Learn what makes travel insurance different to health insurance, and how you may be covered in the event of a medical health emergency.
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Find out why travel insurance isn't health insurance and learn more about how you may be covered if you’re trip is derailed due to a medical event.
This article is for Australian travellers who want to learn how travel insurance may help if you experience an urgent medical situation while abroad.
Important first step: if you’ve found yourself in a medical emergency, call the 24/7 Emergency Team immediately so we can confirm your cover and oversee your care.
Keep in mind: Our policies are travel insurance policies not health insurance policies, and most travel insurance policies don't cover existing medical conditions. Make sure you read through your combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Financial Services Guide (FSG) carefully to see how you may be covered.
World Nomads offers travel insurance plans. Travel insurance is distinctly different to a health insurance plan. Travel insurance is there for overseas medical emergencies and is not designed to cover ongoing illness or treatment overseas, or any treatment when you get home.
Health insurance, on the other hand, is a type of insurance that helps cover the costs of medical care in your home country (e.g. Medicare in Australia). Health insurance typically includes hospital cover for treatments in a private or public hospital, and extras cover. Health insurance does not offer cover for travellers going overseas.
If it's necessary to seek urgent medical treatment while you’re travelling, your policy may cover your reasonable emergency overseas medical expenses, (up to the policy limits and when agreed by us, for up to 12 months from the date the illness first appears, or injury happens) for:
Note: Use this as a guide only, as every claim is assessed on its individual circumstances.
We also have 24-hour multi-lingual Emergency Assistance teams who can guide you to the nearest hospital, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, and keep you in contact with your family back in Australia.
Coverage may depend on your past medical history, what's happened to you and any other terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of cover as described in your policy.
The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions outlined in the FSG/ Product Disclosure Statement
It’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Teams as soon as possible, so that our teams can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you get home.
So that our Emergency Assistance teams can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
If you face a medical emergency, suddenly fall ill, have an accident while overseas, or someone on your policy passes away while travelling, follow these steps:
Learn what to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured and learn more about travel insurance for cancellation travel insurance for cancellation.
Refer to your combined PDS/FSG or contact us if you have any other questions – we’re here to help.
World Nomads may offer benefits for medical issues related to COVID-19. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas and it’s not considered an ‘existing medical condition’ under the policy, your benefits may include:
Read more about COVID-19 cover in this article, which includes information on benefit limits and exclusions.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you read the PDS/FSG for what is and isn’t covered. That way there are no surprises if you need to use it.
Some of the main medical-related events that aren’t covered include:
*About Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (Australia)
The Australian government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with many countries overseas – you can read more about these as the level of cover varies between them. These agreements mean eligible Australians may get help with the cost of certain essential medical treatment when visiting these countries.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. FSG/PDS in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.
I had been sick in India for about a month with ongoing symptoms including diahorrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, loss of appetite etc. Once we had arrived in Turkey I had an attack during the night at our Hostel. I was vomiting, had diahorrhea and intense stomach cramping so my boyfriend and I thought it was best to head to a hospital. Due to my condition I could not walk, it was also 2am/3am and we had no other method of getting to a hospital other than arranging for the hospital to send an ambulance to pick me up. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors undertook an examination of me and my conditions and due to severe dehydration they gave me a drip to restore my fluids. To find out what the causation of my symptoms were, they conducted tests on my blood and stool. The doctor also prescribed me medication to treat both my symptoms and illness. These included creams and also antibiotics.
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If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 or Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Contact the teamBefore your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.