What Is One Way Travel Insurance & How Does It Work? (2024)

Don’t be fooled…

Not all travel insurance companies will cover you on a one-way ticket.

One way travel insurance is a type of coverage designed specifically for travelers who don’t have a return ticket OR fixed return date.

This insurance type caters to long-term travelers like digital nomads, remote workers, backpackers, expats and more. It can cover medical expenses, trip interruptions, baggage, and even personal effects.

SafetyWing is the most popular one way travel insurance provider because of its flexibility, affordability and subscription-like service with no major upfront costs.

We’ve been traveling full-time as digital nomads since 2018 and we’ve needed to rely on one-way travel insurance for protection. We’ve used multiple digital nomad insurance companies over the years because they offer insurance for one-way trips which we do regularly.

Below I’ll explain exactly what one way travel insurance is, what you need to consider before buying and 3x popular companies that provide this coverage.

Key Takeaways

• One way travel insurance caters to long-term or open-ended trips without a fixed return date.
• Tailored one way insurance coverage offers protection against a range of potential issues during your trip that can include medical expenses, trip interruption, baggage and personal effects.
• SafetyWing is a popular choice due to its flexibility, affordability, and subscription-based approach.

What Is One Way Travel Insurance?

One way travel insurance is a type of insurance that is designed specifically for people traveling overseas for a long period of time who don’t have a return ticket or fixed return date.

Unlike regular round-trip coverage, one-way insurance suits those who plan to travel abroad and want to keep their return date flexible. Some one-way travel insurance providers even allow you to buy coverage while already overseas.

Insurance for one-way trips is much more flexible than traditional travel insurance and can even include global coverage with no need to outline every individual country you are visiting.

How Does One Way Travel Insurance Work?

One way travel insurance policies operate similarly to standard travel insurance but there is one big difference…

You don’t need to put in a return date or have a fixed end date to buy the travel insurance.

You choose the start date on your policy and usually have to put the first country you are visiting. After that, you can continue to travel and the insurance policy covers you. There’s no need to constantly update your insurance every time you change countries.

Some insurers may require you to stipulate an end date for your policy or they may have a maximum time of continuous coverage before you need to renew.

The best one way travel insurance providers will even let you extend your policy while overseas.
One way insurance policies are designed to give you maximum flexibility with your travels while still ensuring that you are covered for medical and travel emergencies abroad. You just need to make sure that the policy covers your own needs and covers your trip.

Always read through the full description and policy document before buying insurance!

Pros & Cons Of One Way Travel Insurance

Pros:

• Flexibility: You can buy and renew your coverage as you go, making it perfect for travelers without a set return date.
• Global Coverage: Many one-way travel insurance providers offer worldwide protection, without the need to specify every country you’re going to visit.
• Suitable for Long-term Travel: It’s designed for digital nomads, remote workers, backpackers, and expats who are traveling for extended periods.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Depending on the policy, it can cover a range of emergencies like medical expenses, trip interruption, baggage, personal effects, and more.
• Purchase Anytime: Some insurance companies allow you to buy coverage even if you’re already overseas, offering an added level of convenience.

Cons:

• May Not Cover High-Risk Activities: Some policies may not cover high-risk activities like scuba diving or mountain climbing. You’ll need to check specific policy details.
• Possible Higher Costs: Depending on your destination and how long you’re staying, one-way travel insurance could be more expensive than round-trip coverage.
• Limited Trip Cancellation Benefits: One way travel insurance policies might not offer trip cancellation benefits.

Different Types of One Way Travel Insurance Policies

Not all one way travel insurance policies are the same. There are different types of policies that cover different types of trips.

Below are the three of the most popular types of one way travel insurance.

Long Stay Single-Trip Insurance Policies

Long-stay single-trip one way insurance policies generally require you to set an end date on the policy.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you must return to your home country on that date, but it’s the date the insurance cover expires. It depends on the insurance company you choose. If you want to extend, you’ll have to take out a completely new policy.

