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Flexcations Travel Insurance Coverage

Canadian can protect their working vacations with travel insurance

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At a glance:

  • World Nomads offers travel insurance for flexcations to help cover medical emergencies, baggage loss, and trip cancellations.
  • Flexcations, or working vacations, may be covered, and you can choose a plan based upon the level of coverage you need.
  • We provide baggage protection if your luggage is stolen or accidentally damaged by your common carrier during your trip.
  • If your trip is disrupted by unexpected illness or injuries (amongst other covered reasons), travel insurance for flexcations may help cover your unused, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Because of flexible work and school schedules, more travellers are opting to take flexcations – extended stays away from home that are a mixture of leisure and work. Digital nomads have the flexibility to travel to some of the world’s most intriguing places, but no matter where you’re headed, it helps to always be prepared for the unexpected when travelling. For example, if you’re planning to spend your weekdays working in Rome and your weekends tasting your way through Tuscany, travel insurance coverage for Italy may help protect your trip. Our travel insurance plans for digital nomads include a range of benefits that could help with everything from stolen bags to unexpected medical expenses.

Why should I consider travel insurance for my flexcation?

The 9-5 grind of work isn’t so bad if you have your toes in the sand and a fruity drink by your side. These days, you can work from just about anywhere in the world with a strong Wi-Fi connection – including some of the most scenic tropical landscapes like the Bahamas and Jamaica. But what happens if you get hurt while scuba diving or snorkeling during your lunch break? Travel insurance for the Caribbean may help you with support for emergencies, delays, and disruptions. With coverage that is flexible to your needs, it’s a smart way to travel confidently when you’re travelling outside of your home province.

Nomads tip: World Nomads Travel Insurance can also cover your travels within Canada! Your Government Health Plan is limited once you leave your province. Your travel insurance plan can protect your domestic travels outside of your home province too.

Flexcation travel insurance: What may be covered?

The purpose of a flexcation is to be able to fully enjoy the destination where you’re travelling, and you’ll hopefully be experiencing new cultures and activities while you’re there. But when you’re working and studying remotely outside of your home province, unexpected situations can happen – and that’s why we’ve designed our plans to include travel insurance for flexcations. We also offer coverage for more than 250 sports, activities and experiences.

  1. Emergency Medical Expenses
    For injuries that require emergency medical treatment

  2. 24/7 Emergency Assistance
    Available 24/7 to assist in an emergency situation

  3. Baggage & Gear Coverage
    Baggage damaged by your common carrier or stolen luggage and personal gear

  4. Trip Delays, Interruptions & Cancellations
    Travel protection for your unused, pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs and unexpected expenses

Get a quote and compare the plans to see which level of coverage is right for you.

What level of travel insurance coverage do I need for my flexcation?

World Nomads offers two plans for Canadian residents – the Standard and Explorer – each with different levels of coverage.

  • Standard Plan – This is the most basic plan, and includes certain types of work for a flexcation, as well as up to $5,000,000 CAD in emergency medical expenses and $2,500 CAD for trip cancellation.
  • Explorer Plan – This travel insurance plan also covers flexcations, but has higher limits of coverage.

A flexcation isn’t supposed to be all work and no play. Depending on where you’re headed, you may want to enjoy a variety of other activities such as hiking, snorkeling, or skiing. That’s totally fine, because there are 250+ sports, activities and experiences that could be covered when you purchase travel insurance for flexcations. When you purchase your policy, you’ll need to list all of the activities that you plan to participate in while on your trip, including the type of work you will be doing. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time.  Costs may vary depending on the additional activities you list.

If you are planning to participate in an activity that isn’t listed in our policy wording, you will need to contact us to determine if you will be covered. 

Nomads tip: Get a quote and choose your plan first, then the system will prompt you to add the activities you plan to do. Make sure you list them all; you won’t be able to make changes once on your trip.

Get a travel insurance quote

Simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.

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A person hiking in front of snow capped mountains

What may not be covered when on a flexcation?

So what happens if your boss told you that you could work remotely and be a digital nomad, but then changes his mind as soon as you land in Europe? If you have to go home because your employer won’t let you work remotely anymore, your travel insurance coverage for Europe won’t reimburse you for the costs of your trip. While many things are covered by travel insurance, there are some things that aren’t – including your boss changing his mind. (Although it’s totally not cool.) Other examples include:

Some other things that aren’t covered include:

  • Unattended baggage or personal items
  • Any electronics or other equipment that you use for professional purposes
  • Not following government ‘Do Not Travel’ advisories issued by the Canadian government
  • Travelling in your home province
  • Pre-existing medical conditions exclusions apply to medical conditions and/or symptoms that existed prior to your policy start date. There may be no coverage for losses caused by a pre-existing condition
  • Participation in other activities not listed as covered in your policy

Top tips we recommend for a successful and productive flexcation

From our own experiences of being digital nomads, we’ve worked in some really interesting destinations around the world. It's never been easier to unplug and take off now that you can work and study remotely. But travel glitches can arrive in all shapes and sizes, and it helps to prepare as much as you can. Here are a few of our personal tips that you may find helpful when planning your next flexcation.

