The life of a digital nomad is one filled with more freedom, where you get to choose your own schedule and dream office. Thinking of sipping cocktails by the beachfront or chugging coffee in a coworking space surrounding the mountains with your laptop? The choice is yours!
But with that kind of freedom comes responsibility. Not only should you be wary about your work-life balance, but you also need to look after your health! Because you will be in a foreign country, it’s imperative to invest in insurance. Traveler’s insurance will cover more than any hospital fees or accidents if any. It can also cover travel-related issues including lost baggage, missed flights, lost passports, and the like.
Thankfully, insurance companies now cater to the rise of remote workers, thus offering insurance specifically made for digital nomads. Take a closer look at what digital nomad travel insurance is, what it must include, and our recommendations for the best ones to invest in!
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What is Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads?
Digital nomads would travel for the long-term, living in different countries throughout the year. As such, they won’t go home regularly and won’t be able to see their local doctor if they fall ill or get into an accident.
Moreover, digital nomads may come across issues while they travel, such as lost checked-in baggage, stolen items, and the like. These are all huge issues that take a lot of your time and money to resolve.
This is where travel insurance for digital nomads comes along. These types of insurance plans offer financial protection for travel and health-related issues. The insurance plan may also cover your trip back home for medical treatments if needed.
This differs from international health insurance, which is focused more on one’s health and medical expenses. This type of insurance ensures that covered people can seek medical treatment in affiliated hospitals and clinics in the world within covered regions. International health insurance allows you to do routine visits to the doctor or to receive treatment in case of illnesses and accidents. You won’t receive extra travel coverage here, compared to travel insurance for digital nomads.
What Should Insurance for Digital Nomads Include?
If you’re new to travel insurance for digital nomads, selecting the best plan will depend on your needs and preferences. In general, you must look for the following:
1. Worldwide Coverage
When looking up insurance providers, you might come across the website asking what country you want the coverage in and if you want to have coverage in specific countries.
You’ll also notice that, when getting a price estimate, the total increases as you add coverage in more specific countries like the USA, Japan, Singapore, etc. That’s because healthcare is expensive in those countries. If you won’t be traveling to any of those places, then purchase a plan that excludes them. But if you’re planning to travel worldwide, a more comprehensive policy will be best.
You’ll also want to consider an international insurance policy that will cover you even when in your home country. That way, you won’t need to purchase a separate policy for your home country.
2. Pre-Existing Conditions
Do you have a pre-existing condition? If that’s the case, you’ll have to be a bit more selective. You’ll find that most travel insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions. That said, there are a few covering acute pre-existing conditions.
Whatever the case may be, make sure you read the fine print and choose a comprehensive insurance policy covering pre-existing conditions if you have one. Note that the more expensive your premium will be because of it.
3. Emergency Medical Insurance
Emergency medical insurance will cover sudden and unforeseen illnesses, accidents, or injuries that happen during the trip and are acute in nature, aka they require immediate treatment. Check the travel insurance plan to see what the insurance covers and its total cost.
4. Emergency Evacuation
This pertains to situations that will require immediate evacuation from the country you are in. Emergency evacuation may be required due to medical or political reasons, terrorism, or natural disasters. One notable and recent example was the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted all travel! You must check what type of emergency evacuations the insurance policy covers.
5. Trip Cancellations and Delays
You have probably experienced the frustration of your flight being delayed or even canceled! This is a normal occurrence, may you be traveling via car, bus, boat, or air. Even then, they become very costly, especially if you missed your flight or experience a sudden cancellation after paying for all your tours and accommodation!
Your travel insurance policy should include some form of coverage in case problems like these arise.
6. Baggage Loss
Besides trip cancellations or delays, you may have even lost your baggage during your flight or when commuting to different areas in the country. While you may be able to get your lost baggage back, this won’t always be the case. Look into the baggage loss or item loss in the travel insurance policy and how much they can cover.
7. Gadget Protection
Some of the most expensive and valuable items that must be covered are your gadgets, like your trusty phone, camera, and laptop! Check if the travel insurance can cover your electronics just in case it gets lost or stolen.
8. Emergency Assistance
If you have to head to the hospital because of a non-life-threatening condition, the hospital may not treat you without a payment guarantee. This is why it’s crucial to have your chosen travel insurance provider on call 24/7 regardless of the time difference.
Many providers advertise that they have a 24/7 emergency hotline, but it’s best to check the reviews to see if they are responsive even during the wee hours of the morning. If not, it’s worth looking into other providers and insurance plans.
