World Nomads Annual Travel Insurance Review
If you are a frequent traveler you will know how difficult it can be to plan multiple trips during the year. From flights to accommodations to activities, there are many moving parts to coordinate. It’s even harder to organize if you are traveling with family or friends. Travel insurance is one of the most essential things to take with you on any trip. Many travelers don’t even think about travel insurance. It seems like a waste of time and money to compare prices and plans. You may not need it and you will have paid for nothing. You haven’t really paid “nothing” – you’ve paid to ensure that you are covered in case something unfortunate happens while you’re away. You will be glad you have insurance if anything happens. Accidents on the road are costly and can leave you with hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in debt. Travel insurance is something I will never travel without after 15 years of world-traveling. It is that important! It used to take a long time to compare and find plans (I have read many fine print documents over the years), but now it is much easier. Thanks to the increasing number of multi-trip plans, the days of buying a separate plan for every trip are over.
World nomads, which I have recommended for more than a decade, just launched their own Annual Travel Plan for US Residents. What is World Nomads? This is the plan I used for my first trip around the globe (and have used dozens of time since). They’ve been in business for more than twenty years, and cover people from over a hundred different countries. Through World Nomads, you can get international and domestic coverage when traveling at least 100 miles from home for:
Emergency medical and dental work
Sudden illness and injury
Medical evacuation and repatriation
24-hour emergency medical assistance
Lost, stolen or damaged baggage
Cancellations and interruptions
Trip and baggage delay
Over 250 types of adventure activities
And more!
- World Nomads offers bundled travel insurance for those who are looking for a good company. World Nomads has a variety of plans and different levels of coverage. World Nomads has a wide range of activities covered, so I highly recommend them if you plan to do a lot outdoor activities. Since I have already reviewed World Nomads extensively in this review I will focus today on their Annual Plan. Many travelers have asked about this in both my email and our travel insurance webinars. I’m glad to see they’ve created an Annual Plan to fill this need.
- What is the World Nomads Annual Travel Protection Plan?
- Previously, World Nomads only offered single-trip protection plans. You purchased a travel plan that covered a specific period of time and destination. What if you are a frequent traveler throughout the year, and need to buy a new plan every time? Every time you travel, it’s an inconvenience to purchase a new plan. These single-trip plans can add up. With World Nomads’ annual plans, you only pay once for travel protection in multiple countries and up to 45 days long. It simplifies planning and could even save you money over time. There are still four cautions. First, the annual plan limits each trip to 45 days. The majority of travelers do not travel abroad for such a long time, however, so this isn’t a big deal. Second, annual plans don’t auto-renew. You will need to buy a new one each year. That said, World Nomads sends a reminder a month before your current plan expires, so this isn’t really a big deal either.
- Third, the US Annual Plan is only available to be purchased independently per traveler. This plan does not allow for family purchases or couple plans like single trip plans. However, you can buy individual Annual Plans for every member of your family who is under 69 years old. The Annual Plan, fourth, is only available for US residents. (Except residents of Missouri Montana New York Washington) World Nomads offers similar Multi-Trip Annual Plans for UK and Ireland Residents, but the coverage is different. If it is successful, hopefully they will extend it to other countries in the near future. What is covered by World Nomads Annual Travel Protection Plan?
- The coverage of a World Nomads Annual Plan will be similar to its single-trip plan. Plan holders are covered for over 250 adventure activities as well as trip cancellations, emergency medical costs, and lost or stolen gear. Here’s what you can find on the World Nomads site:
- Plans also cover any incidents that may occur when participating in 250+ adventure sports in the following categories. Explorer and Epic Plans can cover more extensive activities on a single trip. For example, zip-lining, snorkeling, and heli-skiing are all covered under the Standard and Annual Plans, but free soloing and heli-skiing only by the Epic Plan. World Nomads offers coverage for the following water-related activities:
- Ofcourse, World Nomads also excludes certain things. These include (but aren’t limited to):
- Engaging in any illegal activities
- Incidents that occur when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
Non-emergency medical treatment that can wait until you return home
In short, World Nomads offers travel insurance, not health insurance. The insurance is there to cover the unexpected, and not for routine checkups or treatment. The 24/7 Emergency Assistance team is available to help you with emergency situations around the clock, seven days a week. The support team can get you to the nearest hospital or consulate, offer translation services and provide guidance in emergency situations.
