Travel Insurance for Overseas Health Emergencies

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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Article at a glance:

  • Travel insurance covers overseas medical emergencies, not routine or ongoing care.
  • It includes cover for GP visits, hospitalisation, emergency evacuation, repatriation, and more.
  • Call the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team first if you’re sick or injured abroad.
  • COVID-19-related medical issues may be covered if it’s not a pre-existing condition.
  • Keep all receipts and reports — they’re essential for claims.
  • Existing medical conditions, treatment once home, and elective care are not covered.
  • Health insurance (like Medicare) only works in Australia, not overseas.
  •  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 us if you have any other questions.

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. 

The difference between health insurance and travel insurance

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.

How to get medical assistance for health emergencies

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:

  • Your policy number
  • A contact number for where you are now
  • The nature of your problem
  • Your location

Overseas medical expenses

What's covered by World Nomads?

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:

  • Visits to a GP or other registered medical practitioner
  • Medical evacuation by air or road ambulance to the most suitable medical facility
  • Admission and treatment in hospital
  • Day surgery and out-patient medical treatment
  • Prescribed medication for sudden illness and serious injury suffered while travelling
  • Prescribed physiotherapy
  • Prescribed alternative therapy treatment (Explorer Plan only)
  • Clinical psychology (Explorer Plan only)
  • Out-of-pocket expenses if admitted to hospital (Explorer Plan only)
  • A travel partner or close relative to travel to and remain with you if you are admitted to hospital
  • Repatriation home - with a medical escort if you’re not fit to continue travelling, when pre-approved on the reasonable recommendation of a medical practitioner appointed by us.

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

Medical treatment overseas

If I need to seek medical treatment, what do I do?

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:

  • Call the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team immediately for advice on what to do and where to go.
  • Go to the closest medical facility for the emergency medical treatment you need. Call local emergency services to receive any necessary medical attention.
  • Follow professional advice: Adhere to the medical professionals’ guidance. We can coordinate directly with them to ensure you receive the international medical care you require, including emergency evacuation and repatriation if required.
  • Keep documentation: save all medical reports, receipts, and relevant documentation – these are essential for processing your claim. Learn about what happens if you are missing something.
  • Stay informed: keep communication lines open with your family and the assistance team to adjust your travel plans as the situation develops.
  • Manage your accommodation: If you need to return to Australia for a covered event, take care of overseas accommodation by cancelling bookings. Note: expenses won’t be reimbursed if you haven't made reasonable efforts to cancel or seek refunds.

What if a medical emergency happens at home before I leave?

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. 

Is cover for COVID-19 available?

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:

  • 24/7 access to the Emergency Assistance team, who can help you access local medical care.
  • Medical costs including hospitalisation.
  • Evacuation or repatriation if deemed medically necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.

Read more about COVID-19 cover in this article, which includes information on benefit limits and exclusions.

What's not covered

What isn't included for overseas medical treatment?

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:

  • Any existing medical condition you had before purchasing your policy and/or that you suffered in previous periods of insurance (i.e. prior to purchasing more cover if you are extending your trip), unless it qualifies as an automatically covered condition.
  • Private hospital treatment when public funded treatment was available.
  • Where care is available under any Reciprocal Health Care Agreement*.
  • Any medical expenses incurred once you return home, even if you require ongoing medical treatment for something that occurred during your trip. Travel insurance does not provide health insurance at home.
  • Expenses which are not reasonable or medically necessary; routine treatment; elective treatment.
  • Anything else that’s listed in the General Exclusions and specific section exclusions in the PDS/FSG.

*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.

Cramps and body explosions in India.

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.
A.D. Australian in India.
Claim Paid. $1042.54

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
  • Has one of your relatives died?
  • Has a bushfire damaged your home?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need medicine?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital lickety-split

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up overseas?
  • Medivac needed home?
  • You died overseas?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Damaged docs?
  • Passport pilfered?
  • Tech trashed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for Australian residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

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 team