9. Fair Pricing
Some travelers opt to skip travel insurance mainly because of the expensive price and complicated terms. However, insurance is an absolute must-have and it will be worth paying a bit more, as you get even more coverage that will pay off in case of emergencies and hefty problems while you’re in a whole other country.
Of course, make sure that you also get an insurance policy with fair pricing based on the coverage it offers, and that it includes everything you need and a bit more.
10. Quick Insurance Claim Process
Unfortunately, many insurance providers have a bad reputation for taking a long time to issue your claims, with some taking up to nine months or more! That’s why you must look into the policy carefully, ensuring you understand it and that you are guaranteed a swift claim process. You can also check client reviews to see if the insurance provider pays in a timely manner or would ghost you despite the multiple follow-ups.
Top 5 Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads500
As you can see, travel insurance for digital nomads is a must if you want to be able to travel to different destinations safely and confidently. We understand that, given the costs of insurance plans, you shouldn’t take this choice lightly. It’s vital to consider your options rather than choose the first insurance plan you see online!
With that said, we share the top travel insurance plans for digital nomads below based on their coverage, costs, and client reviews.
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing Insurance is one of the most popular insurance providers for digital nomads and many exemplary reasons! They offer wide coverage in over 175 countries, so you almost have no limit to where you want to visit. No need to worry about costly medical or travel bills in case of unforeseen situations because SafetyWing offers affordable and high-quality coverage.
However, what you may need to watch out for is the insurance claims process, which previous clients commented on. The processing may take a few weeks or months, so be wary and check out more recent reviews before availing of any of their plans.
Pros:
- Flexible payment scheme
- You can purchase the policy even after the trip began
- Cancel your policy at any time and you’re eligible for a partial refund
- Relatively affordable insurance plans
- Includes coverage for certain high-risk destinations and activities
- Insurance covers one’s home country
Cons:
- No coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Price estimates do not include all fees
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance official website
| SafetyWing Nomad Insurance | Nomad Insurance | Remote Health |
| Maximum Limit | $250,000 ($100,000 for those over 65 years old) | Up to $1,500,000 |
| Medical Expenses | Room and nursing services, intensive care, ambulance, urgent charges, physical therapy and chiropractic care, emergency dental | Hospital treatment and accommodation, reconstructive surgery, cancer treatment, adult companion accommodation |
| Trip Interruption | Up to $5,000 | N/A |
| Trip Delay | Up to $100 a day, maximum of two days | N/A |
| Lost Checked Baggage | Up to $3,000 per certificate period and $500 per item | N/A |
| Lost/Stolen Passport and Visa | N/A | N/A |
| Natural Disasters | Up to $100 a day for five days | N/A |
| Political/Emergency Evacuation | Up to 10,000 for political evacuation and $100,000 for emergency medical evacuation | Up to $100,000 |
| Personal Liability | Up to $25,000 | Up to $50,000 |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | Up to $25,000 | Up to $50,000 |
2. PassportCard
PassportCard Nomads is an interesting insurance company that offers a unique insurance product. They have a user-friendly app and a PassportCard, so you won’t have any hassle dealing with the provider as you try to make a claim or request assistance.
They are known for their flexibility in their plans and relatively low prices on insurance plans. You can avail of both travel and health insurance with the proper coverage for extreme sports.
Pros:
- No out-of-pocket expenses
- Purchase the policy even after the trip began
- Good flexibility and relatively low costs
- Includes coverage for COVID-19, extreme sports, and gear protection
- 24/7 customer service is accessible through WhatsApp, Messenger, and more
- The company has over 20 years of experience
Cons:
- Does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions or travels to the USA
- Insurance only covers those up to 45 years old only
| PassportCard | Starter | Remote |
| Maximum Limit | Up to $500,000 | Up to $1,000,000 |
| Medical Expenses | Included emergency surgery, inpatient care, and emergency dental coverage | Included emergency surgery, inpatient care, emergency dental coverage, maternity and childbirth, outpatient care, routine checkups, and more |
| Trip Interruption | Included | Included |
| Trip Delay | Included | Included |
| Lost Checked Baggage | Included | Included |
| Lost/Stolen Passport and Visa | Included | Included |
| Natural Disasters | Included | Included |
| Political/Emergency Evacuation | Included | Included |
| Personal Liability | Included | Included |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | Included | Included |
3. World Nomads Travel Insurance
If you are an adventurous traveler who loves extreme sports and going all out, then you’ll appreciate the extensive coverage World Nomads Travel Insurance offers. They are a popular travel insurance provider that was established in 2020. While fairly new, they have acquired experience in the industry, ensuring that their clients are covered for their trips.
