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Which travel insurers cover you for cruises?

Cruises are officially back on the cards and people are queuing up to get on board. here's how to make sure you're covered..

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Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE .

Need to know

• Most travel insurers cover cruises but there are some exclusions and fine print to be aware of
• For example, you won't be able to claim for events that occur because you've had too much to drink
• You need to make sure you declare your pre-existing medical conditions

With the restrictions on cruises finally lifted post-pandemic, the industry has bounced back in a big way this year and is more popular than ever.

But some people lost thousands of dollars on cancelled cruises during the COVID-19 travel bans and some cruise lines might not even let you on board without travel insurance.

So if you're planning a cruise, read on to discover how to choose the travel insurance policy that's best for you.

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Travel insurance for overseas cruises

Which travel insurers cover international cruises, what cruise travel insurance won't cover, do i need insurance for australian cruises, when to buy travel insurance for a cruise.

Most travel insurers cover international cruises that start and end in Australia, usually as an optional extra (we haven't looked at cover for cruises that start and/or end overseas). 

Some providers also offer tailored cruise travel insurance, which can give you access to additional inclusions that are unique to cruising and that may not be covered in standard policies, such as cover for missed ports, missed departures, or cabin confinement due to illness.

When choosing a policy, it's important to make sure the region you're visiting is covered and that it suits your needs and itinerary.

Check the policy age limit, as some policies cover you up to the age of 100 but others only cover you up to 69. 

It's also worth noting that if you want cancellation coverage in case a relative in Australia becomes ill or dies, the relative will also need to meet the age limit on the policy and satisfy the existing medical condition requirements.

Australian authorities no longer require people to prove they've had a COVID-19 vaccination in order to board, but it may be required for some destinations such as New Caledonia, and cruise ships are still a higher risk setting for diseases like gastroenteritis and respiratory infections, including influenza (flu) and COVID-19. So check if you have medical and cancellation cover for COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Existing medical conditions and pregnancy

As with other types of travel insurance, some pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered, and others will need to be disclosed in order to be covered. If in doubt, contact the insurer to discuss your needs.

It's also worth noting that pregnancy is considered an existing medical condition. Some insurance policies cover pregnancy up to 30 weeks, but most cruise lines won't allow you on board if you're more than 24 weeks pregnant.

Travel insurance and alcohol

Some people liken cruises to a floating RSL club, but the combination of alcohol and a seagoing vessel can cause accidents. 

In an Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) case, Phil* fell down a flight of stairs on a cruise ship and suffered a moderate brain injury, skull fracture and right lung contusion.

All travel insurers have a clause that excludes cover for claims resulting from a person being under the influence of alcohol

Phil said the area was not well lit and the steps would have been slippery, while his wife said he was walking steadily. He was taken to a hospital in Austria and a test showed that he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.198%.

The insurer had an exclusion for "any conduct engaged in whilst under the influence or effect of alcohol or drugs", and AFCA sided with the insurer, determining that Phil's claim for expenses should be denied.

All travel insurers have a similar clause that excludes cover for claims resulting from a person being under the influence of alcohol.

* Not their real name. Policyholder names are not disclosed in AFCA case records.

Even if you book a cruise that won't be leaving Australian waters, you may still need travel insurance as shipboard medical expenses might not be covered by Medicare. Check that your travel insurance does cover medical costs – you may need international or cruise-specific insurance. Domestic travel or health insurance won't cut it.

Doctors working on cruise ships don't need Medicare provider numbers, so check with your cruise line if they have a Medicare doctor on board. If they don't, and they treat you, you can't claim on Medicare or your private health insurance, even though you never left Australia. 

Domestic travel insurance doesn't cover medical costs, so you'd need either international travel insurance (check that it covers domestic cruises) or special 'domestic cruise' insurance, which is available from a few select insurers.

Cruises are often booked well ahead of time, so you could be forgiven for forgetting or delaying the purchase of your travel insurance. But if your cruise is cancelled ahead of time and you don't yet have cover, you could lose your money. The earlier you buy the policy, the better.

