Following the ongoing political demonstrations in Thailand, the following information is relevant for World Nomads policy holders travelling to and already in Thailand.
We are aware that this is a stressful time for our members who are directly affected by this event and wish to remind members with travel insurance to refer to your policy wordings for important information regarding cover under your policy.
If you need emergency assistance or are concerned about your travel insurance cover, please go straight to the bottom of this blog for details on how to contact us. We also suggest that you contact your travel providers as soon as possible if you have been affected.
Please read the following advice by scrolling down to your country of residence:
Australian and New Zealand Policy Holders
If you are in Thailand:
- We recommend that extreme caution is used whilst travelling in Thailand and to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings.
- You should consider whether it is essential for you to travel within the city of Bangkok. If violence breaks out you should stay indoors, monitor the media and regularly check Smartraveller (AUS) or Safetravel (NZ) travel advice.
- If the situation changes then you are advised to contact the airline/tour operator to discuss what will happen with regards to continuing your travel plans.
- Australian residents check: Smartraveller or call 1300 555 135 within Australia (local call cost) or +61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia
- New Zealand residents check: Safetravel travel advice OR or call +64 4 439 8000
- You may want to consider contacting family or friends back in the AUS or NZ to keep them informed of your whereabouts.
- There are Embassies situated in Bangkok who may be able to provide you with consular assistance. Their contact details are as follows:
The New Zealand Embassy Bangkok, Thailand
Street Address: M Thai Tower, 14th floor, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Bangkok
Postal Address: PO Box 2719, Bangkok 10500
Telephone: +66 2 254 2530 Facsimile: +66 2 253 9045
Email: nzembbkk@loxinfo.co.th
Website: New Zealand Embassy Thailand [external link]
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200, 1300-1630 hrs
Australian Embassy, Thailand
Address: 37 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 344 6300
Fax: +66 2 344 6593
E-mail address: General enquiries: austembassy.bangkok@dfat.gov.au
Assistance for travelling Australians: consular.bangkok@dfat.gov.au
If you are planning to travel to Thailand:
- Please contact your airline or tour operator before travelling to make sure your flight is still operating.
- If your journey is not essential and you can make alternative arrangements please consider doing so. If you do decide to travel you are advised to regularly review your security arrangements.
- Your policy will cover you whilst in Thailand providing the government travel advice given doesn’t change. At the moment the government advisories are ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ (AUS) and ‘High risk’ (NZ). If this changes to advise against ‘all travel to Thailand’ then your cover may be affected. If this occurs it is likely that airlines will cancel flights, in this event you will need to contact them. NOTE: you must avoid the areas where it is advised to ‘do not travel to’.
- Please check your travel advisory website regularly in order to receive the most up to date information and advice.
- If you have booked a trip and the airlines cancel your flights due to the current situation you will need to contact your tour operator/airline.
Further information for Australian and New Zealand Policy Holders:
- If you have re-scheduled your trip for a later date your existing policy will be transferred /extended to cover the new dates. Please contact us to confirm this
- If you have purchased a single trip policy and your outbound flight is cancelled and you do not travel we will refund your premium. Please contact us to confirm this.
Contact us:
In the event of an
emergency call Specialty Assist on: +44 (0) 20 7902 7405
All other questions, please contact our Customer Service team on 1300
787 375 if in Australia or +61 2 8263 0400 while overseas or email infoAUS@worldnomads.com
or infoNZL@worldnomads.com
British & Irish Policy Holders
Policy holders currently in Thailand:
- We recommend that extreme caution is used whilst travelling in Thailand and to
avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings.
- You should consider whether it is essential for you to travel within the city
of Bangkok. If violence breaks out you should stay indoors, monitor the media
and regularly check Foreign Office travel advice.
- If the situation changes then you are advised to contact the airline/tour
operator to discuss what will happen with regards to continuing your travel
plans.
- You may want to consider contacting family or friends back in the UK to keep
them informed of your whereabouts.
- There is a British Embassy situated in Bangkok who may be able to provide you
with consular assistance. Telephone: +66 (0) 2 305 8333 Consular Information: +66 (0) 02
305 8252
Policy holders planning to travel to Thailand:
- Please contact your airline or tour operator before travelling to make sure
your flight is still operating.
- If your journey is not essential and you can make alternative arrangements
please consider doing so. If you do decide to travel you are advised to regularly
review your security arrangements.
- Your policy will cover you whilst in Thailand providing the advice given by the
FCO doesn’t change. At the moment the FCO advises against ‘all but essential
travel to Thailand’. If this changes to advise against ‘all travel to Thailand’
then your cover may be affected. If this occurs it is likely that airlines will
cancel flights, in this event you will need to contact them.
- Please check the Foreign Office website regularly in order to receive the most
up to date information and advice.
- If you have booked a trip and the airlines cancel your flights due to the
current situation you will need to contact your tour operator/airline. It is
anticipated that airlines will make a full refund of your flight cost or offer
an alternative flight.
