Oh, the travelers’ dilemma of travel insurance! If you’re here, I’ll assume you already know just how vital it is for your trip. However, travel insurance is still one of those sore topics for many travelers, especially those on a tight budget who wonder if the cost is worth it. (Spoiler: it is!)
In most cases, you won’t need it, and that’s actually the goal! However, even the most careful of travelers can be subject to accidents or unforeseeable events that could leave you stranded in an airport or rushing to the emergency room, so it’s important to be prepared.
I’ve personally had to use travel insurance a few times over the years, a couple of times for food poisoning when I was traveling in Thailand and Borneo, and once to check a scary-looking spider bite that ended up not being dangerous, but it was such a relief to know.
I also met so many travelers who needed their medical insurance after falling off a bike (pretty common in Southeast Asia), eating something nasty, or touching a sea urchin which trust me, isn’t fun!
Your insurance will also cover any travel-related mishaps, from flight delays to lost luggage and even repatriation if needed.
In this article, we’ll be discussing SafetyWing, one of the most popular travel insurances out there, and the one me and my husband have.
➥ We have been clients of SafetyWing since 2019 and have not found a better product that offers such great coverage and, at the same time, is so affordable.
You’re probably considering signing up too. If that’s the case, this post should help you make that decision, as well as understand all the products it offers, what it does and doesn’t cover, and what kind of insurance your trip needs.
But if you want the shortcut, the answer is yes, SafetyWing is one of the best (if not the best) insurance companies, and I highly recommend it.
Table of Contents
An Introduction to SafetyWing & Nomad Insurance
Launched in 2018, SafetyWing is a fully remote Norwegian start-up based in California, designed with digital nomads and budget travelers in mind—though anyone can get coverage.
Safetywing offers basic and comprehensive coverage to travelers with their two Nomad Insurance products: Essential and Complete.
Although you’d think from its name that it’s just aimed at digital nomads, one of the greatest things about SafetyWing is that it covers everyone from vacationers going away for a week, to those on the road full-time, and even expats living abroad.
We’ll go over each product comprehensively, so you know exactly what each of them offers, and which is the perfect fit for you. If you’re in a rush though, this is a quick comparison between the two.
| Feature | Essential | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Travelers and digital nomads | Digital nomads who want full coverage |
| Payment Structure | One-time payment (for a chosen duration) or monthly subscription | Monthly payment (12-month commitment required) |
| Medical Coverage | Up to $250,000 | Up to $1,500,000 |
| Deductible | No deductible | No deductible |
| Trip Cancellation | Not included | Up to $5,000 |
| Electronics Coverage | Can be added as an add-on | Not included |
| Adventure Sports Coverage | Can be added as an add-on | Included |
| Countries Not Covered | USA (coverage can be added as an add-on) | USA, Hong Kong, Singapore (coverage can be added) |
| Routine Check-ups & Specialist Visits | Not included | Included (with limits) |
| Home Country Coverage | Included: 30 days every 3 months (15 for U.S.) | Included (with some exclusions) |
| BUY IT HERE | SUBSCRIBE HERE |
Nomad Insurance Essential Plan
Nomad Insurance Essential plan is the go-to plan for most travelers, including myself. Travel and medical coverage can be purchased for any length of time, from a few days to a monthly subscription.
You can start your policy when you’re already abroad, and use it in over 180 countries, knowing that you’re covered for most emergencies without having to pay a deductible. There used to be a $250 deductible fee on the Essential Plan, but it has recently been removed.
Pricing
There are two different pricing options for the Essential Nomad Insurance: a subscription, or a one-time payment.
The one-time fee will depend on the length of the trip, and it’s usually used by those on a short vacation. If you’re on a longer trip, you can choose the subscription, which renews automatically every 4 weeks (28 days) until you cancel it, or until it reaches 364 days, when you’ll need to manually renew the policy.
The price also increases with age, starting at $56.28 for those aged 10-39 and going up to $196.84 for people aged 60 to 69 (on a four-week basis).