On the flip side, there aren't many insurers that cover you more than a year out from starting your trip. If you book your trip more than a year out, shop around for a policy that will cover you.

Stock images:  Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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The best travel insurance – 3,000 PDS analysed (seriously…!)

It wasn't our idea of fun, but now your trip can be..

• Get an online quote in just a few minutes
• Free cover for dependent kids, under 21 travelling with you
• Optional add-on cover for your valuables

• Health members get 15% off
• Cheaper than average
• COVID cancellation

• Covers children up to age 25
• Kids travel for free
• COVID cover included

• Claim up to $5,000 for COVID cancellations
• Claim up to $50,000 for cancellation costs
• $7,500 rental car excess cover

In this guide

Compare quotes to find the best travel insurance for you

Get help finding the best travel insurance policies, why you can trust our research, great for value, great for covid cover, great for families, great for domestic travel, looking for the best travel insurance in australia, tips to find best travel insurance with covid cover, best travel insurance faqs.

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Our insurance specialists have gathered 300+ quotes for 50+ popular Australian travel insurance policies. We shortlisted 4 policies based on 2023 Finder Awards , customer reviews and expert analysis. Remember, there's no single best travel insurance policy that suits everyone's needs, since we all have different travel plans and needs.

Show summary

• Great for value: Southern Cross Travel Insurance
• Great for COVID cover: Medibank travel insurance
• Great for families: World2Cover
• Great for domestic travel: InsureandGo

Insurance plans analysed

PDS features analysed

Recent travelers surveyed

2.6 million

Quotes served since 2014

See how this score is calculated

Pros and cons

• It's affordable compared to other popular insurers including Cover-More and Allianz.
• Its PDS is much easier to understand compared to the other 28 other international policies we looked at.
• High customer ratings on Finder (4.16/5) and other popular review websites such as product review (4.7).
• Our awards data suggests Fast Cover and Medibank tend to be slightly cheaper.
• Customers rated Tick more highly in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards.
• $2,500 cap on cancellations is low and risky for expensive trips. For example, it's unlimited with Fast Cover.

How Southern Cross Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on a single 40-year-old travelling to Bali for 2 weeks. Comprehensive policies. Data collected in October 2023.

Why we picked it

SCTI has one of the best claims experiences and an easy-to-read PDS. It's not just us that thinks so. It earned a finalist spot for General Insurance Claims Team of the Year at The International Travel & Health Insurance Journal Awards and won the Best Plain English Legal Document at the most recent Plain Language Awards.

SCTI also received a mere 3 complaints to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) in the latest period. By comparison, Mitsui, which underwrites insurers including InsureandGo, received 47. Very large insurers such as Zurich and AWP (Allianz) received 325 and 95.

It's also consistently good value. On average, it's one of cheapest comprehensive travel insurers, according to our 2023 Finder Awards research. Out of 28 policies, only Fast Cover and Medibank were marginally cheaper.

The majority of comprehensive travel insurance policies cover COVID now but Medibank is a standout. Its $10,000 limit for COVID related trip cancellations is double the majority of insurers. Considering that 42% of Australians spend an average of $6,765 on holidays , Medibank is a safe choice. It also has a helpline that lets you chat to a doctor at any time.

• $10,000 cap for COVID cancellation costs and unlimited medical expenses.
• It's cheap – $233 less than average, according to 300+ quotes we gathered.
• 15% discount for health members (making it the cheapest out of 28 policies).
• ahm and Travel Insurance Saver also cover up to $10,000 for cancellations.
• Only Medibank and ahm health members can access discount.
• $15,000 cap for luggage. SCTI and Cover-More have a $25,000 cap.

How Medibank Travel Insurance compares

Out of 19 comprehensive travel insurance policies, Medibank was one of three to come with a $10,000 cap on COVID related cancellations. ahm and Travel Insurance Saver also cover COVID related cancellations. However, Medibank has a higher Finder Score.

Additionally, our research showed a Medibank international policy cost $353 on average for a 2-week trip overseas. That's $233 cheaper than average, according to our research of 28 policies. It's even cheaper if you're a Medibank or ahm member. It could knock $53 off a $353 policy.

