Learn what’s covered for Americans if you need to cancel your trip.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Whether you love trying new foods, discovering different cultures or getting active outdoors, the joy of travel is hard to beat. If you have no choice but to cancel your trip, dealing with the disappointment is hard enough – the last thing you need is to be out of pocket for a trip you’ve planned, booked and paid for but can’t enjoy.
However, if this happens to you, you’ll be patting yourself on the back for getting travel insurance*. World Nomads insurance plans may reimburse you for the non-refundable, pre-paid dollars you’ve handed over for everything from activities and tours to transportation and accommodation. Now you can get on with planning your next adventure.
Trip cancellation is a benefit that reimburses you for pre-paid, forfeited, non-refundable trip payments if you need to cancel for an unforeseen, covered event such as an illness, injury, jury duty, a death in the family or an airline strike.
Reimbursable costs could include things like airfares, train tickets, hotel rooms or tour expenses. The amount you receive could be up to 100% of the trip cost, up to the maximum benefit amount specified in your plan.
Trip costs can add up, especially if you’re booking long-haul flights, extended hotel stays, group tours, cruises or packages. No matter how you travel, it’s no fun to lose what you’ve paid towards your trip when it turns out it’s a no-go. The next-best desirable outcome (other than going on your trip)? Getting reimbursed for your non-refundable expenses if you cancel for a covered reason.
Our single-trip and annual travel insurance plans all include trip cancellation coverage. Our Epic and Explorer plans also have the option to add-on a ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit. When you get a quote, you can compare the plans side-by-side and determine which one might be right for you.
All our plans include trip cancellation coverage that allows you to cancel your trip for a list of specified covered reasons, but if you purchase our Epic or Explorer plan for your travels within the time-sensitive period, you can also opt to include cancel for any reason add-on coverage. With cancel for any reason coverage, benefits will be paid for up to 75% of prepaid and non-refundable deposits and payments you made towards your canceled trip for a wider range of reasons. Broke up with your partner? You can safely cancel your trip. Sick dog? You don’t have to go. Change your mind about traveling? There’s no judgment here.
Keep in mind that conditions apply and last-minute cancellations (less than two days before departure) aren’t covered. Compare the plans to see which one best suits your needs. Cancel for any reason’ coverage is not available to residents of New York.
To be eligible for trip cancellation benefits, you’ll need to explain why your trip was canceled. You could be covered for the specific reasons listed in your travel insurance plan. Examples of covered reasons include:
To have coverage, you must also meet the plan conditions and eligibility requirements. For example, if you cancel your trip because of a terrorist incident, the incident must have occurred in a city listed on your itinerary within 30 days of your departure. And if your plans are disrupted by a strike, it must cause your common carrier to stop services for at least 24 hours. Read your full plan wording for a full list of requirements.
It's important to note that no coverage will be available for an event or circumstance that is known before you purchase your trip protection plan. Examples include but are not limited to an already-announced strike, an already-named hurricane, or a pre-existing medical condition (without the exclusion waiver).
Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, even though some circumstances are beyond your control. Our plans don’t offer trip cancellation coverage for:
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.
Depending on your case, you'll need copies of:
I had to cancel my trip to Tanzania because my wife hurt her back in an accident. I was supposed to leave in three days, but it is impossible now because I have to take her to the hospital for a scan. I paid for a Kilimanjaro climb which is not refundable because it was too close to my departure date. I also put down a deposit for a three-day safari and had to cancel flights and my volunteer job.
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
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We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
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Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
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The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
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Non-Insurance Services
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
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.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.