Is SafetyWing the best travel insurance for digital nomads? (2024) (2024)

Are you looking for the best travel insurance for long-term travel and digital nomads? Let’s take a look at whether or not SafetyWing is the best choice for you.

Heading out on a long journey or becoming location-independent altogether is something many dream about. In this day and age, making a living as a creator while taking advantage of currency exchange rates to improve your quality of life is more achievable than ever.

However, the logistics that come with starting a whole new lifestyle are often the reason why many never follow their dream.

Where should I live? Should I book accommodation in advance? And maybe most importantly; what kind of insurance should I choose? Deciding on an insurance policy for long-term travel comes with a whole set of different considerations compared to short trips.

So to make it a little easier for you I decided to review my top pick, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance 2.0, a subscription-based travel insurance for digital nomads.

Disclosure: I’ve written this SafetyWing Nomad Insurance review to the best of my knowledge and understanding, however, changes to insurance policy terms can happen. Use the information within this article at your own discretion. Before purchasing a policy do your own research and make sure all your personal travel needs will be covered!

Do I need travel insurance?

The short and only answer is YES!

While exploring the world is the most fun and enriching thing you can do in life, accidents do happen. After traveling consistently for 14 years, I have had my fair share of travel mishaps. Luckily nothing major, however, I’m so glad I always had travel insurance to rely on.

My personal experience

• Like when a monkey in Bali scratched me to the bone and stole my brand-new sunglasses.
• When a group of children stole my phone in Kuta, Bali (why was I even there?).
• When I almost drank a mini scorpion in Lombok (that could have gone bad quickly).
• Or when I got really ill in Indonesia (malaria-like symptoms) and had to get home asap.

And while living in Bali and Lombok I saw some horrendous scooter accidents involving tourists, and a surfer who needed 150 stitches on his face after being hit by a surfboard.

So when I was planning my move to Indonesia a few years ago, I knew I needed an extended policy, but struggled to find the right one.

I knew I would be gone for 105 days, however, my current travel insurance didn’t want to give me extra coverage over the standard 70 days. One would think they would be happy to get the extra money but apparently not.

So after days of research, I had to purchase another pro policy and then pay for the extra coverage from them instead. They only offered 90 or 120 days so I had to pay for 15 days I didn’t need. But by then I was happy to pay whatever just to be finished with the whole ordeal.

If I had only known about SafetyWing nomad insurance back then!

What is SafetyWing travel insurance?

SafetyWing’s new and improved travel insurance is called nomad insurance 2.0 (travel+medical) and is designed specifically for those who previously fell through the cracks, the location independent.

And they know what they’re talking about because the people behind SafetyWing are nomads themselves. SafetyWing wants to remove the role of geographical borders as a barrier to equal opportunities andfreedom for everyone.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance positives

Let’s take a look at the best aspects of SafetyWing’s policies and what makes them the ideal travel insurance for long-term travelers and digital nomads. I’ll also cover some limitations later on.

1. It’s affordable

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is one of the cheapest options available on the market at the moment, which makes them a great choice if you’re a backpacker, budget traveler or a digital nomad who is just starting out.

Their prices start at $40 for 4 weeks and that covers people up to the age of 39 who are not traveling in the US. That’s $1.4 a day, people! I’m pretty sure most of us spend more on our daily coffee.

Their deductible is also very low at $250. And the best part is that instead of having to pay a deductible for every claim, you only have to pay the $250 once per year.

If you are traveling with children, one child between 14 days and 10 years old, per adult, is included in the insurance without added cost.

2. Flexible policies

One of the great things about SafetyWing is that their subscription-based policies offer a lot of flexibility. Many long-term travelers and digital nomads don’t necessarily know how long they’ll be gone or where they’re going, so SafetyWing ensures they don’t end up paying more than they have to.

You are charged every 4 weeks and can cancel at any time within that period if you don’t need insurance for the next 4 weeks. At the end of a 364-day period, you will be asked to renew again.

SafetyWing also offers the flexibility of buying a fixed-length policy if you want to and, unlike most other companies, you can buy insurance when you’re already abroad. In addition, there’s no cap on the duration of a trip. Travel for as long as you want without having to worry!

3. Worldwide coverage

SafetyWing is available in 180 countries and as long as you’re not traveling to North Korea, Iran or Cuba, you’re covered. Unlike other travel insurance, you don’t need to declare in advance which countries you’ll be traveling to.

The only decision is whether to include the US or not, as understandably, this increases the price significantly.

There are also some limitations when traveling in countries like Somalia or Iraq, where kidnappings are more likely to happen. However, if you’re traveling there you’ll most likely do your fair share of research beforehand anyway.

4. 15/30 days of home coverage included

One of the challenges of conventional travel insurance policies is that they often don’t provide any coverage when you go home. SafetyWing however, proves it is one of the best insurance options for long-term travel by providing some coverage in the policyholders’ home country.

