not lost – if you can’t recover the lost points from any other source, World Nomads Travel Insurance may be able to reimburse you for the cost of any equivalent class ticket (up to the policy benefit limits).
4. What if someone gets COVID-19 and I can't travel?
If your travel plans are interrupted or cancelled because a close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, you may be covered for the reimbursement of your non-refundable travel expenses. We may offer Coronavirus coverage for cancellation and trip interruption expenses under our Explorer Plan.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveller tip 3: Wondering who we deem a ‘close relative’? Check out our article, Am I covered if I need to cancel my trip because a relative is sick/injured? for our definition of a close relative, and more information on what is (and isn’t covered) should you find yourself cancelling your trip because someone at home is sick or injured.
5. Need to know more?
If your travel plans are interrupted or cancelled because a close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, you may be covered for the reimbursement of your non-refundable travel expenses. We may offer Coronavirus coverage for cancellation and trip interruption expenses under our Explorer Plan.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveller tip 3: Wondering who we deem a ‘close relative’? Check out our article, Am I covered if I need to cancel my trip because a relative is sick/injured? for our definition of a close relative, and more information on what is (and isn’t covered) should you find yourself cancelling your trip because someone at home is sick or injured.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital lickety-split
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
24/7 emergency 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.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 or Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.