- If your trip is a package holiday and your flights are cancelled operators must
refund you the full cost of the holiday or offer an alternative trip. Often if
you have booked on a package trip the tour operator may offer 3 main options:
1. deferring the start date of
your trip
2. transferring to another
holiday of the same or similar value, or
3. a refund of the cost of the
whole holiday.
Further information for British and Irish policy holders:
- If you have re-scheduled your trip for a later date your existing policy will
be transferred /extended to cover the new dates.
- If you have purchased a single trip policy and your outbound flight is cancelled
and you do not travel we will refund your premium.
Up to date information on the travel
disruptions and advice for UK nationals stuck overseas is available on The
Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
Contact us:
For emergency assistance, contact our partner Millstream +44 (0) 845 643 2628 or assistance@specialty-group.com OR assistance@mstream.co.uk
All other questions: +44 (0)845 838 4718
United States of America Policy Holders
As per the general exclusions section of the policy wording,
policies insured with Jefferson or BCS Insurance Company are not covered for
any loss that results directly or indirectly from war (declared or undeclared), acts of war,
military duty, civil disorder or unrest.
Contact us:
For further enquiries, please contact World Nomads Claims USA 1.800.654.1908 (toll free within US) or +1.804.281.5700 (Collect) or email AssistanceGroup@MondialUSA.com
Canadian Policy Holders
The following information concerns applies to travel insurance policies issued on or before April
23rd, 2010:
Canadian policy holders in Thailand:
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is
recommending that travellers “avoid non-essential travel” to certain areas of Bangkok
as a result of recent political demonstrations and civil unrest.
The current travel advisory applies only to non-essential
travel (that is, there are specific security concerns; travellers should
reconsider their need to travel at this time) to certain areas within
central
Bangkok’s commercial district. Your claim would need to include pre-paid
travel
expenses to that specific area in order to be considered. Please consult
the
Canadian government’s travel report for Thailand
to see if your travel destination is within these identified areas.
Policy holders planning to travel to Thailand:
If you have not yet departed, your policy may include
coverage for cancellation of your journey. This benefit only applies when a
travel advisory warning against non-essential travel to your specific
destination has been issued after you book your trip but before you depart.
If necessary, we ask that you please contact our partner, Mondial
Assistance immediately to notify us of your need to cancel your travels. It is
also recommend you contact your travel agent or travel provider regarding the
best option in altering your trip. Some airlines are providing penalty-free
options to amend travel arrangements and we also recommend you contact your
airline for further details.
What next steps should you take?
Consult the travel report for Thailand issued by Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada as it will highlight the most up-to-date
recommendations.
If your travel plans do include the specific areas of
Thailand that Foreign Affairs recommends cancelling travel to, please submit
your travel insurance claim to World Nomads' partner, Mondial Assistance for consideration.
Mondial Assistance will assess your claim under the terms
and conditions of your travel insurance policy.
You will need to submit all receipts for any additional
accommodation and transport expenses. If you are claiming cancellation expenses
you will need to submit all documents showing what your original planned
pre-paid arrangements were, along with any receipts and documents showing your
new arrangements.
Contact us:
If you have questions or queries, please contact our partner, Mondial
Assistance' Information Hotline collect on collect on 1-519-342-4947 or
1-866-759-2892 which is a free call within Canada or the USA.
Policy Holders From All Other Countries
Our
insurance partners at ihi Bupa have evaluated the situation in Thailand according to the advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) and the insurance cover is as
follows:
-
Evacuation cover is not in force because the ministry has not recommended
evacuation, only advice against any unnecessary trip.
-
Medical cover for illness and injury is still valid as normal.
If you are now travelling to Thailand for a
non-essential trip, the evacuation cover does not apply, should this be
recommended by the authorities later.
Contact us
For emergencies, contact ihi BUPA on +45 33 15 33 00 or emergency@ihi.com
For all other questions, please
contact our Customer Service team on 1300 787 375 if in Australia or +61 2 8263
0400 while overseas or email infoRTW@worldnomads.com
Emergency Assistance
For 24/7 assistance contact our Emergency Assistance partners:
Australian & New Zealand Policy Holders - call Specialty Assist on: +44 (0) 20 7902 7405
United States Policy Holders - Contact World
Nomads Claims US: 1.800.654.1908 (toll free within US) +1.804.281.5700 (Collect) AssistanceGroup@MondialUSA.com
United Kingdom & Ireland Policy Holders - Contact Millstream: +44 (0) 845 643 2628 or email assistance@specialty-group.com OR assistance@mstream.co.uk
Canadian Policy Holders - call Mondial
Assistance Information Hotline collect on collect on 1-519-342-4947 or
1-866-759-2892 (free call within Canada or the USA)
All other countries - call iHi Bupa on: +45 33 15 33 00 or emergency@ihi.com
Questions ?
If you have questions about your World Nomads travel insurance policy, please email us using our web form or call our Customer Service team on 1300 787 375 if in Australia or +61 2 8263 0400 while overseas.