World2Cover lets kids under 25 travel for free, so long as they're financially dependent on you. Most insurers including Cover-More and Southern Cross stop offering free cover when your children turn 20. It has a 9.4 Finder Score and out of the 50+ Product Disclosure Statements I looked at, it was one of the easiest to understand.

• Can cover kids up to the age of 25
• Up to $3,500 Covid cancellation cover per person – that's more than SCTI and Cover-More
• Unlimited cancellation cover
• Its underwriter received 43 complaints to AFCA – 21 more than Chubb and 40 more than SCTI (similar sized insurers)
• $5,000 rental car excess is lower than some e.g. Southern Cross ($10,000) and Allianz ($6,000)

How World2Cover Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on two 40-year-olds travelling to Bali for 2 weeks with 3 children aged 14, 12 and 7. Comprehensive policies selected. Data collected in October 2023.

Out of 20 travel insurers, World2Cover was one of the only brands to cover children up to the age of 25. It also doesn't have a limit on how many dependents can travel for free. Allianz can also cover kids on a family policy. However, it typically cost more in our research.

• It's very cheap. Out of 23 insurers, it's $180+ less than average.
• Get 10% off your travel insurance policy, using the code Finder10.
• Up to $7,500 towards car rental excess cover. That's $2,500 better than most.
• We found its PDS can be confusing and hard to understand.
• Cover-More, Fast Cover and SCTI also offer reasonably priced domestic policies.
• You absolutely need to read the PDS beforehand. There are lots of conditions attached to every benefit.

How InsureandGo Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on a single 40-year-old travelling in Australia for 1 week. All are domestic policies. Data collected in October 2023.

It's competitively-priced and won Finder's 2023 Best Domestic Travel Insurance Award. We looked at 23 domestic travel insurance policies as part of the awards and scored the same 14 features for every policy. These benefits included COVID rearrangement costs, theft or damage to luggage and rental car excess cover.

InsureandGo scored highly for a number of benefits including rental car excess cover, COVID cover, cancellation cover and luggage cover. You get up to $50,000 for cancellations, $25,000 for travel delays, $8,000 for lost luggage, $5,000 for COVID cancellation and rearrangement costs and $7,500 for rental car excess cover.

Similarly, it's good if you plan to rent a car while you're away. InsureandGo's top policy will cover the rental car excess for up to $7,500 if your car is damaged, stolen or involved in an accident. The average is $5,000. This sometimes isn't enough to cover the excess rental car companies charge.

It is also cheaper on average. Overall, it ranked in first place.

Top 5 policies in travel insurance – domestic

• InsureandGo Gold Domestic
• Australia Post Domestic Travel Insurance
• Cover-More Domestic Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• NRMA Domestic Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• Southern Cross Domestic Travel Insurance

Its main drawback is its Product Disclosure Statement which contains lots of conditions and could leave room for instances where you won't be covered. For example, it can cover cancelling your trip before departure but only for a specific number of reasons. These include: " your unforeseeable death, injury or illness; you have to go to court to be a witness or be on a jury (but not as an expert witness); there is an accident involving a vehicle you were planning to travel in, which happens within seven days before the date you planned to leave and means you cannot use the vehicle (This only applies to self-drive holidays). "

Keep in mind: there's no single best travel insurance policy that suits everyone, since we all have different travel plans and needs.

Over 2 million left Australian shores in December 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics . That's an annual increase of 500,000+ people.

To help you figure out what travel insurance company is the best in 2023, we asked over 1,200 Australians for their opinion and got our insurance experts to rate some of Australia's well-known brands.

Most travel insurers offer COVID cover now and most will cover you for similar COVID-related travel expenses . However, there are still some things you can do to make sure you're getting the right policy for you:

Take out cover for all travellers

Whether you're travelling with your partner or the whole family, make sure that you add them to the insurance policy. That way, if someone catches COVID but you don't, you'll still be covered for expenses.

Get a policy as soon as you book your trip

That way, you're covered if you get sick and need to cancel. A few insurers including Cover-More and Easy Travel Insurance also won't accept COVID-related claims within 21 days of your trip, so make sure you take out cover at least 3 weeks before you jet off.

