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Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Travel Insurance

Canadians can get medically evacuated through travel insurance benefits in an emergency

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At a glance

  • Coverage that brings you home if you need it: World Nomads offers travel insurance plans for Canadians that include medical evacuation and repatriation benefits 
  • When local care isn’t enough: If you’re seriously hurt or sick and there aren’t adequate medical facilities in your destination, you may be covered for the costs of being transported to a place where you can get medical treatment 
  • Back to Canada for treatment: You may be covered for the costs to travel back to your home province if your medical provider and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team determine it’s best for you to go back to Canada for treatment  
  • Support for loved ones: It may also include the transportation for a family member or companion to your bedside or the return of a dependent child back to your home (terms and conditions apply)  
  • Coverage in the worst-case scenario: World Nomads also covers repatriation of remains if you die on vacation 

Why should you consider travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and repatriation? 

No matter where you’re travelling, accidents and sickness can happen at any time. But what happens if you get seriously hurt while trekking through South America and the nearest hospital or appropriate medical facility is far away? The Canadian Government will not pay for a medical evacuation or air ambulance, and they recommend getting travel insurance that includes medical evacuation and repatriation. The government shared an example of a Canadian who had to come up with $300,000 CAD to pay for medical treatment and evacuation after an accident while travelling. Medical transport could be a lifesaver, but it could also quickly deplete your savings.

Travel insurance for emergency evacuation and repatriation may cover, up to the policy limits, the cost to get you to the closest appropriate medical facility or to your home province for further treatment. It may also cover the transportation costs for dependent children to go back home if you are transported back to your home province or are in the hospital for at least 24 hours. If you’re travelling alone and in the hospital for at least 3 days, it may also include the transportation of a family member or companion to your bedside.

What’s Covered for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation 

  • One-way airfare to return you to your home province
  • Fares for additional seats should you need to accommodate a stretcher 
  • Flight upgrade to business class when the extra space is medically required 
  • Where medically necessary, medical air evacuation to a hospital in your home province 
  • Round-trip airfare for a medical escort when a requirement by the airline or when medically necessary 
  • Transportation costs for a friend or family member to be at your bedside 
  • Return transportation costs for dependent children

Exclusions 

  • Not contacting us before seeking emergency evacuation or repatriation
  • Incidents related to drug or alcohol use 
  • Travelling for the purpose of securing medical treatment 
  • Pre-existing conditions, as outlined in your policy documents 
  • Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you return home 
  • Terms and conditions apply; read your plan documents to understand the coverage 

Maximum Limits

Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan

Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to $1,500,000

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Up to $250,000 

Bedside Companion: One-way economy/charter airfare and up to $1,500 ($150 per day for 10 days)



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Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to $5,000,000 

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Up to $500,000 

Bedside Companion: One-way economy/charter airfare and up to $2,000 ($200 per day for 10 days)



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Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to $10,000,000

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Up to $750,000 

Bedside Companion: One-way economy/charter airfare and up to $2,500 ($250 per day for 10 days)



Get a quote

Emergency Medical Expenses: Up to $5,000,000

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Up to $500,000 

Bedside Companion: One-way economy/charter airfare and up to $2,000 ($200 per day for 10 days)



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Compare all benefits and plans

What is the difference between emergency evacuation and repatriation? 

World Nomads Travel Insurance may cover both medical evacuation and repatriation, but those are two different things. An emergency evacuation may cover transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility where treatment is available if you have an acute, severe, or life-threatening medical emergency and there’s not adequate treatment in your immediate area.

Repatriation is a type of evacuation that may return you back to your home province when a doctor advises that you should no longer travel. This typically happens after your condition has stabilized, and travel insurance for repatriation may cover your transportation to get you back to your home province so you can seek further treatment there.

World Nomads travel insurance also covers repatriation of remains if a traveller dies on vacation. While it’s rare, the Canada’s Annual Consular Data Report stated there were around 1,500 Canadian deaths that happened abroad from 2024-2025. You may not worry about what happens after you die, but your family will, particularly if it happens overseas.

Tips for Staying Safe While Travelling  

  • Register with Canadians Abroad to stay updated on emergency situations.
  • Before you leave Canada, we encourage you to check out the Canadian government’s travel advice for your destination. On their website you’ll be able to see if there’s any health risks that you need to be aware of and learn about any required or recommended vaccines.
  • Bring your medications along in your carry-on. Your plan may include travel insurance for delayed baggage, but if your checked baggage is delayed or lost, you won’t want to be without any needed prescriptions.
  • One way to try to avoid unnecessary injuries is to pick activities that align with your health and fitness abilities. World Nomads Travel Insurance for Canadian residents may cover over 250 adventure sports and activities, but you and your doctor should assess your own personal health to determine which ones you should participate in. 
  • Save your policy number and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number in your cell phone-just in case. If a medical emergency does happen, you’ll want to be able to easily access that quickly. Addressing a medical situation quickly could stop it from becoming a worse situation. Also, don’t forget that you must contact us before seeking emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation or repatriation.

FAQ

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

  • Can my family member or a friend come get me if I’m hurt?
    In some situations, yes. If you are travelling alone and are admitted to the hospital for three days or more, we cover the cost for economy or charter class airfare and subsistence allowance for someone to be with you (up to maximum limits as shown in your policy documents).
  • Can travel insurance help if I get hurt when I’m travelling to a remote area?
    The single trip and annual multi-trip plans offered by World Nomads include travel insurance for medical evacuation and repatriation. If you have an acute, severe, or life threatening medical emergency and there’s not adequate treatment in your immediate area, you may be transported to the nearest suitable medical facility where treatment is available. If your medical and 24/7 Emergency Assistance team feels that you should go back to your home province for treatment, you may be covered for the costs to get back home for treatment.
  • What should I do if I have a medical emergency while travelling abroad?

    If you’ve purchased a World Nomads plan that includes travel insurance for medical evacuation and repatriation, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team as soon as you can. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

    You’ll want to have this information handy when you call:

    • Your policy number 
    • A contact number where you can be reached 
    • The nature of your problem 
    • Your location 

    The key thing to remember is that you must contact us before seeking emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation or repatriation.

  • What happens if I die while travelling?

    If you die overseas as the result of an accident or a sudden and unexpected illness, World Nomads Travel Insurance plans for Canadian residents may offer coverage for: 

    • Local cremation or burial overseas 
    • Return of your remains back to Canada 
    • Reasonable additional expenses if someone needs to travel to identify your body 

    In addition, we also have emergency assistance teams who can assist your family – keeping them informed, putting them in contact with consular officials, and helping them with the often difficult administration that surrounds overseas death. 

    The return of your remains must be authorized in advance and approved by our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. 

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

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
  • Annual 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
  • Annual 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
  • Annual 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.