safety wings travel insurance review

SafetyWing Travel Insurance: A Complete Review (2024)

07/14/2024 by Laura Meyers Leave a Comment

If you’re thinking about using SafetyWing travel insurance as a digital nomad , long-term traveler or simply for your next trip, this post is for you.

One of the most important things to consider is travel insurance. Not only does it provide peace of mind, but it can also save you a lot of money in case something bad happens (although I really hope this won’t ever be the case).

After getting altitude sickness in Peru , being hospitalized due to giardia in Pakistan, having a scooter accident in India , and losing part of one of my teeth in Vietnam , I would never even consider traveling without insurance. You never know what might happen, and the last thing you want to worry about if something bad occurs is the financial side of things.

Now, when you Google “SafetyWing,” the results will show both people saying this is the best digital nomad insurance in the world and those claiming it’s a complete scam (which it’s not). I’ve been using SafetyWing for more than three years now and will share here my experience as well as what it covers, what it doesn’t, and its pros and cons.

So, let’s dive right into it! Here’s an honest (not sponsored!) review of SafetyWing travel insurance .

Table of Contents

What is SafetyWing, and how does it work?

SafetyWing is somewhat different from most travel insurance companies in that it’s fully remote and mainly focuses on providing coverage for digital nomads and long-term travelers. It was created by nomads who know exactly what remote workers need.

This said, you don’t have to be a digital nomad or long-term traveler to use SafetyWing. What makes it so appealing for long-term travelers, however, is its subscription-based policy, which is auto-renewed.

You can pay per month and then easily start, pause, or stop your coverage according to your plans. This means that you will have a lot of flexibility and won’t need to set an end date for your travels.

SafetyWing offers two policies: Nomad Insurance and Nomad Health . While Nomad Insurance is a more basic policy, Nomad Health is global health insurance that provides more coverage and includes your family.

In this review, I will focus on Nomad Insurance, which is the most popular option and the one I’ve been using for over three years.

What’s covered by SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance?

Nomad Insurance offers coverage in over 180 countries and includes the following:

• Emergency medical coverage: up to $250,000 USD
• Emergency dental care: up to $1,000 USD
• Emergency medical evacuation: up to $100,000 USD
• Accidental death and dismemberment: up to $25,000 USD
• Political evacuation: up to $10,000 USD
• Terrorism: up to $50,000 USD
• Trip interruption: up to $5,000 USD
• Lost checked luggage: up to $3,000 USD per certificate period; $500 USD per item (up to $6,000 USD lifetime limit)

Read the full description of what’s covered on the Safety Wing website .

It’s also good to know that the maximum coverage is $250,000 USD for US residents under the age of 65 and 100,000 USD for US residents aged 65-69. Additionally, Safety Wing doesn’t cover people aged 70 or over.

All in all, SafetyWing’s coverage is comprehensive, and it has your back in plenty of cases. It’s reassuring to know that in case something bad happens and you end up in the hospital, you won’t need to worry about money.

What isn’t covered by SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance?

As with all travel insurance policies, some things aren’t covered. You will find the most important ones below:

• Pre-existing conditions
• High-risk adventure sports
• Cancer treatments
• Routine checkups and preventive care
• Non-medically necessary treatments
• Mental health disorders and suicide or attempted suicide
• Sexually transmitted diseases and conditions
• Illnesses or injuries as a result of substance abuse
• Travel to Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, or Ukraine
• Stolen electronics (unless you purchase an add-on)

You can find a full list of what’s not covered in SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance description of coverage .

It’s also important to note that the cost of your claim should be over $250 USD or it won’t be covered (this is why most of my (very cheap) medical expenses in Asia weren’t covered) and that SafetyWing doesn’t cover people older than 70.

Pros and Cons of SafetyWing travel insurance

Now, let’s talk about the pros and cons of SafetyWing insurance. To me, the pros outweigh the cons, but this is different for everyone.

• Affordability: SafetyWing is one of the most cost-efficient travel insurance companies out there. While some others offer more coverage at higher rates, what’s covered by SafetyWing is perfect for me.
• Flexible subscription model: This is ideal for digital nomads and long-term travelers. You don’t need an end date for your travels, and you can easily pause or stop your subscription at any time.
• Wide coverage of medical emergencies: Although not everything is covered, the most important things are, which will give you peace of mind.
• 24/7 human customer support: If you need assistance, you can talk to someone at any time, and you will get an answer right away.
• Ease of use: SafetyWing is very easy to use. The website is straight to the point, and it doesn’t take long to subscribe or file a claim.
• Can be purchased abroad: Contrary to most insurance companies, you can sign up for SafetyWing while you’re already abroad.
• Limits in coverage: SafetyWing doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, routine checkups, and some other less common things .
• Add-ons: If you want to be covered for electronics theft or adventure sports, you will need to purchase add-ons (these cost $10 USD a month each).
• Your claim needs to be for at least $250 USD: Because of this, most of my doctor and hospital visits in Asia weren’t covered ( they were super cheap , though).
• It can take up to 45 business days for a claim to be processed: Because of this, it can take a while before you get reimbursed.
• Age limit: It’s not possible to purchase SafetyWing travel insurance if you’re 70 or over.

SafetyWing Travel Insurance: Pricing

If you’re on a budget , this is an important one, so let’s talk about pricing!

SafetyWing insurance’s rates vary based on how old you are and whether it should include coverage in the United States . There are also two extra options you can pick that can affect the price: insurance against electronics theft ($10 USD per month) and coverage for injuries related to adventure sports ($10 USD per month).

For travel outside of the US, the monthly prices for SafetyWing’s nomad insurance are as follows:

• 10-39 years old: $56.28 USD
• 40-49 years old: $92.40 USD
• 50-59 years old: $145.04 USD
• 60-69 years old: $196.84 USD

This makes SafetyWing one of the more affordable insurance companies out there, though there’s a significant difference depending on your age.

My Experience with SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance

While I was backpacking in Vietnam , a part of one of my teeth fell off, and I had to pay a visit to the dentist. They told me I needed a crown, which is quite a pricey undertaking (I paid about $400 USD).

This was the first time I made a claim with SafetyWing. The process was super easy, and the website was extremely user-friendly. After gathering the documents the dentist gave me, I went to my dashboard on their website, filled out a form, and uploaded the necessary documents, which took about five minutes.

It does take a while for the claim to be processed — up to 45 business days. In my case, it took about six weeks to be approved and for the money to appear in my bank account.

Although I was hospitalized due to giardia (and an overdose of antibiotics, I kid you not) in Pakistan and had an accident with a scooter in India , the medical costs were under $250 USD both times, meaning they weren’t high enough to be covered by SafetyWing.

Apart from its simplicity and ease of use, another thing I love about SafetyWing is the 24/7 customer service. I admit to only using it once, but I got an answer to my question in the chat almost immediately — and it was a human answering, not a robot (I find this so important these days).

Last but not least, as I’ve been traveling full-time and occasionally return to my home country (where I have separate insurance), I love how easy it is to start, pause, or stop my insurance plan — it literally only takes a couple of seconds.

All in all, SafetyWing gives me peace of mind when I’m abroad, as I know I can count on it in case something bad happens.

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review: Final Thoughts

So, to wrap things up, after using SafetyWing for over three years, I’ve had a pretty good experience with it. This is an affordable travel insurance that covers quite a few things, is easy to use, and does what it promises to do.

If you’re the type of traveler who finds affordability and flexibility important, SafetyWing might just be the best travel insurance for you . It’s always better to compare, browse around, and weigh your options, though, so make sure to read our other insurance comparison guides and reviews next:

• World Nomads vs. SafetyWing Travel Insurance
• Faye vs. World Nomads Travel Insurance – I Tried Both
• My Honest Experience with Faye Travel Insurance
• Should You Buy World Nomads Travel Insurance?

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support us at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. We only recommend products we love and use ourselves. Your trust always comes first!

About Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers has been traveling solo since 2017. She's mostly drawn to lesser-known destinations where she loves to adventure and immerse herself in the local culture. In 2022, Laura exchanged her 9 to 5 for a life on the road and she's been traveling across Asia ever since. Apart from writing for Be My Travel Muse, Laura also shares her guides and itineraries on her blog, www.laurewanders.com.

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Reviews 4.1.

1,381 total

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Amazing customer service

I've always had a great experience with the customer service team! They are always incredibly kind, patient, and go above and beyond to help me with my concerns. It’s rare to find such attentive and helpful service these days!

Date of experience : September 20, 2024

Reply from SafetyWing

Hi César 👋 Aww! That's such a heartwarming feedback 🤗 It's great to hear that our customer care team was patient and supportive. Psst, we also love our Customer Care team 😍 Thank you for recommending us!

Truly amazing!

Truly amazing! If only all insurance providers were so helpful, quick to respond, and patient with detailed questions. Would highly recommend SafetyWing to everyone!

Date of experience : September 22, 2024

Hi Patañjali, thank you for the lovely feedback! Our customer care team is open 24/7 to help you with any concerns. Take care and safe travels!

Insurance company that lives up to their word

Firstly, SafetyWing has an excellent user interface that's so intuitive and simple. Secondly, I ruptured my achilles tendon playing paddel tennis and they covered the treatment for my surgery in full without any issues, which is what you would expect from a good insurance company but often doesn't happen. I've been using SafetyWing for several years now as a digital nomad and I've been happy with the experience.

Date of experience : September 17, 2024

Hi Mark 👋 WooHoo!! 🎊 That's such a wonderful and heartwarming feedback there! We're more than happy to accompany you during your journey and that we are there when you need us the most ❤️ Thank you for recommending us and safe travels! ✈️

Best online insurance platform

SafetyWing is the best online insurance platform I've ever used. The claim process is super easy and support staff are always professional with concise answers to all the questions I have. Highly recommended!

Date of experience : September 18, 2024

Hi Navin 👋 Thank you for sharing such a positive experience with us! That's so nice of you to say 🥹 It's great to hear that our customer care team was patient and supportive 😍 Thank you again!

Super easy to use. Clear dashboard. User friendly website. 24/7 chat

Really appreciate the experience with SafetyWing so far. I've been trying to find a nomad insurance like them for a while now and glad i succeed. They are super professional, quick to answer and ultra relevant. You don't have to wait hours waiting in the phone, but usually 2min on the chat to get your answer. Coverage is super appreciated, already had some expenses abroad (Canada/France) and got reimbursed within 48h on my account ! My wife was at the embassy for a visa demand. She needed a special document, and successfully had it after only 5min on the chat. 100% recommand it. Keep it this way.

Date of experience : August 01, 2024

Hi Lucas, We are super delighted to hear about your experience! Our customer care team is the best and they are also open 24/7 to assist our members. Glad you have been reimbursed in a timely manner too. All the best and safe travels!

Awesome service

I'm the Head of People in a Company, and SafetyWing was my decision to add as a benefit for international workers. This is our third year under insurance, and I have only the best to say about the service—they are fast, improving their process all the time and decreasing the time for refunding. Coverage is awesome, and they are willing to meet everyone's needs.

Date of experience : September 13, 2024

Hi Lily, Thank you for your continuous support! This made me smile from ear to ear! 😊 We truly appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear our process improvements have made a difference for everyone. It is good to know that the coverage works for everyone and meets their needs. All the best!

Efficient and Trustful Health Insurance

Really high quality customer support! SafetyWing will respond any of your questions in less than 2 minutes. Their agents answer clearly and accurately. I highly recommend that insurance :)

Date of experience : September 11, 2024

Hey Alex, this is wonderful to hear! And yes, the customer care team does answer fast! Thank you for recommending us! Cheers

SafetyWing is AMAZING!

SafetyWing is AMAZING! I have used SafetyWing for all of my trips outside the U.S. and love their excellent coverage for a great price. Their support and responsiveness are also instant. You can call or email them, and you get an answer in less than a minute—literally. Compared to all other Travel Insurance on the Internet, don't go anywhere else but SafetyWing.

Date of experience : September 03, 2024

Hey Matthew! Thanks for sharing your awesome experience! Our customer care team is 100% human support and open 24/7 so you can be sure somebody is always there to help you with your questions wherever you are. Glad the pricing and coverage with $0 deductible works for you. Safe travels!

Rude support for rejected claims

Only ever made one claim for a stolen passport which was rejected. Support was rude, and condescending and wouldn't answer my questions. One suupport response is below. "One of the conditions for a reimbursement is that you Keep an eye on your things. which is not the case with you." They also refused to answer my question about what is reasonable care.

Date of experience : August 05, 2024

Hi there 👋 We're really sorry to hear this. We've reached out to you via Trustpilot to get more information.

Thieves! My family and I were traveling through Asia when I contracted two bacterial infections. I visited a doctor in Bali, which cost me €60, and SafetyWing reimbursed this amount. However, my pain only worsened, eventually requiring hospitalization in Bangkok, where I had to stay for several days. I paid €12,000 out of my own pocket, and SafetyWing is now refusing to reimburse me simply because the amount is significantly higher than what I paid in Bali—even though I sought treatment for the exact same pain. Do NOT take out insurance with SafetyWing—they are nothing but scammers who will leave you high and dry when you need them most!

Date of experience : July 05, 2024

Easy online service and communication.

Easy online service and I have used Safetywing before for a 3 month trip so happy to take out another policy for my next trip. I feel secure travelling as I opt for the roll on monthly cover, so I dont have to worry. You get prompt updates informing you that you are covered and you can cancel using the app at anytime you finish your travels. It was recommended to me and one of the only companies that offer long term travel insurance that you can also purchase outside of the UK. They also had a great price compared to general comparison sites.

Date of experience : September 01, 2024

Hi Philip 👋 This is such great feedback! Thank you 🤩 We are happy to accompany you during your travel and that you're happy with what we do. Safe travels ✈️

scam I have had such a bad experience…

scam I have had such a bad experience they have denied my claim when I had my laptop and phone stolen. I had theft insurance add on. and have only been met with a claim denial and no explanation and their emails have pages of code after it which tells me they arn't properly review your claim. either way im not the only one wish I read the reddit reviews.

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

Hi Richard 👋 We are sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your recent experience with Nomad Insurance. We can assure you that we are not a scam. There are certain conditions that needs to be met to ensure that it is clearly within the policy terms. Our team have received your appeal and we will be in touch ❤️

Outstanding Service

I had the unfortunate experience of getting a serious case of pneumonia while solo traveling in Turkey. I was extremely sick and terrified to be dealing with this all alone in a foreign place. The friendly team at SafetyWing were quick to respond to any of my questions and guided me through the process as soon as I arrived at the hospital. After only a few days in hospital, they had already approved my claim, taking an immense weight off my shoulders! This meant I could begin to focus on recovery. I would highly recommend SafetyWing to anyone who lives and works remotely as their customer service team is second to none. This is an insurance company who genuinely cares about their customers and I'm so glad I found them!

Date of experience : August 26, 2024

Hi Ann 👋 We cry happy tears reading this! Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming and honest feedback about us. This means a lot to us 🤗 We are happy to be part of your journey. Sending you so much love from here, XOXO ❤️

user friendly

I find the site very "friendly-looking" and simple to read. I got immediate friendly and prompt replies. I find SafetyWing efficient, clear, friendly, user friendly. It was also simple to go through payment procedures and the details on how to proceed in case of an issue, once you have paid and received your insurance card is very clear.

Hi Nadine 👋 Thank you for the great review about us 😍 We're so grateful to be able to support you on your journey! Safe travels ✈️

I would have given a star review if not…

I would have given a star review if not for the outcome. There was a misunderstanding with the claims that I filed and I was not given the payout that I was assured I would be given after the appeal. I made 3 follow ups and finally on the 3rd time I am thankful the team took a closer look at my claims and the final payout was finally sent.

Date of experience : August 24, 2024

Hi Susan 👋 Thank you for sharing your positive experience about our team and that your claim is well processed 😊 Have a wonderful day 🌻

Safetywing has amazing customer…

Safetywing has amazing customer service, fast responses, super support. I had to file a claim on my trip to Mexico and got a response that same day. Got reimbursed for my doctor’s visit within a week. Easy to submit a claim via their App and can go to any doctor you chose. Will use Sateywing again on my next international trip. And have recommended them to several friends already.

Date of experience : July 30, 2024

Hey Ann! Thanks for sharing your positive experience with us. We have indeed simplified our claims process. Glad it made a difference! Our customer care team is also open 24/7 to assist you. Safe travels!

Their insurance makes no sense.

Their insurance makes no sense. My husband and I paid for insurance for a month. I had an insured event — severe pain on the left side of my abdomen. I went to the clinic where I was given a NEW diagnosis, which stated that one of my ovaries is dysfunctional, so my left ovary has taken over its function, which is why I am now experiencing pain. All documents with the diagnosis were provided, but the insurance company made their own conclusion that I have a chronic condition. So, if you suddenly have, for example, a toothache, they will refer to the fact that this pain had been developing for an indefinite amount of time before the insurance was issued, and you would need to provide documents proving that you didn’t have it before… How? Without such a document, they will conclude that this tooth has always been hurting you. 😅 I do not recommend getting insurance with them. My claim # CLM60008587

Date of experience : September 19, 2024

Hi Daria 👋 Thank you for expressing your concern. We can’t share any details on the case you are referring to due to privacy reasons. Having said that, our claims team has reached out to you via email with information about how to submit an appeal. Feel free to reach out to our 24/7 Customer Care team if you need any assistance during the process ❤️

Safetywing is a scam

I've been traveling through Thailand and purchase the safety wing with extra for sports since I was planning to do scuba diving. I got an ear infection and spend around 17000 baht with doctors, medicine, etc When I've tried to claim they declined saying it was a routine medical examination!!! Even though I got an ear infected because of the scuba diving which I was paying extra for that!! This is a scam! I don't recommend it

Date of experience : September 16, 2024

Hi Alex 👋 Thank you for expressing your concern. The team has been in touch with you about the claim and you can always reach out to our 24/7 Customer Care team in our website if you need assistance ❤️

Good experience overall, despite some initial issues processing the payment

After some initial issues processing the payment for a claim it was all sorted. I gather their payment processor cannot process payments to certain banks. However, it was sorted in the end. Thank you.

Date of experience : August 10, 2024

Hi Sage 👋 We're happy to hear everything is sorted in the end 🤗 If you need anything else, feel free to reach out to our wonderful 24/7 Customer Care team ❤️

Straightforward no guessing

Straightforward, no gimmicks, brief policy details all upfront with very little legal smack talk. Chat response to my questions very quick and thorough and pleasant. I bought a 20 day policy for me and my wife both in our 60's for our upcoming European trip.

Date of experience : August 21, 2024

Hi Tim! Thanks for sharing that the policy was easy to understand. Our lovely customer care team is open 24/7 so you can be assured there is a human ready to assist you if you need help. Safe travels!

SafetyWing: A Review of an Upstart Travel Insurance Company

Budget travelers love saving money — myself included. But one of the expenses that we shouldn’t be cheap with is travel insurance .

After over 15 years of traveling the world, I still never leave home without it.

Because I’ve seen firsthand how useful it can be — and how much money it can save.

I’ve lost baggage, had my camera broken, and even needed emergency medical help over the years.

Travel insurance has been there for me each time. Not only has it saved me money but it’s provided me with peace of mind as I explore.

I’ve written extensively over the years about why you need insurance , how to pick the right company , and listed my preferred providers .

Today, I want to talk about my favorite travel insurance company: SafetyWing .

Table of Contents

Who is SafetyWing?

What does safetywing cover, what’s not covered, nomad health: coverage for digital nomads and long-term travelers, making a claim, a note about covid, pros and cons of safetywing, who is safetywing good — and not good for.

In 2018, a new insurance company emerged: SafetyWing . It is a fully remote Norwegian start-up based in California that focuses on coverage for budget travelers and digital nomads (though you don’t have to be either to get coverage). It is run by nomads and expats who know exactly what such travelers need.

SafetyWing offers basic insurance plans (called “Nomad Insurance”) for a fraction of what other companies charge, although they are also less comprehensive. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.

Their standard Nomad Insurance coverage costs just $56.28 USD for 4 weeks (for travelers aged 10-39). That’s one of the lowest prices out there for reliable travel insurance.

Up until 2024, they also charged a $250 USD deductible when you make a claim. This deductible is no longer charged for non-U.S. residents, which makes SafetyWing even more affordable. (Hopefully, they get rid of the deductible for U.S. residents soon!)

Their coverage extends all the way to age 69, however, travelers aged 60-69 should expect to pay upwards of $196 USD per month for coverage.

But is the coverage actually good? What about the customer service?

Today I want to review Safety Wing and talk about when it is — and isn’t — worth using so you can better prepare for your next trip and ensure you have the coverage you need.  

SafetyWing’s standard Nomad Insurance plan is the “Nomad” plan. It’s just $56.28 USD for four weeks of travel (outside the US). That works out to just $1.87 USD per day.

For travelers under age 64, that plan includes the following:

• $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
• $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
• $100,000 USD for medical evacuation ($25,000 USD if the cause of medical evacuation is acute onset of pre-existing condition)
• $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
• $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
• Up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay period requiring an unplanned overnight stay. Subject to a maximum of 2 days.
• $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
• $20,000 USD for repatriation of remains

Be sure to check the description of coverage for any conditions that apply.

SafetyWing covers the basics. Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low end, but unless you’re heading out into the remote wilderness, that should be fine. (If you want higher coverage, get MedJet .)

Moreover, its travel-delay payout is pretty low, but airlines and most travel credit cards provide travel delay assistance too so you might not even need the coverage offered by SafetyWing. Additionally, it doesn’t really cover expensive electronics, which sucks if you have a pricey camera or video gear.

As with most standard travel insurance plans, this one doesn’t include pre-existing conditions or certain adventure sports, so it’s not a good policy if you’re going to do a lot of adventure activities on the road.

(Note: if you’re not a US resident, there are now both electronics and adventure add-ons, adding coverage in both of these areas. Hopefully they add this for US residents soon!)

You can read their description of coverage here.  

Nomad Insurance is primarily geared towards covering medical emergencies and basic travel mishaps (like delays and lost luggage). Here are some things that aren’t covered:

• Alcohol- or drug-related incidents.
• Extreme sports & adventure activities (unless you purchase the adventure sports add-on, which is available for non-US residents)
• Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
• Trip cancellation
• Lost or stolen cash

In 2023, SafetyWing launched Nomad Health . It’s insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers. This new plan offers a mix of the standard emergency coverage that we’ve been discussing above along with “regular” health care coverage, such as routine visits and preventive care.

Nomad Health also offers coverage in 175 countries, includes wellness benefits, mental health care, and the ability for individuals choose their own doctor while traveling.

