Cover for Natural Disasters - Lloyd's / Cerberus
When a natural disaster event occurs before or while you are travelling each of our World Nomads policies may respond in a slightly different way. Factors that affect cover include the type of event, the individual circumstances of the insured traveller and the policy wording.
The following information is to be used as a guide only regarding the cover available under each of our policies for a natural disaster event and does not replace the need for you to read the full policy terms and conditions.
Please refer to your policy certificate found in your World Nomads members page at www.worldnomads.com to find out who your underwriter is if you are a policy holder or if you have yet to purchase a policy please note the underwriter when obtaining a quote at www.worldnomads.com.
For policies underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s
All Australians & New Zealanders travelling overseas, whether for tourism or business or for short or long stays, are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade before travel. The registration information provided by you will help the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to find you in an emergency - including natural disaster. Information about risks overseas is contained in the Department’s travel advisories as well as other travel tips to help you better prepare for your overseas trip.
For Australian travellers: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
For New Zealand travellers: http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
If purchasing a policy after you have left home to commence your trip, there is a waiting period of 3 days before the insurance takes effect. In the event of serious injury in connection with an accident, you will be covered from the date cover commenced subject to the accident being witnessed and verified by an independent third party.
You are not covered if you travel against government advice to “do not travel” to an area.
I have not purchased a policy
As travel insurance policies provide cover for unforseen and unforeseeable events, no cover will be available relating to an event that has occurred before you have purchased a policy.
You have purchased a policy before the event has occurred and/or been reported, but you have not started travelling and you are going to the affected area
Firstly, you should contact your travel agent, transport, tour and accommodation providers regarding re-booking, rescheduling or cancellation of your pre-paid travel arrangements.
Lloyd’s policies do not provide cover for cancellation due to a natural disaster as it is not a covered event.
If you still choose to travel to the affected area you will not be covered for any losses you incur relating to the event.
If you are still within your policies cooling off period you may be able to cancel your policy and receive a full refund.
You have purchased a policy before the event has occurred and/or been reported and are already travelling and you are due to travel to the affected area
You should contact your travel agent, transport, tour and accommodation providers regarding re-booking, rescheduling or cancellation of your pre-paid travel arrangements.
Lloyd’s policies do not provide cover for cancellation for a natural disaster as it is not a covered event.
If you still choose to travel to the affected area you will not be covered for any losses you incur relating to the event.
You have purchased a policy before the event has occurred and/or been reported and you are in the affected area
• You should follow the advice of the local authorities as they will have the most immediate and relevant information available.
• Locate your nearest embassy.
• Contact your emergency assistance team, Specialty Assist. The contact details can be found on your policy certificate but these are listed below:
44 (0)20 7902 7405 – underlined is the country code, in brackets is the area code
email: assistance@specialty-group.com
If no exclusions apply, cover is for:
• emergency medical and surgical treatment and hospital charges for injuries or illnesses due to the event (you are not covered for any pre-existing medical conditions and you are not covered for any costs incurred within Australia / New Zealand or after you have returned home).
• additional accommodation (room only) and travelling expenses (economy class) to Australia / New Zealand including those of one relative or friend if you have to be accompanied to Australia / New Zealand on the advice of the attending medical practitioner (you are not covered for further costs you incur if we wish to bring you back to Australia early but you refuse).
• in the event of death, reasonable cost for the return of your body or ashes to Australia / New Zealand or local funeral expenses incurred overseas up to the benefit limit.
• reasonable additional travelling expenses (Economy Class) incurred by you for returning to Australia / New Zealand earlier than planned due to accidental injury, serious illness, death of you, any person with whom you are intending to travel. You must contact the emergency assistance team, Specialty Assist.
• reasonable additional travel or accommodation expenses you have to pay whilst overseas, over and above any payment which you would normally have made during the trip if no loss had been incurred, as a result of you needing to replace a lost or stolen passport/travel documents. A police report is required.
• the value or repair to any of your luggage and personal effects (not hired, loaned or entrusted to you), which is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed (after making proper allowance for wear and tear and depreciation) up to the benefit limits. A police report is required in the event of loss, burglary or theft of the luggage. In the event of a claim for damaged items, proof of the damage must be supplied. Original receipts, valuation reports or other acceptable proof of ownership must supplied to support a claim.
You may extend your policy if you find that your return to Australia / New Zealand has been delayed because the delay is due to a reason for which you can claim under this policy, cover will be extended free of charge subject to our approval. If you are unable to contact us for approval then purchase a new policy to make sure you have cover. A refund of this policy will be considered if the purchase was not deemed necessary, as per the policy terms and conditions.
