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  1. World Nomads
  2. Uk
  3. Travel Insurance
  4. Whats Covered
  5. Cancellation

Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation

Learn what's covered if you have booked and paid for your trip and unexpectedly need to cancel.

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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from June 27 2024, please see below.

Cancellation insurance is there for when life throws you a curve ball, helping you reduce out-of-pocket expenses if you’ve had to put your journey on hold.

From jury duty to an unexpected illness or redundancy, there are many reasons why you may have to stay at home instead of taking a cooking class in Chiang Mai… even if that’s the last place you want to be.

What’s covered by travel insurance for cancellation?

As long as you haven’t left home, we may cover you if you have to cancel your trip under certain circumstances like:

  • You or your immediate relative or a travelling companion is injured, gets a serious illness or dies.
  • You are unexpectedly called to do jury service or appear in court as a witness (but not as an expert witness.)
  • You’re made redundant.
  • You are a student of a recognised school, college or university and you are required to re-sit an exam.
  • Your home is damaged and becomes unsafe within 7 days of your trip start date.
  • Travel documents belonging to you or your travel companion are stolen within 7 days of your trip start date, therefore you are unable to leave the UK.

In addition, travellers with the Explorer Plan may be covered if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or similar body in the circumstances issues a travel warning up to seven days before the certified departure of the trip advising against ’all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to a specific region or country and that warning was first given after you purchased your policy and after you booked the trip.

Am I covered for Cancellation due to Coronavirus?

While epidemics and pandemics are excluded from the Trip Disruption section of our policy, there are Covid-19 related benefits available to you. 

Cover is available for trip cancellation or curtailment events that are outside of your control and caused by:

  • You or your travelling companion are certified as too ill to travel as a result of Coronavirus by a medical practiitioner;
  • Your close relative in the United Kingdom being hospitalised or dying due to the Coronavirus;
  • You or a member of your travelling party who are permanently employed as a healthcare worker or law enforcement officer having pre-approved leave cancelled.

You can check out our What’s covered for Coronavirus article which has all of the details, including benefit limits and exclusions

What’s not covered by travel insurance for cancellation?

There are a number of things you’re not covered for if you cancel or curtail your trip. Exclusions include but are not limited to:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions as outlined in your Policy Wording
  • The policy excess
  • Costs recoverable from elsewhere
  • Costs incurred by travelling party members who are not on the Certificate of Insurance.

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the Policy Wording for full details so that there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.  

Get a quote today and find out if this policy is right for you.

Be prepared if you need to claim for cancellation or curtailment.

Depending on your claim, you'll need copies of:

  • Receipts
  • Itineraries
  • Doctors' reports/death certificates
  • Medical history 
  • Written documentation from the travel provider of reason for cancellation and any refunds

Grandma passed away

My wife and I had planned to fly via Dubai on our way out to New Zealand. However my wife's grandmother suddenly passed away. We had to cancel our flights, which the airline will refund and waive cancellation fees due to the situation. But our hotel reservation in Dubai was a non-refundable booking.
British nomad

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
  • Come to a sticky end?
  • Called to jury duty?
  • Been made redundant?

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 drugs?
  • 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?
  • You or a family member dead?

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
  • Luggage lost?
  • Passport pilfered?
  • Tech trashed?

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

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance for cancellation. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team. 

  • Is there a time period that I have to claim within?
    We ask that claims are submitted no later than 60 days upon returning from your trip. If you're waiting on documentation, just let our customer service team know so they can make a note. The sooner a claim is made, the easier it is to get documentation and contact witnesses, as required.
  • I’ve decided not to go travelling – can I cancel my policy?
    If you cancel your policy within 21 days of our issuing your Certificate of Insurance, and you have not yet left home and are not going to use the policy, including making a claim, we will refund your premium, as it’s within your cooling-off period. After 21 days, contact our Customer Service team.