Single-trip insurance policies can include trip cancellation protection, whereas other one way policies won’t. They usually also have higher cover max limits.

There are a number of single-trip insurance policies that cover you worldwide so you don’t need to specify exactly which countries you are traveling to. This is what differentiates them from traditional travel insurance policies.

Annual Multi-Trip Insurance Policies

Annual multi-trip insurance policies cover you for multiple trips throughout the year.
But there is usually only a certain amount of time you are allowed per trip.

For example, you could buy an annual travel insurance policy that offers worldwide coverage on all your trips for the next 12 months. But you are only allowed 60 consecutive days out of your home country per trip.

After that, you will need to return to your home country for the insurance days to reset. This kind of one way insurance is ideal for those who take multiple trips throughout the year but still maintain a home base in their home country.

The important thing is to check the duration limits on each trip within your policy.

Subscription-Based Insurance Policies

Subscription-based one way travel insurance policies are the most flexible.

You can simply subscribe to continuous travel insurance coverage and travel to multiple countries with one policy. Every month you get billed the same amount and the policy continues until you cancel it.

Most subscription-based insurance policies can be canceled at any time.

This kind of travel insurance policy works best for people who want to modify their travel plans as needed. You pay the same fee each month and can travel to different countries as you want.

The best part is that you don’t have to pay a large fee upfront. This makes it more affordable as you pay a smaller fee each month.

3x Best One Way Travel Insurance Companies

Looking for a one-way travel insurance provider?

Below are three of the most popular one-way travel insurance companies at the moment. They are flexible and affordable and offer different ranges of coverage depending on your needs.

Just make sure that you review each policy and check to ensure it’s right for you. This is not a recommendation to buy.

1. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing is a popular choice for digital nomads and travelers looking for one way travel insurance.

They offer flexible, subscription-based coverage that you can customize to suit your needs.

How it works: Choose your preferred coverage start date, which is automatically extended every 4 weeks (28 days).

You can cancel your SafetyWing insurance anytime and the policy will expire after the current period of coverage. You’ll be covered in any country worldwide except for countries sanctioned by the UK, US, EU or the UN (i.e. North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran).

SafetyWing is a unique one way travel insurance option. While there are some limitations, it’s flexible, affordable and straightforward.

What’s included:

• Maximum limit – $250,000 with a $250 Deductible
• Medical expenses (Hospital, Room & Nursing Services, Ambulance, Emergency Dental)
• Travel delay – Up To $100/day (max 2 days)
• Lost checked luggage – Up To $500 per item
• Lost or stolen passport & visa
• Natural disasters – (5 nights stay up to $100 per night)
• Political and emergency evacuation
• Personal liability
• Accidental death & dismemberment

SafetyWing Costs:
SafetyWing starts at $45.08 for 4 weeks (28 days) for a person aged 18-39.

Here’s a breakdown of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance costs:

© Original table created by Two Tickets Anywhere.

If you are interested in learning more about SafetyWing Nomad insurance, make sure you check out our full SafetyWing review to learn more.

2. Genki World Explorer

Genki World Explorer is a one way travel insurance plan that also works on a monthly subscription basis.

Where Genki stands out is with its comprehensive medical coverage and affordable monthly premiums.

How it works: Select your travel insurance plan start date and decide whether you want to include coverage in the USA and Canada.

You are then covered wherever you travel with very few exclusions. And you can choose to cancel anytime with no extra cancellation fees.

What makes Genki different is its comprehensive medical cover. They offer no maximum limits on almost all medical emergency benefits that are included in your plan. The deductibles are also low at just €50 ($55 USD) and you can even opt for a €0 deductible if you want!

