Travel insurance for overseas medical emergencies
A visit to a hospital shouldn’t put your credit card into intensive care
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As featured in:
Overseas medical travel insurance: At a glance
- Get medical help immediately, don’t delay medical treatment.
- Call local emergency services if needed.
- Contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance as soon as practical.
- Keep all medical reports, receipts, and invoices.
- Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Financial Services Guide (FSG)and Target market Determination (TMD) to know what you are covered for and consider whether this product is right for you.
- Contact usif you have any questions.
- What to do if you’re injured overseas
- What’s covered
- What’s not covered?
- When to contact World Nomads Emergency Assistance
- Making a claim after a medical emergency
- FAQs
When an unexpected medical emergency happens, medical care can be shockingly expensive. Whether it’s a scooter spill in Bali or a serious ski accident in Europe, knowing what to do in the moment matters.
World Nomads travel insurance for overseas medical emergencies may help if you need medical cover while travelling overseas.
What to do if you’re injured overseas
Once you’re safe and receiving care, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as you can and we can help you sort out the insurance side of things. Make sure that you keep all receipts and reports from your treating doctor, including the diagnosis and treatment notes and any other documents.
Travel tip: Emergency numbers differ by country. Save them in your phone before you leave.
What’s covered
Depending on the plan you choose your policy may help cover things like:
- Overseas medical and hospital expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility
What’s not covered?
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common claims for overseas medical expenses we see where there's no cover include:
- Any expenses once you return home.
- Riding a scooter without a helmet or valid scooter licence at home regardless of local laws.
- Where you've been acting recklessly.
- Losses arising from being intoxicated by or addicted to alcohol or drugs.
When to contact World Nomads Emergency Assistance
The Emergency Assistance team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You (or someone travelling with you) should contact them:
- If you’re admitted to hospital
- If your injury or illness is serious
- If medical evacuation may be required
They can help coordinate care, liaise with medical providers, and explain how your policy works.
Travel insurance tip: Keep your travel insurance policy number handy in case you need to call the Emergency Assistance or the customer service team. Your policy number and contact details for the Emergency Assistance or customer service teams can be found on your Certificate of Insurance (COI).
Making a claim after a medical emergency
Claims are submitted online. To support a medical claim, keep:
- Doctor’s report detailing diagnosis and treatment
- Hospital admission and discharge records
- Emergency services or incident reports (if applicable)
- Itemised invoices and receipts
- Prescriptions and pharmacy receipts
- Proof of travel and policy details
- Clear documentation helps claims progress more smoothly.
- Carry a digital and printed copy of your COI.
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FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for overseas medical emergencies. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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What should I do first if I’m injured overseas?
Get to a safe place and seek medical help immediately. Call the local emergency services if needed. Once you’re safe and being treated, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as you can.
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Do I need to contact World Nomads before getting treatment?
No. Always seek urgent treatment first. Health first, paperwork later. But make sure you contact the Emergency Assistance team as soon as is practical.
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What documents do I need to make a medical claim?
You’ll need to present any documents relevant to your medical treatment. A doctor’s report, hospital records, invoices, receipts for medication, police reports, proof of travel.
This is not a full list of what's covered and not covered. There are terms and conditions, limitations and exclusions that apply. Read your PDS carefully before you buy. If you have questions about what's covered and not covered, just ask us.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.