It’s like the kind of health insurance you’d find in your home country, ensuring that you’re looked after no matter what happens while you’re abroad.

You can learn more and compare the plans here .

If you’re just heading out for a couple weeks or a couple months, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is the option for you. It’s perfect for emergencies, is super affordable, and is designed for budget travelers.

However, if you’re going to be working abroad or traveling for months (or years), then their new Nomad Health plan is the better option. It offers much more coverage while still being affordable (prices start at $133 USD per month). In fact, it’s the plan I wish I had when I started traveling!

You can learn more about Nomad Health in my dedicated review.

SafetyWing makes it easy to file a claim through their online portal. You just upload all the required documents, screenshots, and photos, and wait to hear back. While claims can take up to 45 business days, most are handled in less than a week (as of writing, the average wait time is four days).

If you read the reviews online, most people who had a negative experience either didn’t know about the deductible (SafetyWing has since removed their deductible for non-US residents as of 2024) or hated the length of time it took to get paid. But that’s pretty normal for people to complain about.

On the plus side, as of 2024, SafetyWing’s average time to handle a claim is down to just four days. That’s way faster than most companies!  

SafetyWing does include coverage for COVID-19. As long as the virus was not contracted before your plan starts, then it will be covered (as long as it is medically necessary).

SafetyWing also covers quarantine costs (outside your home country) for up to $50 USD/day for 10 days (provided that you’ve had your plan for at least 28 days).  

Here’s a look that the pros and cons of SafetyWing at a glance to help you decide if it’s the best insurance provider for you and your trip:

SafetyWing is designed as mainly medical coverage. Since SafetyWing is designed for the budget-conscious digital nomad, it doesn’t cover some areas that might be more of a priority for a shorter-term traveler. Here’s a quick chart to help you decide if SafetyWing is right for you:

Travel insurance is something I never leave home without. I know it’s a boring topic to read about and research, but it can literally save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in bills! I never, ever leave home without it. You shouldn’t either.

So, the next time, you’re on the road, consider SafetyWing . To me, they are the best travel insurance company out there for budget travelers.

You can use the booking widget below to get a quote (it’s free):

For a comparison with other travel insurance companies, check out this post that lists my five favorite travel insurance companies , along with their pros and cons.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are mine alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.

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Home » Digital Nomads » SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review 2024: Best Insurance for Digital Nomads

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review 2024: Best Insurance for Digital Nomads

Safetywing review – travel insurance for long-term travellers, best travel insurance for digital nomads & remote workers.

I’ve recently come across a travel insurance product that I’m extremely excited about!

SafetyWing is the first medical travel insurance created specifically by nomads, for nomads . SafetyWing insurance company provides coverage (and peace of mind!) for people from all over the world while they are outside their home country.

And although their travel insurance is aimed at remote workers and digital nomads, it can be used by anyone who is traveling for extended periods of time.

Their plans are comprehensive, easy to understand, and they provide a variety of coverage options – there’s a travel insurance plan that will work for almost everybody!

And yes, they cover COVID-19 related occurrences (which can be difficult to find in other insurance policies).

You’ll find below my detailed SafetyWing travel insurance review, updated for 2022, that focuses on their different travel insurance offerings (Nomad + Remote Health Benefits) , the pros and cons of each, what exactly is covered, and how much they cost.

Quick Links – SAFETY WING TRAVEL INSURANCE:

• WHY IS SAFETYWING THE BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR LONG-TERM TRAVELERS? (QUICK SUMMARY)
• WHAT IS INCLUDED IN SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGE?
• WHERE CAN I TRAVEL WITH SAFETYWING NOMAD INSURANCE?
• WHAT IS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING NOMAD INSURANCE?
• WHAT ARE THE EXEMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS?
• IS COVID-19 COVERED?
• WHEN DOES COVERAGE BEGIN?
• CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS?
• HOW DO I FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
• WHERE CAN I TRAVEL WITH SAFETYWING REMOTE HEALTH INSURANCE?
• WHAT IS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING REMOTE HEALTH INSURANCE?
• IS TRAVEL INSURANCE REALLY NECESSARY?
• IS IT DIFFICULT TO SIGN UP FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE?
• CAN I CANCEL MY INSURANCE POLICY WHEN I WANT TO?
• ARE MY ELECTRONIC DEVICES COVERED?
• IS SAFETYWING NOMAD INSURANCE THE CHEAPEST TRAVEL INSURANCE ON THE MARKET?
• IS SAFETYWING NOMAD INSURANCE THE BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTION FOR DIGITAL NOMADS?
• DO I NEED TO HAVE A POLICE REPORT IF MY ITEMS WERE LOST OR STOLEN?
• DOES SAFETYWING COVER MY SPORT OR ACTIVITY?
• FINAL THOUGHTS ON SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE
• CHECK PRICES FOR SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE HERE

Why is SafetyWing the Best Travel Insurance Options for Long-Term Travelers?

(quick summary).

In my opinion, these are the reasons SafetyWing is the best long-term traveler insurance option:

• No Limit on Duration of Travel – Yup, it’s true! Unlike other travel policies that will only cover you for two or three months maximum, SafetyWing has no limit on the duration of your travel that they will cover! After one full year, you will need to renew your travel insurance policy, but that’s it.
• SafetyWing Insurance Includes COVID-19 Coverage – As long as COVID-19 was not contracted before your coverage began, you’re covered for COVID-19 and quarantine-related expenses. More information on that is below! (This is rare with other travel health insurance companies).
• You Can Travel With a One-Way Ticket – If you travel without a return ticket like we often do, then this could be a good option for you. Unlike most other insurance companies, SafetyWing will cover you even if you don’t have a planned return ticket.
• Provides Some Coverage in Your Home Country – SafetyWing will provide limited coverage when you return to your home country, which is rare in travel insurance providers, as long as the visit is incidental. After being abroad for 90 days, you’ll retain your SafetyWing medical coverage for 30 days in your home country in a 90-day period (15 if your home country is the USA) if you decide to return to your home country and something happens while you are there. (Note that you cannot be traveling to your home country for the purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that happened while abroad)
• Worldwide Coverage is Included – If you’re planning on traveling around and planning as you go, this is perfect for you as SafetyWing provides worldwide coverage almost everywhere!
• Monthly Insurance Payments – You can pay your insurance premiums monthly with SafetyWing! Many of their competitors require upfront payment for the entire length of your trip, so this is a huge bonus for many.
• Purchase Your Insurance Policy While Traveling – If you’re already at your destination, you can purchase SafetyWing travel insurance, no problem. This is really rare with other travel insurance providers who require you to purchase your travel insurance before departing your home country! When we arrived in Mexico, my Canada insurance covered us for two months, then we switched to SafetyWing after that expired with no issues whatsoever.
• Coverage is Instant – Such a huge bonus! Some policies by travel insurance companies begin immediately after purchase, but some require longer to kick in.
• Direct Billing – Yep! Saves so much time.
• Your Adventure Activities Are Included – SafetyWing will cover you for activities that other insurance providers will not, such as riding a motorcycle or scooter, horseback riding, snowboarding or skiing, scuba diving, and bungee jumping. (However, extreme sports are not covered; learn more about exclusions here ).
• SafetyWing Insurance is Affordable – SafetyWing is able to keep their costs low by focusing on just the essentials needed by long-term travelers, such as emergency medical coverage, instead of trip cancellation and other costs that they’re not likely to need with their lifestyles. SafetyWing’s insurance options come at an affordable price – just $42/USD for four weeks of coverage. Compared to World Nomads, which costs about $120 for a standard plan and $210 for an upgraded plan, this is a steal of a deal.
• Simple and Clear Pricing – SafetyWing’s pricing structure is easy to understand, with no complicated quotes required or choosing between various “tiers” of coverage. This is definitely not true of the majority of travel insurance plans!
• No hidden costs – pricing is simply based on your age, and whether you include travel to the USA or not
• FREE Coverage for Your Kids – Coverage for up to two children under 10 years of age per family (one per each adult) is included for free.
• Travel Insurance Designed by Nomads, for Nomads – SafetyWing understands the needs of long-term travelers, remote workers, and digital nomads, and they’re consistently adapting their products to meet those needs.

What is included in SafetyWing Travel Insurance Coverage?

First things first, here is a high-level summary of what is covered by SafetyWing Travel Insurance:

Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses

Emergency accident and sickness coverage is usually the most important coverage of any travel insurance plan. If you become hurt, or sick, or require medical attention, your costs may be covered for these reasons up to $250,000. Some examples would be if you slip in the shower in your accomodation (just happened to a good friend of mine!), get food poisoning while traveling, find yourself in a car accident, etc. The last thing you want is a hefty medical bill. It’s incredibly important to make sure you’re covered for emergency accident and sickness expenses, as proper medical care can be very expensive around the world!

Coverage in Your Home Country

This is pretty rare with travel insurance companies, but SafetyWing even provides you with limited coverage while in your home country! SafetyWing was created by nomads for nomads and understands that these types of travelers will visit their home country once in a while, but that their travel is still not over. (I’m not aware of any other travel insurance providers who offer anything like this). (Note that home country coverage is incidental only. You cannot be traveling to your home country for the purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that happened while abroad. Coverage is only for a 30-day period in your home country in a 90-day period, or 15 days if your home country is the USA).

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

If it’s required for you to be sent home to your home country (or another country) for further or continued medical treatment, and are too sick to travel home normally as a regular passenger, SafetyWing will still cover you. This may be morbid (and often overlooked), but they also cover the repatriation of your dead body back home, which can be very expensive for your family.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

If you are in an accident and lose a limb, or if you tragically arrive at your destination and then die, then SafetyWing will cover you. The loss must occur within 365 days after the accident date that caused the loss.

SafetyWing’s Crisis Response Coverage protects against the rare chance of kidnapping while traveling. You may receive recompense for either your ransom amount or for loss of personal belongings that occur during a kidnapping.

Please note that crisis response does not apply in some countries, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Somalia.

This type of coverage appears to be rare/overlooked with other travel insurance providers as well.

Stolen or Lost Passport

This is one of the most common claims made by travelers! If your passport ends up lost or stolen, SafetyWing will cover you up to $100 to replace it.

Personal Liability

Personal Liability Insurance indemnifies you in the rare event that your own actions cause an injury or financial loss to someone else. This could include a vehicle accident that you were found to be the cause of. Coverage also includes your legal fees, which can often be sky-high!

What are the different types of SafetyWing travel insurance?

Option 1 – safetywing nomad insurance – travel medical:.

Affordable travel medical insurance coverage for people from all over the world while outside their home country. 

Who is Nomad Insurance for? This is a good option for people who are looking for a more simple, cost-effective medical health insurance policy while traveling for extended periods of time out of their home country. It’s the best long term for digital nomads, remote workers, long-term travel insurance for travelers, and anyone else planning to be out of their home country for a month or longer.

If you’re looking for a more inclusive insurance plan that covers extras such as dental care, vision care, health screenings, immunizations etc. then SafetyWing’s Remote Health Benefits Plan might be better suited for you!

Cost: Approx $42/USD per month on their subscription model ($77/USD per month if includes travel to USA)  for ages 18-39 years old. See prices for other age groups here

Deductible: $250 deductible

Maximum Limit: $250 000 max limit

Where can I travel with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance?

You will be covered for travel anywhere in the world outside of your home country, except for the following: Cuba*, Iran, Syria, and North Korea.

* U.S. citizens with permission from the U.S. government may travel to Cuba.

What is covered with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance?

You’ll be covered for unexpected illness or injury, and medical emergencies, including expenses for hospital, doctor, and prescription drugs. If you become ill or injured, you’ll be covered for eligible medical expenses. It also provides emergency travel-related benefits, such as: emergency medical evacuation, bedside visits, travel delays, and lost checked baggage. During a natural disaster, Safety Wing covers a place for you to stay up to $100 a day for 5 days

For a complete list of exclusions and limitations please see this link: Description of Coverage .

What are the exemptions and limitations?

Exclusions for SafetyWing Nomad Insurance include:

• Cancer treatment
• Routine check-ups
• Pre-existing conditions (Limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, but not chronic or congenital conditions)

Is COVID-19 covered?

Yes! SafetyWing’s Nomad travel insurance coverage works the same for COVID-19 related illnesses as any other illness, as long as you do not contract COVID-19 before your coverage start date, and that it does not fall under any other policy exclusion or limitation.

Testing for COVID-19 will only be covered if the test is deemed necessary by a physician. Antibody tests are not covered.

Quarantine is covered outside of your home country for up to $50/day for a maximum of 10 days, as long as you have been covered by Nomad Insurance for a minimum of 28 days and that your quarantine has been mandated by a physician or governmental authority, due to testing positive or you are symptomatic and waiting for test results.

When does coverage begin?

Your coverage begins immediately! As soon as your application is sent in and payment is made, if you’re submitting from outside your home country.

Can I choose my own health care providers?

Yes, as long as the incident happens outside of the USA.

Anywhere else in the world that is covered, you may select the hospital, physician, or other medical care service providers of your choice.

How do I file an insurance claim?

You file a claim simply by filling out a WorldTrips claims form and uploading it with photos or screenshots of receipts to the online portal. You can read about the entire SafetyWing claims process here .

Check SafetyWing NOMAD Insurance Prices Here:

Option 2 – safetywing remote health benefits:.

Fully-equipped global health insurance benefits for remote workers and digital nomads who spend plenty of time abroad. Also includes full coverage in your home country!

Who is Remote Health for? This is an excellent full health insurance benefit plan for remote workers and digital nomads who spend plenty of time abroad.

If you’re looking for a more simple, medical-only insurance plan, then SafetyWing’s Nomad Medical Insurance plan might be better suited for you!

Cost: Approx $206/USD * per month for ages 18-39 years old. The exact price will depend on factors such as your age, your company size (if a company plan), and what add-ons you choose. See prices for other age groups here

*Note: Taxes, location and other factors could affect price. 

Deductible: $0 deductible

Maximum Limit: $1,500,000 USD annual maximum

Where can I travel with SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance?

Coverage is for all countries!*

*excluding USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where you’ll receive limited coverage for trips up to 30 days

What is covered with SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance?

So much is included with the Remote Health plan, such as dental coverage ($1000 USD), vision coverage ($500 US), health screenings and vaccines ($500 US), hospital treatment and accommodation, inpatient surgery, ICU, cancer tests and treatment, reconstructive surgery, renal failure and dialysis, inpatient prescription medication, emergency ground ambulance, organ transplants, surgeries both day and outpatient, rehab, palliative care, and more. For extreme sports, everything is covered without limitations (unless the sport is performed in a professional capacity).

Most of this is covered at 100% as well. (Full details of coverage here.)

For a complete list of exclusions and limitations please see this link: Remote Workers Policy Document.

• Active duty, war & disturbances
• Administrative & non-medical fees
• Aesthetic treatments
• Expenses covered by third parties
• Maternity or newborn complications
• Professional sports
• Routine exams

For a complete list of exclusions and limitations please see this link: Remote Workers Policy Document

The below is taken directly from page 24 of the Remote Health’s Policy as of January 2022. COVID-19 vaccines are also not included. For a current, updated list of exclusions, please see: Remote Workers Policy Document

Your coverage begins immediately, but some products may have a waiting period (such as a 9-month waiting period for Dental, and a 36-month waiting period for HIV-AIDS treatment).

Yes, you can seek treatment at any registered hospital in the world. Direct billing is also possible.

For hospitalizations and pre-planned treatment, payment for services can be pre-arranged directly with the hospital. For smaller unplanned treatments where you are not hospitalized, there is an online claims process. Reimbursement typically is within 15 days. Claims must be submitted within 180 days from the date of treatment for them to be eligible for coverage.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Safety Wing Travel Insurance

Here are the answers to some questions that are frequently asked by digital nomads and remote workers about travel insurance options:

Is travel insurance really necessary?

100%, completely, absolutely, yes. Unless you’re covered by some other provider (such as your credit card or employer), purchasing travel insurance is something I highly, highly recommend and cannot stress enough.

Is it difficult to sign up for SafetyWing Travel Insurance?

Absolutely not! It’s actually incredibly easy. First, you’ll create an account on SafetyWing’s website and choose an email address and password, or use your Facebook account to log in. After that, you’ll enter some details about yourself, such as your home country, your date of birth, and your mailing address.

When you’re ready to activate your insurance policy, you’ll simply choose your start date and specify whether you’ll be traveling to the United States or not. Here, you can also decide to add family members or friends to your travel insurance policy,

You can make your payment via credit card. You will be charged every 4 weeks as part of SafetyWing’s subscription model unless you decide to specify a specific start and end date for traveling and pay for it all upfront.

Can I cancel my insurance policy when I want to?

Yes, it’s also very simple to cancel your travel insurance policy at any time with SafetyWing. It just takes one single click, and you will still remain insured until the last day that you’ve paid for.

Are my electronic devices covered?

SafetyWing does not cover electronic devices. Most remote workers will have dedicated electronic devices insurance to cover their computers, cameras, hard drives, etc. If you have expensive electronic devices, I highly recommend finding comprehensive insurance coverage for them. My devices are insured as business items with my TD Bank insurance, but you will want to do lots of research and find the provider that works best for you and your situaiton.

Is SafetyWing Nomad insurance the cheapest travel Insurance on the market?

From my research so far, SafetyWing’s Nomad plan is indeed by far one of the most affordable long-term travel insurance options on the market today.

Is SafetyWing Insurance the best travel insurance option for digital nomads?

It’s impossible to say which travel insurance provider is the “best” overall, as it comes down to your own individual needs and situation. However, SafetyWing was created by nomads for nomads, so they definitely know what is important for long-term travelers when it comes to their travel insurance needs. Their customer service team is responsive, their plans are comprehensive and easy to understand, and the price point is wonderful.

Do I need to have a police report if my items were lost or stolen?

Yes, like most travel insurance providers, Safety Wing requires you to file an official police report in the instance of lost or stolen items.

Does SafetyWing Travel Insurance cover my sport or activity?

Travel insurance by SafetyWing does cover a wide range of sports and activities. They do not cover organized athletics or sports or activities performed professionally. They do cover for classes that you sign yourself up for at the gym, lessons with a personal trainer, and sporting activities performed with friends who get together regularly, as long as it is not “organized athletics”.

If you’re a professional athlete or instructor, you’re unfortunately not covered while performing your sport. You’ll be able to find other types of insurance to cover you in these instances.

• Biking – includes touring and organized tours
• Bungee jumping
• Bushwalking up to 4,500 meters
• Camel riding/trekking
• Camping under 4,500 meters
• Canyon swing
• Capoeira dancing
• Clay pigeon shooting
• Cycling under 4,500 meters
• Deep-sea fishing
• Dirt boarding
• Dog sledding (not racing or competing)
• Fell running / walking
• Flying as a passenger
• Football (Soccer)
• Glacier walking up to 4,500 meters
• Gymnastics (only as exercise or for fun; not competitive or organized)
• Hiking up to 4,500 meters
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning as a passenger
• Hunting (excluding big game)
• Ice skating (indoor or outdoor)
• Ice climbing up to 4,500 meters
• Jet boating
• Land surfing
• Moped biking except as excluded below
• Motorbiking except as excluded below
• Mountain biking up to 4,500 meters
• Orienteering
• Outdoor endurance except as excluded below
• Paintballing
• Rap jumping
• Rifle range shooting
• Rollerblading
• Roller skating
• Rowing / sculling
• Safari tours
• Sandboarding
• Scuba diving (sub Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus) as long as you are PADI/NAUI/SSI certified, or if you are not certified you are covered for up to 10 meters when accompanied by a certified instructor.
• Sea canoeing
• Sea kayaking
• Skateboarding
• Skiing (only covered for recreational skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
• Sleigh rides
• Snorkelling except as excluded below
• Snow rafting
• Snowboarding (only covered for recreational snowboarding skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
• Soccer (Football)
• Speed boating
• Stand up paddle surfing
• Stilt walking
• Surfing except as excluded below
• Table tennis
• Ten pin bowling
• Trail bike riding
• Trekking up to 4,500 meters
• Tubing on snow
• Ultimate frisbee
• Via ferrata up to 4,500 meters
• Wake skating
• Wakeboarding
• Water skiing
• Weightlifting, cardio and classes at the gym (note that training for or attending a powerlifting competition is excluded.)
• Windsurfing
• Yachting (coastal waters only)
• Yachting (outside coastal waters)
• Yoga (in class or alone)

• All-Terrain Vehicles
• American Football
• Aussie Rules Football
• Aviation (except when traveling solely as a passenger in a commercial aircraft)
• Base Jumping
• Big Game Hunting
• Cave Diving
• Cliff Jumping
• Heli-Skiing
• Heli-gliding
• Hot Air Ballooning as a Pilot
• Kite-Surfing
• Martial Arts
• Motorized Dirt Bikes
• Mountaineering at elevations of 4,500 meters or higher
• Outdoor Endurance Events
• Parachuting
• Parasailing
• Powerlifting (lifting at max weight with the intention of attending a competition)
• Quad Biking
• Racing by any Animal, Motorized Vehicle, or BMX, and Speed Trials and Speedway
• Running with the Bulls
• Skiing off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories) and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
• Snowboarding off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories)and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
• Sky Surfing
• Snow Mobile
• Sub Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus (unless accompanied by a certified instructor at depths less than 10m, or PADI/NAUI/SSI certified)
• Whitewater Rafting

Final Thoughts on SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Life is truly unpredictable. You’ll never know when you end up sick, have an accident, or bad luck simply strikes. When the worst does happen, it’s a terrible feeling to realize you’re not covered and unprepared to pay for the costs required to seek treatment or help – especially costs that could easily have been avoided with the quick, easy and affordable purchase of travel insurance (such as Nomad Insurance or Remote Benefits by SafetyWing).

Purchasing peace of mind with travel insurance is so very important, whether you’re moving to a new country, working remotely as a freelancer, moving around the world as a digital nomad, or simply spending an extended amount of time abroad.

I hope your future travels are fulfilling, and I hope you’ll never see the day when you actually need to make a claim using your travel insurance!

PIN FOR LATER

Disclaimer: This blog post may include affiliate links. At absolutely no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission for any purchase made through these links. Any commissions received are very much appreciated, as they help me to be able to continue posting travel blog content free of charge to my lovely readers. Of course, all recommendations are unbiased, and I will always only recommend products and services that I truly believe in. Thank you for your support!

Do you have questions for me about safetywing travel insurance, travel insurance in general, or have feedback on this blog post please feel free to shoot me a comment below; i would love to hear from you.

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SafetyWing Review: Honest Opinion From a Nomad

If you’re a nomadic traveler hopping from one corner of the globe to another, just like me, then this SafetyWing review is for you!

