World Nomads, recommended by Lonely Planet, is hugely popular with backpackers worldwide. This is one of the best known insurance companies in the world. They market themselves towards independent and adventurous travellers, although, honestly, their insurance is also a good fit for those less inclined to bungee jump.

Review Bottom Line

Huge, reputable, affordable, and with a reputation for being hassle free from the time you get an online quote all the way to their claims process. Though they’re best known for covering younger backpackers, World Nomads provides good coverage for anyone considering a longer trip.

Disadvantages

No coverage for anyone over 60.
There’s not much opportunity to customize the insurance. World Nomads keeps their costs low by offering a single low cost, but high value, product.
World Nomads coverage excludes Cuba.

Advantages

You can get World Nomads insurance after you’ve started you trip, which is rare in the travel insurance world. In all of our travel insurance reviews, World Nomads is the only company we’ve found that offers this feature for Canadians.
Note: World Nomads currently cannot provide travel insurance policies to travellers who live in Quebec. Their website says that they’re planning to add service to Quebec in the near future.
Good baggage and personal effects insurance that few insurers can match.
A policy is worldwide, including the USA.
You can get, extend, and claim online, 24 days, 7 days a week.
Available to citizens of 150 countries.

The Basics

Medical travel expense coverage is $5 million per person.
$10,000 of accidental death insurance while travelling as a “ticketed passenger on a licensed common carrier.”
Coverage is world-wide, including USA.
No deductible.
Available to residents from over 150 countries.
World Nomads offers 24 Hour World Wide Emergency Assistance through Travel Guard Canada.
You can get Worlds Nomads’ insurance after you’ve started your trip, even if you are not in your country of residence. This could be a lifesaver on emergency trip where you didn’t get to set up travel insurance before leaving.
You can get , extend, and claim online, 24 days, 7 days a week.

How to Learn more

You can quickly learn more from World Nomads online here, without any obligation to buy.

Review of Refunds and Extensions

You can get a full refund within 14 days after your policy is issued, provided that your trip hasn’t started, and you haven’t made a claim. There are no refunds after the trip has started, but you can cancel the policy at any time.

Extensions are allowed during a trip, even if you’re not in your country of residence. You may extend your policy while on your trip, but NOT if your policy has expired, if you have a finalized Luggage and Personal Effects claim of $2,500 CAD or more. You can extend coverage up to a maximum trip length of 365 days if you’ve gotten an extension of your provincial health insurance plan. However, extensions can be expensive (though it’s nice to have the option).

Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance

World Nomads Canada offers baggage and personal effects insurance of $2,500 per person, with a maximum of $500 CAD per item. This insurance covers cameras and computers, which is unusual as most insurance policies exclude cell phones, computers and the majority of electronics. Prescription eyeglasses are covered under the baggage and personal effects insurance. However, there are exclusions to the coverage, for example if your belongings are left unattended in public place or if unattended in car. These exclusions are typical, and found in many other Canada travel insurance reviews.

Adventure Activities

Adventure activities like snorkelling or scuba diving are covered
$500 emergency dental per person

Trip Interruption and Cancellation

Trip Interruption: $5,000 per person per trip
Trip Cancellation: $1,000 per person per trip

Pre-existing Medical Conditions Exclusions

Like every other travel insurance company we review, World Nomads will not cover a claim that results from a pre-existing medical condition. These include claims for you, your travelling companion and an immediate family member.

World Nomads defines a preexisting medical condition as:

pregnancy
any medical or dental condition that yu are aware of, or that are being investigated for within 90 days of purchasing the policy

World Nomads will deny a claim if you travel:

against medical advice
travel to obtain medical treatment
if you know you are unfit to travel
if a terminal prognosis was made (for you, a travelling companion, or an immediate family member) before your insurance confirmation letter was issued

Red Tape

Valid provincial health insurance is required for the entire duration of your trip.
Each policy includes, by default, a $2 donation to a charity like Care’s Healthy Mothers and Babies, Cambodia or Save the Children. You have the option to opt out of the donation.
Children (under age ?) are covered free.
World Nomads insurance is underwritten by Chartis Canada.
Claims can be made online, or by calling Travel Guard Canada at 1-866-878-0191 and requesting a claim form.

World Nomads Canada Promo Code

Promo codes won’t work for Canadian (or American) residents. Regulatory restrictions in the US and Canada mean that World Nomads can’t legally offer insurance discounts in Canada.

Where to Find the Canadian World Nomads Policy

You can find a copy of the World Nomads policy in your quote. Here’s a screenshot showing where to look for the policy information on your quote.

How to Learn more

Learn more from World Nomads online, without any obligation to buy.

*As always, the information on this page is from one Canadian traveller to another. We have spent years abroad and have gotten to know the ins and outs of the industry however we are not travel insurance agents. If you have any travel insurance questions, please talk to a qualified travel insurance agent or broker. Finally, policies and plans can and do change all the time, without warning, so always consult your insurance policy since that is the legal document to which you are agreeing to.
*This article is only intended as general advice. Please check your own policy carefully.