They don’t only offer comprehensive health insurance but travel coverage as well. This means you will get medical coverage, gear protection, emergency evacuation, and the like.
World Nomads Travel Insurance Official Website
Pros:
- You can easily make a claim online
- Offers affordable plans
- Good coverage for the prices
- Extend your policy easily online
Cons:
- Navigating the online platform may be complicated at first
- No coverage for pre-existing conditions
| World Nomads Travel Insurance | Standard | Explorer |
| Maximum Limit | Up to $100,000 | Up to $100,000 |
| Medical Expenses | Included with the hospital, room and nursing services, ambulance, and emergency dental | Included with the hospital, room and nursing services, ambulance, and emergency dental |
| Trip Interruption | Up to $2,500 | Up to $10,000 |
| Trip Delay | Up to $500 | Up to $3,000 |
| Lost Checked Baggage | Up to $500 per item | Up to $500 per item |
| Lost/Stolen Passport and Visa | Included | Included |
| Natural Disasters | Included | Included |
| Political/Emergency Evacuation | Included | Included |
| Personal Liability | Included | Included |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | Included | Included |
4. Insured Nomads
This is a modern company made for digital nomads and ex-pats, understanding their specific needs. In fact, the company was created by digital nomads themselves, living on five continents prior to founding the company. They offer both travel insurance and health insurance for those living abroad for longer periods.
Insured Nomads Official Website
Pros:
- Provides access to a global network with over a million healthcare providers and 8,000 clinics and hospitals
- Includes coverage for hospitalization and surgery
- Offers telemedicine services
- Instant reimbursement available
- Offers 24/7 crisis response and emergency assistance with real-time alerts
- Offers local emergency transportation
Cons:
- Some coverage restrictions if you have pre-existing conditions
- May not include coverage if you are into extreme sports
- The minimum insurance length is one year
| Insure Nomads | World Explorer Travel Insurance | Preferred Global Health Insurance |
| Maximum Limit | Up to $2,000,000 | Up to €1,000,000 |
| Medical Expenses | Included with emergency medical care, COVID-19, acute onset of a pre-existing condition, emergency dental coverage, outpatient, and telemedicine benefits | Included inpatient care, outpatient care, mental health, maternity, vision care, medicine, transportation, and more |
| Trip Interruption | N/A | N/A |
| Trip Delay | Included | N/A |
| Lost Checked Baggage | Included | N/A |
| Lost/Stolen Passport and Visa | N/A | N/A |
| Natural Disasters | Included | N/A |
| Political/Emergency Evacuation | Included | N/A |
| Personal Liability | Up to $25,000 | N/A |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | Up to $25,000 | N/A |
5. Genki
Genki is a great insurance provider if you are looking for something short- or long-term. They offer excellent flexibility with their monthly subscription, meaning you can purchase and cancel your plan anytime without commitment. Moreover, they offer a higher level of comprehensive medical insurance without a capped expense, including emergency inpatient and outpatient treatment, medicine, dental treatment, transport costs, and more.
Besides that, the insurance provider covers “dangerous” activities and vehicular accidents, which is suitable for adventurous digital nomads. That said, they don’t offer any travel-related coverage, which may be a significant disadvantage.
Pros:
- Backed up by major reputable insurance companies
- Quick and easy signup process
- Quick claim payment times
- Low to no deductible fees available in some plans
- Covers various activities under their travel medical insurance
Cons:
- Doesn’t cover travel-related expenses like delays, lost baggage, or cancellations
- Higher costs for those over 30 years old
| Genki Insurance | Genki World Explorer |
| Maximum Limit | No limit |
| Medical Expenses | Included COVID-19 treatment, hospital visits, medical transport, pregnancy, emergency dental treatment, mental health, medication, and materials, etc. |
| Trip Interruption | N/A |
| Trip Delay | N/A |
| Lost Checked Baggage | N/A |
| Lost/Stolen Passport and Visa | N/A |
| Natural Disasters | N/A |
| Political/Emergency Evacuation | Medical evacuation included |
| Personal Liability | N/A |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | Included |
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to your health and welfare, you should never scrimp and gamble. While you can travel without insurance, you wouldn’t want to take the risk and spend thousands of dollars on medical or travel-related expenses.
We hope that this list of the top five travel insurance for digital nomads helped you out! Now that you know what travel insurance is and what it entails, make sure you conduct proper research and select any of these insurance plans with complete coverage. Safe travels!
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