Life on the road can be exhilarating but unpredictable. That’s where travel insurance like SafetyWing comes to the rescue. In this SafetyWing review, I’ll share why it’s perfect for travelers like us and help you understand why it can be your BFF on the road.

👉 Get SafetyWing travel insurance NOW! Sign Up Here

Table of Contents

SafetyWing Review: What’s SafetyWing Anyway?

Need more coverage, my safetywing review from experience, safetywing costs, safetywing review: pros and cons, the ease of using safetywing, what about the other costs abroad, can “regular” travelers use safetywing, safetywing review: conclusion.

SafetyWing is not your typical travel insurance company; it’s your trusted companion for the adventures of nomadic life. It’s designed with digital nomads and travelers in mind because it offers a unique subscription-based insurance model.

This means you can activate or deactivate coverage as needed, ensuring that you only pay for insurance when you’re on the go. If you can believe it, there wasn’t an insurance company like this for a very long time.

Take it from me, as someone who has been traveling for over a decade! I used to have to know my end date, and if you’re anything like me, you know how laughable that is. An end date to my trip?! What’s that?!

SafetyWing provides coverage that includes medical expenses, hospital stays, and emergency evacuations, giving you the peace of mind to explore the world without worrying about unexpected mishaps.

It’s a flexible, affordable, and tailored insurance solution for those who live life on the road, making it the perfect choice for anyone seeking hassle-free, budget-friendly travel coverage.

SafetyWing Coverage

Let’s talk about what truly matters – the coverage. SafetyWing has your back in a big way. It covers a wide spectrum of situations, from those medical expenses you hope you never need to hospital stays and even emergency evacuations. Let’s take a quick look…

Medical Coverage:

• Hospitalization, Intensive Care, COVID-19
• Emergency Medical Evacuation and Ambulance
• Accidents and Injuries
• Emergency Dental Care
• Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care

Travel-Related Coverage:

• Travel Delay and Interruption
• Lost Luggage
• Political and Natural Disaster Evacuation
• Emergency Medical Evacuation
• Personal Liability
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

Some new features SafetyWing is also offering:

• The processing of claims is now significantly faster, being completed in just 5 days.
• New coverage options: adventure sports coverage and electronic theft protection.
• Overhauled our policy page to enhance interactivity and simplify the language, making it easier for users to understand their coverage details.

Please note that these bullet points provide a summary of the coverage provided by SafetyWing. The specific terms and conditions of coverage may vary, so check the details for a complete understanding of the insurance benefits!

👉 Get SafetyWing NOW! Sign Up Here

SafetyWing also features Nomad Health , which offers everything we’ve been discussing above but also “regular” healthcare for routine visits and preventative care.

So when I say SafetyWing is made for nomads, THIS is what I mean! Imagine having health insurance coverage across 175+ countries around the world at your fingertips!

I’ve been a customer of SafetyWing for about five years.

During the pandemic, SafetyWing came through for me by reimbursing the entire $1,500 flight from Portugal to the US – a real lifesaver!

And in the disastrous summer of travel in 2022, when flights were delayed and canceled left and right, they stepped in and partially covered the cost of a last-minute hotel during a torturous 12-hour delay!

I am super lucky, but despite being covered for years by SafetyWing, these are the only times I really needed them. Nobody ever wants to use their travel insurance, but at least it’s there when you need it, and I definitely needed it both of these times!

Now, let’s talk money. SafetyWing won’t drain your wallet. It’s budget-friendly, and you only pay when you need it. Compare that to traditional travel insurance that can cost you an arm and a leg. The savings are real, and that’s always a good thing.

For less than $50 a month, I rest easier knowing that if I break a leg because I fell through a bridge in Thailand (something that actually happened to me, but I somehow only emerged with a huge bruise on my leg and ego), I’ll be covered. The prices go up a bit if you’re over 40 years old. You can check out more about their pricing here .

— 👉 TOP PICK —

Best Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing has been the easiest and most affordable travel insurance I’ve had. For travelers and nomads!

In the world of travel insurance, there’s no one-size-fits-all. SafetyWing has its share of pros and cons.

• Flexibility: SafetyWing’s subscription model allows you to tailor your coverage to your travel plans, while others don’t allow for spontaneity and long-term travel plans.
• Sign Up Abroad: A huge benefit is they allow you to sign up while you’re abroad already, which most other insurance companies don’t allow.
• No Time Limit: Again another huge benefit for nomads, stay abroad as long as you like!
• Customer Support: Whenever I’ve needed assistance, SafetyWing’s customer support has been responsive and helpful.
• Affordability: It’s a cost-effective option for long-term travelers. You can definitely get a more expensive insurance with more coverage, but in my eyes, this coverage is exactly what I need with a nice price tag to match.
• Pricing: Affordable pricing that is straightforward. There’s a one price fits all for each age group they offer, so there are no other factors that can affect the pricing.
• Coverage Limits: Be aware that there are coverage limits for certain expenses, such as pre-existing conditions. It’s crucial to read the policy details and understand the extent of your coverage.
• Extreme Sports: If you’re into extreme sports, like base jumping or heliskiing, you might not be covered.
• Lost or Stolen Personal Items: You’re not covered if your phone, laptop, or other items get stolen abroad. (Many credit cards cover phone theft which is what I use)
• Deductible: All insurance companies have something like this, but do note you’ll have to pay $250 before your coverage kicks in.

Getting started with SafetyWing is a piece of cake. You sign up online, provide your details, and activate your coverage. Coming home? Log in and turn off your policy. It’s that simple.

What about if you need some quick antibiotics? Or you come down with a cold and need some meds, does SafetyWing cover this?

No, if you have a small cold or need some quick meds, SafetyWing isn’t really going to cover this. These small illnesses can easily be solved by walking into a pharmacy and getting some medicine over the counter. It will probably only cost you a few bucks.

I know many Americans are questioning me right now and maybe can’t fathom not having to go through a doctor’s appointment to get antibiotics or something, but the reality is, that it’s much easier to do abroad!

Unfortunately, we have a crazy system at home, but for the “small stuff,” you can easily walk into a pharmacy and get some antibiotics or even see a doctor if needed for a super affordable price.

Trust me, after 12 years, my worst doctor bill was $90 in Indonesia when I was on my deathbed from food poisoning. I was seen by a doctor within 15 minutes as a random walk-in, given an IV, and meds on-site, along with two weeks of medication for a cool $90. I’m sure it was the “foreigner price,” but I don’t need to tell you, as an American, that’s a great deal in my book!

PS – If you’re curious, you might want to read my article on how traveling is cheaper than the US . I talk more about this and about how much I paid for things abroad including how I even got LASEK done abroad.

So, do I need to be a nomad to use SafetyWing? Nope, anyone can use it! While it’s perfect for nomads, it’s also great for your average traveler who is just going abroad for a few weeks.

Simply put in your start and end date, and you’re charged based on the amount of time you’re abroad using a prorated rate so you can benefit from the ease and cheap price of SafetyWing.

In the grand scheme of travel insurance, SafetyWing is a clear winner. From its flexible subscription model to its comprehensive coverage, it’s the perfect travel companion. Trust me; I’ve been there, and while it’s a bit annoying to pay “just in case,” when the moment comes that you need it, you’ll have it and be thankful!

Want the opinions of others aside from me? I get it, no offense taken. Here’s TrustPilot’s opinion of hundreds of others. Not too shabby at a 4.2/5.

Most complaints are regarding time to answer claims and communication, but overall, most people are happy with them, including me.

I hope this helped you decide if SafetyWing is right for you!

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Nina Ragusa is an adventurer, messy bun master, breakfast fan, and full-time travel blogger. She's been abroad since 2011 and blogging on Where in the World is Nina? for nearly as long. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. She loves talking about how to work abroad and online to travel longer! Read more about Nina

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SafetyWing Review: Medical & Travel Insurance for Long-Term Travelers

If you’re a digital nomad fortunate enough to be working in the ‘Gig Economy’, then it’s likely that you have the opportunity to blend your working endeavors alongside frequent travel. If this sounds like you, and you find yourself moving from country-to-country, then it’s crucial that you plan for the unexpected.

By this, we mean arranging a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan that will protect you in the event that you require medical assistance. Failure to do so could result in significantly high medical bills – something that, depending on the severity of the issue, you might not be able to cover.

With that being said, the likes of SafetyWing tailor its travel medical insurance package to those that live the nomad lifestyle . With a headline pricing structure of $68/4 weeks for travels within the US, and $37/4 weeks for everywhere else, we sought to explore whether or not SafetyWing is a notable option for your travel medical insurance needs.

As such, if you’re thinking about using SafetyWing, be sure to read our comprehensive review. Within it, we cover everything from fees, what you are covered for, who is suitable, and more.

Visit SafetyWing

Coronavirus Update:

Table of Contents

As of August 1st, Nomad Insurance covers Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)! Coverage works the same as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date, and does not fall under any other policy exclusion or limitation.

Testing for COVID-19 will only be covered if deemed medically necessary by a physician. The antibody test is not covered, as it is not medically necessary.

What is SafetyWing?

In its most basic form, SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance provider that is suited for those living the digital nomad lifestyle. With the provider recognizing that freelancers based in locations other than their home country will often fail to obtain the required medical insurance, SafetyWing targets its coverage specifically to this niche area.

Take note, you don’t need to be a freelance worker per-say to consider obtaining cover from SafetyWing, as the provider is still suitable if you’re simply living abroad.

Nevertheless, on top of offering medical insurance, SafetyWing also covers a number of other travel-related events. This covers unfortunate events such as long travel delays, lost luggage, evacuation requirements linked to political unrest or terrorism, and more.

As we will discuss in more detail further down, SafetyWing has grown in popularity since its inception in 2017 due to its super-competitive pricing structure. When you first head over to the provider’s website, you’ll instantly be presented with its proprietary offer of $37/4 weeks, or $68/weeks if your travel plans includes the US.

Ultimately, the overarching selling point from the team at SafetyWing is to provide its customers with travel medical insurance that is reliable, flexible, and perhaps most importantly – affordable.

So now that you have an overview of what SafetyWing is, in the next section of our review we are going to explore what the provider covers in more detail.

Get a Quote from Safetywing

You can use our widget to get a direct quote from Safetywing for your required insurance.

What Does SafetyWing Cover?

SafetyWing offers ‘Travel Medical Insurance’ , meaning that it provides both medical cover and travel cover. In order to understand how the two differ, we have broken down the most pertinent points below.

Medical Cover

In a nutshell, SafetyWing will cover you in the event that you fall sick, or are involved in an accident, when you are outside of your home nation. This will include the costs related to hospital visits, such as nursing services and the room/bed itself, as well as intensive care.

Moreover, SafetyWing will also cover the costs if you are charged for utilizing an ambulance in your respective location, albeit, the provider does state that this needs to be “Usual, reasonable and customary charges when covered illness or injury results in hospitalization.”

If you require care from a chiropractic specialist or a physician, SafetyWing will cover you up to the first $50 per day. Furthermore, if you are required to seek emergency dental care, your SafetyWing plan should cover you up to the first $1,000.

In terms of notable exclusions, you won’t be covered if you engage in high-risk sporting activities. This would include the likes of freestyle skiing, advanced hiking, or street lugeing. It is also important to note that you won’t be covered on any pre-existing injuries or conditions, which is industry standard anyway. Finally, cancer treatment will not be covered by SafetyWing.

Travel Cover

On top of covering sickness and injury-related expenses, SafetyWing also offers comprehensive coverage on a range of travel-related costs. First and foremost, if you experience a travel delay that exceeds 12-hours – and you require an unplanned overnight stay, then your SafetyWing insurance will cover you up to $100 per day. Take note, this can only be claimed for a maximum of two days, which is reasonable.

If you are unable to leave your current location due to a natural disaster and thus – require a new place to stay, then you can claim up to $100 per – for a maximum of 5 days. On the other hand, you will be accustomed to higher limits if you are required to leave your current location due to a political evacuation, which amounts to a lifetime limit of $10,000.

When it comes to lost luggage that was checked-in with your respective airline, the SafetyWing plan offers up to $3,000 per certificate period. This amounts to a maximum of $500 per lost item, with consumers restricted to a lifetime limit of $6,000. However, the lifetime limit is per person meaning that if you are covered on a family or group basis, the lifetime limit extends to $250,000.

In terms of the fundamentals, you will not be able to claim electronic items, which includes cameras, laptops, and phones. This is somewhat frustrating, as it is likely that these items, in particular, will yield the greatest loss of value.

If you are ever in the need to claim for personal liability, then the maximum limits will depend on the specific circumstances. For example, while related-third-person property claims are capped at $2,500 – third-person property and third-party injury claims will yield a maximum limit of $25,000. Moreover, when it comes to accidental death or a loss of two limbs, SafetyWing covers up to $50,000. A loss of one limb comes with a limit of $25,000.

How Much Does SafetyWing Cost? Is it Worth the Money?

Although we have already presented the SafetyWing headline offer that is displayed across its homepage, it is important to note that the specific cost can vary depending on your age group.

As such, let’s breakdown the fundamentals in more detail. To clarify, the below prices are based on 4 weeks, which amounts to 28 full days of cover.

All Travel is Outside of the US

• Aged between 10-39: $36.96/4 weeks
• Aged between 40-49: $59.92/4 weeks
• Aged between 50-59: $94.08/4 weeks
• Aged between 60-69: $127.68/4 weeks

 Travel includes the US

• Aged between 10-39: $67.76/4 weeks
• Aged between 40-49: $111.44/4 weeks
• Aged between 50-59: $183.68/4 weeks
• Aged between 60-69: $250.60/4 weeks

As you will see from the above figures, there is quite a premium if you are planning to travel to the US. The overarching reason for this is that medical care in the US is typically much higher than the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, the good news is that irrespective of where you are traveling, those aged 10 years old or below will be covered at no extra cost. This will only be the case if the respective child is traveling with an adult, or with a group.

Take note, you can only benefit from the $0 under-10 offer up to a maximum of two children. As such, if you require cover for three or more children under the age of 10, each subsequent child will revert to the regular price for 10-39 year old’s. Finally – it is important to note that children aged under 15 days will not be covered by SafetyWing.

In terms of the plan itself, SafetyWing will automatically renew the 28-day coverage until you cancel it. This is actually beneficial if you are based abroad or you are traveling overseas for a long period of time.

This auto-renewal option takes away the risk of forgetting to extend or renew your policy and accidentally finding yourself without coverage, which can be an issue with other travel insurances

Specific Travel Dates

If you don’t want to take out the 28-day recurring plan with SafetyWing, the provider also offers a tailor-made package that covers specific travel dates. For example, if you were looking to travel to South East Asia for 13 days, there would be no point in taking out the full 28-day plan.

If you do opt for this route, then you can take a plan out from just 5 days, up to a maximum of 364 days.

Does SafetyWing Have any Country Restrictions?

First and foremost, if you get sick or injured in your home country, it is important to clarify that you will only be able to claim on your SafetyWing coverage plan if the accident happened ‘incidentally’.

For example, if you were to pick up a serious injury while traveling and then came home with the specific purpose of receiving treatment domestically, you would not be able to claim your costs back from SafetyWing.

On the contrary, if you were traveling home to visit, and you became sick or encountered an accident, then this might be covered. However, you will only be covered in your home country for 30 days every 90 days of insurance cover – or 15 days for every 90 days of insurance cover if your home country is the US.

Nevertheless, you can travel with SafetyWing insurance anywhere in the world apart from Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. We should also note that kidnapping-related cover cannot be claimed if the incident started in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, or Venezuela.

How Does the Medical Claim Process Work?

The claim process at SafetyWing works largely the same way as any other insurance provider. With that being said, here’s a quick breakdown of the key points that you need to be aware of.

Step 1: Is it an Emergency?

Firstly, if your sickness or injury is of a serious nature, you should proceed to call the emergency services as per the country you are based in.

If it is not a serious injury and thus – you are able to walk into your nearest medical center or hospital, then you should log into your SafetyWing account and use the “Find a Hospital” option.

The provider has a global network of hospitals, doctors, and even medical specialists (such as physicians) within its database. As such, simply enter your exact location and the SafetyWing system will point you in the direction of the nearest center.

If for some reason the system is unable to locate a suitable hospital or doctor, you should proceed to use the nearest center that you can find. Failing that, you can contact SafetyWing directly via their telephone hotline.

Step 2: Show Your SafetyWing Card

When you arrive at the hospital or medical center, you should present your SafetyWing card at the earliest possible opportunity. While it is unlikely that the medical provider will have heard of SafetyWing, it will at the very least indicate that you have the required medical travel insurance in place to pay for your treatment.

This is a further reminder that you should always carry your SafetyWing card with you. Always prepare for the unexpected!

Step 3: Ask the Medical Provider About Payment

In some cases you can inquire whether or not the medical provider is able to take up payment with SafetyWing directly. This will depend on a range of factors, such as the respective country, whether you are at a hospital or medical center, and the type of treatment you have undergone.

In an ideal world, the provider will take the claim up directly with SafetyWing, meaning that you won’t be required to pay for it out of your own pocket. You can find doctors with direct payment in their database when you look for “direct bill”, only then it is possible. Alternatively, if you are required to pay for the bill yourself before leaving, you will have no option but to do this.

Step 4: Submitting the Claim to SafetyWing

If you have paid for the treatment yourself, you will then need to file a claim directly with SafetyWing. You can send an email directly to the claim team at [email protected], which needs to outline details of the treatment, alongside screenshots of the itemized bill, as well as any payment receipts.

Ease of Use

Customer support.

• Excellent Pricing
• Unlimited Travel
• Home Country Coverage
• Subscription Model
• No Trip Cancellation Coverage

Kane holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Finance, a Master's Degree in Financial Investigation and he is currently engaged in a Doctorate - researching financial crime in the virtual economy. With a keen passion for research, he currently writes for a variety of publications within the Financial and Cryptocurrency industries. [email protected]

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SafetyWing Review: Great Travel and Nomad Insurance for ~$1 A Day

I live for adventure and travel.  Along the way I hope for the best, and plenty of luck, but let’s be honest – accidents happen.  The best I can do is be prepared so that when something finally does go wrong, handling it is as quick and easy as possible.  Maintaining travel insurance, with emergency medical coverage, evacuation coverage, and perks for my trips is the first line of defense against travel mishaps, and something I adamantly recommend.  Now, thanks to SafetyWing travel insurance coverage for only ~$1 per day, any traveler can wander with a great safety net, regardless of how tight their budget is.

In this SafetyWing travel insurance review, you’ll discover why every traveler should stay covered while they wander and why SafetyWing is an excellent option I recommend…and use myself to stay safe while adventuring hard. Cheap, reliable, and convenient

Note: This article may contain affiliate links

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review

• Claims Process
• Customer Support
• Global Availability

SafetyWing is an excellent, budget insurance options for travelers that, only ~$1 per day, offers emergency medical , trip insurances, and the coverages we need to adventure well without breaking the bank.  A convenient, recurring subscription model, easy signup, and straight forward claims process makes this a great, affordable travel insurance option for backpackers, budget travelers, and digital nomads wandering the world.

Rating Breakdown:

• Price: 5/5 – Cheaper than most other travel insurance options
• Coverage: 5/5 – Adequate coverage limits for emergency medical, evacuation, baggage, adventures and more
• Claims Process: 3/5 – Easily done via email and processing filled out and scanned forms
• Customer Support: 3/5 – Available 24/7 via email or phone with processing being constantly improved (reputation over the long term is still being assessed)
• Global Availability: 5/5 – Covered issues can be treated at any hospital, with in-network hospitals available for direct payment

User Review

Safetywing travel insurance review: 4.4/5.

SafetyWing is an excellent, budget insurance options for travelers that, only ~$1 per day, offers emergency medical , trip insurances, and the coverages we need to adventure well without breaking the bank.  A convenient, recurring subscription model with low monthly payments (~$40), easy signup, and straight forward claims process makes this a great, affordable travel insurance option for backpackers, budget travelers, and digital nomads wandering the world.

CONTENTS OF THIS SAFETYWING REVIEW

Quick safetywing insurance review.

• What is SafetyWing: Travel Insurance for ~$1 Per Day
• Why You Need Travel Insurance (From A Backpacker Who Always Avoided It…)
• What SafetyWing Covers…and What It Doesn’t
• Pros & Cons of SafetyWing
• Price for SafetyWing Travel Insurance
• Who Is SafetyWing Best For: Nomads, Backpackers, and Budget Travelers
• The Quick Bottom Line of this SafetyWing Review

Full Safetywing Review

• How to Signup for SafetyWing
• How to Use SafetyWing (Treatment & Claims)
• The Fine Print
• SafetyWing Reviews from Other Travelers: What Others Are Saying
• SafetyWing vs. World Nomads: Which Is Better for You?
• Other Great Travel Insurance Companies
• SafetyWing FAQ

Traveling adventurously (like everyone should) is inherently risky as it gets better.  Whether you’re trekking through the Himalayas, diving through the Philippines, or eating street food in Bangkok, travel insurance is a must to make sure you’re covered during accidents without breaking the bank and disrupting your travels. 

Unfortunately, most travel insurance is pricey, and some travelers skip the coverage when they really should get it – ultimately putting their adventure, budget, and life at risk.  Until now.  SafetyWing is a new travel insurance option that offers emergency medical coverage and a host of other benefits for just $1 a day. In this SafetyWing insurance review, I’ll explain why SafetyWing may (or may not) be great for you, and share some tips for getting the most from your coverage

In my years of traveling, I’ve seen all kinds of accidents, from trekkers getting helicoptered out of the Himilayas due to altitude sickness to a friend having rabies ridden bat fly right into his mouth, and countless stomach bugs requiring antibiotics and antiparasitics. Even worse (and more adventurous), more than 90% of my travelers friends that have been to Southeast Asia have crashed a motorbike. 

As travelers and backpackers, regardless of how bulletproof we think we are, there is always the possibility of an accident or medical emergency that costs much more than we anticipated. 

This doesn’t mean we should adventure less (we should always go further!) , this just means we should be prepared.

In this SafetyWing review, I’ll share why this budget-friendly travel insurance coverage might be the perfect emergency tool for travelers on tight budgets – protecting you from the inevitable without burning your hard-earned cash, and leaving more spare change for those beachside coconuts to come.

WHAT IS SAFETYWING:  TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR NOMADS FOR ~$1 PER DAY

Safetywing is a new, popular option among travel insurance companies for emergency health insurance and travel insurance while wandering abroad. 

The coverage is much cheaper than other options, at ~$1 per day, and works based on a subscription model, renewing your travel medical insurance every 30 days until you cancel.

In my experience, the signup process is quick, easy, and simple, all handled online via the SafetyWing website.

