Travel Insurance for trip interruption
Learn how trip interruption cover can help if your plans get unexpectedly sidetracked.
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As travellers ourselves, we have experienced some of the cool surprises you can encounter on your adventures. For example, trekking through Iceland, you may get to see nature’s best light show if you are lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights.
Not all unforeseen surprises are as dazzling though. Sickness or injuries to yourself or an immediate family member are just a couple of the unanticipated things that can abruptly put a halt to your fun. Because you can never predict an interruption in your travels, you may want to consider travel insurance.
- What is trip interruption coverage?
- What does trip interruption insurance cover?
- What travel insurance plan should I consider?
- What's the difference between trip cancellation, trip delay and trip interruption insurance?
- What else is covered by travel insurance?
- What is not covered by trip interruption insurance?
- What should you do if you need to interrupt your trip?
What is trip interruption Coverage?
A trip interruption is something that happens that causes you to end your trip early or makes you unable to participate in your full planned itinerary that occurs after trip start date. If you get severely injured or sick while you are travelling, or you get a call from back home and learn that an immediate family member has unexpectedly passed away, you may not be able to complete the rest of your planned trip.
World Nomads offers trip interruption coverage as a part of our adventure travel insurance policies, and it may help you get reimbursed for prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if your plans change for a covered reason.
For example, if you paid in advance for flights and hotels, but you broke your leg and can’t continue your trip, you may get reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you can’t recover those costs from the travel supplier.
Sometimes you may deal with an interruption that causes you to miss part of your trip, but you are able to rejoin it before it is over. If that happens, you may be eligible for reimbursement of the extra economy class transportation costs, via the most cost-effective itinerary to your next destination in order to catch-up with your trip.
If you get hurt and have to go home early, you could also be covered for transportation costs to return you to your home province. However, these transportation expenses would not be covered if, prior to your policy effective date, you did not purchase a return air ticket to return to your home province as part of your trip.
What does trip interruption insurance cover?
Canadian residents may be covered for reasons such as:
- You, your travel companion, immediate family member, or business partner is injured in an accident, develops an unexpected emergency medical condition, or dies while you are on your trip.
- An official governmental body or health authority in your country of residence issues an advisory against travel to a destination, country or region listed on your itinerary and the advisory was issued after your start date. (This does not apply to advisories issued due to epidemic or pandemic).
- A natural disaster renders your principal residence in Canada uninhabitable.
- An unannounced strike stops you from travelling.
- Inclement weather conditions cause your scheduled flight on a common carrier to be delayed for at least 3 hours or cancelled.
What travel insurance plan should I consider?
Only you can decide what plan is best for you. World Nomads offers two options - the Standard and Explorer plan. The Explorer plan has higher limits and sub-limits of coverage.
When you get a quote, you can compare each plan side by side to see what each covers. Maximum benefits can be found in the Schedule of Benefits in your policy wording,and are subject to any applicable sub-limits. If you have any questions, please reach out; we are happy to help.
What is the difference between trip cancellation, trip delay, and trip interruption insurance?
Trip Cancellation coverage is what kicks in if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, before you’ve departed for your trip. Coverage starts on or after your policy effective date and ends on your departure or start date.
Trip Delay coverage may help when your arrival at a trip destination is delayed. Coverage starts on your departure or start date and ends return date.
Trip Interruption coverage is when something happens in the middle of the trip and you’re unable to continue on as planned. Coverage starts on your departure or start date and ends return date.
What else is covered by travel insurance?
In addition to trip interruption, a World Nomads travel insurance policy may help with several other unexpected and unforeseen emergency situations you may encounter while you are on your trip.
For Canadian residents, World Nomads may also offer coverage for:
- Adventure Activities: World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Canadian residents. You will need to list all of the activities that you plan to participate in while on your trip at the time you purchase your policy. Level 1 activities like golf and racquetball are automatically covered, but will still need to be listed when your purchase your policy. You will need to pay an additional premium to be covered for Level 2 and Level 3 activities like spelunking and hang gliding. If you are participating in an activity that isn’t listed when you are ready to purchase your policy, contact us to see if we can extend cover. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time.
- Emergency Medical Coverage: If you get sick or injured on your trip, travel medical insurance could assist with reimbursement for things like an ambulance transfer, medication, or a hospital stay. You will still need to have GHIP coverage in your home province while you are on your trip though. If you don’t, your total limit for all emergency medical expenses during your trip is limited to CAD $40,000.
- Emergency Evacuation: If there aren't nearby medical facilities, the World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team could help get you transported to a place that offers the level of care you need. Make sure you contact our Emergency Assistance Team before seeking any medical treatment or an evacuation.
- Baggage Insurance: If the airline loses your bag, baggage protection may help provide reimbursement to replace your belongings, subject to depreciation. If your checked baggage is delayed by an airline or ground carrier for more than 12 hours while on your way to your destination, you may also be reimbursed for the essentials, like toiletries and a change of clothes, that you might need until you are reunited with your bag. Note that baggage and personal effects cover does not provide cover for delayed baggage on your final return flight to your home province.
What is not covered by trip interruption insurance?
If you set forth on your journey and just aren’t feeling the vibe of the destination or your travel partner, trip interruption won’t cover any costs involved with ending your trip early. Some other things that may not be covered include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions.
- Participation in activities not listed as covered in your policy.
- Expenses incurred for treatment or services that are prohibited under your GHIP.
- Injury or illness that happens while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Injuries that happen if you are a competing in a professional sports competition.
- Flights back to your home province if you had not purchased a return ticket prior to your policy’s effective date.
What should you do if you need to interrupt your trip?
- Your health and safety is our first priority. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, first contact local emergency services, then contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team.
- You are required to contact us within 24 hours when you become aware of a trip interruption.
- Log in to your member account online and start a claim. If you didn’t create one previously, you can still create an account.
- Try to cancel unused portions of your trip immediately and attempt to recoup prepaid unused expenses from your travel providers.
- Save all documentation that could be needed for your claim. You may be asked to provide things like receipts from your transportation provider or tour operator, forms showing your medical expenses, or police reports.
- It’s always a bummer when something happens and your trip gets cut short. Once you are ready, take a look at some of our team’s tips on destinations around the world and get some inspiration for your next adventure.
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, just ask us.
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
- Work emergency?
- Weather delay?
- Travel companion sick?
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 a hospital urgently?
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
- Ambulance transfers
- Medevac flights
- Medical escort services
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
- Stolen I.D.s
- Checked-in sports equipment
- Damaged luggage
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.