Volunteering Travel Insurance Coverage
Protect Your Volunteer Trip with Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
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At a glance:
- World Nomads plans may cover volunteering in roles involving childcare, teaching, environmental or conservation work, wildlife or animal care, and WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, and manual work), with some plans that include additional volunteer roles and higher limits of coverage.
- Coverage may include reimbursement for injuries and medical transport if you're seriously hurt while on your volunteering trip.
- Gear and luggage benefits may help cover lost, stolen, or damaged baggage as you travel to your volunteer opportunity.
- Plus, optional Cancel for Any Reason upgrade available on some plans (additional cost and state restrictions may apply.)
- Why should I consider travel insurance for my volunteer trip?
- Travel insurance and non-insurance services for volunteering: What services may be covered?
- What level of travel insurance coverage do I need for my volunteer trip abroad?
- What may not be covered when volunteering while traveling?
- Top safety tips we recommend for your volunteer trip
- FAQs
We love seeing our nomads give back and help make the world a better place. If you have travel insurance coverage for Costa Rica, you may want to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary while you’re there. You may also feel led to teach English in Cambodia or help with reforestation in Madagascar. But even when you set forth with the best intentions, you should be prepared for the unexpected. Our travel protection plans include a range of travel insurance benefits and non-insurance services for volunteering that may help with everything from stolen bags to unexpected medical expenses.
Why should I consider travel insurance for my volunteer trip?
From animal bites to food poisoning in a remote village, unexpected issues can derail even the most carefully planned volunteer trip. Travel insurance and non-insurance services designed for volunteering may help you bounce back quickly with support for emergencies, delays, and disruptions. With coverage that is flexible to your needs, it’s a way to travel confidently – whether you're volunteering on an organic farm in the Amazon or helping with environmental conservation projects in South Africa.
Travel insurance and non-insurance services for volunteering: What services may be covered?
We love giving back and having opportunities to change the world, so we’ve designed coverage for losses resulting from volunteering while traveling. We also offer coverage for losses related to more than 250+ other sports, activities and experiences.
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Emergency Medical Expenses
For broken bones, cuts, and sprains when building houses -
Non-insurance Emergency Assistance
Available 24/7 to assist in an emergency situation -
Baggage & Gear Coverage
Damaged or stolen gear or luggage that is lost in transit -
Trip Delays, Interruptions & Cancellations
A money-saver if inclement weather keeps you from traveling for your volunteer work.
Get a quote and compare the plans to see which level of coverage is right for you.
What level of travel insurance coverage do I need for my volunteer trip abroad?
World Nomads offers four plans for U.S. residents – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – each with different levels of coverage. You’ll want to make sure you have the correct coverage based on your specific volunteer duties. Also, you may want to do other fun things while you’re traveling such as hiking, paddleboarding, or camping. That’s totally fine, because you may be covered for more than 250+ other sports, activities and experiences when you purchase travel insurance coverage for volunteering.
- Standard Plan – This is the most basic plan, but includes travel insurance coverage for incidents while volunteering in roles involving childcare, teaching, environmental or conservation work, wildlife or animal care, and WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, and manual work.) This plan includes up to $125,000 in emergency medical expenses and up to $2,500 for trip cancellation.
- Explorer Plan – This plan covers more activities, including construction or renovation work (manual work involving painting, using power tools, operating machinery, roadwork, and working at height), volunteering in roles that involve high risk work (such as offshore, underground or caves, and commercial diving), disaster relief, NGO support, and volunteering as a ski instructor or in medical and health care services. It also has higher limits of coverage for most benefits.
- Epic Plan – This plan covers everything the Explorer Plan covers, plus even more activities – like serving as a pilot or crew of an aircraft. It also has the highest benefit limits of coverage.
- Annual Plan – Weekend warriors, digital nomads, world explorers… this plan is for you. Just buy once and stay protected all year. It includes travel insurance coverage for volunteering, as well as all of the other activities and experiences that are covered in the Standard Plan.
NOMADS TIP: For even more trip cancellation flexibility, check out the optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ benefit. It can be added to Explorer and Epic plans. Available at an additional cost for U.S. residents, except in New York.
Get a travel insurance quote
Simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Get a quote
What may not be covered when volunteering while traveling?
We love that you’ve planned a volunteer trip to help others in another country, and commend you for your efforts. However, if the U.S. government issues ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings for your destination, and you decide to go anyway, the travel insurance coverage for volunteering that’s included in your travel protection plan may not cover you. Some other things that are not covered include:
- Unattended baggage, sporting equipment, or personal items
- Participation in other activities not listed as covered in your policy
- Ignoring your doctor if they have explicitly advised you not to travel to a particular destination or do certain volunteer work
- Volunteering within 100 miles of your home
Top safety tips we recommend for your volunteer trip
- Research the organization you’ll be volunteering with to make sure they’re reputable. You’ll want to confirm they have a clear mission, vision, and values. It’s also not a bad idea to look for reviews from others who have worked with them.
- Understand what your duties are before you go, and make sure you’re aware of any risks associated with those. You’ll also want to make sure all activities are covered by your travel insurance coverage for volunteering abroad.
- No matter what volunteer service you’re providing, make sure you receive proper training, as that reduces your chance of injuries or accidents.
- Take along a copy of the documents showing your travel insurance coverage for volunteering. You may even want to save a copy in your phone so it is easily accessible.
- Check with the U.S. Department of State to see if they have issued any travel advisories for your destination.
- Enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to stay updated on emergency situations.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for volunteering. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team
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Can a volunteer trip abroad be covered under World Nomads Travel Insurance?
