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Travel Insurance and Time Sensitive Periods

Learn how you can unlock exclusive additional benefits by purchasing within 7 days of your first trip deposit.

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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 2 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 2 2024, please see below. 

We get it, you’re excited about your trip. You’ve booked your accommodation in Peru, put a deposit down on that Outback tour you can’t wait to do in Australia, or paid for your train ticket to take you away from the crowds of Paris. You’ve made the tough decisions already – now you may want to think about how to protect your trip with travel insurance*.

While you can purchase World Nomads travel insurance at any time (even if you are already traveling!), you may want to consider purchasing it during the time sensitive period of 7 days. If you purchased the Explorer or Epic Plan, purchasing in this time sensitive period unlocks additional benefits that could be very valuable to you on your trip.

These include: 

  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage (at an additional cost) 
  • Pre-Existing Exclusion Waiver 
  • Trip Inconvenience coverage 

What does the “time-sensitive period” mean? 

Purchasing the Explorer or Epic travel insurance plan from World Nomads in the time sensitive period means that you’ve bought your plan within 7 days of making the first deposit or payment towards your trip. This deposit or payment can come in the form of purchasing a plane ticket or booking a hotel. It can also look like buying a tour or museum ticket. Whenever you put down money to secure your travels, this is when the time sensitive period starts. You then have 7 days to purchase either the Explorer or Epic Plan to unlock the additional benefits. 

Should something unexpected happen and you need to make a claim for one of these additional benefits, the claims team will ask for receipts to show proof of when you made payment toward your trip. You will only be eligible for benefits if you can show you purchased you plan within the time sensitive period of 7 days. 

The Explorer and Epic Plans also have additional benefits, beyond the time sensitive ones. You can compare the benefits of each plan side-by-side when you get a quote

What travel insurance benefits are time-sensitive? 

Let’s dive a little deeper into time-sensitive benefits so you know exactly what you’re getting by buying your plan early. 

Cancel for any reason add-on coverage 

 If you buy your plan within 7 days of making your first trip deposit or payment, you can add on the optional ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit to your plan at an additional cost. Cancel for any reason extends the range of covered reasons you can cancel your trip, meaning you may be partially reimbursed (up to plan limits) for non-refundable payments you’ve made towards your trip. Say you’ve broken up with your partner, your dog got sick or you’ve simply changed your mind about going; you may now get reimbursement. This benefit is especially handy for those trips that are big investments or booked far in advance. 

Pre-Existing Exclusion Waiver 

Another great reason to buy within 7 days is that you’ll be eligible for a Pre-Existing Exclusion Waiver. If you’re healthy enough to travel when you buy your plan but have a pre-existing condition (as defined in your plan documents) that flairs up during your travels, treatment related to that pre-existing condition may now be covered. Unless you have this waiver, you would not be covered otherwise. 

Diabetes is a good example. By purchasing the plan you’re declaring you’re fit to travel but if you have an unexpected blood sugar issue on your trip and need emergency care, the claims department may not look back on your medical history to see if you had diabetes before you left for your trip. Remember, however, that travel insurance is for those unexpected incidents that could disrupt your trip – routine care is not covered. Be sure to read your plan description for more details on how this works or contact us.

Travel Inconvenience coverage 

If you’ve purchased an Epic or Explorer plan within 7 days of making your first payment, you’ll also have access to some great benefits relating to travel inconvenience should things go awry on your journey. How much are we talking? You may be reimbursed up to $250 for each event that qualifies as a covered travel inconvenience in your plan documents. The maximum amount you can claim for these annoying events varies according to your plan. For the Explorer plan the maximum amount is $500. For the Epic plan there is a $750 maximum. Covered events may include: ski resort closures, tarmac delays, cruise diversions, missed work due to airline delays, rental car breakdown, and others.

Check your plan to see a full list of what may be covered and compare benefits side-by-side to help you decide which plan is right for you

*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans. 

Baggage Delay in a Delhi Winter.

I arrived in Delhi from Rome. Baggage claim help desk informed me that my bag had been delayed in transit. I was without my bag for almost a week before it was finally delivered to me. It was cold in Delhi (being winter, December) and my warm jacket was in my bag, requiring that I purchase a jacket and other items of warm clothing that I had not taken in my carry-on.
Claim paid: USD $51.74
S.N. U.S Nomad in India.

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: $125,500
  • 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
  • Runway Health
  • FootprintID
  • Blue Ribbon Bags
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.

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 Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone: +1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada

Contact the team