Check the exclusions

It can be tedious but make sure you give the exclusions in the PDS a read before you buy. For example, you won't be covered for costs related to border closures. It means that you might be out of pocket for prepaid accommodation or booked airline tickets if the government of that country imposes a lockdown.

Jillian, Kerry and Tyson travelled from Sydney to Dallas. 10 days in, Tyson (Jillian's son) caught COVID, a day before the family was supposed to leave for a ski trip in Colorado. As a result, they had to rearrange their travel plans.

Unfortunately, Jillian got COVID later and the family had to send Tyson and Kerry home to Sydney, while Jillian stayed another 4 days until she tested negative. She then rebooked her trip home.

Their insurer, Southern Cross Travel Insurance , covered just under $3,000 in costs . The family paid a $500 excess to claim on 2 events.

Get a free travel insurance quote

Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts

What's the best type of travel insurance?

There are two main levels of travel insurance; basic and comprehensive. A basic travel insurance policy can cover you for health and medical emergencies. A comprehensive policy can cover your possessions too as well as other things like cancellation.

What's the best travel insurance with COVID cover?

Most policies will include some level of COVID cover so what's best can depend on how much you've spent on your trip. For example, many policies include COVID cover for up to $5,000. If your trip is costing you $9,000 then this might not be good enough for you. We've found higher limits with Medbank; here you're covered for up to $10,000 if your trip is cancelled due to COVID related reasons.

How far in advance should I buy travel insurance?

It's worth getting travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way, you're covered straight away. If something happens – say you get sick or your flight is cancelled or delayed – you're covered.

Is it best to get a single trip or annual policy?

Single trip policies may be best if you don't plan on travelling much over the next year or, if you're going on a long trip ( annual policies cap the length you're allowed to travel per trip – typically 30, 45 or 60 days).

Annual (or multi-trip) policies may be better if you're a jet-setter who intends to travel several times a year. Generally speaking, an annual policy may work out cheaper than paying for 4 single-trip policies in a year.

But be aware, annual plans have been a little harder to come by since the pandemic.

What's considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance?

Essentially, a pre-existing condition is any medical condition you've been diagnosed with, in a specified time period, prior to taking out cover. Such conditions include heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.

What's the best travel insurance for Bali?

There have been several flight cancellations and delays to Bali recently. Most travel insurance polices can reimburse you for flight cancellations. However, it's worth going with an insurer that will also cover additional travel expenses such as accommodation and pre-booked excursions. It can be very frustrating if something happens but if the cancellation is due to circumstances out of your control, your insurer is likely to cover you.

What's the best travel insurance for the US?

The US has a notoriously expensive healthcare system so it's worth getting a travel insurance policy that comes with unlimited medical expenses cover at the very least. Fortunately, most comprehensive policies offer this. Other important medical-related expenses worth considering are:

• Hospital cash allowance. An amount you'll be given per day if you're hospitalised to pay for additional expenses.
• Resumption of journey. This can help pay you to get home if you're very sick.

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living

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If time is valuable to you, Travel Insuranz may be suitable for you. With its fast online processing process, Travel Insurance provides easy access to protecting yourself for travel. Read its policy online.

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More From Forbes

Exploring health insurance options abroad: a guide for older americans.

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Patient At a Doctors Appointment

For anyone considering moving overseas—but especially older folks—health insurance is a critical consideration.

If you think that Medicare will cover your health care costs outside of the United States, think again. It only applies under limited circumstances in Canada and Mexico. This fact is so often missed that the government even prints it in U.S. passports.

The good news is that you have many options when it comes to health insurance overseas, and health care systems in other countries can be more affordable and of better quality than the United States’.

They also tend to be easier to understand and navigate compared to the US, where even the experts scratch their heads at the many plans and their respective rules, sources of funding, and enrollment dates.

Here’s an overview of international health insurance options for older Americans looking to move overseas.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, international policies.

International policies provide medical coverage for people living or traveling outside their home country for extended periods (usually one year at a time).

They’re easy to use. You choose a policy with terms and coverage that suit your health needs and lifestyle.

