What's a waiting period?
A waiting period is the amount of time you have to wait before your insurance coverage begins and/or before a benefit becomes payable.
Are there any waiting periods?
Well, the short answer is yes but it’s not as bad as it seems. Waiting periods sometimes apply for Canadians who have purchased World Nomads travel insurance.
What are the waiting periods and when do they apply?
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If you purchase a policy after you have already started travelling, then there is no coverage under the policy for any injury or sickness for 48 hours from your departure date. All other benefits are payable with the exception of trip cancellation.
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Trip Cancellation: Trip cancellation coverage starts and finishes sooner than the rest of your plan. It starts as soon as you have paid for your policy (Your "Effective Date") and finishes as soon as you depart on your trip (Your "Start Date").
Additionally, a waiting period applies to the following policy benefits before you can make a claim:
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Missed Connections: Flights must be delayed at least 3 hours
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Baggage Delay: Bags must be delivered at least 12 hours after the original scheduled arrival time.
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Sporting Equipment Delay: Your airline or transportation hasn’t delivered your checked-in sporting equipment for 12 hours.
But why do I have to wait for coverage?
Unfortunately, not everyone is as honest as you are! Waiting periods reduce the likelihood of travellers making claims immediately or for events that they perhaps already knew about. It also helps to keep the price lower for everyone.
Thank you for your patience!
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 do not understand your coverage or if you have questions, just ask us.
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We’re here to help if you have a question about travel insurance. We’re available:
- Monday to Friday 7:00am - 7:00pm (CST)
Contact us
Within Canada & continental USA, toll free:
1 877 328 2528
International collect:
+1 416 646 3723
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.