Travel insurance
and why it's so important
Travel insurance: Medical care
Medical care in Southeast Asia
Believe us when we tell you your not the first to end up in the hospital in Asia. Whether it is a simple but heavy case of food poisoning or a accident on a scooter wich happens to more then 50% of all travelers in Asia.
It’s better to be safe then sorry for example to end up breaking your leg on a hiking excursion and having to fly of in a helicopter, that will easily cost you around $20.000 USD or more. There are many examples of travelers ending up in the hospital you can read about on the internet. Don’t let those situations spoil your holiday or travel experience.
We do not want to scare you but around 30 % of all travelers ends up going to the hospital at least 1 time in Southeast Asia. And if you unfortunately end up in the hospital you wanne be sure it’s a good hospital with English speaking doctors. A few days in a hospital in Southeast Asia can end up to be an expensive experience. And we think that you should not compensate on your health and put yourself in a vulnerable position.
Be aware that for most medical treatment you need to pay in advance
Especially when you need heavy medical treatment or surgery. Having a insurance policy will save time in such situations and could end up in saving your life.
The best hospitals in Southeast Asia
When your having a medical emergency that’s maybe life-threatening or a serious operation, you could be transferred to another hospital with better standards and medical care. This medical evacuation often happens by helicopter and as we mentioned above will cost you at least $20.000 USD. Having a good travel insurance will cover those costs.
The best hospitals can be found in Thailand-Bangkok Singapore or Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur.
True claims and how World Nomads Travel insurance helped
Falling unconscious
I was jogging along a footpath, about four metres from a main highway and then… well, God only knows what happened. I woke up, face down, with my leg all twisted. I was in immense pain. I don’t remember being hit by a vehicle or a person — I have no idea how it happened. I called for help but most people just ignored me.
Finally a Red Cross ambulance arrived and took me to Emergency at a nearby hospital: this was the beginning of a long road to recovery. You do not want to be stuck in hospital in Costa Rica.
How World Nomads helped: Emergency medical treatment, including ambulance. Hospital care, X-rays, a temporary cast, air ambulance transfer to USA for surgery costing over $150,000 USD.
Brain aneurysm
I’m young & never imagined I’d end up in hospital with a life-threatening condition. With no warning, while travelling in Switzerland, I had a brain aneurysm, which is an abnormal ballooning of an artery and, when it bursts, it can result in stroke.
It was a terrifying experience.
I was in hospital with specialist care and surgery for ten days followed by weeks recovery in Zurich before I could come home. World Nomads really looked after me and flew my parents over to be with me while I recovered.
How World Nomads helped: Specialist Medical Care and Flights costing over $70,000 USD.
Dengue Fever
I was in the middle of a trip to Myanmar when I got this massive headache and my body felt like it was freezing even though it was hot outside. I began to shiver uncontrollably, and my chattering teeth almost caused me to bite my tongue off. I went to the local hospital where they easily identified that I had Dengue Fever and a temperature of 40-41 Celsius.
How World Nomads helped: Hospital treatment and flights home.
Travel insurance: Scams, Theft and Losses
Being insured for scams, theft and losses
Once in a while in Southeast Asia it happens that you lose, simply forget, get scammed or in a few occasions even get robbed of valuables. When this happens it can easily destroy your travelling or holiday in an instant. Luckily a lot of Travel insurances cover those costs for at least a certain amount.
Theft of valuables
Most people have an insurance back in their home country for Theft of valuables. So why not have one when your traveling? It’s not very likely to get robbed in Southeast Asia, because Tourism is one of the biggest incomes for those country’s. So naturally they don’t want to scare the tourists away. Even more so the government applies heavy punishment on those who do steal, and especially from tourists.
It still happens occasionally and when it does you want to be sure you are covered. At most travel insurance companies you will need to pay extra to cover individual items. But it’s worth it because these are small amounts compared to what they offer. In most occasions you’ll get back up to $1,250 USD for specific items there are some premium plans that cover more then that. You will have to check wich package is best for you.
Travel scams
Travel scams are unfortunately a very common problem in Southeast Asia. Be sure that you’ve read up on most of the scams that occur at your destination. You can read about those scams in our guides, on the homepage of each country.
Scams happen all the time but have different levels. You can get scammed for buying a product you think is better quality then it actually is, but that’s not a big issue. The problems start when for example: You’re renting a scooter, and upon returning it (after taken great care of the scooter) you’ll hear something like you made new scratches on the bike or the motor is broken. These are unfortunately discussions you cannot win.
There are many more forms of getting scammed, but luckily you can get insured for those situations. Just ask your insurance company what they will offer in such situations. But most Travel insurances have that covered.
Lost/damaged luggage
Every Traveler has a great amount of luggage to carry with them. So when your traveling with local transportation or Domestic flights its sometimes happens that your luggage is lost, or damaged. This could be in any situation, but is one of the worst experiences you can come upon when traveling.
Travel insurance companies make sure that when those situations occur, your at least compensated with an amount of money that will ease your suffering. Most companies pay up to $1500 USD for lost or damaged luggage. Check your insurance policy or get one at some of the best travel insurance companies we sorted out for you.
Lost your passport or travel documents?
Passports and travel documents are certainly most important when traveling. And when lost or stolen it is of great importance that you’ll get them back or obtain new documents as fast as possible. When having a travel insurance they will pay for this process and help you to get back on your feet quickly.
When you lost your passport or travel documents make sure that the first thing you do is to go to the police station and get a rapport of what happend. So the insurance company can then help you resolve the problem more quickly.
Travel insurance: Cancellations
Flight or trip cancelled, what to do?
It sometimes happens that there are situations that are out of your hands. For instance your travel buddy get’s sick and you cannot make the trip. Or you miss your flight due unfortunate events like close relatives who passed away. Or nature comes into play and forces you to stay longer on one location then you planned.
There are many situations that can occur that are no fault of your own. Luckily a good travel insurance will help you in these situations and compensate you with your costs. Such as cancellation of flights trips or excursions. You can claim back the money for flights, organised group trips and pre-booked accommodation.
Check your own insurance policy on how the operate in these situations. Or check one of the insurance companies we’ve listed down below for you.
Your own travel insurance at World nomads
Check how much a Travel insurance plan costs for you.
Travel insurance: simple & flexible
You can buy and claim online, even after you've left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
7 things you should know about travel insurance from WorldNomads.com
- Trusted reliable underwriters
WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most. - Value for money with the cover you need
WorldNomads.com provides cover for what's important for travellers from 140 countries. By focusing on what you need and leaving out what you don't, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive online. - Flexibility when you need it most
Had a change of plans? You can buy more cover or claim online while you are still away. You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you're already travelling. - Cover for a range of adventure activities
From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado, WorldNomads.com covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels. - World Nomads keeps you travelling safely
All WorldNomads.com members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub. - More than just great value travel insurance
All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal. - Commitment to exceptional customer service
We want to make sure you get the most from WorldNomads.com. You can find out more about why travel insurance is important for your trip. If you have any questions about your travel insurance or travel safety in general, please contact WorldNomads.com directly.