The insurance costs the same no matter where you travel, except in the USA, where it’s considerably more expensive. If you plan on visiting the USA, you’ll have to select the extra coverage and pay the difference.
The policy offers two more add-ons that you can include in your policy: adventure sports, and electronics theft. Each one costs an additional $10 on the base coverage.
All in all, it’s an incredibly affordable insurance, costing an average of $2 per day to grant you peace of mind, and saving you a lot of money should you need it.
What is Covered
Here’s an overview of what’s included in the Essential Nomad Insurance coverage.
- Up to $250,000 in medical treatment and hospitalization.
- Ambulance, intensive care, and nursing services.
- Prescription drugs.
- Physical therapy or chiropractor.
- Emergency dental treatment.
- Motor accidents (if properly licensed and wearing the proper equipment).
- Evacuation to a better hospital, or in case of local unrest.
- Covid 19.
- Up to $100 per day for travel delays.
- Up to $3,000 in lost checked luggage.
- Up to $5,000 for trip interruption.
- Stolen passport or travel visa.
What is NOT Covered
- Pre-existing conditions.
- Mental Health Disorder.
- Pregnancy or childbirth.
- Cancer Treatments.
- Routine check-ups.
- Accidents caused by substance abuse.
- Lost or stolen personal belongings.
- High-risk or professional sports.
- Travel in Cuba, Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Syria.
The insurance doesn’t cover adventure sports or electronics theft, but you can purchase an add-on to include them in your policy.
➤ For more detailed information, you can read here the full policy.
Pros and Cons of the Essential Plan
Pros
- It’s super affordable, which makes it a very good choice for backpackers and budget travelers.
- You can choose a 4-week subscription or specific dates for your trip, so it’s very flexible. Plus, there’s no cap on the duration of your trip as it happens with most standard travel insurance providers.
- You can cancel the subscription anytime. When you reach a full year of coverage (364 days) you’ll have to manually renew it, so you’re always in control.
- You can buy the insurance even when you’re trip has already started.
- SafetyWing offers worldwide coverage, having your back in more than 180 countries for the same price. The only exclusion is the USA, which you can choose to include.
- For every 90 days covered outside of your home country, you’ll be covered up to 30 days in it, or up to 15 days if you’re from the USA.
- It offers optional add-ons to expand the coverage to adventure sports and electronic protection. This allows you to be covered for what you need, but if you don’t have any electronics or plan on doing extreme activities, you can skip them and save money.
- There’s a $0 deductible fee. It used to be $250, but it’s recently been eliminated, partly due to users’ feedback.
- The claims process is very easy and online, so you can do it from literally anywhere in under five minutes.
- 1 child under 10 gets free coverage with an adult, up to 2 children per family.
Cons
- The age limit is 69, so older travelers won’t be able to opt for the insurance.
- The max payout ($250,000) is quite low compared to other companies, some of which offer millions or even unlimited coverage. While it will usually cover most incidents, if you suffer serious injuries or illness in an expensive country like the US, you might reach and even pass the max payout.
- The coverage in certain areas, like electronics or travel cancellations, is pretty limited. Even with the electronics theft add-on, you’ll only be covered for up to $1,000 per item with an annual limit of $3,000, so it’s something to consider if you’re a digital nomad or travel with a lot of gear (laptop, camera, drone, GoPro…)
- It doesn’t replace traditional health insurance, so you won’t be covered for check-ups or treatment related to pre-existing conditions.
- New conditions become pre-existing conditions in future policies, so they won’t be covered when you renew your policy after 364 days.
- If you want to travel to the USA (as a non-US citizen), your policy will become considerably more expensive.
You can easily get a quote here below:
Nomad Insurance Complete Plan
The Nomad Insurance Complete plan is a better option for expats, or travelers who are on the road full-time and want to have access to extensive healthcare on top of travel insurance.
Since the Complete Plan also offers full coverage in your home country (with some exclusions) it could very well replace regular health insurance.
It’s a much more comprehensive plan, with plenty of added benefits but also with a higher cost. Let’s see it in detail!
