So, you’ve had enough of lockdown and want to start planning your next trip... but you're worried about COVID-19 and if your travel insurance will cover your expenses if you catch it. It’s smart to be prepared, so take the time to consider whether travel insurance is right for you
Note: For information relating to policies purchased prior to 12:00am UTC time, 14 July 2021, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 14 July 2021 please see below.
Travel Insurance cover for COVID-19-related events
So, you’ve had enough of lockdown and want to start planning your next trip... but you're worried about COVID-19 and if your travel insurance will cover your expenses if you catch it. It’s smart to be prepared, so take the time to consider whether travel insurance is right for you.
How World Nomads travel insurance for COVID-19 works
The level of cover your policy provides for coronavirus (COVID-19)-related events depends on where you're from – whether it’s South Africa, Japan or Argentina or anywhere else worldwide – but also which plan you select. We have two plans, Standard and Explorer, and the level of cover and benefit limits vary depending on which you purchase.
At a glance
- Overseas medical expenses and evacuation: On some but not all of our Standard and Explorer plans, we offer cover for emergency overseas medical assistance, medically necessary evacuation and repatriation if you get sick or die from Coronavirus (COVID-19) while traveling overseas.
- Coronavirus Travel Costs: On some but not all of our Explorer plans, we also offer cover for some additional costs associated with some COVID-19 related events. Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so read your policy carefully and make sure you know what’s covered and what’s not before you buy. Benefit limits also apply.
What’s covered
As our plans vary, consider carefully your needs and purchase the right level of cover for you and your travel plans. If you, your friends or your family you’re traveling with get sick with COVID-19 while on the road, our travel insurance may help you.
On the Standard and Explorer plans, we offer cover for your emergency overseas medical expenses which include:
• Hospitalization;
• Prescribed medication;
• Doctor’s visits;
• Repatriation to your home if deemed medically necessary; and
• If the worst happens, repatriation of your remains or local cremation or funeral overseas and when necessary, costs for your next of kin to travel with your remains.
It's important to note you need to contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team before making any plans, regardless of whether you’re already receiving treatment and what your treating doctor says. They can guide you to appropriate local medical facilities, and help set up direct payments so you’re not out of pocket. Their network has a global reach, so wherever you are, they can help.
On the Explorer Plan we also offer:
In addition to the emergency overseas medical and evacuation cover, on our Explorer Plan we may offer cover under our Coronavirus Travel Costs section for some coronavirus-related events up to the combined benefit limit for the following:
Cancellation or trip interruption costs: You may be able to claim for cancellation cost, up to the Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit limits, if you have to cancel or cut short your trip because:
- You or a member of your traveling party are unfit to travel due to being diagnosed with COVID-19; or
- Your close relative back home is hospitalized or dies due to COVID-19;
- If you or a member of your traveling party is permanently employed as a healthcare, residential care or law enforcement worker and your or their pre-arranged leave is cancelled by the employer due to COVID-19, we’ll pay the non-refundable portion of your pre-paid travel arrangements.
Child and pet care costs: If you get sick with COVID-19 while overseas and you can't look after your children or pets, we may be to help with:
- Child care costs.
- Pet care costs.
Other Coronavirus Travel Costs benefits (Explorer Plan only):
- Quarantine: If during your trip you or a member of your traveling party is suspected of having COVID-19 or have been confirmed as having been in close contact with a case and are unexpectedly quarantined as a result, we may be able to help with your unexpected quarantine costs such as travel, meals and accommodation costs, as well as help with additional expenses, including in-room entertainment.
- Unexpected additional travel and accommodation: If you’re unable to stay at your pre-booked accommodation due to it being closed for cleaning following a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the accommodation, we’ll pay for your reasonable additional travel and accommodation nearby. You must provide written confirmation of the closure from the provider.
- Denied boarding: If you’re denied boarding your plane, train or other scheduled transport during your trip because you’re suspected of having COVID-19, we may be able to help with unexpected additional accommodation, meals and transport costs as needed.
If any of these events occur, we'll pay up to the non-refundable portion of your pre-paid travel arrangements or the policy benefit limit, whichever is lower.
There are terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations relating to all these scenarios, and you will be required to provide us relevant proof such as medical diagnoses, receipts and written confirmation of any compensation that has been offered to you or denied.
NOTE: The maximum amount we will pay for all claims combined under the Coronavirus Travel Costs section is US$2,000, as shown in the Summary of Cover in the policy wording. This benefit is not available with the Standard Plan.
You should also read what we won't cover in the Specific Exclusions to the Coronavirus Travel Costs section and the General Exclusions, which are applicable to all sections.
What’s not covered for COVID-19-related events under any of our plans
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common claims scenarios where there's no cover include:
- Cover for cancellation and trip interruption for COVID-19 is not offered under the ‘Cancellation & Interruption’ section nor the ‘Trip Disruption’ section; cover for cancellation and trip interruption is only available for the specific events set out in the ‘Coronavirus Travel Costs’ section
- Insolvency
- The purchasing of a policy or making travel arrangements after you become aware of circumstances that may impact your travel plans
- Ignoring your doctor’s advice
- A change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel, including if you’re fit to travel
- Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that has a warning of 'Do Not Travel' issued by the US Department of State
- Any expenses once you return home including any costs within your home country once your remains are returned to your next of kin
- If a pre-existing medical condition causes your illness or death (unless otherwise stated in the policy)
- If you refuse repatriation, we will limit our cover for that condition to what it would have cost to come home. After that, your medical and related costs will have to be paid out of your own pocket
- Any exclusions in the Specific Exclusions section and the General Exclusions section of the policy.
This is not a full list of what's covered and not covered. There are terms, limits, conditions and exclusions that apply, so for more information, read your policy carefully before you buy, and if you’ve still got a question, get in touch.
Related Articles
View more
Can't find the answer you are looking for?
Contact usOur contact details
We’re here to help if you have a question about travel insurance. We’re available:
- Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm (UTC/UTC+1)
Contact us
For policies purchase on or after 2 December 2018:
_________________
For policies purchased before 2 December 2018:
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.