These policies generally cover sickness and accidents, including emergency treatment, inpatient care, cancer treatment, and outpatient surgery.

You’ll pay a premium (monthly or annually) to keep the policy active and select a deductible. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium.

International health insurance policies are annually renewable, and you can keep them for as long as you want.

The benefit of an international health insurance policy is that it can give you portable coverage. You’re covered in your country of residence as well as anywhere else you might travel (including the United States, if you want it).

The downside is that they can be more expensive than the other options on this list, especially as you get older. You can get into most international policies up until age 73.

Local Policies

Local policies are another option for insuring yourself when you move overseas, providing cover exclusively in the country where you’re living. This can be a good option if you plan to spend the majority of your time in that country and not travel internationally much.

You can take out a policy with a state or private health insurance provider, giving you access to local private facilities. In some countries, state health coverage is subsidized or even free.

Many countries have well-developed health systems that are better ranked than the United States in terms of quality, so a local policy can be a great, affordable option.

The downside to this option is that it’s limited in terms of age. If you’re not in the system by a certain age, you can’t access it. In most of the Americas, for instance, the age cap is 60 to 65.

Hospital Policies

In some countries, you can pay a monthly fee at a local hospital or care network to cover whatever health needs may arise.

Fees are usually modest for this type of coverage, which provides access to a hospital and all its facilities. You go there for primary care, specialty care, and hospitalization. Different hospitals have different schemes for deductibles.

This option works well and is cost-effective if you’re spending most of your time in the same place and happy receiving all care within the same network.

If you travel often, this option isn’t going to work for you. Another downside is that if you get too expensive for the hospital, they can cut you off.

Make sure to review the contract and sign-up documents for whatever policy you take on overseas. The rules are different for foreign insurance (whether it’s health, auto, home, or another type of insurance).

Many countries lack an insurance commission to regulate the sale and marketing of policies. You can make one claim and have your policy cancelled, and that can be perfectly legal. It pays to check the fine print that you might have felt safe ignoring in the US.

Travel Policies

If you’re going overseas for a limited amount of time (anywhere from a week to a year), you can take out a travel health insurance policy before you leave to cover any medical needs that arise during your trip.

Travel policies are generally affordable, available for a couple dollars per day. The downside is that they do not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

Health care overseas can be so inexpensive that opting for no health insurance policy and instead paying out of pocket for medical needs can be a reasonable option.

The idea is that you “self-insure,” putting whatever you would have paid for health insurance into a bank account and letting that money grow. This can develop into an extra nest egg for any health insurance or care that you need down the line.

Going naked is not for everybody, especially older folks with pre-existing or serious conditions.

Should You Keep Medicare?

The big question for Americans approaching age 65 who are interested in living overseas is whether to keep Medicare.

Medicare can act as “catastrophic coverage” for expats who live within striking distance of the United States. Then again, it comes with significant costs, since the US has the most expensive health care in the world.

Part A comes with your Social Security, and there’s no premium associated with it, so there’s no reason to turn it down.

Part B comes out of your Social Security, and the Monthly Premium for 2024 is $174.70. You can opt in or out of Part B, but you’ll have to pay a penalty if you don’t sign up when you’re eligible.

My advice is to keep Medicare—Parts A, B, and maybe D (if you’re currently on prescription medication). You can always drop one of these at a later date if you decide that you’re comfortable receiving all of your medical care in your new country of residence.

You could also maintain Medicare and purchase a standalone medical evacuation plan in lieu of taking out an international, local, or hospital policy. This lets you self-insure but also gives you the added protection of being evacuated to the United States to the hospital of your choice.

Other Considerations

Health care and insurance are complicated subjects. Everyone’s health outlook is different, and it’s impossible to predict what the state of their health will be down the line.

You need to consider them early in the process of relocating. You can unwittingly exclude yourself from an option by waiting too long and aging yourself out of it, or by assuming you can buy the policy in another territory.

There’s no one-size-fits-all plan. One or a combination of health insurance options may work best for you, depending on your situation. The best approach is to speak to an industry professional and get a bespoke overview of costs and accessibility.

