What to do if you’ve left home without travel insurance
- As featured in:
As featured in:
- 1. You can purchase travel insurance whilst travelling
- 2. Always check the terms and conditions of your policy
- 3. Extend your policy for your overseas holiday
- 4. Need to know more?
- Left home without travel insurance?
1. You can purchase travel insurance whilst travelling
Planning an overseas holiday can be an overwhelming experience. With so many arrangements to be made prior to leaving, it’s easy to forget travel insurance during the flurry of preparations.
If you’ve already arrived at your overseas holiday destination and you realise that you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night to purchase a policy.
Similarly, New Zealand travellers whose travel insurance policies will expire during their trips, but who wish to stay on holidays longer, may also extend or buy a new policy.
2. Always check the terms and conditions of your policy
When you’re on your overseas holiday, you don’t want to spend too long sitting in your hotel room reading through the fine print of an insurance policy. As there are so many exciting places to explore, you just want to get out and about. It can be tempting to rush into buying a policy, without taking the time to read through the Summary of Benefits and exclusions beforehand.
However, to avoid any surprises when making a claim, it’s a smart idea to become familiar with the various limits, benefits, available upgrades, terms and conditions before you buy a policy.
If you buy travel insurance during your overseas holiday, you are still subject to a 72-hour waiting period from the date that you receive your Certificate of Insurance, before your cover comes into effect. This means that you may not be covered for certain events or losses that happen during this period.
However, if you have an accident and sustain a serious injury after being issued with your Certificate of Insurance, and before the 72-hour timeframe has lapsed, you may be covered for various expenses under your policy. Check your Policy Document for the complete list of what’s covered and what isn’t covered.
3. Extend your policy for your overseas holiday
If your current travel insurance policy is due to expire soon, but you’re having too much fun and want to stay overseas for longer, rather than risk being without insurance, you can extend your existing policy.
You may extend your policy up to a maximum of 12 months from the policy commencement date which is indicated on your Certificate of Insurance. This must be done prior to 11:59pm NZST on the closing date of your current policy.
If you have any questions about purchasing travel insurance during your overseas holiday, please get in touch.
4. Need to know more?
This information may help if things go wrong, and you want to make a claim. All travel insurance plans are different, and cover will vary, depending on what’s happened, your Country of Residence, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy. Your Policy Document will always have the full details of what you’re covered for.
If you have any further questions about what’s covered and not covered, just ask us.
Left home without travel insurance?
Learn how you can buy your travel insurance policy while travelling anytime from anywhere in the world by watching this video.
- Buy while traveling
- Get cover 24/7 online
- Instant confirmation
- Ongoing traveler support
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
Waiting periods apply
Malaria at Christmas.
In the 25th of December I woke up feeling nausea, fever, headache, and lethargy. After two days with the symptoms not ceasing I went to a clinic and was admitted with severe malaria. I stayed in the hospital for two days taking shots for malaria and also saline drip.
A.G. Brazilian Nomad in Zambia.
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
- Come to a sticky end?
- Called to jury duty?
- Been made redundant?
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 drugs?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital in a flash
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- You or a family member dead?
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
- Luggage lost?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech Trashed?
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?
From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask the customer service team.
-
Do you have an excess/co-pay?
If you’re an American or Canadian, there’s no excess. All other policies have one and can vary depending on what you're claiming for.
-
My son/daughter is already on the road. Can I buy a policy on their behalf?
Yes, you can. But if you do, you're agreeing to all of the terms and conditions as if you are them.
-
How long does it take to get a copy of my insurance?
As soon as the payment goes through, it will be emailed to you or in your membership.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.