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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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 14 July 2021 12:00am UTC, 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.
You haven’t even had a chance to pack your bags or get your passport and you get ill – so ill in fact that as much as you want to go on that planned overseas getaway you’ve been looking forward to, you aren’t well enough to do so.
That’s where our travel insurance for pre-trip cancellation kicks in. Sure, it can’t fix the disappointment you feel at not being able to travel or make you well, but it can help you recover the costs of cancelling your trip.
How does travel insurance cover pre-trip cancellation?
If you’re injured or medically unfit to travel, our policies offer cover for your non-refundable, pre-paid:
- Travel costs, such as flights, rail and bus tickets you’ve already paid for
- Accommodation expenses
- Any tuition or course fees you’ve had to pay upfront
- Tours
You’ll need to provide us evidence that your trip costs aren’t refundable, and if the airline or hotel says they’ll give you your money back, then you won't be getting a reimbursement from us.
How sick must I be to be covered for pre-trip cancellation?
This insurance is for when you’re seriously unwell and really can’t travel (for example, if you get appendicitis). If you’ve got a cold or mild attack of hay fever, we’re not going to be able to help you out.
In order to be covered, you must either be:
- Declared medically unfit to travel; or
- You, your fellow traveler or your close relative in your country of residence must be unexpectedly hospitalized or die as a result of a sudden serious illness or sudden serious injury.
The coverage is conditional on the death, sudden serious illness (including any symptoms) or injury being unexpected and occurring after you booked and/or paid for the trip and after you purchased the insurance.
Am I covered for Cancellation due to Coronavirus?
As part of our efforts to assist our global nomads in the Coronavirus (COVID-19)-era, we are now offering cover for some Coronavirus-related events.
While epidemics and pandemics (World Health Organization declarations of a public health emergency of international concern) are excluded from the Cancellation & Interruption and Travel Disruption sections of our policy, there may be some benefits available to you if you purchased our Explorer Plan which includes a Coronavirus Travel Costs section, providing you cover for additional Coronavirus-related events.
If you have purchased the Explorer Plan, you may have some cover for trip cancellation events which are outside of your control and caused by:
- You or a member of your traveling party being diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Your close relative back home being hospitalized or dying due to COVID-19.
- You or a member of your traveling party who are permanently employed as a healthcare worker, residential care worker or law enforcement officer having pre-approved leave cancelled due to COVID-19.
You can check out our Coronavirus article which has more information, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
What's not covered by travel insurance?
If you change your mind about your trip overseas or decide you might want to delay it then we won’t cover you for cancellation.
This coverage is for those situations where you are physically unable to hop on that plane, train or boat due to illness or injury. Other things we won’t cover include but are not limited to:
- If you booked your travel insurance and/or trip after the symptoms of the injury or illness occurred.
- You, your fellow traveler or your close relative had refused, not sought or given up medical treatment even though the illness had deteriorated or you should have known it needed medical treatment.
- Expenses you have not taken reasonable and practical steps to recover from the carrier, accommodation provider, booking agents, travel agents, any compensation scheme, or any other source.
- You cancel only part of the insured trip.
- If the cancellation is due to a change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel; changed weather conditions; acts of terrorism; acts of war (whether war is declared or not); nuclear disaster.
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 that there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.
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 Kili.
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.K. Norwegian Nomad.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Protection
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation before you leave home.
- Explorer Plan: USD $10,000
- Standard Plan: USD $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy deceased?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Overseas Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling overseas.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited, up to 12 months
- Standard Plan: USD $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need drugs?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
We'll get you to hospital quickly.
- Explorer Plan: USD $500,000
- Standard Plan: USD $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: USD $3,500
- Standard Plan: USD $2,500
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- 24 hour Emergency Assistance
- Emergency Medical Transport
- Repatriation & Travel Expenses
- Pre-Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Resumption of Trip
- Travel Delay
- Missed connection (Explorer)
- Hijacking (Explorer)
- Baggage & Personal Items
- Passport & Travel Documents
- Personal Liability
- Rental vehicle insurance excess (Explorer)
- Personal accident (Explorer)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency 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 assistance right now?
Phone:+353 21 237 8008 or +353 21 237 8003 (calls are not toll free. You can claim your itemised call costs)
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?
You're welcome to submit a claim whenever you're ready. 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 premium refund period, there are no refunds.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.