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Travel Insurance for Italy

Explore la dolce vita

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Known as Bel Paese (beautiful country), Italy is loved for its ancient hilltop villages, beautiful coast, mountains and lakes. The spectacle continues with its fine food and wine, cultural festivals and the most UNESCO World Heritage sites (tied with China).

Wherever you’re exploring in Italy, in search of La Dolce Vita, you need to be prepared for the occasional unexpected twist and turn which can trip-up many a seasoned traveller.

Do I need travel insurance when travelling to Italy?

No matter how well planned your trip, unexpected events can crop up. Having travel insurance can mean the difference between a costly, trip-ending disaster, or a blip on the radar that becomes part of a great travel anecdote told to friends and family when you return.

Depending on the type of Italian holiday you’re planning, World Nomads offers a choice between the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan, each offering different benefits and limits. All our plans for UK residents offer cover for:

  • Overseas emergency medical.
  • Cancellation or curtailment.
  • Baggage and personal belongings.

And for Explorer Plan travellers, the cover section 'Coronavirus Travel Costs' is also available.

Once your trip is booked and you know the types of activities you’ll be doing, your next Italian job will be to book travel insurance.


What do I need to know about travel insurance for trips to Italy?

Cover for baggage and personal effects

Theft is an everyday occurrence in Italy, and travellers are often targeted by thieves who’ve developed some clever tricks to catch even the most vigilant visitor. World Nomads travel insurance offers cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage – and there are some common events our travellers in Italy experience.

What if my bag is stolen?

Having insurance can help you carry on with your trip in the event of a theft - making sure thieves don't steal your whole holiday. If, while wandering through Monti’s art galleries and wine bars, your bags or personal items are stolen, there is cover available for the value of the items taken (and depreciation may apply if you didn't specify the item). Following a theft, you may also incur the additional cost of obtaining a replacement passport or visa, plus related expenses for accommodation, travel and fees that you would otherwise not have had to pay for if your passport or visa had not been stolen. You’ll need a report from local police and your carrier or other local authority to support your claim, and benefit limits apply.

Is stolen cash covered?

For Explorer Plan travellers, there is cover available for stolen cash and benefit limits apply. There is no cover for stolen cash on the Standard Plan. You’ll need to support your claim with a police report of the theft, along with ATM receipts of the cash withdrawals and other details, so make sure you read your policy carefully to understand how this section of your cover works.

Can travel insurance help if I hire a rental car and it’s stolen, or I’m in an accident?

With the Explorer Plan, if you hire a car in Italy, and you have an accident which damages your hire car, or it’s stolen, there is cover available for the lesser of:

  • the insurance excess for your rental car; or
  • the cost of repairing the rental car.

If you accidentally lose the car keys, or they’re stolen or damaged, their replacement (including the cost of repairs if a locksmith has to break into the car), may also be covered under the Rental car key replacement cover on the Explorer Plan.

There is no cover available if you’re behaving recklessly, if you violate the rental car agreement or you break the law. There is also no cover for anyone under the age of 21 (at the trip start date) operating the vehicle.

You should note the requirement to have a valid UK drivers licence, as it may affect any claim you make under this section. Also, you need to purchase the rental vehicle insurance, damage waiver or the equivalent offered by the rental vehicle company or agency at the time of hire.

How does Overseas emergency medical assistance work?

Unplanned medical emergencies can have a lasting impact long after the holiday memories fade. Our overseas emergency medical cover includes:

  • A 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team to help find medical facilities, assistance and get you in touch with authorities or even family back home, if needed;
  • Emergency medical costs for unexpected accident and illness;
  • Evacuation or Repatriation back home to the UK for treatment if needed.

Am I covered if I get ill with Coronavirus while in Italy?

World Nomads also offers cover for some Coronavirus-related events. If you get sick with Coronavirus while travelling in Italy:

  • Our Standard and Explorer plans include emergency medical and repatriation cover; and
  • Our Explorer Plan offers Coronavirus Travel costs cover. This includes cover for some Coronavirus-related events like cancellation, trip interruption and pet and childcare costs. Benefit limits apply.

What’s not covered

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything and it’s important to understand where your cover won’t apply so you aren’t caught short. For example, while an accident that requires emergency medical treatment generally could be covered, if it was caused because you were intoxicated with alcohol or drugs, then it may affect your claim.

Also, understand that pre-existing medical conditions that require medical care or which may cause you to cancel or curtail your trip won't generally won’t be covered either. Check the wording of your policy to be sure.

If you require any medical treatment during your trip to Italy, you will first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider, if you have one, and follow its processes. Where your PMI provider cannot help, please contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team before incurring medical costs.

Carrying our 24/7 emergency assistance details could save valuable time in an emergency.

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you’re careful with your planning and you read the Policy Wording to make sure you understand what’s included and what’s not, as well as the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. If you have any questions get in touch.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: £5,000
  • Standard Plan: £3,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Abroad Medical Expenses

Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling abroad.

  • Explorer Plan: £10 million
  • Standard Plan: £5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

Expenses included in Emergency Medical limits.

Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your lost, stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: £3,000
  • Standard Plan: £1,500
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Medical Expenses
  • Baggage & Personal Belongings
  • Cancellation
  • Trip Curtailment
  • Personal Accident
  • Loss of Passport or travel documents
  • Personal Liability
  • Legal Expenses (Personal Liability)
This is a general summary for United Kingdom residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the plan documents for full details.
Pre-existing medical conditions

You are not eligible to buy a policy if you travel against medical advice, travel with the intention of receiving medical treatment, or have a terminal illness. World Nomads policies cannot cover claims due to Pre-Existing Medical Conditions (PEMC), regardless of whether the condition is serious or not. You can still purchase a World Nomads policy, but the PEMC exclusion cannot be removed, and you will be responsible for any related costs.

For information on travel insurance providers that offer cover on PEMC, visit Money Helper or call 0800 138 7777.

24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.

Are you in need of Emergency Medical Assistance right now?

For policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024
+44 (0) 144 444 2021 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)

For policies purchased before 27 June 2024:
Phone: +44 (0) 203 093 1750 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)

Contact the team