Yes, volunteering may be covered under all four plans offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance. The Standard and Annual Plans include travel insurance coverage for volunteering in roles that involve childcare, teaching, environmental or conservation work, wildlife or animal care, and WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, and manual work.) The Explorer Plan covers more activities including construction or renovation work (manual work involving painting, using power tools, operating machinery, roadwork, and working at height), volunteering in roles that involve high risk work (such as offshore, underground or caves, and commercial diving), disaster relief, NGO support, and volunteering as a ski instructor or in medical and health care services. The Epic Plan covers everything the Explorer Plan covers, plus even more activities – like serving as a pilot or crew of an aircraft. It also has the highest benefit limits of coverage.
If you’re not sure if your volunteer duties can be covered, you can contact us and ask.
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What types of incidents may be covered while I’m volunteering overseas?
If your trip is canceled or interrupted due to an unforeseen event, you may be able to recover your travel expenses (up to the maximum benefit amount), and this may include unused, pre-paid, non-refundable tours that you paid for in advance. If you get cut while planting coral in the Caribbean and you require medical assistance, emergency expense medical coverage may come in handy in the case of an unexpected injury. You may also be covered for unplanned situations such as lost bags.
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What type of volunteer work is included in my trip protection plan?
World Nomads offers travel protection plans that include non-insurance services, as well as travel insurance coverage for volunteering. The Standard Plan includes travel insurance coverage for volunteering in roles involving childcare, teaching, environmental or conservation work, wildlife or animal care, and WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, and manual work.) The Explorer Plan covers more activities including construction or renovation work (manual work involving painting, using power tools, operating machinery, roadwork, and working at height), volunteering in roles that involve high risk work (such as offshore, underground or caves, and commercial diving), disaster relief, NGO support, and volunteering as a ski instructor or in medical and health care services. The Epic Plan covers everything the Explorer Plan covers, plus even more activities – like serving as a pilot or crew of an aircraft. It also has the highest benefit limits of coverage. If you’re not sure if your volunteer duties are covered, you can contact us and ask.
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Can I purchase a plan after my trip starts?
Yes. If your trip has already started, World Nomads can still offer you coverage. You can buy a plan that includes travel insurance coverage for volunteering online anytime, from anywhere in the world. World Nomads Travel Insurance for U.S. residents takes effect at 12:01 a.m. local time the day after you purchase your plan. If you’re already traveling and want to get coverage for volunteering, you’ll need to buy your insurance at least the day before you need coverage.
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Does World Nomads Travel Insurance offer coverage for volunteering in other countries?
Yes, volunteering is an amazing experience and World Nomads doesn’t want to limit your ways to give back. For example, if you have travel insurance for Africa, you could have the opportunity to volunteer abroad in places such as Kenya, Botswana, and Rwanda. If you have travel insurance for Argentina, you could volunteer to teach English as a second language to students there. When you get a quote for a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance coverage for volunteering, you’ll need to input where you’ll be traveling.
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What should I do if I get hurt while I’m volunteering?
If you get hurt while you're volunteering, contact local authorities as soon as you’re able to do so for immediate attention. World Nomads Travel Insurance may help cover the cost of medical treatment, hospital stays, or even emergency medical evacuation if needed (subject to approval.) Access to a 24/7 Non-Insurance Emergency Assistance team is also included for support anytime, anywhere when you purchase a travel protection plan that includes travel insurance coverage for your volunteering trip.
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Does World Nomads cover other activities during my trip?
Yes, when you purchase travel insurance and non-insurance services for volunteering abroad, you could be covered for more than 250+ other sports, activities and experiences. Things like snowmobiling, snorkeling, yoga, and backpacking may all be covered. You can review the list of activities, but if you’re participating in an activity and not sure if it’s covered, you can contact us and ask.
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Do I get my money back if I cancel a trip?
Trip cancellation coverage is offered by all plans offered by World Nomads, and you may be reimbursed for pre-paid, unused, non-refundable expenses like flights, tours and accommodations if your trip is cancelled for a covered reason. U.S. residents (except those that live in New York) also have the ability to add additional cancel for any reason coverage when certain World Nomads plans are purchased.
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What happens if my bags are delayed?
When you purchase travel insurance coverage for volunteering, baggage coverage is also included. If your checked-in bags are delayed more than 12 consecutive hours on the way to your destination, your plan may reimburse you for reasonable essential items like toiletries and a change of clothes until you and your bag are reunited. Your coverage also includes non-insurance service that can help track down your bag and get it delivered to you.
Need destination inspiration for your next volunteer trip?
Not sure where you can travel and volunteer? Check out some of our favorite ways to give back around the world and get destination-specific travel insurance tips to help you plan with confidence.
Argentina: Opportunities for Cultural Immersion
What’s It Like to be a Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer?
Beyond Machu Picchu: Exploring Peru’s Other Ancient Sites
20250821-4760264. This is not a full list of what is and isn’t covered, so please check your plan document for a full list of maximums, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your state specific plan. Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually. Exclusion applies to Adventure or Extreme Activities.Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Protection
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Work emergency?
- Weather delay?
- Travel companion sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Standard Plan: $125,000
- Explorer Plan: $150,000
- Epic Plan: $250,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
- Need a hospital?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation
We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $400,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $700,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
- Ambulance transfers
- Medevac flights
- Medical escort services
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $3,000
- Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Stolen I.D.s
- Checked-in sports equipment
- Damaged luggage
Help starts here.
The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuations
- Bedside Companion Travel
- Emergency Medications
Protect Your Trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
- Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
- Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)
Protect Your Stuff
- Baggage Delay
- Passport and Visa Loss
- Lost or Stolen Bags
- Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
- Baggage Return After Evacuation
Non-Insurance Services
- Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
- Translators Available
- Pre-Departure Telehealth Services
- Portable Health Records
- Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, 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 assistance right now?
Contact 24/7 Emergency Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.