What to do if someone at home is sick or injured
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Unfortunately, sometimes things happen; loved ones fall ill, and best-laid plans don’t go to plan. If you find yourself unable to travel because someone at home is sick or injured, our Cancellation Travel Insurance cover helps Kiwis cover the non-refundable portion of their travel expenses. This includes transport, accommodation, tours/experiences, travel agency cancellation fees and frequent flyer points.
Here are the steps you need to take if you find yourself needing to make an online claim:
If you find yourself cancelling or postponing your holiday due to the illness or injury of a loved one, it’s essential you take immediate action by rearranging/cancelling all pre-paid and pre-booked travel expenses (think accommodation, tours, transportation etc.).
Traveller tip 1: Take time to research all offers, compensation options, and cancellation alternatives available when rearranging/cancelling with your service providers. Some providers can be quite accommodating – especially in unavoidable situations such as illness and injury. Not only is it in your best interest to avoid or minimise your expenses, it’s important to keep in mind that World Nomads will only cover costs within policy limits, and where you’ve taken reasonable and necessary steps to minimise costs as much as possible.
It’s important you collect all the required reports outlining the medical situation affecting your close relative, and therefore your ability to continue with your travel plans. Some reports required include:
Without supporting documentation we may be forced to deny your travel insurance claim. For full details of required documentation, and policy inclusions and exclusions, please refer to your Policy Document.
If the unforeseen does happen, and you’re forced to stay in New Zealand instead of travelling abroad, make sure you keep all your paperwork. (Think receipts, itineraries, booking confirmations, cancellation confirmations, e-tickets, and vouchers).
Also, make sure to keep all documentation outlining any cancellation/postponement offers you’ve secured and refunds paid to yourself, as we’ll need to see those in order to keep your trip cancellation claim hassle-free.
Traveller tip 2: paid for your travel expenses with frequent flyer or similar air travel points? All is not lost – if you can’t recover the lost points from any other source, World Nomads Travel Insurance may be able to reimburse you for the cost of any equivalent class ticket (up to policy limits). Refer to your Policy Document for full details.
If your travel plans are interrupted or cancelled because a close relative in New Zealand is hospitalised or dies due to Coronavirus, you may be covered for the reimbursement of your non-refundable travel expenses. We offer Coronavirus coverage for cancellation and trip interruption expenses under our Explorer Plan.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveller tip 3: wondering who we deem a ‘close relative’? Check out our article, Am I covered if I need to cancel my trip because a relative is sick/injured? for our definition of a close relative, and more information on what is (and isn’t covered) should you find yourself cancelling your trip because someone at home is sick or injured.
This information may help if things go wrong, and you want to make a claim. All travel insurance plans are different, and cover will vary, depending on what’s happened, your Country of Residence, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy. Your Policy Document will always have the full details of what you’re covered for.
If you have any further questions about what’s covered and not covered, just ask us.
This is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the plans described. Please carefully read your Policy Document for a full description of coverage. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.