Pricing
The Complete Plan works only with a subscription, and you need to commit to 12 months. You can pay monthly, or pay the annual fee upfront for a 10% discount.
The fee also increases by age, starting at $150.50 per month for those aged 18-39 and going up to $568.50 per month for people aged 60-64. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on a group policy.
The insurance covers you in over 170 countries for the same cost, except for the USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore, which can be added for an extra fee.
What is Covered
In the Nomad Insurance Complete, everything covered in the Essential plan (above) is included, as well as:
- Routine check-ups and vaccines.
- Mental health support.
- Wellness therapies such as acupuncture, dietitians, and chiropractics.
- Cancer treatment.
- Psychologist or psychiatrist visits.
- Specialist visits (such as dermatology or gynecology).
- Replacement of glasses or contact lenses.
- Maternity care.
- Stolen belongings.
- Canceled accommodation or trip cancelations.
- Delayed luggage and transportation.
- Full coverage in your home country.
What is NOT Covered
- Pre-existing conditions.
- Injuries or accidents caused by substance abuse.
- Travel in Cuba, Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Syria.
- Travel in the USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore unless you buy the add-on.
➤ You can read here the full policy.
Pros and Cons of the Complete Plan
Pros
- Its max payout is $1.5 million, which is a pretty decent amount to cover most emergencies and travel setbacks.
- It offers full coverage in your country of residence.
- It’s a super comprehensive plan that can replace standard health insurance.
- Any new conditions that arise while you’re covered will continue to be covered as long as the plan is renewed (they don’t become ‘‘pre-existing’’ as in the Essential Plan).
- You can request for the insurance to pay the healthcare provider directly.
Cons
- The age limit is 64, so older travelers can’t opt for the Complete Plan.
- You have to pay extra to be covered in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA.
- Pre-approval is required for procedures that cost more than $500.
- Residents of the USA, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Belarus, and the Democratic Republic of Congo aren’t eligible for the Complete Plan. (You can still buy it if you’re a citizen of these countries but live somewhere else).
SafetyWing Claims Process
Submitting a claim with SafetyWing is super easy, and it only takes about 5 minutes. You’ll do everything online from your dashboard, and if needed, you have 24/7 chat assistance to help guide you through it.
Before filing a claim, these are the things you should have handy:
- A medical report (symptoms, diagnosis, treatment).
- Medical invoices with the details of what you paid.
- Other relevant receipts.
- Your bank account information for the refund.
If the claim is for travel-related incidents, you’ll still need the receipts, and proof of the incident (flight delay confirmation, police statement of theft…)
It’s easy to check the status of your claim online. The waiting period used to be quite lengthy, but same as with the deductible fee, they got a lot of feedback from users and made changes, which is one of the most remarkable things about SafetyWing: they actually act on users’ suggestions.
When your claim is reviewed and accepted, you’ll receive a refund on your bank account.
If your claim is denied, you’ll get an email with an explanation. If you disagree, you can appeal within 6 months of the day you received the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SafetyWing Cover Electronics?
Electronics aren’t covered in the insurance policies, but if you choose the Essential Nomad Insurance, you can include protection by purchasing the Electronics Theft add-on, which costs an extra $10 over your base insurance fee.
The Complete Plan doesn’t cover electronics yet, but the add-on will be available soon.
Does SafetyWing Cover Adventure Sports?
The Essential Plan doesn’t cover adventure sports, but you can include them in your policy by purchasing an Adventure Sports add-on.
In the Complete Plan, adventure sports are already included in the coverage.
Does SafetyWing Cover Travel to the USA?
Travel in the USA is only covered if you purchase an add-on on top of your base coverage. If you go without it, you will not be covered in US territory.
Which Countries Are Not Covered by SafetyWing?
The countries not covered by SafetyWing insurance include Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, and Syria.
The Complete Plan also excludes the USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore unless you purchase an add-on, while the Essential Plan excludes the USA (though you can include it for an extra fee).
Do I Have To Pay a Deductible?
As of recently, SafetyWing doesn’t require you to pay a deductible, so the insurance will cover 100% of your costs.
