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Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance Benefit

How unexpected trip changes for US Residents may be covered by the trip cancellation insurance benefit

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At a glance

  • Trip cancellation insurance benefits are included in all World Nomads Travel Insurance protection plans
  • You may be reimbursed for pre-paid, unused, forfeited, non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel for an unforeseen, covered reason
  • An optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ upgrade may be available for the Explorer and Epic plans offered by World Nomads (Not available for New York residents)

Why consider travel insurance for trip cancellation?

Even when you’ve meticulously planned out all of the details of your dream vacation, sometimes things happen that cause you to cancel your trip. It’s painful enough to have to miss out on your getaway, but it’s even worse to also lose all of the money that you’ve already paid towards your trip. With a single-trip or annual travel plan that includes trip cancellation insurance benefits, you may be reimbursed for the non-refundable, unused, forfeited, pre-paid money you’ve spent for things like tours, transportation, and hotel accommodations if you cancel for a covered reason.

Reasons for Trip Cancellation that may be Covered

  • Unexpected sickness or injury
  • A terrorist incident occurs before Your Trip with 30 days of your scheduled departure date in the scheduled trip departure city or in a city listed on the scheduled itinerary of your trip
  • A natural disaster makes your primary residence or scheduled destination accommodation uninhabitable and remain uninhabitable
  • An unannounced airline strike that results in a complete cessation of services for at least 24 consecutive hours
  • Inclement weather that causes your common carrier to stop services for at least 24 consecutive hours

Important to Know in the Event of a Claim

  • Terms and conditions apply; read your plan documents to understand the coverages
  • To cancel for sickness or injury, a doctor’s note may be required
  • No coverage may be available for an event or circumstance that is known before you purchase your travel protection plan (like an already-named hurricane)
  • Documentation showing the reason for your cancellation, as well as receipts for your trip expenses, if you intend to make a claim

Plans and Trip Cancellation Maximum Amounts

Standard Plan

Explorer Plan

Epic Plan

Annual Plan

Up to a maximum of $2,500

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Up to a maximum of $10,000

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Up to a maximum of $15,000

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Up to a maximum of $5,000 per individual coverage term

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What is a ‘cancel for any reason’ travel insurance benefit, and how is it different from trip cancellation insurance benefit?

Trip cancellation insurance benefits are included in all single-trip and annual travel plans offered by World Nomads and this gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. You may be reimbursed for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance if your situation is one of the cancellation covered reasons listed in your plan document. For example, if you get sick before your trip and your doctor advises you not to travel at that time, you may be covered. If your flight is canceled by an airline and you aren’t able to make it to your destination, you may also be covered. (This is a real issue – almost 100,000 flights were canceled by U.S. air carriers in 2024.)

‘Cancel for any reason’ coverage allows you to cancel for any reason not otherwise covered by the plan, but it isn’t automatically included. It’s an optional add-on for US residents (not available to resides of New York) that’s available if you purchase the Epic or Explorer plan within seven days of the date your travel supplier receives you first trip deposit (like booking a hotel or airline ticket). This is called the ‘time sensitive period’. With ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage, benefits may be paid for up to 75% of prepaid and non-refundable deposits and payments you made if you cancel your trip no later than 2 day prior to the scheduled departure date of your trip.

What you may need to file a trip cancellation claim

Should something unexpected happen that causes you to cancel your trip for a covered reason, you can file a claim online. In order to make a claim using your trip cancellation insurance benefit, you’ll need to provide required documents that may include but not limited to:

  • Copies of receipts and invoices showing the unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance
  • Documentation showing proof of what caused you to cancel your trip. For example, if you are canceling your trip due to illness, you’ll need to show medical reports proving you were unable to travel.

Our Recommended Traveler Tips

As travelers ourselves, we’ve felt the heartache of having to cancel trips. Nobody ever books a trip with the intention of canceling it, but we’ve dealt with everything from sickness to named storms that grounded flights. Here are a few of our personal travel tips that may help you avoid some of those situations.

  • If you have an option to book refundable airline tickets, hotels, and tours, do it – even if it costs a little more.
  • When you get a quote for travel protection that covers trip cancellation, read the plan documents and make sure you understand the covered reasons for trip cancellation. If you think there’s any possibility that you may cancel for any other reason than those listed, consider adding on ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance coverage. With that, you can cancel for any reason– as long as you do so at least two days before your scheduled departure date. (It’s only available for those who purchase the Explorer or Epic plans, and it must be purchased during the time sensitive period. It’s also not available for New York residents.)
  • Save all of your receipts. Every. Single. One. Don’t wait until you’re trying to make a claim – it’s painful digging through old emails to find those. Once you start planning your trip, create a folder and save everything in one place.
  • Check out the S. Department of Transportation’s Cancellation and Delay Dashboard to see what is covered by various airlines. Many airlines will cover things such as meals, hotel accommodations, and transportation if a cancellation is due to circumstances within their control.
  • Before you book your trip, research your destination on the U.S. Department of State’s website. You can search by destination and see if there are any travel advisories issued for where you’re going. If you see there’s a travel advisory after you book your trip, you won’t be able to cancel your trip and make a claim just because you don’t want to go. (If there’s a terrorist attack or natural disaster, you may be eligible for insurance benefits and non-insurance services.)
20251211-5053393. 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.

FAQ

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

  • Do all World Nomads plans include trip cancellation insurance benefits?

    Yes, all of the travel protection plans offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance include trip cancellation insurance benefits. You may be reimbursed for unused, forfeited, prepaid, non-refundable expenses that you paid for in advance, but only if your situation is one of the covered events listed in your plan documents.

    (The optional ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ add-on allows you to cancel for any reason not already covered by the plan, but it is only available for those who purchase the Explorer or Epic plans, and it must be purchased during the time sensitive period. This add-on is not available for New York residents.)

  • What does trip cancellation coverage include?

    Trip cancellation is a benefit that reimburses you for pre-paid, forfeited, unused, non-refundable trip payments if you need to cancel for an unforeseen, covered event such as an illness, injury, jury duty, a death in the family or an airline strike. Your plan documents list all the covered reasons.

    Reimbursable costs may include things like airfare, train tickets, hotel rooms or tour expenses.

  • How do I file a claim if I need to cancel my trip?

    If you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, you can file a claim online. Be sure to save all your trip receipts – you’ll need to show proof of those non-refundable expenses when you submit a claim. Make sure you have documentation showing the reason for your canceled trip as well. For example, if you are canceling your trip due to illness, you’ll need to show medical reports proving you were unable to travel.

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
This is a general summary for US residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefits limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the plan documents for full details.