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Travel insurance cover for Coronavirus-related events

Travel insurance may help if Coronavirus cancels your travel plans

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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 03 February 2022, please check the PDS provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 03 February 2022 please see below.

We know Aussie travellers can’t wait to travel again which is why we’ve added some Coronavirus (COVID-19) specific cover to our insurance plans, to help make it clear what COVID-19 related events our travellers may have coverage for. All our travel insurance plans include emergency medical and repatriation cover if you get sick with Coronavirus while abroad. Our Explorer plans also offer cover for some Coronavirus-related events with the Coronavirus travel costs benefit a new feature.

World Nomads travel insurance for Coronavirus and our plans

Standard and Explorer plans: Offer cover for emergency medical assistance if you get sick with Coronavirus (COVID-19) overseas – cover includes medical assistance, repatriation and hospitalisation benefits.
Explorer Plan: Offers cover for some Coronavirus related events such as cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs, as well as additional benefits for healthcare workers, residential care workers and law enforcement officers who have their pre-arranged leave cancelled by their employer due to Coronavirus.

Benefit limits apply and vary between plans.

Benefit	Standard	Explorer
Emergency medical expenses overseas	Yes	Yes
Medical repatriation/ evacuation (including funeral expenses or repatriation of your remains if the worst-case scenario happens)	Yes	Yes
Coronavirus Travel Costs Note: This section has its own benefit limits which apply. Check your PDS for full details or read our Help article which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.	NA	Yes

What do I do if I get COVID-19 before or during my trip?

If you need to cancel or cut short your trip because you or a member of your travelling party is diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner, or if your close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, these tips may be helpful, especially if you intend to make a claim.

Contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible – they can help direct you to local medical facilities if needed and help you understand your options.
Isolate! And seek the relevant medical attention.
If you haven’t left home yet and might need to cancel your trip – make sure you’ve got medical evidence of your diagnosis. This can include certification from your doctor that due to the COVID-19 diagnosis you are medically unfit to continue with your original travel plans, or an official PCR test. The diagnosis of Coronavirus must be made after your policy was purchased.
Don’t delay in the cancellation of your plans to maximise the opportunity of refunds from your providers.
Always keep receipts for any trip payments you make and, wherever possible, request written reports from providers or local authorities.
Follow Australian government and local advice – different countries have different rules. What’s okay in Australia may not be okay in the countries you visit. While some countries may be more relaxed in their COVID-19 protocols, others may be very strict in who they allow to enter.

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you’re careful with your planning and you read the PDS to make sure you understand what’s included and what’s not, as well as the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. If you have any questions get in touch.

Contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance teams as soon as possible, so they can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you get home.

When you call please have ready:

Your policy number
A contact number and travelling companion details for where you are now
The nature of your problem

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team. If you’re looking for general travel advice, you can ask our community at Ask a Nomad.

Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Our international policies can offer cover for emergency overseas medical expenses and medical evacuation and repatriation following a serious injury or sudden illness; this includes coronavirus, subject to all policy terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions. However, if the plan you already purchased doesn’t include the benefit section ‘Coronavirus Travel Costs’ (which offers some cover for eight specific coronavirus-related events), contact us for assistance. We are not able to change the plan issued after purchase, but, provided you have not used your original policy, and do not need to make any claim, we may be able to assist with issuing a replacement policy and providing you with a refund of your original premium. It is important to remember that this would be a new policy, subject to the policy terms conditions and pricing in effect at the date it is issued and would not offer cover for any event that has already occurred.

What do I do if my test hasn’t come back in time, and I need to cancel my trip?
If you need to cancel or rearrange your travel arrangements, even at the last minute, don’t delay in speaking with your airline or other travel providers to minimise any potential cancellation costs or fees.  If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too.  If you do need to make a claim, the cover available will depend on your individual circumstances, as well as the plan you have purchased. For us to assess if cover can apply, you’ll need to submit a claim along with all supporting documentation. Remember, if you are required to take a test prior to travel, it is important to allow sufficient time for results to come back.

Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Cover may be available if you are unfit to travel due to contracting COVID-19, depending on the plan you have purchased, and the facts of your claim - check the policy you have purchased and if it has Coronavirus Travel Costs cover. We assess all claims on a case-by-case basis. Speak with your travel providers, you may be able to cancel or change your arrangements at no or minimal cost. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too.  Please note, if you’re already travelling and need to make changes to a flight change or your accommodation, even at the last minute, don’t delay in speaking with your airline or provider.  If you can’t continue with your planned arrangements due to a positive diagnosis, simply not showing up could mean you forfeit your booking or incur additional fees when you may have been able to move your dates or times at no or minimal cost. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too

Do I need medical proof of my positive COVID-19 result if I need to cancel my trip?
Yes. You will need to provide documentation to support the circumstances of your claim. We understand that the type of documentation you can provide may vary and assess every claim on a case-by-case basis. You should submit as much information as you’re able to along with your claim, this will help us to assess your claim in a timely manner and reduce the possibility that we may need to ask you for further information. Information you supply may include: PCR Test demonstrating that at the time you were due to travel, you had an active case of COVID-19; Proof you were subject to mandatory isolation at the time you were due to travel due to a registered RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) result; Letter from medical practitioner confirming you are medically unfit to travel due to COVID. Don’t forget to contact your travel service providers as well, as you’ll also need to demonstrate that you have requested to refund or reschedule your arrangements, and what your out of pocket costs are. Remember, not all of our plans cover pre-trip cancellation for COVID-19. This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered.

Reconnect with the world with our travel insurance cover for some Coronavirus-related events

Itching to travel again?

Explore the world with our plans that provide cover for some Coronavirus-related (including COVID-19-related) events, including emergency overseas medical, evacuation, cancellation cover and more. Find out what cover applies to your Country of Residence, and the key benefit limits depending on which plan you purchase. Happy and safe travels!

Overseas medical expenses

If a qualified medical practitioner diagnoses you with Coronavirus while you’re travelling, we may offer emergency medical benefits to help you get back on your feet.

Standard plan:
$5,000,000 Single
$100,000,000 Couple/Duo/Family

Explorer plan:
Unlimited

Medical transport & repatriation home

If you become seriously sick or injured during your trip (and it's not considered an 'existing medical condition' as defined in the Policy Document) we may be able to help with cover for medical transport to the nearest or most appropriate medical facility, or back home to recover.

Standard plan:
$500,000 Single
$1,000,000 Couple/Duo/Family

Explorer plan:
Unlimited

Funeral expenses or repatriation of your remains

If the worst happens and you die from Coronavirus while overseas, we offer benefits to help your family with the costs of a funeral overseas, or if available, bringing you back to your home country.

Standard plan:
$25,000 Single
$50,000 Couple/Duo/Family

Explorer plan:
$25,000 Single
$50,000 Couple/Duo/Family

Coronavirus Travel Costs section (cancellation pre and on-trip)

Had to cancel your trip because you, a travel companion, or your close relative back home have been diagnosed with Coronavirus? Our cover may help with your cancellation costs.