Travel Insurance for Overseas Medical
Don't let your medical costs bury you.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased after 27 June 2024, please see below.
Broken bones in Mykonos, mystery illness in Madrid and bus accidents in Thailand, we’ve seen it all and know overseas medical travel insurance can literally be a lifesaver.
In order to help our Irish travellers get back on their feet our policy has been designed to help out when some unexpected illness or injury strikes and you’re ready to get back on the road again.
Keep in mind that you’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and their claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team before incurring medical costs. You must let us know how you are going and keep in contact with our assistance team until you no longer require treatment or assistance.
What’s covered by overseas medical travel insurance?
World Nomads travel insurance covers accidents and emergencies when you’re travelling overseas.
If you’re accidentally injured or suddenly become ill while traveling, our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team is on hand to help you. Cover may include:
- Assistance locating and paying for medical care including a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or medical facilities in your location or nearby.
- Hospitalisation.
- Out-patient care and day surgery.
- Ambulances and medical transport, including by helicopter if medically necessary and available.
- Prescribed medicines.
- Transport home to Ireland if we deem it medically necessary.
Am I covered for COVID-19 while overseas?
All our plans include emergency medical cover for travellers who get sick with Coronavirus while overseas (excluding pre-existing medical conditions, as outlined in the Policy Wording). If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas your benefits may include:
- 24/7 access to our Emergency Medical Assistance team, who can help you access local medical care;
- Medical costs including hospitalisation;
- Evacuation or repatriation if deemed necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.
You can check out our What’s covered for Coronavirus article which has all of the details, including benefit limits and exclusions.
Reciprocal health agreements and medical cover
World Nomads policies cover accidents and emergencies only, and it is not a private health insurance policy. Cover may apply only if there is a sudden and unexpected accident or illness and for expenses for which there is no reciprocal health agreement in the country in which you are travelling.
If you are travelling to a country where Ireland has a reciprocal healthcare agreement, such as Australia or EU countries, you will need to apply for reciprocal health cover before you leave Ireland.
What’s not covered by travel insurance?
Though our policy may cover accidents and emergencies, it’s not a catch-all for every incident you might find yourself in. Medical conditions or circumstances we don’t cover include:
- If you were doing anything illegal. (You didn’t really think we’d cover that did you?)
- Injuries or illness from drugs or alcohol.
- If you’ve been acting recklessly.
- Pre-existing medical conditions as defined in the Policy Wording.
- Ongoing treatment at home.
- Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you get home.
- Medical expenses covered under a reciprocal health agreement in the country in which you are travelling.
- If you booked a one-way ticket to your destination, we will not pay for your return ticket home.
How to get medical assistance
For our Irish travellers, if you have private medical insurance (PMI) in Ireland, get in touch first with your PMI provider and follow their emergency assistance and claims procedures. If you do not have PMI or they can no longer assist, it’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team as soon as reasonably possible so that the team can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you're well again.
So that they can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
- Your policy number
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- Your location
The policy isn’t designed to cover everything so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the Policy Wording for full details, so there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered get in touch.
Monkey Bite!
While visiting the Monkey Forest in Bali, I was bitten by a monkey and blood was drawn. After returning to our hotel we then visited a local doctor the same evening of the bite. I received my first rabies vaccination and then went to the International SOS office in Bali for an examination. There I received a second rabies shot, and then immunoglobulin shots.
S.D. U.S Resident in Indonesia.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Have you died?
- Have your relos died?
- Has a bushfire damaged your home?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need medicine?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest suitable medical facility is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up overseas?
- Medivac needed home?
- You died overseas?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Damaged docs?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Disruption
- 24-Hour Medical Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation, our teams 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 Medical Assistance right now?
For policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024:
Phone: +353 4 69 017 022
For policies purchased before 27 June 2024:
+353 (0) 90 640 6460
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about overseas emergency medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what’s happened! If it’s an emergency situation where hospital admission and/or medical evacuation is required, the insurer can sometimes cover these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording, of course).
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Do you have a list of doctors/dentist so I know where to go in case something happens and make sure I’m covered?
We don't publish a list of doctors or dentists. If you need help finding one, call our assistance teams, and they'll guide you to the most appropriate medical professional.
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Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Travel insurance policies are designed for accidents or unexpected illness overseas. They don't stand in place of primary medical insurance or government healthcare.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.