SAFETYWING TIPS UP FRONT

• Keep your SafetyWing ID card on you to present at the hospital for insurance verification – bearing your policy number and SafetyWing claims contact info
• Use the “In-Network” hospitals when possible (found in the menu logged in, in the upper right) to allow for direct payment – but know you can go to any hospital
• Beware of what is not covered, like pre existing conditions, or any injuries sustained while intoxicated, reckless, or engaging in an activity without proper protection (think lifeguards and helmets)

WHY YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE: FOR THOSE UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

For the first year of traveling, I wandered pretty hard without international health insurance, nomad insurance, or comprehensive health insurance of any kind.  Considering my adventures, that was a big risk.  I motorbiked through Vietnam and Laos , trekked solo to Everest Base Camp , snorkeled with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos Islands and ate things I couldn’t pronounce everywhere I went. 

Delilah (my motorbike) and I crossing a large river in north Vietnam on one of the best adventures of my life, with travel insurance as my safety net.

My original plan, instead of purchasing coverage from a traveler focused emergency health insurance company, was to save the $100 to $200 per month I would have spent on sufficient coverage and set that aside to spend in the event of an accident. Though this tactic might hold reasonable for a small dog bite or scrape from surfing or a small motorbike spill, generally costing between $50 and a few hundred dollars, I soon learned that the accidents we should aim to cover can not only break the bank, but also put us in debt.

From experience, I observed a friendcrash a motorbike and immediately require $5000 worth of care in the first 24 hours – and that was in Indonesia, a low cost health location. Another friend suffered a liver infection that required a Life flight back to Europe, and the flight alone cost ~$25,000. Even closer to home, I observed a hiker on the Everest Base Camp trek getting an emergency airlift to lower elevation due to altitude sickness and brain swelling, and I later learned the price for that flight on the cheap side is $3,000, with $5,000 to $10,000 being much more possible and likely.

In my 4 years of travel I’ve observed countless close calls of my own – surfing and bouncing off reefs, barely dropping motorcycles down mountains, and near misses with infections and food poisoning. More convincing though is the high number of travelers I’ve seen with much worse situations, from being bitten by rabies ridden dogs, to getting toes and fingers amputated after accidents, to taking very intense spills motorbiking, hiking, and surfing, for which a hospital visit would drain the travel budget very quickly. That is why emergency health insurance is a must for travelers.

Luckily nothing ever went wrong medically for me – but more than 90% of traveler friends have all crashed a motorbike during their Asia travels.  One of my friends had to be helicoptered off the Everest Base Camp Trek due to altitude sickness, while another picked up a staph infection on the trek that she was treating for months after the trek.  Another friend spent $1000 getting tested to find out which type of parasite she picked up in Bali.

All of these incidents were unexpected and would have been very costly if they hadn’t been covered by one of the good travel insurance companies – which is exactly why you should have some form of emergency medical coverage when adventuring outside of your home country.

THE 4 MAIN REASONS YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE WHENEVER YOU WANDER INTERNATIONALLY

• Your home country health insurance may not cover you while abroad
• Mishaps abroad can cost much more than expected
• Situations requiring life flights, evacuations, and cash payments can equate to life or death  situations – having good travel insurance ensures the “life” outcome as much as possible
• Other perks: Delayed flight coverage, delayed and lost bags coverage

YOUR HOME COUNTRY HEALTH INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER YOU WHILE ABROAD

Confirm with your home country’s health insurance provider, but some locations outside of your home country won’t be covered.  This can be double the case if higher-risk activities, like surfing or canyoning, aren’t covered but you still want to travel adventurously. 

Even more difficult, certain coverages like life flights and evacuation might not be covered.  A friend last year died in Bali after a freediving accident wherein he didn’t have the medical coverage to be transported to a country with a more developed healthcare system.  If he’d had that insurance, covering emergency medical evacuation, he might be alive today.

If you do have insurance back in your home country confirm that it covers jaunts abroad and to the degree that you need it too, including the adventure sports you have planned and life flights/emergency evacuation.  If your primary health insurance in your home country doesn’t explicitly cover your destination and activities, I highly recommend that you buy insurance with a legitimate travel insurance company that includes life flights and emergency evacuations with worldwide coverage for your upcoming adventures

MISHAPS ABROAD CAN COST MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED

How much do you think a case of the upset stomach could cost you?  If you’re most people, just a few dollars for a bottle of Pepto Bismol and a Netflix subscription for an easy night in.  Right?

Not so much.

Try $1000 and counting.

A friend just a week ago came down with a case of “Bali Belly” that ran on for a week, requiring two visits to the emergency room and an expensive string of drugs to treat an infection.  All of this came out of the blue and with a tab (so far) of over $1000, and that’s on Bali where medical care is a fraction of US and western costs.

Go back one more month and a friend ended up in a late-night motorbike crash in Southeast Asia that left him unconscious, waking up later in the hospital with a couple of “brain bleeds”.  After 2 days in the hospital, a $2000 tab, and no travel insurance he had to check himself out with no way to pay additional bills.  One week later, friends got word that he conditioned worsened he suffered a stroke because he wasn’t able to stay in the hospital, safely monitored by professionals.

Ultimately, mishaps during travel can happen to anyone (and eventually do) and they usually cost much more than we’d expect – eating through

SITUATIONS REQUIRING LIFE FLIGHTS, EVACUATIONS, AND CASH PAYMENTS CAN EQUATE TO LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS – HAVING GOOD TRAVEL INSURANCE ENSURES THE “LIFE” OUTCOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Whether you’re traveling somewhere that political unrest or violence might be a possibility or you need an emergency flight out of the country for life-saving medical treatment, evacuation is an essential and worthwhile part of any travel insurance policy.

OTHER TRAVEL INSURANCE PERKS: DELAYED FLIGHT COVERAGE, DELAYED AND LOST BAGS COVERAGE

Though I haven’t been broken or bruised to the point of needing medical attention during travel, I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with airlines. 

Flying from Nepal to India to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands, my bags were lost for two weeks.  A combination of having a good travel-ready and travel hacking friendly credit card and having the right travel insurance made buying the gear I needed to get me through my travels and getting reimbursed later much easier than it otherwise would have been

More recently, some of my surf gear randomly “came up missing” after flights to a country where that surf gear sold for 3x to 4x the price.

Any good travel insurance has coverage for your bags – lost, delayed, or stolen in transit – and this benefit can be quite the lifesaver and headache reliever.

Click here to see a full list of SafetyWing benefits

TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGES YOU SHOULD BE SURE TO HAVE

The most likely and costliest mishaps during travel are likely to fall into a few areas (some of which I’ve already mentioned).  To ensure you’re getting enough of the right coverage for your trip, ensure your travel insurance policy has the following:

• Emergency medical coverage
• Medical emergency evacuation and life flights
• Evacuation due to civil or political unrest (if you feel its needed)
• Covers your choice of adventure sports
• Lasts for the entire duration of your travels (some are limited to 40 or 60 days)
• Covers motorbike crashes, dog/animal bites
• Applies in all of the countries & destinations on your itinerary (some exclude North Korea, Iran, and Cuba)

WHAT’S COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE

Straight from SafetyWing, “This means that if you get ill or injured, we [SafetyWing] will cover eligible medical expenses.”

SafetyWing Insurance covers both medical and travel mishaps, both are destined to happen at some point during anyone’s travels

• Unexpected illness or injury, including eligible expenses for hospital, doctor or prescription drugs
• Emergency travel-related benefits such as emergency medical evacuation
• Travel delay and lost checked luggage 
• Covers you everywhere in the world except Iran, North Korea, and Cuba
• Covers you at home for 30 days of every 90 (15 days of every 90 if you’re from the US)
• Covers most of the adventure sports you’ll want to take on

(Find more in Safetywing’s description of coverages in this SafetyWing Policy PDF )

WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS DOES SAFETYWING COVER?

• Surfing: Yes
• SCUBA Diving: Yes (As long as you are PADI certified)
• Freediving and Snorkeling: Yes (check fine print at SafetyWing for exclusions)
• Trekking, Camping, and Mountaineering (Up to 4500 Meters): Yes
• Trekking, Camping, and Mountaineering (Above 4500 Meters): No
• Motorbiking (On Road): Yes (with proper safety equipment
• Dirtbiking: No
• Bungee Jumping: Yes
• Mountain Biking: Yes
• Canyoning: Yes
• Rock Climbing and Ice Climbing: Yes
• Running with Bulls: No (It was worth a shot to ask…)

Click here for a full list of covered sports

Note that SafetyWing will not cover you during train courses, like the PADI Open Water Diver course (for SCUBA), the SSI Level 1 Course (for Freediving), or rock climbing/mountaineering courses.  However, for these, your instructor and school of choice should provide insurance that covers you during all training at their school.  Email your school prior to the course to confirm that they do have the necessary insurance – and if they don’t opt for another school.

Also note that if done for competition or organized sport, these activities are not covered by SafetyWing – so keep that in mind.  For more details on SafetyWing coverage, and confirmation that your adventure sport of choice is covered, I recommend contacting SafetyWing directly via chat , via email at [email protected] , or by phone at +1-(800) 605-2282.

Fine Print Notes on Adventure Sports Coverage Straight from SafetyWing:

“You are not covered if the activity is organized athletics involving regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or the activity is performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.

You must ensure the activity is adequately supervised and that appropriate safety equipment (such as protective headwear, life jackets, etc.) are worn at all times .”

HIGHLIGHT OF SAFETYWING COVERAGES

(Some coverages may be subject to deductibles, all coverages subject to coverage limits)

• Overall Maximum Limit: $250,000
• Hospital Room and Board
• Intensive Care Unit: Up to maximum limit ($250,000)
• Emergency Room Services (subject to $100 deductible)
• Outpatient Physical Therapy: Up to $50 per day
• Emergency Dental: Up to $1000 (no deductible)
• Political Evacuation: $10,000
• Terrorism: $50,000 lifetime benefit
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: $100,000 lifetime maximum
• Trip Interruption: $5,000 (no deductible)
• Lost Luggage: $3,000
• Lost or Stolen Passport/Visa: $100
• Natural Disaster Coverage: $100 per day for 5 days
• Personal Liability: $25,000

Coverage applies everywhere except North Korea, Iran, and Cuba

Click here for a full PDF list of SafetyWing Policy Coverages or

Click here for a quick SafetyWing Travel Insurance Quote

OTHER GREAT BENEFITS OF SAFETYWING

• 24/7 support
• “In-Network” hospital finder, to find hospitals where payment is handled directly with SafetyWing
• Ability to go to any hospital
• Family coverage

BENEFITS OF SAFETYWING OVER OTHER TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTIONS

SafetyWing offers two very solid benefits over any other travel insurance I’ve tried, making it perfect for budget travelers and long term nomads:

• Great Price: Cheaper than most at ~$1
• Convenient Subscription model: Renews every month until canceled, skipping the process of searching and signing up for coverage every few months

GREAT PRICE: CHEAPER THAN MOST TRAVEL INSURANCE AT ~$1

World Nomads is a pretty great travel insurance provider, highly recommended by the travelers I know that have used them.  However, World Nomads runs ~$100 per month on average.  For the budget traveler, living off of $50 per day, that $100 per month can be a huge hit (literally costing two days per travel each month)

For roughly $1 per day (or ~$35 per month) we travelers can maintain all of the essential coverages (emergency medical, evacuation, baggage coverage during travel).

CONVENIENT SUBSCRIPTION MODEL: RENEWS EVERY MONTH UNTIL CANCELLED

Signing up for SafetyWing works on a convenient subscription basis.  Though you can signup for a week or two, I find the auto-billed subscription to be the most convenient way to handle my travel insurance needs.  I simply let  SafetyWing travel insurance automatically renew each month with my card on file that I’m traveling, and place it on pause during the very brief periods I’m in the US.

Before I’d have to renew every few months for World Nomads, comparing quotes for 30, 60, and 90 day periods, and deciding between the standard vs. explorer option, and also dealing with the break-in coverage.  With SafetyWing, I never have to worry about that lapse, those decisions, or the hassle of sitting down and signing up again.  I just start my subscription when needed, pause it when I don’t, and restart it when I’m ready to wander again.

Click here to check SafetyWing Rates for Your Upcoming Trip

WHAT’S NOT COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE

• Routine Checkups
• Preexisting Conditions
• Organized athletics and professional sports, regular or scheduled practices, and games (read more here -)
• Find out more in Safetywing’s coverage description PDF
• Theft of electronics and valuables

Click here for More Details of What SafetyWIng Doesn’t Cover

PRICE OF SAFETYWING

SafteyWing covered can be provided for a set period of days or weeks, but can also be requested on a monthly basis for a set rate, billed monthly on a recurring basis until canceled.

MONTHLY COVERAGE

• 10-39 Years Old: $37/mo.     | Including US coverage $68/mo.
• 40-49 Years Old: $60 /mo.    | Including US coverage $112/mo.
• 50-59 Years Old: $94/mo.     | Including US coverage $184/mo.
• 60-69 Years old: $128/mo.    | Including US coverage $250 mo.
• Children (Under 9): $0

DAILY COVERAGE

• 10-39 Years Old: $1.25/day | Including US coverage $2.25/day
• 40-49 Years Old: $2 /day       | Including US coverage $3.75/day
• 50-59 Years Old: $3.15/day | Including US coverage $6.15/day
• 60-69 Years old: $4.25/day   | Including US coverage $8.35/ day

Click here to check SafetyWing Rates for Your Specific Trip

WHO IS SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR?

Nomads, backpackers, and budget travelers.

If you’re traveling outside of your home country for more than 30 days and you’re budget conscious, SafetyWing is likely right for you.

If your Trip is Longer than 30 Days…

Many credit cards, like Revolut** or Chase Sapphire offer travel insurance benefits that provide all of the coverages we need, however, they usually top out if your trip is longer than 30 days.  SafetyWing is good indefinitely

If You’re Not an “Expat”, Staying in One Place and in need of routine care

SafetyWing is great for travelers wandering, but if you’re an ex-pat living outside of your home country for over a year, consider “ex-pat insurance”.  Expat insurance, like with IMG Global, covers emergencies and mishaps, but also provides routine medical coverage, for things like annual physicals, checkups, routine dental, and more.  Just because we’re wandering doesn’t mean we can ignore the routine stuff, so if you’re abroad long term and need more than “emergency medical”, look into expat insurance

If You’re Adventuring Well but not too hard

SafetyWing offers some great coverage that will likely cover you 99% of the time, but there are some adventurous occasions wherein you might need a more robust policy, if you’re adventuring hard.  For instance, high altitude trekking (above 4500 meters), like what you’d do for the Everest Base Camp hike (at 5,380 meters) or Kilimanjaro (at 5,895), would not be covered under SafetyWing.

If you’re adventuring especially hard, I’d instead recommend World Nomad’s Explorer plan for those periods.  This is exactly what I did for my Everest Base Camp Trek to ensure I had coverage for a helicopter out in the event that altitude sickness hit.

If your adventures won’t be too heavy, then SafetyWing will provide sufficient coverage for your travels

If you’re budget conscious

Let’s be honest, most backpackers and digital nomads are trying to save as much money as they can, because more money saved equals more time on the road, doing what we love.  Travel insurance is an odd expense in that we need it, but we feel like we never use it.

With SafetyWing being nearly 1/3 the cost of other big travel insurance providers while delivering the same coverage in the areas that matter, we balance being responsible with being budget-conscious.

HOW TO SIGNUP FOR SAFETYWING

• Head over to SafetyWing
• Click the “signup” button
• Follow the prompts to register, selecting (or unselecting) US coverage

That’s it.  You’ll be covered within minutes

If you’re traveling for a few months, I highly recommend leaving the autopay on so that you’re automatically re-upped each month.  I’ve had a couple of times (with World Nomads ) when my coverage lapse while I was away from wifi or too busy to get to a coffee shop and in places where I genuinely needed coverage.  Signing up for the autopay and subscription feature helps you stay covered throughout your whole trip.

HOW TO FILE A CLAIM WITH SAFETYWINGS

The claims process and tips to keep things smooth.

• Step 1: Determine If its an emergency.  If it is an emergency : Make sure you have your ID card on hand and go to the nearest, legally operating hospital
• Step 2: If it is not an emergency: Attempt to find an “In-Network” hospital – when logged into your account, click on the menu in the top left and click “My Profile >> Find a Hospital” to find an in-network hospital with direct payment
• Step 3: Prepare your insurance ID card: ID card has the policy number and phone number so that the hospital can contact SafetyWing directly to check that insurance is valid and arrange for direct payment at “in-network” hospitals
• Step 4: Ask the provider about payment: If direct billing is possible (between insurer and provider) opt for that
• Step 5: Collect Itemized Receipts: Keep copies of itemized receipts for all expenses, and snap pictures as backups (with your smartphone) as soon as you receive them – you’ll need them for the claims process later
• Step 6: Start Claims process: Email screenshots of original, itemized receipts and a filled out claimant statement ( https://safetywing.com/static/media/hccmis_claimants_statement_safety_wing.c2f4318d.pdf ) to [email protected] and contact via phone to start the claims process

Note that there are no Coverage restrictions, the hospital network suggested simply makes it so that you don’t have to pay upfront for treatment, but you are covered for treatment at any hospital

HOW TO CONTACT SAFETYWING SUPPORT BY PHONE OR EMAIL FOR QUESTIONS

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone Outside the USA: +1 317-262-2132
• Phone Inside the USA: (800) 605-2282        
• Worlwide Phone Numbers List: Available in this PDF

Notes: The in-site chat is meant for asking technical questions and providing information before purchasing a policy and is not intended for emergencies or handling claims

Click here for More Details on the SafetyWing Claims Process

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SAFETYWING FINE PRINT

For coverage to be active and cover the insured individual, sports activities must be adequately supervised and appropriate safety gear is used at all times. 

Keep in mind that you’re covered in your home country for a maximum of 15 days of every 90, but consult your policy to confirm the exact number of days based on your home country

SAFETYWING REVIEWS FROM OTHER TRAVELERS

What others are saying about safetywing.

Though SafetyWing’s coverage and pricepoint is perfect for most travelers, and the coverages are great, not all of the SafetyWing reviews (at this point) are 100% positive…yet, simply because the customer service and claims relations process and SafetyWing’s communications (website copy mostly) are still having the bugs worked out. 

Despite some negative SafetyWing reviews, I still believe SafetyWing is a great, budget friendly travel tool  – as long as you remember to keep your itemized receipts and contact SafetyWing claims and support through the correct channels.

SafetyWing is a new travel insurance company (which is why their approach and view is more aligned with modern, budget travelers) and their customer services and claims processes are adapting in a positive way as they grow.  If being a new company concerns you, I highly recommend this SafetyWing thread on Reddit in which the founder discusses how he took action to adapt the company’s claims processes to make it more intuitive for travelers as well as this other SafetyWing thread on Reddit .

Also, the handful of SafetyWing reviews that haven’t been positive revolved around the claims process and support being confusing and travelers not knowing who to contact, when, and with what information and receipts – this is actually good for us. 

As long as you understand the claims process, remember to keep receipts, and keep the right emails and phone numbers handy (to contact at SafetyWing) the insurance becomes a lot easier to use.

To make for the best experience possible using SaeftyWing, follow these steps and keep these tips in mind (which are exactly what I do):

• Keep your SafetyWing insurance card with you , bearing the your policy number and SafetyWing contact info to verify coverage
• Use the “find a hospital” feature, when logged into SafetyWing, to find an in-network hospital that does direct billing

To find an In-Network hospital or file a claim with SafetyWing, just sign in and go to your dashboard to find everything you need.

• … but understand that you are still covered at any hospital and should go to the nearest hospital if you’re having an emergency, you may just have to pay out-of-pocket and claim later
• Maintain itemized receipts for all treatment taking pictures immediately and forwarding to [email protected] with policy number ASAP
• Do not use the chat feature in SafetyWing for filing claims or for support in emergency situations – this chat feature is only for technical questions and info before you purchase your policy.
• For support during claims and finding hospitals keep the email address [email protected] handy or call +1 317-262-2132 outside the USA or (800) 605-2282 inside the USA

SAFETYWING VS. WORLD NOMADS

The major differences between SafetyWing and World Nomads

• Safety Wing is cheaper at ~$37/mo vs ~$100 per month for World Nomads
• World Nomads provides more robust coverage for adventures, like trekking above 4500 meters (Himilayas, Kilimanjaro, and Aconcagua)

Bottom Line: For “routine travels” SafetyWing suffices.  When I adventure hard and outside of SafetWing’s coverage I get World Nomads insurance for the period, then restart SafetyWing to save money.  If money is no issue, get World Nomads.  If money is an issue, balance SafetyWing with World Nomads for adventurous periods

SafetyWing is a great traveler emergency medical insurance option that is cheap. Relative to the bigger, more well-known option, SafetyWing vs. World Nomads delivers emergency medical for much cheaper (~$40 per month vs. roughly ~$100 per month for World Nomads).

Keep in mind that World Nomads offers many benefits beyond emergency medical, concierge, trip planning services, and a full list of other benefits ( click here to see the full list of World Nomads benefits ), in addition to a trusted brand name (whereas SafetyWing is fairly new and still collecting reviews about its coverages and claims processes, but I’ve had a great experience with them so far).

If you’re just interested in emergency medical coverage and concerned with saving your hard-earned dollars (or Euros), consider SafetyWing over World Nomads to save ~$70 a month.

OTHER GREAT TRAVEL INSURANCE ALTERNATIVES

There are plenty of travel insurance options out there that suit different travelers (short term travelers, long term backpackers, ex-pats), offer different coverages (trip insurance, personal property), and have different perks (concierge, trip planning).  Be sure to only get the insurance that offers the coverage you need, and don’t waste any money on coverage you don’t need.

I recommend getting quotes and reviewing coverages for all of these insurance options that fit your travel needs:

• World Nomad (if you have more to spend)
• Revolut Travel Insurance (for Trips less than 60 days)
• Lemonade: Personal Property Insurance for shorter trips
• Clements International Effects Insurance: Insuring belongings for long term travels
• Allianz Global Assistance

Click here to read our Ultimate Guide to Travel Insurance with recommendations and tips for choosing the right insurance option for you

BOTTOM LINE ON SAFETYWINGS INSURANCE FOR TRAVEL

For travelers looking for a cheap, easy to manage emergency medical coverage option for their travels, SafetyWing hits the spot.  Remember to keep your insurance card (with policy number and SafetyWing contact info) handy for emergencies just in case.  SafetyWing is my coverage of choice at the moment and will be for a while to come.  I highly recommend it.