  • Check to see if there’s reliable Wi-Fi. It’s better to ask questions in advance before you’ve travelled all the way there and see that there’s a problem.
  • See if there’s ample space for you to work productively. You’ll want to make sure you have a quiet space for those times that require more focus and concentration.
  • Save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line on your phone and print out a copy of your travel insurance documents. If you need help in a pinch, you don’t want to be searching for who to call.
  • Keep your receipts and paperwork. Any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases and a loss or theft report. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you need to make a claim.
  • Make time for work and play. The point of a flexcation is to be able to experience a new place, so plan out some time to enjoy your destination.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for flexcations. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team

  • Are flexcations covered under World Nomads Travel Insurance?

    Yes, flexcations for certain types of work are covered under both plans offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance. When you purchase your policy, you’ll need to list all of the activities that you plan to participate in while on your trip, including the type of work you will be doing. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time. If you aren’t sure if something is covered, we suggest you contact us to ask.

  • What types of incidents are covered while on a flexcation?

    If your trip is cancelled, delayed, or interrupted due to an unforeseen event, you may be able to recover your unused, non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses (up to the policy limits), and this could include unused, prepaid, non-refundable tours that you paid for in advance. If you get hurt while on your flexcation and require medical assistance, emergency medical coverage could come in handy in the case of an unexpected injury. You could also be covered for unplanned situations such as lost bags or Canadian government travel advisories advising travellers not to travel to a destination on your itinerary.

  • Does travel insurance cover routine healthcare when I’m working remotely in another country?

    World Nomads plans include emergency medical insurance coverage in the event you suffer a medical emergency while on your trip. Travel insurance won’t pay for any routine or preventative medical or dental care, such as allergy medications or routine check-ups. If you have an unexpected medical emergency though, World Nomads Travel Insurance may help with things such as hospital stays, prescription medications, and x-rays. Travel insurance is designed to cover losses from unforeseen and emergency circumstances only, and you must be covered under your Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) for the full duration of your policy to be eligible for maximum emergency medical benefits. If you aren’t, emergency medical benefits will be limited to $40,000 CAD for the full duration of your trip.

  • Does World Nomads Travel Insurance cover other activities during my trip?

    Yes, you could be covered for more than 250 sports, activities and experiences. We know you’ll be doing more than working and studying, and that’s what makes it fun to be a digital nomad. Things like hiking, camping, and biking could all be covered. When you purchase your policy, you’ll need to list all of the activities that you plan to participate in while on your trip. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time. If you’re participating in an activity and not sure if it’s covered, you can contact us and ask.

Need destination inspiration for your next flexcation?

There are actually some pretty awesome places where you can work remotely here in Canada (and you can get travel insurance for Canada as long as you’re traveling outside of your home province.) But there’s also an abundance of great places around the world where you can embrace your inner digital nomad, too. Check out a couple of our favorite locations and get destination-specific travel tips to help you plan with confidence.

A World Nomad’s Guide to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Six Things to Know Before Going to France

A Local’s Guide to Visiting Berlin, Germany

Italy Travel Tips: Six Things to Know Before Visiting

Six Things to Know Before Traveling to Norway

How to Experience Ho Chi Minh City Like a Local

Five Incredible Cities to Explore in Spain

For more tips on working remotely, you may also want to check out the World Nomads Podcast: Saying Goodbye to the Office

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions, just ask us.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: $5,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
  • Work emergency?
  • Weather delay?
  • Travel companion sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Explorer Plan: $10 million
  • Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?
  • Need a hospital?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.

  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Ambulance transfers
  • Medevac flights
  • Medical escort services

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.

  • Explorer Plan: $3,000
  • Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
  • Stolen I.D.s
  • Checked-in sports equipment
  • Damaged luggage

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Medical Expenses
  • Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
  • Return to Your Trip Destination
  • Return of Remains
  • Travel Accident
  • Flight Accident
  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
  • Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
  • Travel Documents Theft or Damage
  • Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
  • Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
  • LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Adventure Travel Hotline
  • 24/7 Security
  • Travel Medical Assistance
  • Bag Trak
This is a general summary for Canadian residents only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all provinces. Check the Travel Insurance Policy for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are 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?

Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)

Contact the team