Regardless of your age, you’ll be able to find an option that suits your needs and receive high-quality medical care overseas.

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• World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

World Nomads Plans Available

World nomads travel insurance cost.

• How to File A Claim with World Nomads Travel Insurance

Compare World Nomads Travel Insurance

World nomads travel insurance faqs.

• Why You Should Trust Us

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024: Coverage for Adventurous Travelers

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

If you're looking for travel insurance that allows you to confidently participate in a wide range of sports and adventure activities around the world, then World Nomads Travel Insurance might be right for you. The company's policies cover travel to almost anywhere on the globe and are available to residents of nearly every country. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance Summary

Among the best international travel insurance companies , World Nomads is particularly good at insuring athletes, covering well over 300 sports, including skydiving, bungee jumping, and golf. World Nomads is also a great last-minute purchase, allowing you to purchase coverage even after your trip has started. However, if you purchase a plan after departure, you will have to wait 72 hours before your plan kicks in.

That said, World Nomads lacks crucial coverage options, such as cancel for any reason coverage and coverage for pre-existing conditions. It also doesn't insure travelers older than 70.

Additionally, the service has received middling reviews from customers, averaging 3.4 stars out of five across 2,510 reviews. Customers often complained about their lengthy claims processes and poor customer service.

Some also took issue with the "Nomads" branding, as some travelers with multiple destinations and long-term trips found their trip wasn't covered by Nomads' specific policies. It's worth noting that World Nomads was very responsive to positive and negative reviews on Trustpilot.

World Nomads has two basic policies: Standard and Explorer. Each covers essentially the same things, but Explorer has higher amounts than World Nomads is willing to pay out for claims. The company's policies cover more than 150 specific activities. These range from bungee jumping and rock climbing to hang gliding and hot-air ballooning. You can see the full list on the company's website.

Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

One of the most common upgraded features of a travel insurance policy is cancel for any reason (CFAR) , where you really can cancel for reason beyond what's in a standard policy. This is not available on every policy, but it is often a feature that travelers are looking for while shopping for travel insurance before their trip. At this time, World Nomads doesn't offer CFAR coverage.

At the time of this review, World Nomads also offers sports equipment coverage. In February of 2022, it expanded coverage to include more than 150 sports and activities including Pickleball and FootGolf. It currently covers over 300 sports. So, as you can imagine, plans with sports coverage will cover virtually any sport you might play.

You can obtain a quote from World Nomads on its website by providing details about you and your trip. Be prepared to provide the following information:

• Your destination(s)
• Duration of trip
• Your country of residence
• State of residence (if you're from the US)
• Number of travelers
• Traveler(s) age

Notably, World Nomads does not ask you for the price of the trip, which many travel insurance companies factor into the trip of your policy. As such, World Nomads may be a good option if you're going on a particularly expensive trip. 

We ran a few simulations to offer examples of how much a World Nomads policy might cost. You'll see that costs usually fall between 5% and 7% of the total trip cost, depending on the policy tier you choose.

As of April 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following  World Nomads travel insurance quotes:

• World Nomads Standard: $76.58
• World Nomads Explorer: $123.34

Premiums for World Nomads's plans are well below the average cost of travel insurance .

World Nomads provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• World Nomads Standard: $85.83
• World Nomads Explorer: $155.06

Once again, premiums for World Nomads plans are between 2.2% and 3.8%, below the average cost for travel insurance.

A couple of 65-years of age looking to escape New York for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following World Nomads quotes:

• World Nomads Standard: $152.96
• World Nomads Explorer: $276.34

Premiums for World Nomads plans are between 2.6% and 4.6%, once again below the average cost for travel insurance. This is especially impressive as travel insurance is often more expensive for older travelers.

How to File A Claim with World Nomad Travel Insurance

You can start an insurance claim by filing it on the company's website. 

You can call toll-free in the US and Canada if you need to reach the company in an emergency at: (877) 289-0968.

Callers from outside the US and Canada can reach the company at: (954)-334-8143.