FootPrint ID allows to you to keep track of your medical records and emergency contacts in one place. This is helpful in emergency situations when healthcare providers need quick answers regarding your medical history, prescriptions and contacts.
Blue Ribbon Bags offers delayed and lost luggage retrieval services. They can track and expedite the return of delayed airline baggage for outbound flights and are available to assist 24/7.
Runway Health provides free pre-trip online health consultations so travelers can get access to prescriptions and vaccinations for common travel needs like altitude sickness and malaria before taking off for their trip.
Pros of World Nomads’ Annual Travel Protection Plan
Covers you for an unlimited number of trips within a year
Cost-effective and convenient (you don’t have to buy a new plan for each trip)
Coverage for over 250 activities
Coverage for domestic and international travel
Access to 24/7 Emergency Assistance, FootPrint ID, Runway Health and Blue Ribbon Bags
Online claims processing
Cons of Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Per trip duration limit of 45 days
Higher up-front cost than purchasing plans individually
Only available for individual purchase, no family or couple plans
Only available for USA, UK & Irish residents at this time
Comparing Annual and Single-Trip Plans
The cost-effectiveness of annual versus single-trip insurance depends on your habits. You could save money if you travel frequently, both domestically as well as internationally. Let’s say you have a plan to visit Thailand for 3 weeks, Paris for an extended weekend, Mexico and the Bahamas for 1 month, Iceland for 10 days, Spain for 7 days, and Iceland for 10 nights within a 12 months. A 40-year old American would get a quote of $506 for annual travel insurance. It’s not bad for a full year of insurance (just over 42 USD per month). If you bought separate policies for every trip, the total would be around $635 USD. The convenience of buying the plan only once for coverage throughout the year is also worth mentioning. You can still go on additional trips (or even extend them) without having to spend more money with an annual plan. While prices can vary depending on where you are going, how long your trip will be, and what activities you plan to do, in most cases, getting the annual plan is a no brainer. It’s so simple and easy. Both annual plans and single-trip options offer the same benefits. This includes coverage for trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and personal baggage. Remember that limits and exclusions can vary. It’s important to read the details of any plan carefully, no matter which one you choose. Who is World Nomads annual plan for? The World Nomads Annual Plan is ideal for frequent travelers that take multiple trips during the year. Sign up for the plan once a calendar year and go on your way without worrying about it. You’ll receive an email reminding you to purchase a plan. This plan is great for frequent weekend travelers, who don’t want to buy a new plan each time they go away. I think the annual plan is worth it because of how much money and time you can save. The annual plan may not be ideal for digital nomads who travel full-time, as each trip has a 45-day limit. World Nomads covers only unexpected emergencies. If you are a digital nomad who is looking for ongoing medical insurance, you will need to look elsewhere.
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- I have been using World Nomads since over 15 years and I believe these new features are game changers. I am excited to see the direction that the company will take. They are currently only available in the US and UK. These are great perks I’m sure every traveler will appreciate. Travel insurance is not a hassle. World Nomads offers an annual travel insurance plan that provides coverage throughout the year. Get a quote today. Safe travels.
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Click here to find out more!
Travel insurance is part of World Nomads’ travel protection plan, which includes both insurance benefits as well as non-insurance assistance. U.S. travel protection plan are serviced by their partner Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, who administers both customer service and claims for U.S. customers.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. My favorite search engine is Skyscanner because it searches all websites and airlines in the world.
- Book Your Accommodation
- You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Booking.com is the best option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel. It consistently offers the lowest rates for hotels and guesthouses.
- Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free?
- Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Want to travel for free?
- Travel cards let you earn points which can be redeemed for flights and accommodations for no extra cost. Visit my guide on choosing the best card to see my favorite deals and to learn how to get started. Ready to book your trip?
- Check out my resource page to find the best travel companies. Here are all the companies I use to travel. You can’t go far wrong with them. They are top-of-the-line and the best you can get.