For personal belongings or expat coverage (including routine medical) check out other options (IMG Global, Remote Health by SafetyWing)

More Good Info on Insurance for Travelers

• An Ultimate Guide to Laptop Travel Insurance , Emergency Medical Insurance, and Travel Insurance Coverage
• World Nomads Standard vs Explorer: An Ultimate Guide to The Best Travel Insurance for Your Adventure

SAFETYWING FAQ

• How do you know you can trust SafetyWing?
• What is covered with SafetyWing Travel Insurance?
• What is not covered with SafetyWing Travel insurance?
• Is there a deductible with SafetyWing Travel Insurance?
• Are Adventure sports covered with SafetyWing?
• What adventure sports are not covered with SafetyWing?
• Can I buy a SafetyWing policy after I’ve started my trip?
• How do I know what hospital to go to?
• Are motorbike and scooter accidents covered with SafetyWing?
• Can Children be covered with SafetyWing?
• How do I make a claim with SafetyWing?
• How do I signup for SafetyWing?
• Is SafetyWing the right insurance for me?
• What is the difference between SafetyWing and World Nomads?

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN TRUST SAFETYWING?

Though SafetyWing is new it has some very legitimate backing as a Silicon Valley startup that was developed out of the Y-Combinator incubator that produced AirBnB and several other travel revolutionizing tech startups.

In addition to its success, travel, and customer-focused management and investment team, SafetyWing is partnered with global insurance giant Tokio Marine and underwritten by underwriters at Lloyds for reliable insurance coverage

The short answer is you can definitely trust SafetyWing.

( Return to SafetyWing FAQ )

WHAT IS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

The short answer straight from SafetyWing, “This means that if you get ill or injured, we [SafetyWing] will cover eligible medical expenses.”

I trust SafetyWing because their coverage extends to all of the adventures I regularly take on (except trekking above 4500 meters) while also covering emergency medical, medical evacuation, and political evacuation.

For a more thorough answer read our “ What does SafetyWing cover? ” section.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

SafetyWing doesn’t cover unsupervised adventure sports, activities without proper safety equipment, and accidents (such as motorbiking) while intoxicated. Those are the major highlights that catch my eye, but be sure to read SafetyWing’s terms and conditions to understand fully what isn’t covered.

IS THERE A DEDUCTIBLE WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Yes.  The deductible is $250 up to a maximum $250,000 limit.

ARE ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING?

Adventure sports coverage depends on which sport you’ll be participating in but likely is, as long as it is properly supervised, the right safety equipment is used, and it is not for a professional league, organized league, or competition (please read SafetyWing’s terms and conditions to understand the fine print before purchase)

All of the Adventure 8 activites are covered, with the exception of trekking and camping above 4500 meters (so the Everest Base Camp trek and Kilimanjaro wouldn’t be covered – for those I recommend World Nomad’s Explorer Travel Insurance plan )

WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS ARE COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING

• Biking – includes touring and organized tours
• Bungee jumping
• Bushwalking up to 4,500 meters
• Camel riding/trekking
• Camping under 4,500 meters
• Canyon swing
• Capoeira dancing
• Clay pigeon shooting
• Cycling under 4,500 meters
• Deep-sea fishing
• Dirt boarding
• Dog sledding (not racing or competing)
• Fell running/walking
• Flying as a passenger
• Football (Soccer)
• Glacier walking up to 4,500 meters
• Gymnastics (only as exercise or for fun; not competitive or organized)
• Hiking up to 4,500 meters
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning as a passenger
• Hunting (excluding big game)
• Ice skating (indoor or outdoor)
• Ice climbing up to 4,500 meters
• Jet boating
• Land surfing
• Moped biking except as excluded below
• Motorbiking except as excluded below
• Mountain biking up to 4,500 meters
• Orienteering
• Outdoor endurance except as excluded below
• Paintballing
• Rap jumping
• Rifle range shooting
• Rollerblading
• Roller skating
• Rowing / sculling
• Safari tours
• Sandboarding
• Sand skiing
• Scuba diving (sub-Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus) as long as you are PADI/NAUI certified, or if you are not certified you are covered for up to 10 meters when accompanied by a certified instructor.
• Sea canoeing
• Sea kayaking
• Skateboarding
• Skiing (only covered for recreational skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off-piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
• Sleigh rides
• Snorkeling except as excluded below
• Snow rafting
• Snowboarding (only covered for recreational snowboarding skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off-piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
• Soccer (Football)
• Speed boating
• Stand up paddle surfing
• Stilt walking
• Surfing except as excluded below
• Table tennis
• Ten-pin bowling
• Trail bike riding
• Trekking up to 4,500 meters
• Tubing on snow
• Ultimate frisbee
• Via Ferrata up to 4,500 meters
• Wakeskating
• Wakeboarding
• Water skiing
• Weightlifting, cardio and classes at the gym (note that training for or attending a powerlifting competition is excluded.)
• Windsurfing
• Yachting (coastal waters only)
• Yachting (outside coastal waters)
• Yoga (in class or alone)

*You are not covered if the activity is organized athletics involving regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or the activity is performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.

You must ensure the activity is adequately supervised and that appropriate safety equipment (such as protective headwear, life jackets etc.) are worn at all times.

Click here to get your SafetyWing Quote

(Information copied from SafetyWing Website: Source: SafetyWing FAQ, 20200218 )

WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS ARE NOT COVERED WITH SAFETYWING :

• All-Terrain Vehicles
• American Football
• Aussie Rules Football
• Aviation (except when traveling solely as a passenger in a commercial aircraft)
• Base Jumping
• Big Game Hunting
• Cave Diving
• Heli-Skiing
• Heli-gliding
• Hot Air Ballooning as a Pilot
• Kite-Surfing
• Martial Arts
• Motorized Dirt Bikes
• Mountaineering at elevations of 4,500 meters or higher
• Outdoor Endurance Events
• Parachuting
• Parasailing
• Powerlifting (lifting at max weight with the intention of attending a competition)
• Quad Biking
• Racing by any Animal, Motorized Vehicle, or BMX, and Speed Trials and Speedway
• Running with the Bulls
• Skiing off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories) and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
• Snowboarding off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories)and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
• Sky Surfing
• Snow Mobile
• Sub Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus (unless accompanied by a certified instructor at depths less than 10m, or PADI/NAUI certified)
• Whitewater Rafting

CAN I BUY A SAFETYWING POLICY AFTER I’VE STARTED MY TRIP?

Yes, you can purchase and start SafetyWing covered after your trip has started and whether or not you’re in your home country

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT HOSPITAL TO GO TO?

You are covered to go to any hospital that is operating legally, so if you are having an emergency go to the nearest hospital.  To find an “in-network” hospital that handles payment directly with SafetyWing, click to follow these instructions and find the “find a hospital” tool in your dashboard, or click here to see SafetyWing contact info and contact SafetyWing directly

ARE MOTORBIKE AND SCOOTER ACCIDENTS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING?

Yes, as long as you are wearing a helmet, aren’t intoxicated, and are behaving responsibly

CAN CHILDREN BE COVERED?

Yes.  As part of an adult’s qualifying plan, children between the ages of 0-9 are covered free , and children ages 10 to 18 can purchase a policy at normal rates

HOW DO I MAKE A CLAIM WITH SAFETYWING?

Step 1: Collect Itemized Receipts: Keep copies of itemized receipts for all expenses, and snap pictures as backups (with your smartphone) as soon as you receive them – you’ll need them for the claims process later

Step 2: Start Claims process: Email screenshots of original, itemized receipts and a filled out claimant statement ( https://safetywing.com/static/media/hccmis_claimants_statement_safety_wing.c2f4318d.pdf ) to [email protected] and contact via phone to start claims process

Click here for full details on the claims process

HOW DO I SIGNUP FOR SAFETYWING?

Head over to SafetyWing , start a quote and follow the prompts to create a login, enter your personal data, and start coverage and billing.

Click here to jump to full details on signing up for SafetyWing

IS SAFETYWING THE RIGHT INSURANCE FOR ME?

If you are between the ages of 18 and 49, traveling for more than 30 days, and don’t plan on trekking above 4500 meters, SafetyWing is likely right for your emergency medical coverage needs. ( Click here to start your quote )

If you are an expat looking for medical that covers routine issues, like exams, dental, vision, and more, you likely need expat insurance such as IMG Global instead.  Read our full Guide to Travel and Expat Insurance to learn more or read our writeup on IMG Global as the best insurance for expats .

If you are trying to insure valuables and electronics, SafetyWing is not the policy for you, as it focuses on emergency medical care.  Instead, we recommend personal property insurance such as Lemonade for travels of less than 30 days and Clements Effects Insurance for travels longer than 30 days.

For all others in search of emergency medical coverage for travel, Safety Wing is likely a very good option for you

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAFETYWING AND WORLD NOMADS

• SafetyWing is nearly 1/3 the price of World Nomads ($37 vs. $100 per month)
• SafetyWing offers flexibility with its “subscription renewal” style policy
• World Nomads Covers more adventure sports – such as trekking above 4500 meters
• World Nomads offers a few more coverages such as dental, stolen baggage coverage ( Click here to see all World Nomads coverages )

If you are adventuring hard, I recommend World Nomads for those stints.

If you are on a tight budget but don’t plan on climbing any mountains, opt for SafetyWing .

OTHER GREAT TRAVEL & INSURANCE RELATED CONTENT

• The Ultimate Travel Insurance Guide: The Best Options for Medical, Emergency, Laptop Coverage, and More
• Do You Need Travel Insurance?  Maybe yes…maybe no…
• Revolut Travel Insurance: A Convenient Travel Insurance Option for Quick Trips Abroad**

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

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Home » Travel Insurance » Reviews » SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review

Written by Antonio Cala.

• Affiliate Disclosure

Table of Contents

Traveling can be an exhilarating adventure, but unexpected mishaps can turn a dream trip into a daunting experience. SafetyWing Travel Insurance aims to offer peace of mind to globetrotters by providing comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip interruptions, and more. 

In this review, we will explain the features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of SafetyWing’s insurance plans. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, a digital nomad, or planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, understanding the ins and outs of SafetyWing’s offerings can help you make an informed decision for your travel safety needs.

If you would like to know more about insurance options for adventure travel, make sure to check out our Complete Guide to Adventure Travel Insurance . Let’s jump in.

SafetyWing Overview

Who Is SafetyWing For

SafetyWing is designed for location-independent people, remote workers and digital nomads who need travel or health insurance while adventuring abroad.  

It’s a great option for: 

• Digital nomads
• Remote workers
• People traveling long-term

What's Included

SafetyWing works as a traditional travel insurance company, offering medical coverage, trip interruption/cancelation and baggage cover. Policies vary depending on the age of the traveler, but here you have an idea of what would be covered for a traveler under 65 going out of the US. 

• $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
• $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
• $100,000 USD for medical evacuation ($25,000 USD if the cause of medical evacuation is acute onset of pre-existing condition)
• $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
• $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
• Up to $200 USD for a travel delay
• $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
• $20,000 USD for repatriation of remains

What's Not Included

Like any other insurance company, SafetyWing has several limitations. The following are some of the things they do not cover:

• Preexisting conditions
• Adventure sports (unless the Adventure add-on is purchased)
• Traveling to the USA (unless the US add-on is purchased)

Membership Plans

SafetyWing offers 2 different prooducts: Nomad Insurance & Nomad Health . Let’s explain what each of them covers.

Nomad Insurance

Nomad Insurance works like a traditional travel insurance that covers medical emergencies & evacuation, trip protection and luggage. It’s available to people under 65 from all over the world while traveling outside their home country. 

It covers: 

Nomad Health

Nomad Health is a a full fledged health insurance that covers your medical needs worldwide, including in your home country.

Within the Nomad Health, there are 2 plans available: standard and premium. 

The company offers a range of add-ons you can add to your insurance policy:

• Adventure sports.  To cover adventure activities such as scuba diving, sky diving, whitewater rafting and more
• Electronics theft. To cover stolen or lost personal items such as cameras, laptops or tablets.
• US coverage. For travel to the US and US territories.

The cost of SafetyWing insurance plans depends on several factors, including your age, country of residence, the duration of coverage, and whether you wish to include some add-ons.

Just to give you an example, an individual under 65 years old seeking a month of coverage would pay around $74.

Please,  check out the latest pricing  for up to date quotes. 

What's Covered & Who's Eligible

SafetyWing has a few restrictions so let’s look at what’s covered and who is eligible for one of their memberships. 

Nationalities:  People from most countries are covered. 

Pre-existing conditions:  Not covered.

Seniors Over 65: People aged 65 or over are not covered.

Trip Duration:  Both short term and long term policies are available.

Groups: Individual and family plans are offered. 

User Reviews and Testimonials

Insurance companies often receive negative online reviews due to issues like complicated policy language, claim denials, slow processing times, and perceived unfair practices. SafetyWing is not an exception and they receive their fair share of negative reviews online.

SafetyWing vs Competitors

Overall, SafetyWing insurance policies tend to be cheaper to those from its competitors, their medical expenses coverage similar and the compensation for trip cancellation & interruption lower than the other companies on the market. 

If you would like to see direct comparisons between SafetyWing and other insurance companies, check out the articles below: 

• World Nomads vs SafetyWing

SafetyWing offers very competitive packages for digital nomads and people traveling long-term, with high medical expense coverage available to people from most countries.

However, despite the policies appearing attractive on paper, the company gets mixed reviews online. Most of these cases involve people who did not thoroughly read the policy terms. Others criticize the poor customer service provided by the company.

If you believe that a SafetyWing insurance plan is what you’re looking for, proceed with caution, and ensure you read the fine print before making your insurance purchase with them. There are tons of people who are happy with their service, you just need to know exactly what’s covered and what’s not.

Other Travel Insurance Reviews

If you would like to read more about other insurance companies for adventure travelers, you can check out our other reviews below:

• Dive Assure
• Divers Network Alert
• Global Rescue
• Travel Guard
• World Nomads

If you would like to read more about insurance options for other type of adventure trips, you can check out our other reviews below:

• Skiing &  Snowboarding
• Hiking Trips
• Mountaineering & High Altitude Trekking
• Mountain Biking,   Bike-touring  &  Bike-packing
• Rock Climbing ,  Ice Climbing  &  Bouldering
• Kayaking ,  White Water Rafting  &  Paddle Boarding
• Fishing  &  Spearfishing
• Diving Liveaboards &  Freediving
• Sailing ,  Kite Surfing  &  Surfing
• Adventure Cruises
• Adventure Motorcycling
• Travel Insurance for Seniors Over 65
• Travel Insurance for People with Pre-existing Conditions

SafetyWing Reviews Online

When doing your research, you might want to read what other publications have to say about SafetyWing. 

Here are some of the most popular reviews from the web. 

SafetyWing: A Review of an Upstart Travel Insurance Company  – by Nomadic Matt

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: My Honest Review – by CZ Phones Home

About the Author

Antonio was born and raised in Southern Spain, and quit his job in 2013 to travel the world full-time with his wife Amanda for 10 years straight. Their passion for adventure took them to visit 150+ countries.

They cycled 25,000km + from California to Patagonia, sailed over 10,000NM around the Caribbean & Sea of Cortez, rode their motorbikes 30,000 kms+ across West Africa (Spain to South Africa) and visited Antarctica, among many other adventure expeditions.  Today, they’re still traveling,  currently around the USA with an RV.

Traveling to so many places, remote destinations and by different means taught them a lot about travel insurance, which policies to hold depending on the area and the type of adventure they were doing. Antonio now publishes regular content to help other travelers choose the best travel insurance for adventure trips.

Together, they also run the travel community Summit , the RV site Hitched Up , the boutique accommodation blog  Unique Places  and the popular newsletter Adventure Fix , where they share their knowledge about the places they’ve visited and the ones still remaining on their list.

Antonio Cala

Co-Founder of Adventure Fix

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SafetyWing Insurance Review: Ideal For Nomads

SafetyWing is a $37 monthly travel & medical insurance plan with impressive emergency medical and dental coverage, $3,000 of lost luggage coverage and a $250,000 maximum limit.

In other words, it offers the best value of any travel and medical insurance plan on the planet.

Sign up for SafetyWing today.

What Is SafetyWing Insurance?

The brainchild of three Norwegians living in Silicon Valley, SafetyWing is 2018’s answer to travel and medical insurance. In SafetyWing’s words, they’re building the “global safety net for online freelancers and entrepreneurs.” It’s the future of travel and medical insurance for frequent travelers and digital nomads alike.

SafetyWing covers unexpected illnesses and injuries sustained abroad, including expenses for hospitals, doctors and prescription drugs. It also covers emergency travel-related benefits such as emergency medical evacuation, emergency dental treatment, travel delay/interruption and lost luggage. It even offers coverage in your home country, perfect for the frequent traveler who still likes to visit home once in a while. Americans have 15 days of home country coverage for every 90 days of their policy, while everyone else gets 30 days of home country coverage for every 90 days of their policy.

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SafetyWing’s policy excludes the same things as just about every other travel medical insurance policy: cancer treatment, pre-existing conditions (though it does include the acute onset of those pre-existing conditions) and routine check-ups.

SIGN UP FOR SAFETYWING

How much does safetywing cost.

Just like all insurance policies, the price of SafetyWing depends on your age. And as you can see, if you plan to spend any time in the USA, the price approximately doubles.

Since SafetyWing is billed monthly, these prices are constant whether your policy lasts for one month or an entire year.

How Is SafetyWing So Cheap?

Just like N26, which is using seriously smart technology to shake up the world of banking, SafetyWing employs modern thinking to shake up insurance.

Their $37/month plan is made possible in three major ways:

• No middlemen : SafetyWing cuts out the middlemen by eliminating agents and selling insurance directly to the consumer.
• A single policy : While most insurance companies offer dozens of different overlapping policies, SafetyWing only sells one policy, which allows them to streamline their back-end processes and offer that policy at a much lower cost.
• A focus on fairness : If even one customer bills their cancer treatments to SafetyWing at $10,000 a pop, that means every other customer has to pay for them through higher fees. SafetyWing avoids this cost asymmetry by excluding high-cost, highly specific items like cancer treatment from its policy entirely, while still providing coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. The healthy don’t need to overpay for the sick any longer.

What Does SafetyWing Cover?

There are the highlights of SafetyWing’s policy :

*SafetyWing’s policy has a maximum limit of $250,000, which means they won’t pay out more than $250,000 in any single coverage period. The items with no limit listed above are also subject to this $250,000 maximum limit.

SafetyWing Vs. World Nomads Vs. N26

Most digital nomads and frequent travelers are familiar with World Nomads’ insurance plans.

And if you’re really savvy, you know that N26 offers some pretty impressive insurance on their N26 Black and N26 Metal cards, too.

So here are the highlights of how N26 and World Nomads stack up against SafetyWing, using a healthy 30-year-old from New York as our example. The green boxes indicate which policy offers the best coverage for that particular item:

*The SafetyWing and World Nomads prices are actually for a period of 28 days, though I’ll assume they’re monthly prices here for simplicity’s sake. **If a deductible amount is not listed, that means there is no deductible for that item.

You probably notice an interesting trend in the above table: either SafetyWing or N26 is the best in every single item category.

As a result, I want to introduce a new option:

The SafetyWing & N26 Combo

SafetyWing and N26 both have really impressive insurance offerings.

Yet each of them leave you with a few gaps.

That’s why I recommend getting both a SafetyWing insurance policy and an N26 Black or Metal card to ensure you’re more than covered in every scenario.

To show you what I mean, I’ve combined the two columns of the above chart to show you what a SafetyWing + N26 insurance plan looks like:

Are you starting to see why I’m so excited about this combination?

Scenario Planning

If you’re still not convinced on why combining SafetyWing and N26 is the best option for digital nomads and frequent travelers, let’s run through a few scenarios to see how each of these companies would respond. In each scenario, assume you’re a healthy 30-year-old traveler from New York.

Scenario 1: Emergency Dental Treatment

You’re hit by a car while crossing the street and need to see a dentist immediately.

Winner: SafetyWing Runner-Up: N26

Scenario 2: Getting Mugged

You touch down in a new country, grab $600 from the ATM and head downtown.

It’s late, and your taxi drops you off a few streets from your hotel, but you don’t mind—it gives you a quick chance to explore the neighborhood.

But before you know it, four men appear out of nowhere and knock you to the ground. You resist, but there are simply too many of them. Within a few seconds, they take off with your iPhone, wallet and MacBook.

Winner: N26 Runner-Up: World Nomads

Scenario 3: Lost Baggage

Your airline loses your checked baggage, which had your MacBook, iPad, DSLR camera, drone, and other valuable items inside. After several weeks of keeping you in limbo, the airline finally admits that your bag is irretrievably lost.

Scenario 4: Personal Liability Insurance

The mailman slips on the icy sidewalk in front of your house, breaks his arm and decides to sue you. While backing your car out of the driveway, you bump into and kill the neighbor’s 100-year-old tree. You accidentally cause some damage to the lobby of the hotel where you’re staying in Paris. Let’s assume any of these three scenarios run up a bill of $10,000.

Personal Liability Insurance – A Major SafetyWing Bonus

Personal liability insurance is what protects you when you make a mistake, or simply when something goes wrong in an area you’re responsible for like your home.

And as you can see in Scenario 4, having personal liability coverage can make a big, big difference.

Personal liability insurance doesn’t normally come with travel or travel medical insurance packages, so the fact that SafetyWing has included it is a huge bonus.

The Weaknesses of SafetyWing

I dug deep into the policies of SafetyWing, World Nomads, N26 and other more traditional insurance providers, and there was only one real drawback I could find with SafetyWing: their weak travel delay insurance offering.

Everything else—from their emergency medical coverage to trip interruption insurance to an extremely generous lost baggage policy—was actually really impressive.

But here’s the thing: when you combine SafetyWing with N26, the weak travel delay insurance disappears.

Why? Because N26’s travel delay coverage is really, really good.

Up to €5,000 ($5,700) for a canceled or interrupted trip, and up to €400 ($450) if your travels are delayed by more than 4 hours.

Aside from that, there are only two other smaller things: lost/stolen items and the adventure sports they’ve chosen to exclude.

To ensure I had all of the details 100% correct, I spoke with SafetyWing’s core team in writing this review, and they told me that in Q1 of 2019, they’ll be launching a new, more advanced insurance offering that covers things like theft and the rest of the adventure sports they currently exclude.

This new plan will cost a bit more than their current $37/month plan, but it will also have a maximum coverage limit of $1 million (compared to $250,000 currently), an extra bit of peace of mind for the concerned traveler.

These are just further reasons to combine SafetyWing with your N26 card. As you saw in Scenario 2 above, the N26 policy took the best care of its users after they were mugged.

