Travel Insurance For Digital Nomads

If you travel the majority of the time, you have different insurance needs than someone who takes an annual, week-long vacation. You will need to find a reputable insurer that covers you while you are outside your home country, and ideally one that allows you to purchase or renew a policy from anywhere. Below are a few providers that offer travel insurance for digital nomads.

SafetyWing offers affordable insurance policies that you can purchase in advance or mid-trip. The company will cover your travels to any country except North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Iran. The cost of a SafetyWing policy is based on your age and whether or not you are traveling in the United States. USA coverage is a policy add-on, and costs typically double.

The default length of coverage is 28 days, but the company offers terms as short as five days and as long as 364 days. A SafetyWing policy auto-renews unless you cancel it. A typical policy for an 18 to 39-year-old digital nomad traveling outside the USA would cost approximately $45, and involve a $250 deductible and $250,000 maximum limit. A SafetyWing nomad policy covers things such as: 

• Medical expenses for unexpected illnesses or injuries;
• Emergency dental procedures;
• Trip interruptions and delays;
• Lost checked luggage or passport
• Evacuation from natural disasters or local political unrest;
• Burial or repatriation of remains

The company does accept people over 70 years of age, and it does not cover pre-existing conditions, mental health disorders, self harm, or damages sustained under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

With SafetyWing, you can travel to multiple countries with one policy, and you will even be covered when you go home for a brief visit. For every 3 months abroad, you will have coverage in your home country for up to 30 days (15 days if you are a US resident).

Downsides to SafetyWing include the fact that a standard policy does not cover theft or damage to electronics (it requires an add-on), and the company only covers a limited number of adventure sports.

World Nomads is another company that allows you to buy or extend your insurance coverage mid-trip. It covers travel to all countries except North Korea, Syria, Iran, Cuba, and Sudan. Travel in the USA is included, but World Nomads does not provide coverage when you visit your home country. A World Nomads policy covers things such as: 

• Trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays
• Emergency medical and dental expenses
• Baggage delay and loss
• Accidental death and dismemberment

The company does not cover pre-existing conditions, routine physicals, self-harm, or accidents occurring while intoxicated.

World Nomads is attractive to remote workers because it provides insurance coverage for electronics such as iPhones, smartphones, iPads, tablets, cameras, lenses, and laptops. 

If you are an adrenaline junkie you will appreciate the fact that World Nomads covers over 150 adventure sports and activities. 

The company has a Standard Plan that usually starts from around $120/month, and a more expensive Explorer Plan. Both cover emergency medical expenses up to $100,000, but the Standard Plan has lower limits (for example, $2,500 on trip cancellation as opposed to the Explorer Plan’s $10,000). Additionally, the Standard Plan covers more traditional sports, whereas the Explorer Plan covers high-risk activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and scuba diving.

Heymondo has travel insurance plans for digital nomads that cover trips longer than 90 days. You can renew a Long Stay policy if necessary, and you can add-on coverage for electronics and adventure sports for an additional fee. Insurance coverage is available to travelers aged 90 days to 49 years old, and covers travel to any country except zones of armed conflict.

For $140 USD, you can get worldwide coverage excluding the USA. The initial fee for worldwide coverage including the USA is $257 USD. You can renew your policy mid-trip for an additional 30, 120, 180, or 240 days.

Heymondo’s Long Stay insurance policy covers the following;

• Emergency medical and dental expenses up to $2,500,000 USD (with a $250 deductible);
• Travel delays and missed connections up to $350 USD;
• Baggage theft, loss, and delays up to $1,200;
• Evacuation from natural disasters up to $1,250 USD;
• Accidental death or disability up to $10,000 USD.

The company does not cover pre-existing conditions, medical tourism, general medical check-ups, burial costs, or damage to motor vehicles.

Travelex Insurance has a Travel Select plan targeting nomads and long-term travelers. The policy covers international trips up to 364 days unless you are traveling to Ukraine, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Belarus, or the Russian Federation. The company also covers domestic travel, as long as it is an overnight trip and your destination is at least 100 miles from your primary residence. Please note, you have to purchase the policy in advance (you can buy it up to 11:59 p.m. on the day before your departure). 

The cost of the policy depends on the cost of your trip.

The Travel Select plan has no deductibles and covers:

• Emergency medical expenses up to $50,000
• Trip cancellation up to $50,000, interruption up to $75,000, and delay up to $2,000
• Baggage delay up to $200 and loss up to $1,000 
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains up to $500,000
• Accidental death and dismemberment up to $25,000.

You can pay extra for additional medical coverage and add-ons such as cancel any time coverage, adventure sports, and car rental collisions. 

Travelex Insurance does not cover medical tourism, intentional acts, or claims arising from intoxication or being under the influence of drugs.

