Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation
Learn what's covered if you have booked and paid for your trip and unexpectedly need to cancel.
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If you've booked and paid for your overseas trip and need to unexpectedly cancel before your trip starts because of one of our covered reasons, your World Nomads policy may reimburse you for your non-refundable trip costs including transportation and accommodation.
What does World Nomads travel insurance cover if I need to cancel my trip?
If you must cancel your trip due to a covered reason, there's trip cancellation cover in both our Standard and Explorer plans. We cover your non-refundable prepaid trip costs (up to the maximum limit listed in the schedule of benefits) if you can't travel for a covered reason.
Medical emergencies are one of the most common reasons for trip cancellation. You may be covered if one or more of the following people develops a medical condition as certified by a physician that prohibits them from travelling, or dies:
- You or your travel companion
- Your or your travel companion’s immediate family member
- Your or your travel companion’s business partner.
We know more than illness can stop you from travelling, so we also provide coverage in cases like these:
- The Canadian government issues a formal advisory against travel to a destination, country or region listed on your itinerary. The advisory must be issued after both the date you paid for non-refundable prepaid travel arrangements and after your policy effective date. Note there is no coverage if an advisory is issued due to an epidemic or pandemic.
- Your principal residence or destination residence is made uninhabitable by a natural disaster or unintentional act.
- You or your travelling companion are a victim of a felonious assault within 10 days prior to your trip start date.
- A strike stops all travel services at your departure point or destination
- Your travel supplier files for bankruptcy or completely ceases operations more than 14 days after your policy purchase date and the loss incurred is not recoverable from any other source.
When you get a quote, be sure to read through the policy to understand the coverage and what the limits are, and any conditions and exclusions that apply. If you have questions regarding the coverage, please contact us.
What's not covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance isn't designed to cover everything. Here are some things that are not covered by your World Nomads plan:
- Where you change your mind
- If your visa is refused
- If you break up with your partner
- Events that are known before you buy the policy
- Pre-existing medical conditions unless otherwise mentioned in the policy
For more information, check out our article on trip cancellation.
Be prepared if you need to claim for cancellation
Depending on your claim, you'll need copies of:
- Receipts
- Itineraries
- Doctors/death certificates
- Medical history
- Written documentation from the travel provider of reason for cancellation and any refunds
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us.
Be prepared if you need to claim for cancellation.
Depending on your claim, you'll need copies of:
- Receipts
- Itineraries
- Doctors/death certificates
- Medical history
- Written documentation from the travel provider of reason for cancellation and any refunds
Wife's accident cancels Kilimanjaro.
I have to cancel my trip to Tanzania because my wife had an accident and she is waiting for a scan of her back. I should fly to Berlin tomorrow, then Bergen and day after to Africa. It is impossible now because she is alone in the house and I have to take her tomorrow to hospital for another scan. I paid 900 pounds for a Kilimanjaro Climb which is not refundable as it is too close to departure. I paid a deposit for a 3 day safari and had to cancel flights and my volunteer job.
S.Korpak. Norwegian Nomad.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance for cancellation. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask the customer service team.
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Is there a time period that I have to claim within?
Our policy requires you to notify us of a cancellation no later than the next business day. If you're waiting on documentation, just let our customer service team know, so they can make a note.
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If I'm having trouble getting documents from my travel provider, will you get them for me?
It's up to you to provide all of the documentation to support your claim.
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Can I get a refund on my policy as I'm not travelling?
If you're making a claim, or you're outside of the free look/cooling off period, there are no refunds.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
- Strike at your departure or arrival point?
- Official travel advisory warning not to travel?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
- Need prescription meds?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- You or a family member deceased?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or gear stolen?
- Tech trashed?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team 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?
Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.