RTW Insurance- STA vs World Nomads

First, WN is the generally accepted standard to which other policies are compared. It all depends on what you want covered and whether you are comparing apples to apples. If the coverage you want is included in both then price can become a factor in your decision. But the first criteria should always be coverage.

Second, there are a couple of other factors to consider. One, is it extendable while on the road? Some are and some are not. If there is any possibility you might extend your time away then this becomes a factor. WN is extendable indefinitely while on the road.

Third, claim process. Some require you to claim when you get home. Not a problem when on a 2 week vacation but can be a big problem when you are travelling for an extended period of time. Related is the question of whether they will pay medical claims directly to the doctor/hospital or require you to pay up front and then claim from them. If you get a $10k medical bill halfway through your trip and have to pay it out of your own pocket while you wait for your claim to be processed, it could end your trip.

Regarding, bad reviews about claims, almost invariably those arise as a result of someone not having read the policy and understood it. A typical example is someone claiming a camera was stolen. But they left it lying on the beach under their towel while they went for a swim. Or had a bag stolen that was hanging off the arm of their chair in a restaurant. EVERY policy has a line that says you must exercise 'due care'. Those examples are not 'due care'.

The other usual complaint is about trip cancellation/delay type situations. When the volcano erupted in Iceland and delayed/cancelled all kinds of flights, there were all kinds of complaints that insurance didn't cover it. Well the policy said it wouldn't be covered, so what's to complain about? READ the policy.

Good advice style.....