The Ideal SafetyWing User

If you meet these three criteria, SafetyWing is built specifically for you:

• Non-USA : You can definitely still be American as long as most of your travels in a given year take place outside of the United States.
• Non-Gear Junkies : You don’t travel with lots of expensive equipment. By expensive equipment, I don’t mean a MacBook, an iPhone and some Bose noise-cancelling headphones—these are exactly the type of people SafetyWing is built for. I’m talking about top-of-the-line photography equipment, professional-grade drones and other electronics worth $5,000 or more per piece.
• Non-Thrill Seekers : Again, I’m not talking about things like surfing and rock climbing here—those are all covered by SafetyWing. I’m talking about serious thrill seekers, people that are heli-skiing, base jumping and piloting their own hot air balloons. See page 19 of SafetyWing’s policy for a full list of sports and activities they don’t cover (if you don’t consider yourself a true thrill seeker, you probably don’t need to read the list).

How To Find A Medical Provider While Abroad (A.K.A. What To Do In An Emergency)

SafetyWing has made finding an insured provider as easy as typing in your location on their website.

Just log in to SafetyWing.com, select “Find Hospital or Doctor” from the main menu and search their worldwide network of qualified doctors, hospitals and specialists for the nearest one to you. ( Note: You do need to log in to see their list of providers, though you can see the list before buying a plan.)

When you arrive, show the doctor or nurse your SafetyWing ID (it’s a digital card in your online profile). Sometimes, though not always, they’ll send your bill directly to SafetyWing and its insurance providers.

Once you submit your Claimant’s Statement to explain what happened, you’re all set.

Since I’m in Bangkok as I write this (yes, I’m a digital nomad myself), I did a quick search on SafetyWing.com to see what providers are available in Bangkok. There are fourteen providers in total, including Bumrungrad International, which is regularly named one of the top ten hospitals in the world on both service quality and technology.

Then I searched for Toronto, my hometown, to see what’s available there. As expected, all of the major hospitals—Mount Sinai, Princess Margaret, St. Joseph’s, Toronto General, and even Sick Kids—are all there. The award-winning Bochner Eye Institute, recognized as one of Canada’s top eye care facilities, is also on the list.

How To Sign Up For SafetyWing

• Go to the SafetyWing website here and click Sign me up in the top-right. You don’t need any promo/coupon code or invitation code to get the $37/month plan – everyone has access to that.
• Click Register , and then sign up using your email address or Facebook account. Enter the basic personal information (name, country of residence) and you’re all set! You’ve successfully signed up for SafetyWing.

SafetyWing FAQs

How to cancel safetywing insurance.

Canceling your SafetyWing subscription is as easy as canceling your Spotify subscription: simply login to their website and click Cancel . If you cancel your subscription partway through the month, it will remain active until the end of the month that you’ve already paid for.

How Do You File An Emergency Claim With SafetyWing?

Dial the phone number for your local representative as shown in this list here (I recommend saving this file and keeping it in an easy-to-find place while you’re traveling).

If you can’t reach your local representative, call their global office at +1-317-262-2132.

When asked for your account code, dial 911411# . The agent that picks up will instruct you on how to proceed.

If you need to file a medical claim, you can either do it online by emailing this form to [email protected] or by mailing the original bill and payment receipts to this address:

Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group P.O. Box 2005 Farmington Hills, MI, USA 48333-2005

All claims must be filed within 60 days of when the insurance period ends.

Where Can You Travel With SafetyWing Insurance?

SafetyWing is valid in every country worldwide except for North Korea and Iran.

Do I Qualify For SafetyWing?

Yes! The only real qualification for joining SafetyWing is that you spend most of your time outside of your home country. That means SafetyWing is appropriate for people in any of these situations, and more:

• Digital nomads and frequent travelers who spend 10 months or more outside of their home country annually
• Expats living abroad
• Foreign workers living and working in another country

Why Should You Trust SafetyWing? Is SafetyWing A Scam?

Don’t just take my word for it.

SafetyWing took part in the Winter 2018 cohort of Y Combinator , the Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator that’s known to be the best in the world. That means they’re joining the likes of Airbnb, Dropbox and Reddit as Y Combinator graduate companies.

On top of the Y Combinator blessing, SafetyWing has also raised about $500,000 from investors like NordicVest Angels, the Norwegian Investment Authority and other individual investors. Their founders do hail from Norway, after all.

On the insurance side, SafetyWing has hired senior insurance experts with 30+ years of industry experience to set up their plans. They’ve partnered with the worldwide insurance giant Tokio Marine for all of their plans, which are underwritten by Lloyd’s. One of their founders (Hans Kjellby) is also a lawyer, which doesn’t hurt in this industry.

What Should Americans Know About SafetyWing?

Since the United States’ healthcare system is much more expensive than anywhere else in the world, there are two key things Americans need to know about using SafetyWing:

• SafetyWing Is Not More Expensive For Americans : Unlike many insurance providers—World Nomads being a perfect example—SafetyWing charges Americans exactly what they charge everyone else: $37/month.
• Americans Receive Less Home Country Coverage : Americans only receive 15 days of home country coverage for every 90 days of their policy, which is half of what citizens of every other country receive. This isn’t an issue if you’re like many nomads and only spend a few weeks at home each year.
• SafetyWing Is Not Eligible For The Affordable Care Act : It’s worth noting that SafetyWing does not qualify for available coverage under the Affordable Care Act, so if that’s your primary reason for signing up, you’ll have to look elsewhere. However, for anyone living and working in the United States but not holding a United States passport (ie. foreign workers from Mexico, Canada or anywhere else), SafetyWing might just be the most affordable healthcare option out there.

What Are The Major Differences Between SafetyWing And World Nomads?

• SafetyWing Is 1/3 The Cost : SafetyWing costs one-third of World Nomads. Normally with a price difference like this, you’d expect to see some serious deficiencies in SafetyWing’s coverage, but there actually aren’t. I’ve already explained what I believe is SafetyWing’s one major deficiency, but all things considered, it offers an even better policy for a third of the cost of World Nomads.
• SafetyWing Gives You More Flexibility : SafetyWing uses a monthly subscription model (ie. you pay per month and can cancel whenever you want, just like Spotify) while World Nomads, and just about every other insurance provider out there, requires you to take out a policy of predetermined length. Insurance companies love fixed policies, since they a) receive a large chunk of money from their customers upfront, and b) are generally nonrefundable if your 6-month trip ends after 3 months. SafetyWing throws all this out the window and opts for the simplicity and fairness of a monthly subscription.

4 thoughts on “SafetyWing Insurance Review: Ideal For Nomads”

I find this insurance poor compared to some of the Annual Multi Trip Insurance on the market. I use one that costs me 53 GBP per annum, and guarantees up to 2.5 M GBP medical cost… Yours is 5 times more expensive ?

Hi Cyril, what’s the name of the insurance plan you’re using? Can you link us to it? Thanks.

Nice review on Safetywing, good stuff. I have researched them too and consider them a great insurer overall, though far from perfect still. We’re collecting and have collected a ton of user reviews for them and most are positive.

It’s not clear to me how is Safetywing any better than N26 metal which seems to cover the same things and is much cheaper. Could you please clarify?

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SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance: Is It a Good Travel Insurance?

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As I was enjoying a plate of khao soi in Koh Lanta with a group of digital nomads I had just met, one of them shared a story from the night before. A friend of theirs had gotten severe food poisoning, and with no hospital equipped for all emergency procedures on the island and no travel insurance to lean on, his only option was the small local clinic (fingers crossed for the best).

Listening to this, I couldn't help but eye my khao soi with a mix of suspicion and defiance. My next thought? Well, if it turns out to be a disaster, thank goodness I didn’t skip on travel insurance .

Yes, I’m the “better be safe than sorry” type of digital nomad, but it’s in these unpredictable situations that I like to remind the risk-takers that having a safety net is not just smart—it’s essential.

So today, we’ll be reviewing one of the most popular travel insurance options among digital nomads , SafetyWing . We picked this company because it offers insurance packages tailor-made to the needs of remote workers and digital nomads.

From what’s included to what isn’t, from their claims processes to comparing it to other travel insurance companies, let’s go ahead and dive into what SafetyWing's travel insurance offers (so you won’t have to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best).

Who is SafetyWing?

Safetywing is not just another name in the vast sea of nomad travel insurance providers . They stand out because they were born from a real need: the desire to untangle the complexities of travel insurance for us digital nomads. And yes, they deliver.

At its core, SafetyWing gets the pulse of the nomadic lifestyle . They focus on the essentials that matter to us—the unexpected illness in a foreign land, the lost luggage in transit, the sudden need to return home—they've crafted their policies to ensure we're covered, no matter where our laptops are.

You can pick from two main policies: Nomad Insurance and Nomad Health (and if you’re a remote startup, they even have a policy called Remote Health that covers global health insurance for remote companies).

Nomad Insurance is more than just travel insurance —it's a lifeline for when things go sideways. Think of it as your safety net for medical emergencies, unexpected detours, and even those frustrating moments when your luggage decides to take a different plane than you.

Then there’s Nomad Health , which is their signature global health insurance (175+ countries covered!) tailored to those digital nomads who need more comprehensive and long-term coverage .

In this review, we’ll be focusing specifically on their Nomad Insurance , which is among the most popular travel policy for digital nomads out there.

But if you are interested in learning more about Nomad Health, read our dedicated review below:

How Does SafetyWing Travel Insurance Work?

How SafetyWing's travel insurance works is a testament to their deep understanding of the nature of the digital nomad lifestyle . They operate on a subscription model that bills you every 28 days , which means you can start, pause, or stop your coverage based on your current plans , whether you're mid-journey or planning the next trip from a beachside café.

From what we've seen, SafetyWing really stands out from other nomad travel insurance providers , and we’d even go as far as to say it's one of the best digital nomad insurance out there . Here’s why we’re big fans:

• Flexibility to buy insurance anywhere: If you've ever kicked off your travels only to realize you forgot to get insurance (it happens to the best of us), or maybe you just weren’t ready to head home yet and decided to extend your stay, don't sweat it. SafetyWing gets it. They let you sign up or extend your coverage from anywhere in the world, even if your trip has already begun.
• Pay-as-you-go subscription: With SafetyWing, you’re not tied down. Their 28-day billing cycle gives you the freedom to adapt your insurance to your life, not the other way around. It’s perfect for open-ended trips or for when your travel plans are as flexible as a morning yoga session.
• Travel without a return ticket: For those of us with wanderlust in our souls and no set end date in mind, SafetyWing is a dream come true. They don’t need a return date or ticket to start your coverage.
• Coverage in your home country (US residents only): For US residents who need to pop back to the US, SafetyWing covers incidental visits home. For every 90 days, you're covered for up to 30 days in your home country for unforeseen eligible medical conditions.
• Motorbike or scooter coverage: Zooming around on a motorbike or scooter? SafetyWing’s coverage of accidents on two wheels is a rare find and a major plus for adventurers.
• What you see is what you get pricing: No need to decode complicated rate charts. SafetyWing keeps it clear with straightforward pricing based on your age and whether your travels include the US.

What Does SafetyWing's Travel Insurance Cover?

Remember that friend from Koh Lanta who was poisoned by food? Well, with SafetyWing on their side, that nasty surprise wouldn't mean choosing between a questionable local clinic or a budget-busting flight home. Coverage for unexpected medical emergencies means peace of mind (and, hopefully, a happier tummy!).

SafetyWings has really thought of this kind of emergency and just about everything that could go wrong during your extended travels. These are just a few of the many things that are covered by their Nomad Insurance :

• Emergency medical treatment and hospital stays
• Ambulance and emergency transportation
• Emergency transportation to a better equipped hospital (medical evacuation)
• Emergency dental treatment
• Prescription drugs
• An unexpected event in your home country for which you to need to go home (trip interruption)
• Political Evacuation
• Trip interruption due to death of a family member
• Accidental death and dismemberment
• If you die Arrangement for your body (burial or repatriation of remains)
• Cash payout to your beneficiary (accidental death)
• Accommodation in a different place if a natural disaster causes evacuation
• Stolen passport or travel visa
• Lost checked luggage
• Unplanned overnight stay
• $0 deductible option

What's Not Covered in SafetyWing's Travel Insurance?

If you get SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance, you have to understand that you're not purchasing primary health insurance but a travel insurance plan for unexpected medical emergencies and travel-related costs . That means that not everything will be covered by this policy. Below is what you won't find in when purchasing their travel insurance plan:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Routine check-ups and preventive care
• Cancer treatment
• Injuries from high-risk adventure sports (unless you purchased the adventure sport add-on)
• Travel to Iran, North Korea, and Cuba
• Any treatment that is not medically necessary
• Mental health disorders
• Limited coverage of stolen or lost personal items (only if you purchased the electronics theft add-on)
• $250 deductible per claim, meaning you cover costs under $250 and the first $250 of larger claims

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Pricing

Now, let's talk about money, shall we? SafetyWing's pricing isn't one-size-fits-all. Their rates vary based on the policy you pick, how old you are , and if your travels include coverage in the United States .

If you want to beef up your coverage, SafetyWing offers a few extra options (for digital nomads living outside the US). You can choose to add protection for trips to the US, cover for injuries related to adventure sports , and even insure against electronics theft.

SafetyWing also balanced the $0 deductible awesomeness with a slight tweak in their pricing .

You can estimate the cost of your nomad insurance coverage on the Nomad Insurance page or using this handy tool below:

SafetyWing Travel Insurance: Pros and Cons

Drawing from our experience as digital nomads and pooling insights from other travelers, we’ve put together a candid look at the ups and downs of SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance for you to make a more informed decision yourself:

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Pros and cons:

How does safetywing compare to other travel insurance providers.

And if you were wondering what's out there and how SafetyWing compares to the other digital nomad insurance providers, we also got you covered. Here's an overview of what we know:

How to Make a Claim With SafetyWing Travel Insurance

If you'll ever need to file a claim, the good news is that the claims process with SafetyWing has improved a lot .

In the last year or so, they made major improvements to make it more user-friendly , and they've also streamlined their claim process for quicker resolution .

Here's how you can now file a claim with SafetyWing:

Step 1: Start your claim

Begin by filling out the claim form available on SafetyWing's website . If you prefer, you can also download the form and submit it via email or traditional mail.

Step 2: Gather your documentation

Collect all original itemized bills, receipts, and proof of payment for the expenses you're claiming. These documents are crucial in demonstrating the validity of your claim. If you're making a medical claim, don’t forget to include a medical statement from the treating physician or facility, as this provides a comprehensive overview of the services rendered. A mere receipt may not do the trick , as the claims team may need detailed information that only a medical statement can provide.

Step 3: Include essential information

Ensure your claim form includes your policy number and accurate contact details . This information is vital for SafetyWing to process your claim efficiently and to get in touch with you for any further information or clarifications needed.

Step 4: Get your submission on time

It's important to submit your claim within 60 days from the date of service . Prompt submission is key to a smooth claims process, allowing SafetyWing to address your needs as quickly as possible.

Step 5: Get confirmation and follow-up

After submitting your claim, you'll receive a confirmation email, acknowledging that your claim is being processed. For any queries or to check the status of your claim, SafetyWing makes it easy with options to contact their claims team via chat , phone ( +1 415 802 0299 ), or email ( [email protected] ).

How To Check Your SafetyWing Claim Progress

After you've dotted the i's and crossed the t's on your DocuSign submission, which is a part of getting your claim filed with SafetyWing, a bit of patience is in order.

The steps from submission to conclusion for your claim can take from 30 to 45 business days .

Now, about keeping tabs on your claim's status — you won't get updates in your inbox. Instead, you'll need to log into the Member Portal .

Once you're there, the following button will guide you to the "Claims and Appeals" tab:

It's here, at the very bottom of the page, where you can catch the latest on your claim's status.

If you're seeing " No claims started " or " Open ", it means the claim is still being processed , so you will have to wait up to 30-45 days before getting any updates.

SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review: Our Verdict

There's no denying it, SafetyWing brings something special to the table for us digital nomads . It’s not without its quirks, but its standout features do make it an attractive pick, especially for anyone chasing a budget-friendly and no-fuss insurance option .

That said, the variety of feedback out there really underlines the need to get cozy with the policy specifics and manage your expectations when it comes to filing claims.

Like with anything important, it's smart to browse around and weigh your options when it comes to travel insurance . Go ahead and compare different travel insurance plans to find the one that meshes just right with what you need. We've rounded up some of the top picks for you to check out in the article below:

Ready To Get Coverage for Your Next Travel Adventure?

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Marketer and digital nomad. After leaving his 9-to-5 corporate job in London, he co-founded Freaking Nomads to inspire others to embrace unconventional paths and find happiness wherever they go.

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Complete SafetyWing Review: What You Need To Know

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Nov 8, 2023 | Living Abroad , Travel Tips

If you’re searching for the best travel insurance, you might have come across SafetyWing.

In this SafetyWing review , we’ll look at their policies to help you decide if it’s the right travel insurance for you.

This guide will provide information about SafetyWing, how it works, who it is for, and more.

By the end of our review, you’ll know everything you need to know about SafetyWing travel insurance.

What Is SafetyWing?

SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travelers.

They have two main products:

• Nomad Insurance : insurance for nomads, as the name suggests.
• Remote Health: global health insurance covers your employees and contractors worldwide under one plan.

They are currently working on more products like Remote Doctor and Remote Retirement, so we’ll keep an eye on them for you and update this review when they are launched.

Go To SafetyWing

How Does SafetyWing Work

You’ll first need to decide on a product.

Are you looking to insure your startup team, or are you looking for personal medical insurance?

Once you know which product you need, SafetyWing makes it easy to sign up and get started.

For example, with Nomad Insurance, you must create an account and provide some personal information.

Then, you can set up an automatic monthly payment if you’re going on a long trip.

Once you have everything set up, you can rest assured that you’re covered in case of an emergency. SafetyWing will take care of the rest.

Now, in this review, we want to focus on Nomad Insurance, so let’s dive deeper into it.

Nomad Insurance Plan

With the Nomad Insurance plan, you’ll get medical and travel insurance. Let’s take a quick look at what this means.

Medical Insurance

SafetyWing covers you if you are in an accident or fall sick outside your home country and need medical assistance.

• Max Limit: $250,000 ($100,000 for 65 years and above)
• Deductible: $250
• Hospital: Room and nursing services
• Intensive care: Up to the overall maximum limit
• Ambulance: Usual, reasonable, and customary charges when covered illness or injury results in hospitalization
• Urgent charges: $50 co-payment, not subject to the deductible.
• Physical therapy and chiropractic care: Up to $50 per day. Must be ordered in advance by a physician.
• Emergency dental: Up to $1,000. Not subject to the deductible.
• All Other Eligible Medical Expenses: Up to the overall maximum limit.
• Notable exclusions: High-risk sports activity, pre-existing disease or injury, cancer treatment

To learn more about the policy, you can read the full details on SafetyWing’s website.

Travel Insurance

The travel insurance includes coverage for travel delays, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters, and personal liability.

• Trip interruption: Up to $5,000. No deductible
• Travel delay: Up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay period requiring an unplanned overnight stay. Subject to a maximum of 2 days. No deductible
• Lost checked luggage: Up to $3,000 per certificate period; $500 per item. Up to $6,000-lifetime limit. No deductible.
• Natural disaster — a new place to stay: Up to $100 a day for 5 days. No deductible
• Political evacuation: Up to $10,000 lifetime maximum. Not subject to deductible
• Emergency medical evacuation: Up to $100,000 lifetime maximum. Not subject to a deductible or overall maximum limit.

If you wish to learn more about the policy, you can read the full details on SafetyWing’s website.

Nomad Insurance has an excellent reputation amongst long-term travelers, expats, and digital nomads because of its unique features.

• If you are between 18-39 years old, you can purchase Nomad Insurance for $42 per 4 weeks if you are not traveling to the United States or $77 per 4 weeks if you do.
• You can set up automatic monthly payments and stop the subscription anytime.
• You can buy insurance abroad, even when your trip is already started.
• You keep your medical coverage for 30 days in your home country if something happens while there after being abroad for 90 days. (15 days if your home country is the United States)
• You can include up to 2 children under 10 years old per family (1 per adult) free of charge.
• You can learn more about what is included here .

Who Is SafetyWing For

SafetyWing is an excellent solution for long-term travelers, digital nomads, and expats.

If you are any of these, then SafetyWing Nomad Insurance should be on your radar.

If you are a student planning a gap year or semester abroad, SafetyWing can also cover you.

It’s important to note that depending on your age, the plan price will change. We’ll get back to this in the next section, so keep reading to learn more.

SafetyWing Plans And Costs

Let’s take a look at the plans offered by SafetyWing.

Nomad Insurance Cost (Excluding Travel In The United States)

• 15 days-9 years old: included in the price of adult insurance
• 10-39 years old: $45.08 per 4 weeks
• 40-49 years old: $73.92 per 4 weeks
• 50-59 years old: $115.92 per 4 weeks
• 60-69 years old: $157.36 per 4 weeks

Nomad Insurance Cost (Including Travel In The United States)

• 10-39 years old: $83.44 per 4 weeks
• 40-49 years old: $137.48 per 4 weeks
• 50-59 years old: $226.24 per 4 weeks
• 60-69 years old: $308.84 per 4 weeks

Pros And Cons

Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using SafetyWing when traveling.

• You can buy the insurance even if you are already on your trip
• The price is very affordable compared to most travel insurance providers
• You can include your family members in the plan (up to 2 children under 10 years old)
• The insurance covers a wide range of countries
• You get coverage for up to 30 days in your home country if you need to go back for any reason
• There is no coverage after 69 years old
• The medical coverage is not as comprehensive as some other providers
• The deductible can be quite high

How Does SafetyWing Compare To Other Travel Insurance Providers?

A few things set SafetyWing apart from other travel insurance providers.

• The price is very affordable, especially for long-term travelers.
• You can buy the insurance even if you are already on your trip. This is perfect for last-minute travelers or if you extend your stay.
• The insurance covers a wide range of countries. You are only excluded from coverage if you travel to Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
• You get coverage for up to 30 days in your home country.

My Experience With SafetyWing

I have been using SafetyWing for several years now, and I have had a great experience with them thus far.

SafetyWing also covers Covid-19, which is helpful because traveling during the pandemic can get tricky.

I have never had to make any claims so far (knocks on wood*), but the customer service has always been super responsive and helpful when I had questions.

I would recommend SafetyWing to anyone looking for an affordable and comprehensive travel insurance solution.

That said, many of my nomad friends have been using SafetyWing, too, and I’ve heard great stories.

For example, a few of my friends could return home, thanks to SafetyWing, who evacuated them during the pandemic when countries were going into lockdowns.