The email address is: [email protected]

You'll need to have the following ready to file a claim:

• Your policy number
• A contact number
• The nature of your problem
• Your location
• Prescribed medication (if any)

Keep any documents related to the claim you're filing, including receipts, notices, and invoices.

World Nomads is particularly good at insuring traveling athletes, but let's see how it stacks up against the best travel insurance companies .

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance is a strong competitor against World Nomads, especially for travelers looking for a more business-oriented option. The company has been in business for more than 120 years and offers a wide range of insurance, not just travel-related, around the world. A key difference between World Nomads and Allianz Travel Insurance is that Allianz Travel Insurance offers travel insurance that can cover multiple trips in the same year. You can take an unlimited number of trips within the same calendar year, but you do have to double-check that all of your destinations are covered by the policy you select. 

Another difference is that Allianz Travel Insurance offers pre-existing condition waivers for qualifying customers. World Nomads doesn't have the same coverage, requiring that the pre-existing condition is fully stable in order for limited coverage with respect to trip cancellations or having to end a trip early. 

Read our Allianz travel insurance review here.

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. AIG Travel Guard

Travel Guard , a product backed by AIG Travel, is another potential alternative to World Nomads. AIG is a prominent player in the insurance industry, and the Travel Guard product represents true global coverage. 

Unlike World Nomads, Travel Guard has coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, but there are conditions. Travelers must purchase their policy within 15 days of the initial trip payment to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver. 

Both travel insurance companies use a tiered approach, but Travel Guard has higher dollar amounts across the board. For example, trip cancellation for Travel Guard covers 100% of the trip cost, while with World Nomads the amount will depends on the tier of the coverage you purchase. Trip Interruption is also a fully covered event with Travel Guard's. Depending on the plan selected, it will either cover 100% or 150% of the trip cost. 

If you're concerned about COVID-19 coverage with trip insurance, there's more coverage with World Nomads than Travel Guard. With Travel Guard, coverage for having to stay in a country past your original booking dates is an add-on, not a standard part of the policy. 

Read our AIG Travel Insurance review here.

Compare World Nomad vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

If you already have a major credit card in your wallet, you most likely have some travel insurance benefits that come with it. These benefits do vary from card to card. Be sure to check your card's specific policies.

Not all credit cards will feature travel insurance protection. The ones that do may have specific limitations. For example, many credit cards with travel protection require that your airfare is paid for with the card in question for protections to take effect. 

Reimbursement isn't guaranteed. The credit cards do require that you file your claim and wait for a decision. World Nomads makes it easy to file a claim online and submit receipts and documentation. The response is fairly quick based on reviews from travelers who have actually had to file claims. 

The more premium the credit card, the more likely expanded travel protections are part of its features. If you don't already have a premium credit card, it's better to get travel insurance. This is also the case if you have multiple trips planned. Some credit cards limit not just the total dollar amount, but the number of claims within a 12-month period.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Yes, you can extend your World Nomads plan while traveling, but you cannot upgrade a standard plan to the Explorer plan. 

World Nomads covers COVID-19 like any other illness under its emergency medical coverage.

You can file a claim on World Nomads's website, over the phone, or by mail. Make sure to provide as much documentation as possible to ease the claims process. 

World Nomads currently covers 326 sports and adventure activities, from ziplining to zorbing.

Yes, you can purchase World Nomads insurance for a trip that has already started. However, a policy purchased during your trip will have a 72-hour waiting period before insurance starts.

How We Reviewed World Nomads Travel Insurance

To prepare this review on World Nomads, we started by detailing the company's travel insurance offerings. Then we looked at the best travel insurance plans and compared them to World Nomads. We looked at things like typical policy costs, coverage options, available add-ons, what's covered, and claim limits.

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance products here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Limits, sub-limits, exclusions and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Medibank Private Limited, ABN 47 080 890 259, an Authorised Representative, AR 286089, of Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited, ABN 73 144 049 230 AFSL 360138 arranges the insurance on behalf of the insurer. The insurer is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507. Please consider your own needs and the  Combined FSG/PDS  to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the Target Market and  Target Market Determinations , visit  medibank.com.au/travel-insurance/help/

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