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Travel Insurance Benefits for Death Overseas

Learn how travel insurance benefits and non-insurance services may help friends and family if US Residents die while traveling overseas

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At a glance

  • World Nomads offers four plans for US residents that includes travel insurance benefits relating to death occurring on your trip overseas
  • Death resulting from an accident or a sudden and unexpected illness on your trip may be covered
  • Covered expenses may include local cremation overseas or return of your remains to the United States (up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits)
  • The non-insurance 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team can help your family and friends as they navigate overseas laws and language barriers

Why should you consider a travel protection plan that may cover expenses related to death overseas?

Nobody travels with the expectation of not coming back home, but unexpected illness and accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Data published by the Journal of Travel Medicine shows that over a 20-year period, 15,549 Americans died from unnatural causes while traveling abroad*. Vehicle accidents and homicides were the biggest causes.

If someone dies while traveling, especially overseas, the hardest parts for family are logistics, cost and paperwork. Their priority may be to bring you home, and travel insurance benefits and non-insurance services for overseas death may help them do that. Our team may also be able to help with the added stress of navigating overseas laws and foreign languages. 

What May Be Covered if You Die Overseas

  • Embalming 
  • Local cremation 
  • Temporary storage of your body for up to 60 days, or until local authorities permit transport 
  • Return of your remains back to the United States 
  • Cost for creation and transmission of necessary documentation to transport your body

Important to Know 

  • Deaths resulting from suicide, or the use of drugs, alcohol or illegal activities aren’t covered 
  • Repatriation expenses and arrangements must be authorized by our designated Travel Assistance Services Provider in advance
  • Once your remains are claimed by the receiving funeral home or morgue, or in the event of local cremation, coverage under this benefit ends
  • Check your plan document for a full list of maximums, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your state specific plan

Maximum Benefit Amounts for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains

Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan
Up to $400,000 for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains per person

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Up to $500,000 for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains per person

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Up to $700,000 for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains per person

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Up to $100,000 for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains per trip

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How Your Family or Friends Can Get Assistance if You Die Overseas 

World Nomads travel protection plans include benefits that may help your family and friends if you unexpectedly die overseas, but they will need access to your travel protection plan. 

If you die overseas, they’ll need to contact our non-insurance 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team as soon as possible. Our team could support them from the time you die until your remains have returned home, if you are not cremated locally. In order to receive assistance, though, they will need to supply our team with the following information:

  • Your plan number
  • Your location
  • As many details as possible about the circumstances surrounding your death 

While they hopefully won’t need to use it, you should leave a copy of your plan with them just in case. Even if you don’t die on your trip, emergency accident and sickness medical travel insurance benefits are also included in your plan, and your family and friends may need this information to help you get needed medical treatment. 

Coverage for Accidental Death and Dismemberment

If you die as a result of an accident while abroad, your benefits for loss of life will be paid to your designated beneficiary. World Nomads travel protection plans also include coverage for accidental death and dismemberment. If you die due to an accident that happens on your trip, your designated beneficiary may be able to receive compensation for your loss (up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.) The loss must have occurred within 365 days of the accident to receive benefits. Terms and Conditions apply.

FAQ

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

  • Do I have to be buried overseas if I die while traveling?
    No. World Nomads travel protection plans include coverage for repatriation of remains and can return your body to your city of primary residence or your origination point or to the place of burial if you die during your trip (up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.) Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Does travel protection cover transporting my body back home if I die?

    World Nomads plans include travel insurance benefits related to death occurring while travelling overseas and may cover the costs to transport your body back home to the United States (up to the maximum benefit amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.) Make sure you leave your family and friends a copy of your plan in case something happens. They’ll need that information so they can communicate with the non-insurance 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. They’ll need to authorize all expenses in advance. Terms and Conditions apply.

20260223-5224739. *This website is not affiliated with United States Fire Insurance Company, World Nomads, or Trip Mate. 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
  • 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.