I am one of those people who don’t think of purchasing insurance when I travel. However, I’ve been looking around for a good provider, as I’ve got several trips lined up this year and I want to make sure I’ll be prepared for anything.
My research brought about several travel insurance providers, and on the top of the list is Worldnomads.com. This is based on the reviews that I’ve read, as well as the fact that the company is highly recommended by travel stalwarts Lonely Planet and Nat Geo Adventure.
WorldNomads.com is an Australian company that offers flexible international travel insurance and other travel safety services. The company also has a strong online community where its members can share travel tips and advice through blog and forums.
Underwriter partners
The travel insurance that WorldNomads offers is powered by several travel insurance companies that cover over 150 countries and have proven their mettle over the years. These include companies like underwriters at Lloyd’s, Millstream Underwriting, IHI Bupa International, National Union Fire Insurance Company (Pittsburgh, PA) and Chartis Insurance Company (Canada).
Basic Coverage, Costs and Policies
WorldNomads.com offers the following: Medical emergency coverage and evacuation, trip cancellation due to illness, accident or death of a close relative, baggage and personal baggage insurance, personal liability, coming home early and resumption of a trip. Of course, these are subject to certain conditions, so it’s best that before signing up, you should read the policy wording of WorldNomads very carefully.
The company touts their policies as having competitive rates, which says a lot given what they can cover. Prices and policy wording, as well as the maximum age covered, vary depending on an individual’s country of residence, the site offers a way for you to get an accurate estimate.
Adventure Travel Insurance
One thing that WorldNomads have going for them is their offering of adventure travel insurance. Many travel insurance companies have limited coverage for sports and other potentially dangerous activities including jet skiing, skydiving, white water rafting and so on. You can take a look at the activities that are and are not covered depending on where you go (and your country of residence), and even if your planned activity is not on the list, you can inquire with the company. Again, this is subject to terms and conditions.
What is NOT covered
Of course, there are certain limits. While the company’s coverage is pretty substantial, they do not cover pre-existing medical conditions. This means that you can still purchase insurance but if your illness needs treatment, it will not be covered. Actions resulting from imbibing alcohol or drugs are not covered either. In most cases, cash theft is also not covered, unless in certain circumstances. Again, the reading of the policy wording is very important.
Further explanation of what is covered and other topics are tackled with the company’s list of Frequently Asked Questions.
The Verdict
Going through the offerings of WorldNomads, I’m of the opinion that it’s one of the best choices for quality travel insurance. Of course, as someone who has yet to avail of their product, there is not much that I can say about the service. However, I have contacted the company to clarify some of the provisions, and I was happy to get a satisfactory reply within 24 hours.
Various blogs and websites have plenty of good things to say about the service. Of course, there are those who do have some negative feedback, but it seems to be a small percentage compared to the positive ones.
Bottomline, if you’re a simple traveler like me who wants to cover as much bases as you can, this is a good pick. If there’s more that you need, check out the details, get a quote or ask customer service for information.
Recently I read a blog post about the chances of getting sick while when on a trip overseas. While this has never happened to me yet, I dread the thought of getting ill while in a foreign country. So this post about travel insurance is really timely for me. Thanks for sharing this review. I will certainly check out Worldnormads.com travel insurance policy.