It does provide coverage for pre-existing conditions via a “Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver,” which is available only if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.

Insured Nomads provides medical and travel insurance for remote workers and digital nomads. It has four different plans:

1. World Explorer: coverage for a single trip lasting 7—364 days;
2. World Explorer Multi: coverage for multiple short trips within a single year; 
3. World Explorer Guardian: a comprehensive plan that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, pet insurance, and rental car protection. However, the plan is only available for U.S. residents;
4. World Explorer Hotspot: a medical and travel insurance plan for people traveling to high-risk areas/war zones.

Prices vary based on the plan, but as an example, the company indicates that starting costs for the World Explorer plan for a 32-year-old individual would be $92.70/month. The individual would have a $500 deductible and receive up to $250,000 in medical coverage for 30 days.

Insured Nomads plans include:

• Medical benefits, including 24-hour emergency medical care;
• Emergency dental and eye care;
• Acute onset of a pre-existing condition;
• Local ambulance transport;
• Natural disaster accommodations;
• Evacuation and repatriation;
• Lost luggage;
• Airport lounge access for delayed flights.

Depending on the plan, you can pay extra for add-ons such as adventure sport coverage, car rental insurance, and pet insurance.

Insured Nomads does not cover pre-existing conditions, illegal acts, self-harm, or injuries sustained while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

AIG Travel Guard has travel insurance plans at different price points, as well as a Pack N’ Go option for unplanned trips. The company focuses on Americans; however, it also accepts residents of Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Finland, Thailand, and the UAE. Please note, you cannot buy a plan mid-trip; insurance must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to your departure date.

The costs are based on the value of the trip and the age of the traveler. Typically, the cost of a policy is five to seven percent of the trip cost. AIG Travel Guard’s plans include the following:

1. Essential Plan: budget-friendly travel insurance for business travel and domestic travel. It covers trip cancellation up to $100,000, lost/stolen baggage up to $750, medical expenses up to $15,000, and emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains up to $150,000.
   
2. Preferred Plan: a comprehensive plan for international travelers. It covers trip cancellation up to $150,000, lost/stolen baggage up to $1,000, medical expenses up to $50,000, and emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains up to $500,000. The plan also covers missed connections and trip exchanges.
   
3. Deluxe Plan: a top of the line plan with the highest limits. It covers trip cancellation up to $150,000, lost/stolen baggage up to $2,500, medical expenses up to $100,000, and emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains up to $1,000,000. The plan also covers missed connections, trip exchanges, accidental death or dismemberment that occurs on a flight, security evacuation, and travel inconvenience.
   
4. Pack N’ Go Plan: a plan for last-minute travelers who don’t need trip cancellation coverage. It covers trip interruptions and delays up to $1,000, missed connections up to $500, lost/stolen baggage up to $1,000, medical expenses up to $25,000, and emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains up to $500,000.

AIG Travel Guard add-ons include an adventure sports bundle, wedding bundle, pet bundle, cancel for any reason coverage, and car rental insurance. You can also take advantage of the company’s “Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver” so long as you purchase it within 15 days of your initial trip payment.

The insurance company does not cover acts of war, felonies, being under the influence of drugs or intoxicated above the legal limit, or trips taken against a doctor’s advice.

Genki Explorer is a monthly medical insurance subscription plan designed for digital nomads. You can purchase or cancel a policy anytime/anywhere, and it auto-renews for up to two years. However, if you sign up from abroad, the first 14 days of coverage are restricted to accidents and emergencies. 

Please keep in mind that Genki only offers medical coverage. It does not address travel delays, lost checked baggage, trip interruptions, etc.

You will have medical coverage in any country you travel to. However, ​​coverage in your home country is limited to 6 weeks per 180 days and only covers life-threatening accidents/emergencies. 

Genki’s “worldwide-excluding Canada & USA”  insurance policies start at approximately $42/month for travelers aged 0 to 29, and rates increase based on your age (30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69). The starting fees jump to around $92 if you want long term coverage in the USA. You will be required to pay a per-case deductible of approximately $50.

Genki provides comprehensive medical insurance, with no limits for emergency inpatient and outpatient treatment. It also covers things such as: 

• Repatriation
• Emergency dental expenses
• Initial outpatient treatment of mental illnesses
• Pregnancy and postnatal care
• Medical transport

Genki does not cover pre-existing conditions, consequences of drugs or excessive alcohol consumption, or dangerous activities such as car racing, paragliding, bungee jumping, and diving.

The above are just a few of the companies offering insurance plans for digital nomads, remote workers, and expats. Some others include Allianz Global Assistance, IMG Global, and Visitors Coverage. Be sure to do your own research to find insurance that suits your travel style, medical history, and budget.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our other travel-related tips such as Tips for Traveling with Your Dog.