This article gives a detailed review of The World Nomads Travel Insurance a complete guide of 2024
When looking for the best travel insurance package, you want something that covers the activities you intend to do overseas.
Unfortunately, most travel insurance companies rarely cover sports injuries and the ones that do charge additional fees.
Luckily, World Nomads travel insurance covers even extreme sports.
It is ideal for adventure-seeking travelers who plan to try thrilling activities besides visiting tourist spots.
As its name suggests, World Nomads Insurance is supposed to meet the needs of digital nomads and thrill-seeking travelers.
The company offers plans that include extreme sports like scuba diving, snowboarding, and skydiving. Read on to learn more about World Nomads travel insurance, including what it covers, customer ratings, costs, the claim process, and its pros and cons.
What is World Nomads Insurance?
Founded in 2002 in Australia, World Nomads Travel Insurance is one of the few insurance companies in the world explicitly tailored for nomadic travelers and backpackers.
The company has spread its wings to cover about 150 countries globally. One of the major areas covered by World Nomad travel insurance plans is medical and repatriation expenses.
On top of this, it offers full coverage of adventures and extreme sporting activities. Most of its competitors don’t offer comprehensive packages for adventure seekers involved in high-risk activities, so they might be slightly cheaper.
Considering this, World Nomads insurance policies may be expensive if you have no plans to venture into extreme adventure activities.
Pros and Cons of World Nomads Travel Insurance
What We Liked
a) Cover 200+ activities
Travel insurance plans cover an extensive range of sporting and adventure activities. Therefore, it is a fantastic option for thrill seekers. If that is you, you can choose any of the two travel plans.
The Standard plan covers moderate sporting activities such as zip lining, horseback riding, and river tubing.
On the other hand, the Explorer package covers more intense activities, such as skydiving, shark cage diving, and ice climbing.
b) Boosting your cover during the trip
Usually, World Nomads travel insurance plans are active for 180 days. But if your cover expires, you can buy additional cover while still on your trip.
For instance, if you decide to prolong your trip, the company allows you to purchase additional coverage.
c) Offers 24/7 emergency assistant service
You can reach World Nomads at any time during your trip. The company has standby customer support personnel.
The work of these agents is to help you replace stolen or lost items, schedule an appointment with a doctor, or arrange medical transportation.
The good thing is that this assistance is available for both the Standard and Explorer plans.
What We Didn’t Like
a) The policies don’t cover existing medical conditions.
The sad thing about World Nomads is that it doesn’t cover any disease that you have had within 90 days before applying for the cover.
In this case, the pre-existing conditions include illnesses you have been treated for, shown symptoms of, or received a prescription for.
b) No coverage for elderly travelers
Like most insurance companies, World Nomads doesn’t insure travelers over 70 years old. This age limit is even lower for some countries. For instance, UK travelers who are over 65 are not covered.
c) Doesn’t offer the ‘Cancel for Any Reason ’ option
One area where other insurers have a better edge over World Nomads is the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on.
CFAR coverage enables travelers to get a refund of up to 75% of their trip costs. Unfortunately, World Nomads doesn’t offer this optional add-on.
The absence of this add-on means you can’t cancel your trip for any reason.
World Nomads Travel Insurance Packages
The company offers two insurance packages: Standard and Explorer. The main difference between these two plans is the level of coverage.
The Explorer package covers most of the things covered in the Standard Plan and even more intense activities.
| World Nomads | Standard Package | Explorer Package |
| Emergency medical expenses | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Trip cancellations | $2,500 | $10,000 |
| Unplanned evacuations | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| Emergency repatriation | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| Personal effects and baggage delays | $1,000 | $3,000 |
Types of Activities Covered by World Nomads Travel Insurance
As mentioned earlier, most travel insurance firms tend to avoid intense activities, such as kickboxing and skydiving. This is where World Nomads shine.
It covers more than 200 of these activities, depending on your package. Here are just a few of the adventure activities covered in both plans:
- Glacier walking
- Kite Surfing
- Surfing
- Speed boating
- Curling
- Aerial safari
- Indoor ice skating
- Canyon swing
- Sailing/Yachting
- Horse-drawn sleigh rides
- Snorkeling
- Bungee jumping
- Zip lining
- Dune buggy
- Fly by wire
- Water skiing
- Camel riding
- Rock climbing
- Hot air ballooning
- Camping at 4,500 meters
- Mountain biking
- Stilt walking
- Caving
You can add these extras if you want an intense experience:
- Free diving up to 50 meters
- Scuba diving
- Snowboarding
- Kiteboarding
- Blackwater rafting
- Cross-country skiing
- Backpacking up to 6,000 meters
- Abseiling
- Parasailing
- Snowmobiling
- Whitewater rafting
- Parachuting
- Kite buggy
- Canyoning
Most of the above activities fall into three levels. All the packages cover Level 1 activities, while Levels 2 and 3 are available at an extra cost.
What Is Excluded from The World Nomads Travel Insurance
While World Nomads cover numerous activities, it has its limits. Here are some of the activities excluded from your package:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Pregnancy or childbirth
- Cosmetic or non-emergency medical treatment
- Alcohol-related illness or death
- Martial arts competitions
- Participating in athletics
- Traveling purposefully for medical treatment
- Participating in extreme sports
- Attempted suicide, suicide, or intentional injuries
- Flying as a crew member or pilot in an aircraft
- Participating in international competitions as a representative of your country
- Traveling to, in, and through North Korea, Syria, Iran, and the Crimea region
- Trip cancellations due to civil war, civil unrest, or acts of foreign enemies
The Cost of World Nomads Travel Insurance
We wish we could give you a standard cost. Unfortunately, World Nomads charges their premiums based on several factors, including your country of origin, your travel destination, the length of your stay, the age of the travelers, and other factors.
For instance, if an individual aged 50 from Ontario wants to travel to the UK for 10 days, he will pay $78 for the Standard plan and $101.03 for the Explorer plan.
Similarly, a couple aged 65 in Ontario who intend to visit Italy for 21 days will have to pay $260 and $310 for the Standard and Explorer plans, respectively.
Here is another example. A couple aged 27 from the same place who plan to visit Mexico for 7 days will pay $132.15 for the Standard package and $171.78 for the Explorer package.
World Nomads Travel Insurance Customer Satisfaction
The company website is user-friendly. They also have a 24/7 support desk to help customers in distress. However, like most travel insurance companies, including the best, World Nomads has positive and negative reviews.
Some users have complained of lengthy claim processes; others didn’t like World Nomads’ limitations. But many praised the company for its cost-effectiveness, while others were happy because the company paid for their claims.
You can find more reviews on the company site and from this third-party source.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The World Nomads’ claim process is very straightforward.
All you need to do in an emergency is log into your account on the company’s website and fill out your claim details.
You will usually answer a few questions and provide appropriate contact details.
No travel insurance company offers medical coverage as part of their travel packages.
What is covered in travel insurance policies is medical emergencies.
This is not the same as having medical coverage that allows you to visit the doctor at any time.
No. World Nomads doesn’t offer the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) add-on in its packages.
You can only cancel a trip under the following circumstances:
– Work emergencies
– Getting injured or sick
– Jury duty
– Sickness or death of a close family member
– Suffer severe damage to your home occasioned by natural calamities.
Verdict: Is World Nomads Travel Insurance Worth It?
If you plan to explore the globe without worrying about your travel plans, health, or belongings, consider World Nomads travel insurance.
This company offers multiple insurance benefits, which include extreme sports and adventure coverage, general medical coverage, and car insurance.
Also Read: The Safest Countries in the World For Digital Nomads