What’s included:

• Emergency medical treatment everywhere
• Sports injuries (with very few exclusions)
• Hospital visits
• Medical transport
• Repatriation
• Assistance & direct billing
• Emergency dental treatment
• Initial mental issue treatment
• COVID-19
• Medication & materials
• No overall cost limit

Genki Costs:
Genki starts from just €39.30 ($42.90 USD) per month.

The amount you pay will depend on your age, the deductible you choose and whether you want to include the U.S. and Canada. Here’s a breakdown of Genki prices by age:

© Original table created by Two Tickets Anywhere.

Want to learn more about Genki? Check out our complete Genki insurance review to learn more about what they offer.

3. Heymondo Travel Insurance

Heymondo offers customizable one way travel insurance plans that cater to a variety of traveler types.

Their plans are accessible and straightforward depending on the type of one way insurance you need.

How it works: Input your trip details and choose from a range of coverage options to create a personalized plan that meets your specific needs.

Heymondo offers two different insurance plans:

• Annual Multi-trip – Worldwide coverage for all trips you take per year with a 60-day maximum per trip.
• Long Stay – Flexible travel insurance coverage for trips that are going to be 90+ days

The benefit of the 90-day Long-Stay plan is that you can continue to extend it even if you are already abroad!

What’s included:

• Emergency medical overseas
• Emergency dental expenses abroad
• Medical transportation & repatriation home
• Delay in delivery of luggage
• Travel disruption
• Loss/theft of official documentation
• Natural disaster assistance
• Personal liability
• Accidental death or permanent disability

Heymondo Costs:
Heymondo Long Stay insurance starts at €120.06 ($131 USD) for 3 months for a 30-year-old from the United Kingdom. Heymondo Annual insurance starts at €198.22 ($216 USD) per year.

Both types of Heymondo insurance cover different things with different max limits. So make sure you get a personalized quote and read the full insurance policy documents.

What To Consider Before Buying One Way Travel Insurance

Before purchasing one-way travel insurance…

You first need to figure out what benefits are important to you. Digital nomads will require different types of travel insurance compared to expats or backpackers on a gap year.

Here are some essential things to consider:

Duration of coverage: Determine how long you need insurance. One way policies typically offer coverage for up to 12 or 24 months, with some providers offering extensions.

Destination coverage: Make sure the countries you’ll be visiting are covered by the policy. Some insurers exclude specific regions/countries due to high medical costs, safety concerns or sanctions.

Pre-existing medical conditions: If you have pre-existing medical conditions, ensure the policy covers them. Not all travel insurance providers offer coverage for pre-existing conditions and those that do may charge extra.

Activities coverage: Are you planning any adventurous activities (e.g. scuba diving, bungee jumping, etc)? Confirm whether your policy covers these activities or if you need to purchase additional coverage.

Baggage and personal belongings: Check the limits and exclusions for baggage and personal belongings. If you’re traveling with expensive items, you may want a higher coverage limit.

Cancellation and trip interruption: Understand the circ*mstances under which your policy covers trip cancellation and interruption. Most one way and subscription travel insurance policies don’t cover trip cancellation.

Policy excess, deductibles and claim process: Familiarize yourself with the policy excess/deductibles This is the amount you’ll have to pay before your insurance kicks in.

Remember:
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to one way travel insurance. Make sure you do your research and read each insurer’s full policy document before purchasing.

Wrapping It Up

One way travel insurance is a great option for those who don’t have a fixed return date to their home country.

You can get flexible plans that offer global coverage and still include great benefits!

If you are on a budget, it’s worth checking out SafetyWing Nomad Insurance and Genki World Explorer because they both offer insurance on a monthly subscription. Their plans are affordable, flexible and offer good coverage.

If you need a more comprehensive one way travel insurance then it might be worth checking Heymondo Long-Stay and Annual Travel Insurance. These plans have higher claim limits and generally more benefits.

The most important thing is…

Do your own research and choose a travel insurance policy that suits your needs and situation. This way you know you’re getting the right kind of insurance and will have the peace of mind you need as you travel!

Frequently Asked Questions