Travel Insurance for Asia: What You Need to Know
What Americans need to know before going to Asia
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At a glance
- World Nomads offers four travel protection plans for your trip to Asia. Plans range from standard to higher-limit protections.
- Coverage may apply to popular activities in Asia like skiing, hiking and swimming.
- Plans for Americans include protection for medical emergencies, trip interruptions and lost luggage.
Asia offers a huge range of travel experiences, whether you’re exploring fast-paced cities, relaxing on the beach or on an adventure-driven escapade. With such diversity between countries, climates and customs, Asia inspires many return trips. Loved Japan? You’re going to want to visit South Korea next. Dreaming of traveling to India? It’s a big country – give yourself time to explore more than one region. Thailand, too, invites a deeper dive – literally. Good preparation, including the right travel insurance, can help you make the most of every trip you take to Asia.
Plan Comparisons
Choosing the right travel protection coverage depends on your trip type and planned activities. Each of our four plans – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – offers different coverages and benefit maximums.
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
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Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Covering the basics for your trip to Asia. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available.* Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available.* Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
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Travel protection for adventure activities in Asia
There are outdoor experiences galore in Asia, from high-altitude trekking to tropical water sports. In Nepal and northern India, multi-day hikes wind through the Himalayas, while in Vietnam and Thailand, jungle trails and rivers lend themselves to hiking, kayaking and caving. Along the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines, warm waters make surfing, snorkeling and diving popular year-round. Locals and visitors alike love hiking in Japan, and in winter its famed ‘Japow’ snow attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the world. If you’re up for some real adventure, explore Vietnam by motorbike to discover the country well beyond the tourist hotspots.
Coverage for activities in Asia
Common insurance considerations for Asia
Accidents and emergencies
No one likes imagining the worst, but if you do get sick or have an accident that sends you to the hospital, you’ll be glad you purchased travel protection before you left home. Hit by a scooter crossing the street in Vietnam? Wiped out on a ski slope in Japan and have your arm in a cast to prove it? Ate a dodgy curry in India and came down with a nasty bout of food poisoning? Emergency assistance is a phone call away. All World Nomads plans include non-insurance services like portable health records. This enables medical staff to access your records 24/7. Having that information available may be critical if you experience an unexpected medical emergency while traveling.
Food and water safety
A few simple precautions can help you avoid traveler’s diarrhea in Asia. Gastro illnesses are more common in some Asian countries than others, but it pays to be careful no matter where you’re going. Stick to bottled or filtered water, avoid ice and choose freshly cooked food served hot. If you do get sick, the medical expense travel insurance benefit may reimburse necessary emergency medical expenses while travelling. If local care is not suitable in your immediate area, the emergency evacuation and repatriation benefit may cover transport to the nearest suitable medical facility or home for treatment if you suffer an injury or illness that is severe, acute or life-threatening. (Exclusion applies to Adventure or Extreme activities.).
Trip Cancellation
The best trips are often the ones you’ve planned months in advance, but you can’t predict the future and unexpected situations can sometimes happen before you even set off. Trip cancellation coverage is included in all single-trip and annual travel protection plans offered by World Nomads and gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel for any reason that’s not otherwise covered by your plan. Broke up with your partner? You can cancel your trip. Sick dog? You can stay home. Change your mind about traveling? There’s no judgment here. Just make sure you purchase the Cancel For Any Reason benefit within 7 days of making your first trip payment (like booking a hotel or flight) and remember to cancel no later than two days before your departure date. Additional cost, terms and conditions apply; not available to New York residents.
Baggage
Even the most careful of travelers can face that sinking feeling when they realize they’ve left their passport or wallet on the train, or that a thief has taken off with their phone or camera and there’s no hope of getting it back. Whether you bought the lost or stolen item on your trip (and have the receipts to show for it) or carried it with you from home, travel protection may be able to reimburse you.
Tips we recommend for travelling to Asia
- Driving rules vary across Asia, with some countries driving on the left and others on the right. Take care crossing the road (it’s easy to look the wrong way to check for oncoming cars).
- Be mindful of food and water safety – in many destinations, it’s best to stick to bottled or filtered water and eat hot, freshly cooked food.
- Learn about a country’s customs and etiquette preferences before you arrive. As a guest in another country, showing respect for local ways of doing things is always appreciated. Whatever you do, don’t stick your chopsticks in your rice or point them at anyone in Japan if you don’t want to cause great offence.
- Ask before you take photos of anyone and avoid taking pictures of children.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for Asia. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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Do Americans need visas to travel in Asia?
Visa requirements vary widely across Asia. Americans can enter some countries visa-free for short stays, while others require a visa in advance or an e-visa. Always check the entry requirements for each destination before you travel.
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Is Asia safe for tourists?
Asia is generally safe for visitors, but safety can vary by country and region. Petty theft can occur in busy areas, and some destinations may have higher risks related to political turmoil, traffic, poverty, weather or local conditions. Stay aware of your surroundings and follow US Department of State travel advisories*. You may want to consider travel insurance for those unexpected situations that arise.
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How do I avoid getting sick in Asia?
Keep up simple hygiene habits – wash or sanitize your hands regularly and be mindful of where and what you eat and drink, especially in busy markets or remote areas. Before you go, check the recommended vaccinations and make sure routine immunizations are up to date. All World Nomads plans for US residents include additional non-insurance services like access to pre-trip medical support. A telehealth consultation can help you with a customized medical plan based on your destination. This may help you prepare for health concerns before you go and the best ways to avoid travel-related illnesses.
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Do I need travel insurance for Asia?
Travel insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended. Benefits for accidents, medical emergencies, cancellations, delays and lost luggage can help protect you against unexpected costs. Whether you’re in a major city or off adventuring in a more remote location, it’s reassuring to know you can get the help you need – especially when it comes to an accident or sudden illness.
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What if my bags are lost or stolen?
Travel insurance benefits for lost, damaged, destroyed, stolen or delayed bags are included in all World Nomads plans. Also, our non-insurance service included in every plan assists with tracking and delivering missing checked bags.
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How do I make a travel insurance claim?
You can make a claim online 24/7. Have your documents and receipts handy to upload and get started. If you get stuck, you can call us collect on +1 844-207-1930 and we can assist you with your claim.
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What do I do if I need emergency assistance?
No matter where you are in the world, our 24/7 non-insurance Emergency Assistance partners at Generali Global Assistance are ready to help – 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether it’s a medical emergency, stolen gear, missing bags, or a natural disaster, they’re the first call to make. Need a translator? They can help with that too.
When you call, you’ll be asked if you are experiencing a travel emergency. If you are having a medical emergency, you’ll be connected with Emergency Assistance right away. If your situation is not urgent and you are calling outside of normal business hours, you’ll be able to leave a message and be called back.
The contact information for medical emergency assistance is:
Phone: +1 (877) 289-0968 (toll-free from the Continental US); or
Phone: +1 (954) 334-8143 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Need destination inspiration for Asia?
Not sure where your next adventure should take you? Take a look at these travel ideas around the world and get destination-specific travel insurance tips to help you plan with confidence.
5 unique cultural experiences in Japan
Hiking travel insurance coverage
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
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
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
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
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
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
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
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
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
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.