How To Get SafetyWing Travel Insurance

You can get SafetyWing Nomad Insurance here .

Simply create an account and provide your personal information.

Then, you’ll be prompted to set up your monthly payment with your bank card details. Every 28 days, the insurance policy is going to renew automatically.

When your trip ends, simply stop the subscription, and the policy won’t be extended again… until your next trip!

SafetyWing Vs Genki: Which Is Better?

SafetyWing and Genki are two providers aiming to protect long-term travelers.

Let’s take a look at their main differences:

• Price: Genki is more affordable per month, but only if you’re less than 29 years old. Once you’re more than 30 years old, SafetyWing becomes cheaper.
• Coverage: Genki can cover you everywhere in the world, while SafetyWing has a few exceptions, like Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
• Deductible: Genki offers a €50 deductible on its plans and a no-deductible plan, while SafetyWing has a deductible of $250.
• Automatic monthly payments: Genki charges you on the same day each month, while SafetyWing charges you every 28 days, resulting in 13 times per year instead of 12 times per year. That said, you may want to add the sums up to see which one is cheaper.
• Travel coverage: Genki covers medical issues but doesn’t cover travel delays, trip interruptions, or luggage issues. SafeyWing offers travel coverage too.

So, which one should you pick?

It depends on your needs, budget, and the type of coverage you’re looking for.

If you need travel protection like flight delays or luggage coverage, SafetyWing might be a better choice.

If you’re on a tight budget and need medical insurance, Genki is your best bet. You can learn more by reading our complete Genki review .

Learn more by reading our post about SafetyWing vs Genki .

Final Thoughts On SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing is an excellent option for budget-minded travelers looking for comprehensive coverage.

I have been using them for years, and I’ve always been happy with the service.

If you want an affordable and comprehensive travel insurance solution, I highly recommend SafetyWing.

Traveling long-term? You may also like the following guides:

• Airalo review
• Revolut vs Wise
• Revolut card

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SafetyWing Review: Is It Legit for Nomads?

We take pride in providing authentic travel recommendations based on our own experiences, which is documented through our travel photography and writing only about places we have personally visited. We may earn a commission when you purchase a product or book a reservation. This has no influence on our recommendations. For more information, please read about our approach to travel publishing. Learn more ›

Written by Kyle Kroeger

Traveling outside your native country is one of the greatest adventures in life. You learn so much about yourself, discover new cultures and ways of life, and meet many people.

Travel allows us to alter our perspectives on the important things in life, appreciate the value of community, preserve and respect other cultures, and remain curious and open through every experience.

If you’re planning a trip outside the country, whether for pleasure or to live the digital nomad life and work as you travel (which is just as fun!), you’ll need a reliable travel insurance company to lean on during your trip(s).

This SafetyWing review will explore the key features, pros and cons, general feedback, and customer reviews to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information on SafetyWing . We will even share a few travel insurance alternatives if you need more specific coverage for your trip abroad.

What is SafetyWing?

SafetyWing is a global insurance provider specializing in travel insurance for digital nomads (those who travel around the world while working remotely), remote workers, and long-term travelers from most countries who need flexible, affordable coverage.

SafetyWing is owned by the insurance giant Tokio Marine, which makes sign-up and selecting insurance plans straightforward and fool-proof. With other travel insurance providers, you’ll often have to deal with various companies depending on your location or nationality when you shop for insurance.

With SafetyWing, the same company handles medical and travel insurance, regardless of where you live. SafetyWing understands that spending much on travel insurance can dissuade travelers from investing.

However, it is highly recommended to have travel insurance with a reliable insurance provider once you leave your home country. You can’t plan for what accidents or emergencies may occur on a trip, regardless of where you go.

Maintaining the appropriate travel insurance from travel insurance providers like SafetyWing is crucial on any trip abroad. It provides you and your loved ones back home with the peace of mind that, in the unfortunate event something happens to you, you won’t be left with massive medical bills, financial stress, or ruin. 

SafetyWing aims to make purchasing travel insurance easy for digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and remote workers from all over the globe. With access to flexible, affordable, and easy-to-understand health and travel insurance plans , people can focus on the exciting parts of travel rather than mundane (but necessary) tasks like obtaining the proper travel insurance.

See Related: Cheap Places to Visit in the US

How Does SafetyWing Work?

SafetyWing travel insurance offers two insurance plans we will explore in this article. The first is its travel insurance plan, called Nomad Insurance.

Nomad Insurance is a standard travel medical insurance covering people from all over the world outside their home country. The medical coverage includes if you become sick or get in an accident while traveling abroad .

The travel insurance includes coverage for travel delays, lost checked luggage, and personal liability. The second plan is called Remote Health, the global primary health insurance plan for remote workers and digital nomads who travel long-term.

Remote Health is a fully-equipped insurance plan designed for remote workers and digital nomads who can stay abroad for as long as possible. Remote Health offers full coverage in a traveler’s home country as well as all over the world. 

SafetyWing Review: Key Features

We will first discuss each plan’s key features in this SafetyWing insurance review. For most travel insurance companies, these are the benefits that play a significant role in why you would choose one insurance company over the competition. 

Nomad Insurance Policy Key Features

Here are the key features of the Nomad Insurance policy for travel medical insurance. 

Standard travel medical insurance

Standard travel medical insurance through SafetyWing covers:

• Hospital stays including daily room and board, nursing services, a room in the ICU
• Emergency treatment for illness or injury
• Emergency local ambulance, if related to emergency illness or injury
• Physical therapy and chiropractic care
• Emergency dental treatment or surgery
• Emergency eye exam for lost or damaged glasses
• Limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions
• Transportation of one relative bedside in a medical situation
• The convenience of direct billing for hospitals listed in SafetyWing’s network

Standard travel insurance through SafetyWing covers: 

• Up to $5,000 in trip interruption
• Up to $100 a day in travel delays 
• Up to $6,000 maximum lifetime limit for lost checked luggage

One major bonus about SafetyWing’s travel coverage is you don’t have to state where you’ll be traveling. You specify if you will be within the US or not, and the rate is based on that information.

This gives travelers the freedom to go almost anywhere in the world with the peace of mind that they will be safe with SafetyWing’s worldwide travel coverage. Many insurance companies require a destination country, return date, and other information that SafetyWing travel insurance does not ask for.

Other Travel Coverage

Here is what SafetyWing covers on the Nomad Insurance policy:

• Up to $25,000 in personal liability 
• Up to $100 a day for a new place to stay in a natural disaster
• Up to $10,000 maximum lifetime for transport during a political evacuation
• Up to $1,500 to cover transport for one relative to visit you in the hospital
• Up to $100,000 lifetime maximum for an emergency medical evacuation

Covered adventure sports include:

• Bungee jumping , hot air balloon rides, jet skiing, safari tours
• Baseball, soccer, horseback riding, zip line
• Mopeds and scooters (ideal for travelers in Southeast Asia)
• Windsurfing, wakeboarding, scuba diving (if you are certified or with an instructor)

Affordability for Travelers Under 50

For travelers in the age range of 18 to 39, the Nomad Insurance policy pricing begins at $42 a month. For those 40 to 49 years old, the price jumps to $68 per month. If you’ve shopped for travel insurance, you probably know this is a very competitive and affordable rate, and the no-cancellation fee is the cherry on top.

With SafetyWing’s subscription model , you’ll make monthly payments for your travel insurance and not worry about being expected to pay upfront or having a large lump sum due once a year.

Great for Families 

Digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers often have families and little ones who tag along on the family’s adventures abroad. SafetyWing understands that families are now starting to travel abroad more than ever. It has included coverage for children in the Nomad Insurance policy to make adding family members easy and convenient.

With the Nomad Insurance policy, up to 2 children under 10 per family (1 per adult) can be included on your insurance free of charge.

You won’t have to fret about adding kids or finding them separate insurance later. Everyone’s covered, so you’re free to enjoy the journey! 

Convenient Subscription Model

The appeal of digital nomad insurance through SafetyWing is achieved through its convenient subscription model. Most insurance providers require a one-year contract, which can be expensive and inconvenient for travelers if their plans change, something comes up, or they need to head home early.

When traveling with no return ticket, the last thing you want is to be stressed about deciding where and when you’ll end your time abroad and return home. SafetyWing’s subscription model allows nomads to do what they love — wander, experience, and immerse themselves in many local cultures without the stress of booking a flight home.

By purchasing insurance with SafetyWing, you can cancel at any time without penalty or cancellation fee. You’ll be charged for your insurance coverage every 28 days and are not required to pay upfront for the entire year.

With a clear pricing structure and simple cancellation, travelers can make plans to travel outside of their home country, knowing they’ll be covered if anything happens to them while abroad.

See Related: Important Pros and Cons of Travel Insurance

Remote Health Insurance Plan Key Features

Here are the key features of SafetyWing’s Remote Health insurance plan. 

Live and Travel Anywhere

Whether in your home country, traveling between countries, or constantly moving, the Remote Health plan by SafetyWing has you covered for both standard and emergency medical care.

Remote Health is a primary insurance plan that does not require a return ticket or specifications on where you’ll be traveling. Additionally, you’ll be covered in your home country should you return home in between trips.

Comprehensive Global Medical Coverage

Because Remote Health is designed specifically for remote workers and digital nomads, it differs from the Nomad Insurance plan and many other insurance plans on the market. You will receive in-depth medical coverage, including cancer treatments, palliative care, health screenings, and much more.

If you have a pre-existing condition but still want to see the world, Remote Health has you covered should you get sick or have any flair-ups while traveling.

The extensive coverage in the Remote Health plan is ideal for individuals who think they may need medical treatment (other than emergency medical services) while outside of their home country.

They want to travel but need the assurance that if they fall ill or need treatment, it will be easy to access and won’t cost them massive out-of-pocket fees.

Primary International Insurance

The Remote Health insurance policy covers many medical problems, health issues, and care at medical facilities. If you’ve been curious about what the extra cost of SafetyWing’s Remote Health offers, you’ll be impressed.

Coverage of this plan includes:

• Emergency room visits
• Primary care physician visits
• Specialist visits
• Medication or prescriptions
• Psychiatric treatment (outpatient)
• Complementary therapy
• Routine dental work, including check-ups, fillings, and cleanings
• Other dental care, like new crowns, dentures, inlays, and surgery
• Standard vision care, including one eye exam per year
• Contact lens evaluation and fitting once a year
• One pair of glasses every two years
• Cancer screenings, vital signs exams
• Immunizations and boosters (not including COVID-19 vaccine)

Other medical care includes:

• Palliative care (up to $50,000 for a patient with a terminal illness)
• Rehabilitation and specialized care
• Inpatient surgery, reconstructive surgery
• Organ transplants
• Emergency ambulance
• Care home nurse for up to 60 days

Does SafetyWing cover COVID-19?

Yes! From treatment to quarantine (aside from vaccines), COVID coverage is insured by SafetyWing no matter where you are in the world. Few travel insurance companies offer this level of coverage for COVID-19, which comforts weary travelers that their medical expenses will be covered should they become exposed or ill with coronavirus (or any other illness).

Long-term Stays In Any Country

The plan offers travelers the chance to see the world without worrying about their health or coverage in the event of an accident, injury, or becoming ill.

For remote employees who have the freedom to work from anywhere, it becomes much more possible to see the world while maintaining a full-time job, rather than having to constantly use vacation time and strategically plan every minute of an international vacation.

With a remote job and primary health insurance in any country, the opportunity to live abroad has never been more accessible for anyone who wants to make it happen. SafetyWing’s Remote Health plan can help anyone make that dream a reality.

See Related: How to Find Cheap Flights [An Actual Step-by-Step Guide]

Pros and Cons of SafetyWing Insurance 

Now that you know how SafetyWing works for travelers , let’s explore the pros and cons of the two insurance plans in this SafetyWing insurance review.

Pros of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

• The subscription model makes it easy to cancel at any time without penalties or fees
• Affordable coverage for travelers under 50 years old
• Does cover COVID-19 (aside from testing)
• The coverage auto-renews every four weeks
• The pricing model offers affordable monthly payment options
• Two children per family can be included in a policy
• Personal liability coverage is included

Cons of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

• Only covers medical emergencies, unexpected illnesses, or injury
• $250 deductible 
• Low maximum payout at $250,000
• Limited coverage in a traveler’s home country for short-term visits
• Does not cover cancer, routine check-ups, or a pre-existing condition
• Policies do not cover trip cancellations
• Prices increase significantly for those over 50
• No theft coverage for electronics or device coverage
• Does not offer coverage on extreme sports like paragliding and parachuting
• Does not cover travel to Iran, North Korea, or Cuba

Pros of SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance

• $0 deductible
• Offers COVID coverage (aside from testing), cancer treatments, and approved pre-existing health conditions
• The claims process takes about seven days 
• $1 million annual maximum
• Offers full health care coverage in a traveler’s home country 
• Travelers can pay monthly for their coverage
• Add family members for an extra premium 
• 175+ countries covered as main residences around the world
• Travelers can buy insurance when they’re already abroad and keep traveling while covered

Cons of SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance

• SafetyWing’s Remote Health plan is an annual contract and is not available as a short-term plan 
• It does not cover other factors that can go wrong on a trip or any travel benefits, including trip interruption, lost luggage, etc.
• In the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore, only limited coverage is available for 30-day trips
• No theft coverage for electronics or standard device coverage
• Prices drastically increase for those over 50 
• Does not provide coverage for those over 74

See Related: Best Day to Book Flights: Is Tuesday the Cheapest?

How to Get a SafetyWing Quote

Getting a quote for a SafetyWing travel insurance plan is simple. On the SafetyWing website , click on the pricing tab, select your age range from the drop-down, and you’ll see the price you’ll pay per month for a SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Plan. 

To get pricing for Remote Health insurance for digital nomads, visit the pricing page, select your age range, and the handy price calculator will give you a monthly or annual estimate. 

Yup, it’s that easy!  If you have additional questions or need clarification on plan details, contact the SafetyWing customer service team. They are attentive, knowledgeable, and happy to help promptly answer your questions.

SafetyWing Alternatives: Other Insurance Providers

SafetyWing may not offer the best insurance policies for your travel plans or coverage needs. We recommend a few alternatives to SafetyWing .

We’ll compare their perks to SafetyWing’s so you can decide which insurance providers are best for your particular itinerary or the experiences you’d like to have in your travels.

World Nomads

World Nomads has been designed by travelers for travelers, with coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.

World Nomads offers coverage for various activities, including snow sports, bungee jumping, surfing, scuba diving, hang gliding, rock climbing, and much more. While SafetyWing offers coverage of basic outdoor activities, it does not offer coverage for more extreme sports or activities that can be done outside your home country, as World Nomads does.

In terms of medical coverage, World Nomads and SafetyWing offer similar medical care. Unforeseen illness and injury are covered, along with emergency medical evacuation, hospital visits, care from a doctor, and emergency dental treatment. World Nomads also offers baggage benefits if your items are stolen or lost while traveling. 

Additionally, World Nomads covers the loss, theft, or damage of any technology, devices, or electronic gear you bring along on your travels. This includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and more. SafetyWing does not cover the loss of this type of gear or electronics unless they are inside your checked luggage that was lost. World Nomads offers generous trip cancellation and trip interruption policies. In contrast, neither SafetyWing’s insurance policies cover canceled trips because they are designed for long-term travelers with one-way tickets. Instead, SafetyWing offers coverage on trip interruptions. World Nomads provides an excellent cushion if you need the wiggle room to cancel a trip.

World Nomads has a $100 deductible, while SafetyWing’s similar travel insurance plan, Nomad Insurance, has a $250 deductible. 

As you know, SafetyWing’s pricing for the basic Nomad Insurance plan starts at around $42 a month for people between the ages of 10 and 39. World Nomads’ base travel insurance plan is around $120 monthly, depending on your chosen location and package. 

There are definitely benefits to choosing World Nomads for travel insurance if you are on the hunt for thrill-seeking activities on your trip abroad. 

You’ll be covered for many activities, have peace of mind knowing you’re covered if your trip gets canceled, and have better coverage for tech and gear if it gets lost or damaged. You’ll pay more for monthly coverage with World Nomads but have more of your bases covered in the event of an accident, cancellation, theft, or emergency.

The extra cost is worth it if you travel with a lot of gear to take photos, shoot video content, work remotely while traveling, and have a laptop, tablet, and other technology.

Visitors Coverage

Travel insurance can be daunting for people planning trips with pre-existing conditions because many companies do not offer health insurance plans with that type of coverage.

Enter Visitors Coverage . This travel insurance company offers travel medical policies, including a pre-existing medical conditions waiver, so you can cancel or interrupt your trip or receive medical treatment abroad. This is a significant benefit for people who live with medical conditions but can travel; they need the proper insurance coverage to do so. 

Visitors Coverage also offers plans that have coverage for expenses incurred due to illness or injury while traveling, emergency medical evacuation, a natural disaster, trip interruption, and trip cancellation.

If you’re the type who tends to misplace your things, Visitors Coverage has generous coverage for the loss of your wallet, passport, and luggage, and many other scenarios that may interfere with your trip. They have plans covering COVID-19, urgent care visits, emergency dental and eye care, prescriptions, flu shots, and more. 

At Visitors Coverage, a basic health insurance plan for a traveler in their 30s going to Europe would cost between $35 and $50 a month for comprehensive health insurance, with a $250 deductible. 

Visitors Coverage offers many individual insurance plans; from medical expenses, trip cancellation, cruise, group travel, business travel, missionary, and multi-trip plans, they have great plans for any itinerary in any country worldwide. 

It can get more confusing to book several types of insurance through one company; that’s one of the significant benefits of using SafetyWing — you can get standard medical insurance and travel insurance through the Nomad Insurance plan or more comprehensive medical coverage through the Remote Health plan.

However, if you need an affordable medical insurance plan with pre-existing conditions coverage, Visitors Coverage has a few options that you’ll find suitable. You won’t have to stress about losing any money in the event of trip cancellation or if you need medical care while you’re traveling.

For those reasons, Visitors Coverage is one of the most legitimate travel insurance providers offering competitive medical expense coverage for its customers. Like what you are hearing? Read our full VisitorsCoverage review for more information.

Insured Nomads Travel

For nomads who travel during specific seasons or have several trips planned throughout the year, Insured Nomads have travel plans that include medical, non-medical, and cancellation benefits. 

These travel plans are ideal for remote workers, modern citizens, and students who take short-term trips abroad, away from their home countries, and need to be fully insured while they’re traveling abroad.

Insured Nomads travel insurance offers affordable plans like the World Explorer, which covers single trips from 7 to 364 days away from a home country. The World Explorer plan begins at $29.

The World Explorer Multi plan covers multiple trips throughout the year, where you return home between trips and starts at $350.

Insured Nomads global health insurance caters to a traveler’s medical emergencies as well as routine, preventative, and chronic care treatments in the country you are in. You can receive medical coverage for the entire trip duration, and they cover pre-existing conditions.

Insured Nomads plans offer medical coverage, including emergency dental and eye care, lost checked luggage, personal liability, and phone and device protection. You can add on benefits like adventure sports and marine activities if you plan to go on any outdoor adventures during your trips (which we hope you do!).

Insured Nomads Community has many other benefits and perks for workgroups, including online counseling, a GPS-enabled panic button, privacy protection, and airport lounge access. 

Plan to take multiple shorter trips throughout the year but still want solid travel and health insurance coverage. Insured Nomads will likely meet the needs of your travel itinerary. The competitive pricing and impressive coverage options are enough to explore further if you want a solid insurance alternative to SafetyWing . Read our full Insured Nomads review.

SafetyWing Insurance Review & Ratings

The perfect insurance plan does not exist, right? Maybe so, but there are steps that modern insurance companies can take to make their coverage noteworthy and the customer experience a memorable one.

Here’s how SafetyWing insurance plans measure up in the convoluted world of travel insurance.

Ease of Use — 4

Everything from creating an account to selecting an insurance plan is straightforward. Travelers can sign up for SafetyWing while on their trip, making the travel insurance process much less stressful.

Making an insurance claim and the general claims process seems uncomplicated. To begin the claims process, send the claims form to SafetyWing, receive a confirmation email, and check the website for live claim updates as they become available.

You can follow the claims process in real-time rather than waiting around, not knowing what stage of the process your claim is in. Once your claim is approved, you’ll receive payment via wire transfer to your bank account on file.

While some customers claim to have had issues with claims and refunds, they are few and far between. No company is perfect, and travel insurance will always be circumstances that can’t be handled exactly how the company or the customer would like.

Features — 4.5

From the convenience of the subscriber pay model to the in-depth medical coverage of the Remote Health plan, the features of SafetyWing’s insurance plans speak for themselves.

Being able to purchase travel insurance while on your trip is extremely valuable and convenient for those who occasionally forget to purchase insurance before a trip (it happens to the best of us!). It may be difficult to believe that an insurance company is actually looking out for you. Still, SafetyWing has taken many steps to mitigate any errors people make while planning trips abroad.

As nomads ourselves, it’s easy to see that the founders of SafetyWing genuinely wanted to design an insurance policy that would make life easier for travelers — not more difficult, stressful, and confusing as so many insurance plans do.

The various convenient features of SafetyWing, including recent COVID-19 coverage, are undoubtedly why so many travelers from all over the world are selecting SafetyWing as their insurance provider.

Customer Service — 4.5

For the most part, online reviews of SafetyWing’s customer service are excellent. Customers describe their positive experiences through quick response time, an approachable, knowledgeable, and friendly staff, and an easy-to-use website to find additional information, plans, and coverage details.

If you are traveling abroad and have questions or concerns about your medical coverage, the SafetyWing team is just a Skype call away , and they’re happy to help in any way they can.

Many satisfied customers have needed assistance with medical coverage and claims while abroad. Customers are consistently satisfied with SafetyWing’s responses, helpfulness, and the support team’s medical knowledge to provide insight and support.

Value for Money — 4

The Nomad Insurance plan starts at $42 for ages 10 to 39. This is a very competitive price for the plan’s standard medical and travel insurance coverage.

The Remote Insurance plan is significantly more expensive, offering plans for 18 to 39-year-olds beginning at $206. However, the coverage included for this price is significant. Coverage includes outpatient care, eye exams, dental coverage, screenings, and vaccines, all within a $0 deductible.

If you are within the age range of 10 to 49, the value of SafetyWing for the cost is superb. The financial drawback of using either SafetyWing insurance plan is the cost increases significantly for those 50 and older.

The Nomad Insurance plan starts at $106 for those over 50. The same plan is $42 for ages 10 to 39. The Remote Health plan starts at $489 monthly for people over 50.

If you’re an over-50 traveler, you are better off looking into other travel insurance providers that offer more competitive rates for your age group.

