Travel Insurance for Trip Exchanges
Learn how travel insurance may help if you unexpectedly need to move your trip to a future date
- As featured in:
As featured in:
At a glance
- Different trips, different plans: World Nomads offers single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance plans for Canadian residents
- Covered when plans change: The Explorer, Epic, and Annual Multi-Trip plans include additional benefits for trip exchange
- Rebook with confidence: This benefit may reimburse you for certain expenses if you need to move your trip for a covered reason
- Help with rebooking costs: Covered expenses may include the difference in cost between the original reservation and the new reservation, change fees, and cancellation penalties
- Why should you consider travel insurance that includes trip exchange benefits?
- Reasons That May Be Covered for Trip Exchange
- Important to Know
- Maximum Coverage Limits for Trip Exchange
- How to Submit a Trip Exchange Claim
- 6 Important Tips for Canadians Travelling Abroad
- FAQs
Why should you consider travel insurance that includes trip exchange benefits?
If you have your heart set on a destination and an unexpected circumstance causes you to cancel your trip, it’s a huge disappointment. But sometimes you can just move your trip instead of cancelling it completely. For example, if you get sick before your trip and your physician says you’re not well enough to travel, you may decide to move your trip to a future date so that you can travel once you’ve recovered from your illness. There are often costs involved with those changes, though, and that’s where trip exchange travel insurance benefits may help.
If you must cancel your trip because of a covered reason, and you choose to transfer your reservation to a future trip with the same travel supplier (or a supplier who will accept the transferred reservation) and the future trip costs more than the cancelled trip, you may be covered for certain expenses (up to the maximum limit shown in your policy documents) such as:
- The difference in cost between the original reservation and the new reservation
- Change fees paid to transfer the reservation
- Cancellation penalties for reservations that cannot be transferred
- The cost paid for your travel insurance policy
Reasons That May Be Covered for Trip Exchange
- Medical conditions
- Travel advisories
- Strikes
- Job layoff or relocation
- Cancellation of previously approved vacation time by employer
- Natural disasters
- Cancelled weddings
- Legal summons
- Common carrier delays that cause you to miss at least 30% of your trip
- Felonious assault
- Financial default of your travel supplier
Important to Know
- Trip exchange benefits are only included in the Explorer, Epic, and Annual Multi-Trip plans
- Only covered reasons may be covered
- Trip cancellation and trip exchange benefits can’t be combined
- You must notify us by no later than the next business day following a cancelled trip if you decide to use your trip exchange benefits
- Limits, terms, and conditions of coverage vary depending on the plan you buy
Maximum Coverage Limits for Trip Exchange
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not available Get a quote |
Up to 50% of insured trip cost, maximum $2,500 CAD Get a quote |
Up to 50% of insured trip cost, maximum $5,000 CAD Get a quote |
Up to 50% of insured trip cost, maximum $2,500 CAD Get a quote |
How to Submit a Trip Exchange Claim
If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason and decide to use your trip exchange benefits, you’ll need to contact us and let us know immediately. You must notify us by no later than the next business day following a cancelled trip. You can then submit a claim online, along with documentation supporting the claim.
Some of the required documentation may include:
- Proof of payment for the trip, such as cancelled cheques and credit card statements
- Invoices and original receipts from travel service providers
- Copies of tour operator or common carrier cancellation policies
- A statement from your physician if you’re moving your trip due to a medical condition
6 Important Tips for Canadians Travelling Abroad
- If you have an option to book refundable airline tickets, hotels, and tours, do it – even if it costs a little more.
- When you get a quote for travel insurance that includes trip exchange, cancellation, and more, read the policy documents and make sure you understand the covered reasons. If you don’t understand something, contact us and ask questions. We’re happy to help.
- If you’re one of the many Canadians travelling internationally, do your research and check out the Canadian government’s safety warningsfor your destination.
- Register with Canadians Abroad before your trip. This is a free service offered by the Government of Canada that allows them to get in touch with you if there’s an emergency situation in your destination or a personal emergency back home in Canada. You’ll get information before your trip and while you’re travelling within your destination.
- As soon as you start planning an international trip, check the expiration date of your passport. If your passport is expired, or if you apply for one and don’t receive it in time, you won’t be able to make a trip exchange insurance claim if you aren’t able to travel to your destination.
- Save all of your receipts. Don’t wait until you’re trying to make a travel insurance claim. Once you start planning your trip, create a folder and save everything in one place.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about trip exchange travel insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
-
Can I move my trip if my boss cancels my pre-approved vacation time?
If you have a travel insurance plan that includes benefits for trip exchange, you may be covered if your boss changes their mind for no reason and revokes your previously approved vacation time. You may also be covered if your spouse, domestic partner, or travel companion’s boss changes their mind and doesn’t allow them to have their vacation time.
-
What happens if the airline moves my flight and it causes me to miss a big part of my trip?
If you have airline tickets booked, and your airline delays your departure because of inclement weather conditions, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, and the new departure date causes you to miss at least 30% of your originally scheduled trip, you may be able to use your trip exchange travel insurance benefits to move your trip to a future date. Always try to get reimbursement from your airline first if they cancel or delay your flight, though.
-
What do trip exchange benefits cover?
If you need to move your trip due to a covered reason, and choose to transfer your reservation to a future trip with the same travel supplier (or a supplier who will accept the transferred reservation) and the future trip costs more than the cancelled trip, you may be covered for certain expenses (up to the maximum limit shown in your policy documents) such as:
- The difference in cost between the original reservation and the new reservation
- Change fees paid to transfer the reservation
- Cancellation penalties for reservations that cannot be transferred
- The cost paid for your travel insurance policy
-
Will travel insurance cover fees to change the date of my cruise if I need to cancel it?
If you aren’t able to go on your cruise due to a covered reason, and want to move it to another date, you may be charged change fees. If you have a travel insurance plan that includes trip exchange benefits, you may be reimbursed for those change fees (up to maximum limits as shown in your policy documents).
-
Will I get a refund on my travel insurance policy if I move my trip?
If you must cancel your trip because of a covered reason and you choose to transfer your reservation to a future trip with the same travel supplier (or a supplier who will accept the transferred reservation), you may be reimbursed for money you spent on your travel insurance policy for the trip you didn’t take (up to maximum limits as shown in your policy documents).
-
What travel insurance plans include trip exchange benefits?
World Nomads has four travel insurance plans for Canadian residents – three single-trip plans and an annual multi-trip travel insurance plan. All of the plans may include travel insurance for trip exchange except the Standard Plan, which is the most basic plan. If you want to have this benefit included in your travel insurance plan, you’ll want to select from the Explorer, Epic, or Annual Multi-Trip Plans. When you get a quote for travel insurance, you can compare the maximum benefit limits for each plan and choose the plan that offers the level of coverage that you need.
-
Can I move my trip for any reason at all?
You may only use trip exchange benefits for covered reasons. If you think there’s a possibility that you may want to cancel your trip or use your trip exchange benefits for any reason other than those listed in your policy documents, you may want to consider getting ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance.
‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage is an upgrade that may be added if you purchase either the Explorer or Epic plan offered by World Nomads. This optional add-on coverage must be added at the time you purchase your policy, and must be added within 15 days of your initial trip payment. It allows you to cancel your trip for any reason up to 48 hours before your departure date, even if you just change your mind. 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.)
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 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
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.