Most of our policies don’t cover existing medical conditions, so don’t assume you’re covered
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At World Nomads, we believe that having an existing medical condition shouldn't prevent Australians from exploring the world. Whether you're surfing in Bali, road-tripping through New Zealand, or indulging in the culinary delights of Paris, it's crucial to understand how your health status impacts your travel insurance.
Whether your condition ends up covered or not, it's better to know exactly what's included (or excluded) before you leave home.
An existing medical condition is any health issue you’ve experienced before buying your travel insurance policy with World Nomads.
Specifically, it includes conditions that are:
Depending on your Country of Residence, our policies may not always cover pre-existing medical conditions, so it's important to double-check the specifics in your policy information.
However, in most instances, even if your pre-existing condition isn't covered, you may still be covered for other unexpected travel mishaps—as long as they're not related to that pre-existing condition. This includes cover for, and not limited to, the following:
Our policy may also cover cancellation if, after you purchase it and before you start your trip, you, or someone whose health your trip depends on suffers a serious illness or injury.
Traveller's tip: do your homework and identify any pre-existing condition coverage before purchasing travel insurance. You don’t want to get sick overseas and realise you’re not covered. Check the criteria for pre-existing conditions carefully, and contact us for clarification if you have any doubts. We’re always happy to help.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything—especially regarding pre-existing illnesses. World Nomads won’t cover:
Note: if you purchased cover after you left home, there’s a waiting period of 72 hours before the insurance takes effect. Any illness or injury occurring during this waiting period may be considered a pre-existing medical condition for the remaining period of your insurance. Please note that cover is dependent on your Country of Residence.
If you’re ready to start exploring our travel cover options and optional extras, then visit our Get a Quote page and tell us your travel details.
The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the Policy Wording. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.
Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Centre or you can ask the customer service team.
In some instances, World Nomads may offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions automatically. If you don’t meet the criteria for automatically covered pre-existing medical conditions, you can still purchase a policy, but you won’t be covered for any claims that arise from the pre-existing medical condition.
I realized I had forgotten a medication (clonazepam) which I take for insomnia. I visited a doctor in Mexico City the next day and got a prescription for the medication. However, he also diagnosed me with a condition that I was not aware of (hyperthyroid) and suggested that the medication would help with the condition on a short-term basis. He suggested that I get a blood test for hyperthyroid, which I just did in Boston.
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Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Phone:+353 21 237 8008 or +353 21 237 8003 (calls are not toll free. You can claim your itemised call costs)
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.