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‘Cancel For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance Benefit

Learn how ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance can help protect Canadian residents

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At a glance

  • Add ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ flexibility: An optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ upgrade may be available for the Explorer and Epic plans offered by World Nomads 
  • Change your mind? You’re covered: This optional add-on coverage allows you to cancel your trip for any reason up to 48 hours before your departure date – even if you just change your mind 
  • Get money back if you can’t go: You may be reimbursed for a percentage of the prepaid, unused, forfeited, non-refundable payments or deposits you paid. (Exact benefit amounts are dependent on the plan that’s purchased. Terms and conditions apply.) 

What is 'Cancel for Any Reason' travel insurance?  

The best trips are often the ones you’ve planned months in advance. But you can’t predict the future and unexpected situations can sometimes happen prior to your trip. What happens if you get in a fight with your bestie and don’t want to travel together? Or perhaps you’re concerned about political situations that may cause you to reconsider travelling to your destination? Data from the Canadian Government shows that more and more Canadians are taking trips overseas. Big trips usually come with the biggest investment, and cancelling that dream vacation for any reason can be even more painful when you lose all the money you spent in advance. 

Trip cancellation travel insurance is included in all World Nomads plans, but that only covers cancellations for certain covered reasons (like sickness or natural disasters). However, the optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage allows you to receive a partial reimbursement for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance when you cancel your trip for any reason at all – even if you’ve just changed your mind.

Why You May Want to Consider ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ Optional Coverage 

  • Expensive trips, booked months in advance 
  • Concerns about instability at the destination (political, social, etc.) 
  • Changes in relationship status with your travel partner 
  • You decide you want to travel somewhere else instead
  • Just changing your mind – for any reason at all

Important to Know  

  • Additional costs apply for this optional add-on benefit 
  • Only available on the Explorer and Epic plans
  • Must be purchased at the time the base plan is purchased – you can’t add this on later 
  • Can only be purchased within 15 days of your initial payment or deposit toward your trip (like booking a hotel or flight) 
  • You must cancel your trip at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure date listed on your policy certificate
  • Limits, terms, and conditions of coverage vary depending on the plan you buy 

'Cancel for Any Reason' Maximum Limits

Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan
Not available

Get a quote		 Up to 50% (or $5,000 CAD) of your insured trip cost (Maximum insurable trip cost is $10,000)

Get a quote		 Up to 50% (or $7,500) of your insured trip cost (Maximum insurable trip cost is $15,000)

Get a quote		 Not available

Get a quote
Compare all benefits and plans

How is the ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance benefit different from ‘Trip Cancellation’ coverage? 

Trip cancellation insurance is included in all World Nomads single-trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance plans for Canadian residents. It gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. You may be reimbursed for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance if your situation is one of the cancellation reasons listed in your plan wording. For example, if you get sick before your trip and your doctor advises you not to travel at that time, you may be covered.

‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage allows you to cancel for a wider range of reasons, though. Broke up with your partner? You can safely cancel your trip. Sick dog? You can stay home to care for your fur baby. Change your mind about travelling? There’s no judgment here.

The ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance benefit isn’t automatically included, but it’s an optional add-on you can select if you purchase the Epic or Explorer plan within 15 days of paying the first deposit on your trip. With ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage, benefits may be paid for up to 50% of prepaid, unused, forfeited, non-refundable deposits and payments you made towards your cancelled trip, as long as you cancel your trip at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure date listed on your policy certificate.

What You'll Need to File a 'Cancel for Any Reason' Claim 

Should you decide to cancel your trip, make sure you do it at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled trip departure if you plan to make a claim. You can then start your claim online, but you’ll need to provide required documentation that may include:

  • Copies of receipts and invoices showing the unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses from travel service providers that you paid for in advance 
  • Proof of payment for the trip, such as cancelled cheques or credit card statements 
  • Copies of applicable tour operator or common carrier cancellation policies, and any other information reasonably required to prove the loss 
  • Documentation showing when you made the first payment toward your trip 

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about 'Cancel for Any Reason' coverage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.

  • Does my travel insurance cover trip cancellation even if I don’t add on the 'Cancel for Any Reason' coverage?

    Yes, trip cancellation insurance is included on all of the plans offered by World Nomads for Canadian residents. You may be reimbursed for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance, but only if your situation is one of the cancellation reasons listed in your plan wording. The optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ add-on allows you to cancel for a broader range of reasons, even if you change your mind and just don’t feel like travelling (although you’ll need to cancel your trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure date that’s listed in your policy.)

  • Does 'Cancel for Any Reason' trip insurance really cover ANY reason?
    Yes, if you purchased the optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance benefit at the time you purchased the Explorer or Epic plan, and it was within 15 days of your initial trip deposit or payment, you can cancel for any reason at all – even if you just change your mind. You’ll need to cancel your trip no later than 48 hours before your scheduled departure date, though.
  • Can anyone purchase 'Cancel for Any Reason' travel insurance?
    All Canadian residents can add optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage when they purchase either the Explorer or Epic travel plans from World Nomads. You’ll need to make sure you add on this optional coverage at the time that you purchase your plan, though. You can’t add it later. You’ll also need to make sure you purchase your travel insurance plan within 15 days of your initial payment or deposit toward your trip if you intend to add on the ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage.
  • How do I file a claim if I decide I just don’t want to go on my trip?

    If you decide you don’t want to go on your trip, you’ll need to make sure you cancel your trip at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled trip departure date. Canadian residents who purchased the Explorer or Epic plan from World Nomads Travel Insurance within 15 days of making the first deposit or payment toward a trip, and added the optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage at the time they bought their plan, can file a claim online. When you make your claim, you’ll need to provide documentation that may include receipts that show that you purchased the ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ trip insurance coverage within 15 days of making your first payment or deposit toward your trip. If you have any questions, contact us and ask.

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical, legal, insurance, or travel advice and provides only a general summary of certain features that may be available under applicable travel insurance policies. Coverage is subject to the specific terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and pre-existing condition provisions of the applicable insurance policy. In the event of any inconsistency between this article and the wording of any insurance policy, the policy wording shall govern and take precedence. It is important that you read and understand your policy before travelling. If you have questions about your coverage or are unsure how your policy applies to your circumstances, please contact us for clarification.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Insurance protection for your hard earned vacation in the event of unexpected cancellation.

  • Standard Plan: $2,500
  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Epic Plan: $15,000
  • AMT Plan: $10,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Help take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Standard Plan: $1,500,000
  • Explorer Plan: $5,000,000
  • Epic Plan: $10,000,000
  • AMT Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.

  • Standard Plan: $250,000
  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Epic Plan: $750,000
  • AMT Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Gear & Baggage Protection

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

  • Standard Plan: $1,000
  • Explorer Plan: $2,000
  • Epic Plan: $5,000
  • AMT Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

Protect your health

  • Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Return of Remains
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children

Protect your trip

  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
  • Trip Exchange (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
  • Rental Vehicle Damage (Explorer, Epic or AMT)

Protect your stuff

  • 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

  • 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Medical Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Personal Security Assistance
  • Adventure Traveller’s Hotline
  • 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.