SafetyWing—is it the best travel insurance for digital nomads?
As a long-time digital nomad (been at it since 2015!), insurance is (or was) a constant worry. I knew I needed something because going without it while trekking on active volcanoes in Guatemala or road-tripping in Mexico or living in Nepal for a year or going on any sort of adventure (even in my own backyard) is just plain risky. Duh! Travel is unpredictable.
Luckily, I was extremely fortunate all those years I traveled uninsured. The risk of having an accident that cost me an arm and a leg or worse—my life—weighed heavy on me.
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The day I realized travel insurance wasn’t about me as much as it is about the people around me that would have to take care of my debt if something major did happen to me abroad because 1) I couldn’t afford to or 2) because I’m no longer breathing in this body, is the day I signed up for SafetyWing and never looked back.
I’ve now been insured by SafetyWing since the summer of 2018!
Also Read: How We Became Full-Time “Slomads”
The $40 per month is affordable enough that going without it just feels like an excuse at this point, lol. I probably spend more on photo editing subscriptions each month than I do life-saving, debt-preventing medical travel insurance. When you put that into perspective… 😬
In this review, I will be sharing all about the who, what, and why behind SafetyWing. Is it the right digital nomad travel insurance for you, too?
Let’s find out…!
SafetyWing Review — Best Medical Travel Insurance for Nomads?
Who Is SafetyWing?
The remote team behind SafetyWing is made up of about thirty-ish digital nomads scattered across the world over three continents. The founders themselves are nomads, and so, they are truly preaching what they practice through their products.
Right now, SafetyWing has three programs to support and provide that “global safety net” for nomads:
- Nomad Insurance (what I use) — Global travel medical insurance for nomads
- Remote Health (Nomads) — Global health insurance for remote workers and nomads
- Remote Health (Teams) — Global health insurance for remote companies
Below, we’ll learn more about Nomad Insurance specifically; who it’s for and what it covers.
Important Note: The Nomad Insurance is a travel medical incident insurance—it covers medical and travel emergencies, but not general doctor visits, check-ups, etc. If you are a full-time nomad, you should consider the Remote Health (Nomads) option as this is the one that offers comprehensive health insurance for nomads living abroad (est. $200/mo).
What SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Offers
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is designed to cover both your immediate medical health needs (i.e. hospitalization, intensive care, COVID-19, etc, but excluding high-risk sports, pre-existing conditions, and cancer treatment) and unforeseen travel mishaps such as flight delays, lost checked luggage, emergency responses, natural disasters, and personal liability—all while outside your home country.*
*Includes 15-day coverage for quick trips back home to the United States or 30 days for anywhere else.
Its coverage is fairly basic—but it covers the “big oh sh*t” moments pretty fully. Do take note of the fact that there’s a $250 deductible for medical needs and $0 for travel interruptions or disasters.
The $250 deductible can be a little annoying to reach before getting reimbursed, but it’s not really that much considering what medical bills could cost out of pocket without insurance. Once, Paul tried to file a claim for a diagnostic test (to get his heart scanned) in Mexico, so, while it wasn’t cheap, it didn’t surpass the $250 deductible and he couldn’t get reimbursed. Just something to keep in mind!
Safetywing Nomad Insurance vs. Remote Health?
As I mentioned before, the cost to be protected against the major sh*tshow accidents only costs $40/4 weeks and renews like a monthly subscription (meaning you can cancel whenever). That’s why Nomad Insurance is the best for just getting the basics taken care of! It’s so affordable and flexible.
In comparison, the Remote Health (Nomads) estimate (when I put my details in) would cost $205/month with a 12-month commitment, and that’s because it’s comprehensive health insurance instead of medical incident insurance. Meaning, your dental fillings, eye exam, and even cancer treatment would be covered under this plan.
Why SafetyWing Is Awesome for Nomads Like Me (& You)
With our ever-increasing world of remote workers, nomads are no longer “one and the same.”
Now, we have nomads who live abroad for longer periods of time, nomads who work for themselves, remote workers who work for a company back home, and entire startups and companies whose team is fully remote.
There’s a lot of us, which creates a lot of different lifestyles and needs!
SafetyWing has a “safety net” for all of us through Nomad Insurance and their Remote Health plans for nomads and/or companies.
My adventures and travels are changing every week and month, and I need an insurance that moves with me! If this is you, too, then don’t wait — sign up to SafetyWing today.
Filing a claim is simple, too. You just need to fill out a claims form and upload it to their WorldTrips’ online portal, along with photos or receipts. If you need assistance, you can quickly reach out to the dedicated email for claims under each insurance plan or get in touch over the phone.
So? In summary, SafetyWing is, in my opinion, one of the best (if not the) best travel insurance for digital nomads on the market because it is transparent in its offer, affordable, and fairly comprehensive in its coverage (on all plans).
If you have any questions about my experience as a SafetyWing user, feel free to reach out in the comments below.
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