We all want or have to go back home from time to time right? Whether it’s for a wedding or just because you miss your loved ones.

For every 90 days, you are covered for up to 15 days if your home country is the US or for up to 30 days in the 179 other countries. However, it’s important to remember that you are only covered for incidents that happen when you are back in your home country so you can’t specifically travel back home for treatment and be covered.

5. Most sports and activities covered

SafetyWing includes a huge range of sports, activities and even adventure sports (if you choose the add on) under their policy.

Whether you are planning on going hot air ballooning, taking yoga classes, scuba diving or hiking, SafetyWing covers you as long as you’re not doing it professionally and take the proper safety precautions.

Make sure you check the full list of sports and activities not covered before taking out a policy to ensure there are no surprises.

6. 24/7 support

When purchasing an insurance policy with SafetyWing you can be confident in knowing that they offer 24/7 support for its policyholders through one of the world’s largest insurance companies.

They also have an online database of qualified doctors, specialists and hospitals in addition to a hotline you can call 24/7 if you want to speak to someone directly.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance limitations

As one of the most affordable travel insurances out there at the moment, there are a few limitations I want you to know about before you decide if SafetyWing is right for you.

When it comes to insurance, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So if there’s something you aren’t sure about, ask questions before you purchase any policy. Make sure you have all the information you need!

Here are the limitations I think you should be mindful of:

1. It’s not a conventional travel insurance

Nor a replacement for traditional health insurance. SafetyWingoffers a “travel medical insurance”, which means a number of things one would expect to be included in standard travel insurance aren’t.

While SafetyWing does provide some coverage for trip interruption, lost luggage and travel delays, there are a number of notable exclusions. The most important one is that your electronics are only covered for up to $1000 in case of theft (if you choose the add-on). Definitely, something to think about if you’re a digital nomad who makes your living from your laptop and camera.

You are also not covered if you cancel your trip, which might be a concern for those of you who book flights way in advance to get the best deals.

However, SafetyWing’s affordable prices mean you might still be better off getting let’s say electronics insurance separately through a third party and still pay less when compared to other travel insurance.

I think SafetyWing is working on adding coverage for electronics so hopefully, it will be included in their policy soon.

And just like SafetyWing is not a conventional travel insurance, their current travel medical insurance policy is also not designed to be a replacement for traditional health insurance. This means that, while you are covered if you get sick or injured abroad, you won’t be covered for most pre-existing conditions, routine check-ups or cancer treatments.

2. Low maximum payout

The $250,000 max payout is much lower than the millions or even unlimited coverage many other travel insurances offer. The reason behind this is of course the goal of making their policies affordable so that digital nomads and long-term travelers don’t choose to go without insurance entirely.

While $250,000 should be enough coverage in most cases, if you suffer a very serious injury in an expensive country such as the US, there’s a chance you could reach or even go over the max payout.

3. There is an age limit

Travelers over the age of 69 can’t purchase a policy.

4. US travel costs extra

Prices increase from $40 to $73 for 4 weeks if you’re traveling to the US (this option is only available to non-US citizens). If you have already purchased a plan and then decide you want to go to the US you have to get another plan. You can’t just add it on later. This will reset your deductible back to $250 again.

5. Excluded countries

The only countries not covered by the Nomad Insurance are Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. Cuba is only covered if you are a US citizen traveling with permission from the US government.

How to choose the right travel insurance

With so many travel insurance options available, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here are some important things to consider when selecting travel insurance:

1. Coverage: The first thing to consider is what type of coverage you need. Some policies may only cover medical emergencies, while others may include trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other types of coverage. Make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered before purchasing a policy.
2. Cost: Travel insurance can be expensive, so it’s important to consider your budget. However, don’t let cost be the only factor in your decision. Cheaper policies may not offer as much coverage as more expensive ones.
3. Duration of trip: Some travel insurance policies have a maximum trip length, so make sure the policy you choose covers the entire duration of your trip.
4. Pre-existing conditions: If you have a pre-existing medical condition, make sure the policy covers it. Some policies may exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, while others may require additional fees.
5. Provider reputation: Look for a reputable travel insurance provider with good reviews. Check their customer service and claims process to ensure they are reliable.
6. Additional benefits: Some travel insurance policies offer additional benefits such as 24-hour emergency assistance, concierge services, and travel assistance. Consider if these benefits are important to you.

Conclusion

Whether you want to chase the best waterfalls in Ubud, go paragliding in Bali or rafting in Murcia, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance makes a compelling case for being the best insurance for long-term budget travel!

In my mind, the affordable price and flexible policies outweigh the few limitations I mentioned above. I’m happy to know that when I head out on my next long journey, I won’t have to do extensive research or plan my entire itinerary before I leave ever again!

“If you are a US resident, please be aware that Nomad Insurance 2.0 is currently unavailable. However, we anticipate its availability in the coming months.”

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