Travelling and working around the world as a digital nomad gives you unparalleled freedom and adventure, but it also comes with unique risks and challenges. Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when travelling, so I like to be prepared and get insurance for my all of my adventures. In this guide, I’m focusing on SafetyWing Nomad Insurance to show you what they offer for travel medical insurance and other coverage for digital nomads and long-term travellers.
This article is written in collaboration with SafetyWing
Before I go into more detail about SafetyWing and their digital nomad insurance please note that this article is information based on my personal opinion and experience, and not a recommendation to buy insurance. Before you buy any insurance make sure you read the policy carefully to make sure it provides the cover you need.
Who or What Is SafetyWing?
In the simplest of terms, SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance provider for digital nomads. But in reality, they offer much more than that. SafetyWing are building a global social safety net for remote workers, digital nomads and anyone who spends long periods away from home.
Their long-term mission is to build the first country on the internet offering global health insurance, pensions and disability, as a replacement for national welfare systems.
They currently have three main products:
Nomad Insurance – Travel coverage designed specifically for digital nomads for when you get sick or injured while abroad. You can buy it anytime and anywhere with ongoing coverage.
Nomad Health – Fully-equipped global health insurance in your home country and anywhere you travel, designed for remote workers, digital nomads and their families.
Remote Health – One group policy for remote companies and globally distributed teams that offers a complete health insurance solution in 175+ countries.
In this post I’m going to focus on SafetyWing Nomad Insurance.
Why I Buy Travel Insurance
I never leave for a trip without travel insurance, and I was very glad I had insurance when my laptop and passport were stolen in Ecuador!
When I buy insurance I look for cover for my belongings in case they get stolen, and for health coverage in case I get sick or injured while I’m away.
I also like to have coverage for lost luggage and trip cancellations and make sure I’m covered for activities like scuba diving or horse riding which I often do when I’m travelling.
I have used SafetyWing travel medical insurance for several of my trips abroad, and thankfully I’ve never had to make a claim, but I love how they make it really easy for you to buy and claim when you need to.
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance 2.0
SafetyWing’s travel medical insurance includes coverage for:
Travel medical: Access a qualified global network of hospitals and doctors for unexpected medical problems and accidents. Includes coverage for: Doctors, Hospitals, Emergency medical evacuation.
Travel: Includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response & natural disasters, personal liability.
Get a quote here:
You can check the details of the policy and coverage on the SafetyWing website here.
They also recently made an update to their Nomad Insurance policy, which means that their new fast claims process, as well as new adventure sports and electronic theft add-ons are now available worldwide.
What I love about SafetyWing:
Designed for Nomads
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is designed specifically for digital nomads, so doesn’t have the same restrictions that standard travel insurance policies often have, like a limit on the number of trips you take, or the length of trips.
When comparing insurance, I found that many travel insurance providers in the UK have a maximum trip limit of 30 days (occasionally 90 days) or have strict rules about how long you spend in the UK in order to qualify as a UK resident.
This might vary depending on which country you are from or if you have a home base, but the flexibility of a 100% nomadic policy can be very useful.
It’s Flexible
Oh yes I love flexibility! Their Nomad Insurance works like a subscription, so you buy it for 4 weeks and it automatically extends every 28 days until you pick an end-date. You can restart it at any time and there is no cap on the duration of travel.
It is available to buy in 180 countries and takes 5 minutes to purchase with no pre-approval need. You can do it the same day you fly out, or even if your trip has already begun so if you forgot to get insurance before you left you can buy it when you’re already travelling. You can even purchase on behalf of the whole group traveling with you.
Fast Claims Process (Updated)
SafetyWing’s claims process is now quicker and easier than ever. Now you can start a claim with their new simple form in as little as 5 minutes and get reimbursed on average in 2.8 days. Plus, their customer care team is there to help you anytime wherever you are in the world.
Electronics Theft Add-On (New)
The addition of adventure sports and electronics add-ons is a big bonus – especially the electronic theft as no digital nomad could work without their laptop or phone!
This covers the theft of electronics like laptops, smartphones, tablets, drones and cameras for up to $1000 per stolen item, with a yearly limit of $3000 per policy. For the test quotes I did the add-on cost an additional $10 USD per 4 weeks.
You must have a proof of ownership like a payment receipt, for any items you want cover for, and it is only available for policies that are at least 28 days long.
Bear in mind that it doesn’t include cover for items that get damaged, and like most insurance policies they determine the reimbursement value of your electronic items based on their current value (so what they are worth now, and not what they were worth as new).
Adventure Sports Add-On (New)
While the standard Nomad Insurance policy includes coverage for various sports and activities like horse riding, canoeing, surfing, and many others, the Adventure Sports Add-On extends the list of covered sports to include activities like scuba diving, kite-surfing, parachuting, paragliding, skydiving, and more for up to $100,000. Read full list here
You are still not covered for professional, organized or rewarded sports, or for expeditions, and you are still required to ensure your safety.
It’s Affordable
Coverage starts from just a few dollars per day for nomads aged 10-39 (currently $56.28 USD for 4 weeks) and there is $0 deductible, meaning you’re covered for even the smallest claims.
Reliable Customer Service
Nomad Insurance also includes 24/7 online customer care with great response times (less than a minute!) when you can talk to a real person who is also a nomad!
They have over 55,000 members and great review averages on TrustPilot (4.1/5) and Facebook (and similar scores at other review sites).
Visits to Home Country are Covered
For every 90 days, you can use your medical coverage for up to 30 days in your home country if something happens while there. That’s reduced to 15 days if your home country is the US, and you can’t start in your home country.
Family Friendly
I don’t use this feature personally but up to 2 children under 10 go free with an adult policy, making it great for families on a budget. Any additional children needing insurance will have the regular pricing for ages 10–39.
Any Downsides?
Check the Policy Carefully
As with any insurance policy, make sure you read the policy inclusions and exclusions carefully to make sure you know what is covered and what isn’t. Some things you might expect to be covered like trip cancellation aren’t included in the policy document, so read everything properly.
Cost Increases for Older Age Brackets
The only downside to all of this is that the cost of the insurance increases quite dramatically when you move into a different age bracket, so it’s definitely a better option for younger digital nomads below the age of 40.
The price for 10-39 year olds for 40-49 year olds jumps up from $56.28 USD for 4 weeks to $92.40, and again for 50-59 year olds (currently $145.04 for 4 weeks), and 60-69 year olds ($196.84 for 4 weeks). They don’t offer insurance for anyone over the age of 70.
Naturally, the cost of travel medical insurance will increase with age so once you are 40 years old or above then I would still get a quote from SafetyWing but also look around for other providers. That’s the only reason why I’m not currently using SafetyWing, as I found cheaper cover elsewhere now I’m 41.
I hope this information about SafetyWing Nomad Insurance has helped you decide if SafetyWing is right for you. I chose it for several trips abroad but luckily never had to make a claim – if you’ve made a claim with SafetyWing I’d love to hear how you got on!
Overall I think it’s a great option for digital nomad insurance, especially if you’re under 40.