See Related: Best Travel Insurance for Children

The Final Verdict: Is SafetyWing Insurance Worth It?

As digital nomads, ew know the importance of trustworthy global insurance. Here's our detailed review of SafetyWing, which features affordable, comprehensive travel insurance ideal for digital nomads and remote workers worldwide.

Product Brand: SafetyWing

• Great community and support
• Excellent for digital nomads
• Global health insurance
• Limited plan options

SafetyWing offers two affordable, flexible travel insurance plans for people who have wanderlust and want to see the world but need international health insurance.

Is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Worth It?

SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance plan checks every box for a standard travel insurance plan. It’s affordable, offers standard coverage for injury and illness, covers emergency medical expenses, and can be purchased when you are already abroad. 

The convenient subscription model makes it easy to cancel at any time without getting charged. The monthly payments are ideal for travelers who don’t want to pay for one year at a time, particularly those on tight budgets who need extra wiggle room for expenses and unforeseen payments.

Is SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance Worth It?

For those traveling abroad for the foreseeable future and long-term trips, SafetyWing Remote Health is a fantastic option for its thorough coverage offering for remote workers and digital nomads to handle their medical expenses outside their home country.

If you plan on being away from your home country for months, Remote Health insurance offers comprehensive health insurance no matter where you are. Remote Health provides a fully-equipped primary health insurance plan, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions or who think they will require more than standard travel medical insurance.

In our humble opinion, SafetyWing Travel Insurance is probably the most legitimate travel insurance company on the market today. They’re newer to the travel industry than other insurance providers, so they must build trust with seasoned travelers.

Even so, we do not doubt that SafetyWing will be one of the top travel insurance providers in the coming years as more people adapt to the nomad life and travel abroad with their partners and families.

Related Resources

• Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
• How to Become a Digital Nomad
• World Nomads Insurance Review

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Travel Tips

Need some help planning the logistics of your upcoming trip? We’re here to help!

We’ve created countless guides to everything from our favourite travel gear, top transportation options, accommodation choices, travel insurance and even resources to help backpackers and long-term travellers!

So if you’re searching for some top travel tips from seasoned travellers, you’ve come to the right place.

Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our  privacy policy.

Travel Gear

If you need anything from new luggage to a great travel handbag before leaving on your trip, these guides are sure to help you out. Whether you want to find the best shoes for traipsing through European streets or a stylish jacket to keep you warm in the winter, below are some of our most popular posts.

Best Carry On Luggage for Europe: Suitcases & Backpacks

The Best Wheeled Backpack For Europe Travel in 2024

The Best Backpack For Backpacking Europe in 2024

Accessories

The Best Travel Purse for Europe in 2024

The Best Packing Cubes For Backpacking

25 Best Travel Accessories for Europe

The Best Travel Jacket for Europe (Women’s & Men’s)

The Best Walking Sandals for Europe Travel

The Complete 2-Week Europe Packing List

The Best Travel Pants for Europe (Winter or Summer!)

Bluffworks Review: Stylish Clothes for Travel

The Best Shoes for Walking on Cobblestones in Europe

Staying Connected

The Best Mobile WiFi Hotspot for International Travel

The Best SIM Card For Europe with Data in 2024

MORE TRAVEL GEAR TIPS

Accommodation

Finding accommodation can be seriously overwhelming when you get to planning your trip, especially when there are so many options.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to booking accommodation for your trip, we are here to help. With so many booking sites out there, it can be hard to know which one is best. That’s why we’re trying to take the guesswork out for you.

If you’re interested in staying in your own apartment or saving some cash by staying in a private room in a local’s home, then Airbnb is our preferred choice.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a hotel, B&B or anything in between, then Booking.com is an excellent option.

If you’re travelling on a budget or just want the social atmosphere of a hostel, then booking through Hostelworld is our preferred choice.

And if you’re wondering the difference between some of the top booking sites, check out our guide to Airbnb vs Booking.com to see which is the best platform for your travel style.

How you’re going to get around a destination is one of the most paramount things to figure out before leaving on your trip. Whether you want to rent a car or rely solely on public transport, one thing is certain — it’s always better to book in advance to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible.

If you want to hire a car, we recommend booking through Rentalcars.com , which aggregates prices across many car rental companies to ensure that you get a great deal on your car hire.

For taking the bus or train around Europe, then Omio is the perfect place to book your tickets. Again, here is where you will find great deals across a number of different routes and companies.

If you’re interested in going on any kind of organised tour, then you can’t go wrong with booking through GetYourGuide or Viator . The former generally has more options available in Europe while the latter is better for tours in the United States.

Finally, if you want to hit the open road in a campervan or RV, then consider booking through Outdoorsy , which is essentially an Airbnb for motorhomes and a great way to get a feel for the ever-more-popular van life.

If you more detailed information on some of these companies, check out the articles below.

Omio Review: The Best Way to Book Transport in Europe

GetYourGuide Review: An Easy Way To Book Tours in Europe

Rentalcars.com Review: The Best Way To Hire A Car

MORE TRANSPORT TIPS

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something to consider before leaving on your trip, but there are so many different options to choose from.

World Nomads   offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for affordable travel medical insurance that is perfect for longer-term travellers, then we like SafetyWing .

Backpacking Europe

Though we don’t live that lifestyle anymore, we started our journey as backpackers and have acquired a wealth of knowledge about how to best go backpacking through Europe.

We have written a number of guides covering everything from the best routes to take, what to budget for your trip, and even what you need to pack. If you’re planning a backpacking Europe trip, then have a look through our detailed guides.

Backpacking Europe Packing List & Pre-Trip Checklist

Five Great Backpacking Europe Routes

How Much Does Backpacking Europe Cost in 2024?

18 Must-Have Backpacking Europe Essentials

MORE BACKPACKING EUROPE TIPS

Long-Term Travel

If you’re planning on travelling for a few months or more, we also have guides to help make that kind of life easier.

Whether you want to volunteer with different hosts abroad or are trying your hand at the digital nomad lifestyle, these articles below will help you out.

$10 Worldpackers Promo Code & Review (2024)

HelpX, Worldpackers vs Workaway: Comparing Sites Like Workaway

Is this the Best long-term travel Insurance? Safetywing Review

Are you looking for affordable long-term travel insurance? Here’s my review of SafetyWing travel medical insurance and why it’s one of the best long-term travel insurances for nomads and travelers.

Traveling comes with inherent risks, even if you take your biggest precautions. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going on a short backpacking adventure around Europe , a one-week horseback riding trip to Kyrgyzstan or if you’re about to make an overland journey from Europe to Asia .

Going on a horseback trek, for example, requires good travel insurance …

Anything can happen when you’re on the road. From motorcycle accidents, lost luggage at the airport, pickpocketing, breaking your leg while skiing or falling from a horse, bad luck can strike you at the most unexpected moment.

We love skiing in central Asia but we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t have good travel insurance…

After years of traveling with and without long-term travel insurance (more than 12 years now!), I can assure you that unexpected situations happen all the time. If you don’t have a plan B, your trip might end sooner than expected.

That’s why it’s good to always have travel insurance to back you up in case something goes wrong.

There are nowadays so many different options on the market that it’s hard to know which one is the best.

Choose travel insurance that will cover you no matter where you go…

After testing out different insurances, Cynthia and I found one that offers a combination of medical insurance (in case we break a leg while skiing in Kazakhstan ) and travel insurance (including trip interruption, travel delay, lost checked luggage, etc.)

This travel medical insurance is called SafetyWing and I’ll tell you why it might be the perfect insurance to get for your trip.

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why should you get long-term travel insurance?

As a long-term traveler, I’ve seen a fair share of disasters that could shorten or break an otherwise perfect adventure.

When I was in Tijuana many years ago, I had all my luggage stolen. During that same trip, one of my travel companions fell ill and needed to stay for several days in a hospital in Central-America. It wasn’t exactly the best trip ever…

Falling ill while traveling can happen to anyone…

While this was all pretty extreme, it can happen to anyone. It’s important to be prepared and have good long-term travel insurance that covers all of these situations.

You might be hesitant to get travel insurance as they can be very expensive, are complicated to set-up or you think they’ll never give the assistance you need while on the road.

Maybe you’re not sure about getting travel insurance because you think they are too pricy…

While some insurance companies are indeed expensive and unreliable, I’ll tell you why you should consider getting a travel medical insurance with SafetyWing.

What makes SafetyWing so great?

1. finally affordable long-term travel insurance.

SafetyWing is a very affordable travel medical insurance. At only 37$ per 4 weeks, this is cheaper than most travel insurances out there. That’s the same price as buying a coffee every day!

This is perfect when you’re a budget traveler or a digital nomad who’s just starting an online career and you don’t want to/or can’t spend too much money on insurance.

It’s a bit more expensive if you plan on going to the USA. In this case, it’s $68 for 4 weeks (this option is only available to non-US citizens).

With SafetyWing you can go on a road trip without worrying about paying for expensive travel insurance…

2. You’re covered around the whole world

SafetyWing covers you in every country of the world, except for Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.

That’s one of the things I love so much about this company. I can travel worldwide and I’ll still be covered (if I, of course, don’t go to the 3 excluded countries).

3. SafetyWing has a super flexible policy

SafetyWing has a monthly subscription model and you can cancel whenever you want.

As a digital nomad and long-term traveler, it’s hard to know how long you’ll be on the road for. With SafetyWing you don’t have to pay for coverage you don’t need and you can cancel your subscription very easily.

Another advantage of this company is that you can buy a policy even when you’re already traveling. You don’t necessarily have to be in your home country when you set it up, a requirement that many other insurance companies have.

I got my travel insurance with SafetyWing in Kyrgyzstan . The whole process was super easy and took less than 20 minutes.

Setting up my SafetyWing travel insurance from Kyrgyzstan was super easy…

4. Lots of sports are covered

Cynthia and I are big fans of hiking and trekking . We’re mountain lovers and we never miss the chance to go on a long hike in the mountains.

We just spent a whole summer bringing tourists on treks in Kyrgyzstan but I wasn’t worried about stumbling over the rough terrain or sliding down a rock because I knew SafetyWing covers hiking accidents.

Cynthia wasn’t afraid of tumbling down rocks once she had good travel insurance…

And that’s not the only outdoor activity covered by the insurance policy. Whether you like canoeing, horse riding, skiing, scuba diving or sailing, SafetyWing got your back!

On this page , you can see all the sports and outdoor activities covered by SafetyWing.

5. You can reach SafetyWing for support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

SafetyWing is easily reached from anywhere in the world and at any time you might need their assistance. They have a hotline you can call 24/7 if you want to speak directly to a staff member.

6. SafetyWing covers so many different things

For being such an affordable travel medical insurance, SafetyWing covers quite a lot of different situations and covers you for a considerable sum of money.

Here are just a few examples of things that are covered by SafetyWing:

Lost checked luggage ($3000 at $500 per item) Emergency medical evacuation ($100,000) Emergency medical expenses ($250,000 limit) Emergency room visit ($250,000 limit) Urgent care ($250,000 limit) Emergency dental coverage ($1000 limit)

SafetyWing has a high $250,000 limit to how much money it covers for emergency medical expenses so you can travel with peace of mind…

It’s important to mention that at this point in time SafetyWing doesn’t cover theft of electronics (see below).

This is an important thing to consider for digital nomads who make their livelihood with laptops, cameras, and other electronic gear. SafetyWing is supposed to cover the theft of electronics in its policy by the end of 2019.

7. Family coverage

Families can travel with peace of mind since SafetyWing covers the children of insured parents. This brilliant insurance policy covers one child (up to 10 years of age) per adult without any extra fees.

Even parents traveling with their kids can benefit from SafetyWing…

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Sign up for SafetyWing insurance now!

How does SafetyWing compare to other travel insurances?

Here is how Safetywing compares to other travel insurance policies in terms of prices for travelers between the age of 18 and 39. These are average prices.

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How much does SafetyWing cost?

SafetyWing is one of the best value travel insurances in the world at the moment. They charge in general around one-third of what their main competitor charges.

Here are their prices:

Monthly price:

These prices do not include coverage in the USA. If you need to travel there, prices will be slightly higher.

Age can’t stop you from traveling when you’re covered by good travel insurance…

How does the claim process work with SafetyWing?

Making a claim with SafetyWing is super easy and simple and that’s another reason why I love this insurance policy so much.

To start, you just need to send the claim to the email address provided upon your sign-up. SafetyWing will get back to you quickly and let you know it’s being processed. They usually contact you within 24 hours.

You can see live updates concerning your claim by visiting the claims section of their website. It’s awesome to see the whole process instead of being left in the dark until your claim is either accepted or rejected.

You can see the status of your claim even while you’re on the road…

What are some downsides of SafetyWing?

1. they don’t cover theft of electronics.

SafetyWing, unfortunately, doesn’t cover the theft of laptops, cameras, and other electronic gear at the moment.

SafetyWing covers a lot of different situations and is fairly cheap. My tip is to get it and complement it with separate electronics insurance. This way you would still pay considerably less in comparison with conventional travel insurance.

2. Injuries caused by playing some team or extreme team-sports won’t be covered

Although a lot of sports like rock-climbing, skiing or hiking are covered by this policy, some team sports such as hockey and adrenaline activities such as kitesurfing or whitewater rafting are not.

This is important to keep in mind if you’re an adventurous traveler who likes to try extreme sports

I strongly suggest you read thoroughly about all the sports that are included and which aren’t in the policy to avoid having any bad surprise.

Team sports like Kok-Buru are not covered by SafetyWing…

In conclusion: should you go for SafetyWing or not?

After looking at all its awesome perks, the very affordable price, and how easy it is to sign up and make a claim, I’m definitely going to continue using SafetyWing for the rest of my travels.

You can plan your trip without worrying when you have travel insurance that covers so many things…

Whether you’re a long-term traveler, a digital nomad or going on your first trip to a foreign country, this travel insurance will be the perfect one for you.

Visit their website now and sign up before your next trip !

4 thoughts on “Is this the Best long-term travel Insurance? Safetywing Review”

Nice review on Safetywing, good stuff. I have researched them too and consider them a great insurer overall, though far from perfect still. We’re collecting and have collected a ton of user reviews for them and most are positive.

SafetyWing, while not perfect, is a reliable travel insurance for budget travelers so we recommend them. However, if you ever come across the perfect travel insurance, do let us know! 😉

Too bad they eliminate seniors over 69

That’s indeed unfortunate but I think that most travel insurances have different or more expensive quotas for seniors over 69 as they’re generally seen as an age group with more health risks.

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HONEST SafetyWing Insurance Review (2 Surgeries Abroad)

The internet is full of SafetyWing insurance reviews from people who have never actually had to make a claim with SafetyWing. 

Not all, but most. 

This is pointless. 

A lot of these SafetyWing reviews just regurgitate information you can easily find on the official website. But without any real-life experience with the company, how are these reviews supposed to help you? 

Isn’t the whole reason you’re searching for Safetywing travel insurance reviews because you want to know how they’ll actually respond if you need them in an emergency?

After dealing with SafetyWing through two emergency surgeries, 20+ doctor and physical therapy appointments, and over $15,000 worth of medical bills, I want to share my experience with you. 

My goal here is to be brutally honest and help you make a more informed decision.

I’ll share what it was like trying to get reimbursed for tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, including:

• What I liked about SafetyWing
• What I DIDN’T like
• How SafetyWing compares to the competition
• Tips you can use to make any travel insurance claim go smoother
• A tricksy lil’ method to ensure you never get screwed by any insurance company ever

Just like every other travel insurance review you read online, I will receive a teensy commission if you purchase through the links on this page (at no cost to you). A portion of these funds is donated to GiveWell charities each month.

Table of Contents

SafetyWing Insurance Review: How The Company Actually Works 

Safetywing vs. world nomads, how to compare nomad insurance companies, #1 – it’s an absolute bargain, #2 – you can set it and forget it, #3 – no deductible, #4 – you get bonus home-country coverage, #5 – optional add-ons for extra protection, does safetywing cover covid-19, #1 – they don’t work directly with every hospital, #2 – claims seem to “slip through the cracks” (with tokio marine), #3 – getting pre-approval can be frustrating, my tricksy strategy to never get screwed by travel insurance, is safetywing legit.

SafetyWing has launched some huge upgrades since it first came out, and one of the biggest ones is Nomad 2.0.

The original Nomad insurance plan is underwritten by WorldTrips, a subsidiary of Tokio Marine, which is a huge international company that’s almost 150 years old.

This kind of meant that SafetyWing was just the pretty outside wrapping paper of the real insurance you were buying.

It also meant that SafetyWing was limited in the types of plans, coverage, and features they could offer.

But Nomad 2.0 changed that.

With Nomad 2.0, SafetyWing is no longer the pretty wrapping paper — it’s the whole package.

This new plan has allowed SafetyWing to start offering extra cool features and actually implement feedback from customers.

I’ll cover what that actually means for you in a sec.

SafetyWing’s slogan is “a nomad insurance policy created for digital nomads, by digital nomads”. But really, most types of travelers can benefit from SafetyWing.

How SafetyWing Compares to the Competition

Alrighty, so before we get into my personal experience with SafetyWing, let’s compare it to the other most popular travel insurance plans for long-term travelers.

For a detailed comparison of the top five travel insurance companies — plus photos of all my travel injuries — check out my best insurance for digital nomads guide .

Compared to these other travel insurance companies, SafetyWing is the best bang for your buck (unless you need a specific type of coverage). 

I had a super in-depth section here comparing the pros and cons of SafetyWing and World Nomads .

Unfortunately, the World Nomads legal team does not allow their affiliates to make comparisons or discuss opinions or recommendations, so I had to remove much of what I wrote.

So instead of writing about World Nomads, I’ll talk about why I decided to switch my travel insurance from World Nomads to SafetyWing.

Firstly, the SafetyWing Nomad plan saved me almost $90 per month on premiums.

Here is an example quote from World Nomads for myself – a 33-year-old American traveling to Colombia for four weeks.

And here’s how much Nomad 2.0 costs for the same time period.

Second, SafetyWing covers all the adventure activities I’m interested in.

I don’t have any particularly dangerous travel hobbies , so a more comprehensive plan isn’t necessary for me.

Third, SafetyWing’s deductible is per policy period, meaning it doesn’t reset every time you make a claim.

Fourth, SafetyWing gives you coverage in your home country (if you meet certain requirements), which is handy for visiting home.

In the past, one big downside of SafetyWing was there was no coverage option for lost or stolen belongings other than lost checked luggage.

But with Nomad 2.0, you can add electronics theft coverage as an add-on.

Fortunately, despite traveling with a pricey digital nomad laptop , I haven’t had anything lost or stolen in over 9 years of travel despite traveling almost exclusively in third-world countries.

When deciding between World Nomads and SafetyWing, here’s another important thing to remember:

Both companies have affiliate programs, but World Nomads pays better commissions.

That means whenever you search for things like “best long-term travel insurance”, every site you read will earn a commission if you purchase through their links (including me).

Since websites will earn a higher commission if you purchase World Nomads, that’s what they often recommend.

Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with World Nomads. I used them for several trips, and they covered every claim I submitted.

But just tuck that commission tidbit away in the back of your brain as you do your research — most reviews are slightly biased.

By recommending SafetyWing, I earn smaller commissions, but that’s ok. I’m satisfied knowing I’m helping people save money on quality insurance — insurance that had my back when I needed it most.

Lastly, whenever I talk about World Nomads, I’m required to make this disclaimer:

Another thing to consider when you’re comparing insurance options is that there’s a difference between travel insurance and international health insurance .

Travel insurance covers things like:

• Emergency health care
• Emergency evacuation
• Lost, damage, or stolen luggage
• Trip interruption/cancellation

Whereas international health insurance is more like a normal health insurance policy, but abroad.

Something to keep in mind when comparing prices.

From there, you’ll want to always check:

• The deductible
• The coverage limits
• The COVID-19 policy
• The activities covered
• Where you can get treated
• How the claims process works
• Pre-existing conditions coverage (if applicable)

Again, I get into all the nitty gritties of this stuff in my nomad insurance comparison guide .

When it comes to SafetyWing, their Nomad insurance is a travel insurance policy.

But they also offer an international health insurance called Nomad Health (I know, the naming is a bit confusing).

After using their normal travel insurance policy for years, I recently switched to Nomad Health because I wanted more comprehensive health coverage.

But for this review, I’ll focus on the regular Nomad travel insurance, which is what I had when I smashed a motorcycle in Thailand and basically disintegrated my wrist.

Alrighty, now let’s move on to my favorite (and LEAST favorite) aspects of SafetyWing.

Let’s start with the good news.

Awesome Things About SafetyWing

It is one of the cheapest — if not the cheapest — travel insurance out there (taking into account the amount of coverage you get).

The price is straightforward compared to other insurance companies that have complicated policies.

With SafetyWing, the only factors that affect price are:

• Optional add-ons
• Optional coverage in the US
• Whether you’re buying original Nomad or Nomad 2.0.

At the time of writing, the base price is $56.28 for Nomad 2.0 for four weeks of coverage outside the U.S. (ages 39 and below).

The price bumps up for older travelers, but this is true with most insurances.

If you’re traveling less than four weeks, you can enter your dates and the price will adjust accordingly.

You can choose to purchase coverage for certain trip dates or have it auto-renew every month.

Auto-renewal is super handy for perpetual travelers, digital nomads, or anyone without a specific end date.

Many other companies force you to choose an end date. If you underestimate the length of your trip and need to extend, it’ll not only cost you extra, but any claims you made before extending may become pre-existing conditions on the renewed policy.  

With SafetyWing, you can auto-renew each month for an entire year before you have to buy a new policy.

Nomad 2.0 has no deductible, which means you don’t have to pay anything before your coverage kicks in.

The original Nomad plan had a $250 deductible, but it was per year (or policy period).

That means if you keep auto-renewing your policy each month, you can go for a whole year and only have to pay your deductible once.

Some other companies charge you a deductible per claim — meaning if you had to go to the doctor for multiple issues, you’d have to pay the out-of-pocket deductible over and over before your coverage kicks in.

For every 90 days spent outside your home country, you can visit home and have coverage for a limited time (15 days if your home is in the U.S., 30 days anywhere else).

Some other travel insurances offer similar deals, but many don’t.

In fact, many companies will actually void your policy if you step foot back in your home country.

The limitations of the original Nomad plan meant that there were no optional add-ons.

But with Nomad 2.0, you can add extra coverage for Adventure Sports or Electronics Theft.

These options allow you to tailor your plan to your specific trip and needs.

At the time of writing, SafetyWing includes COVID-19 coverage if you are infected after the start date of your policy. If you test positive on arrival to your destination country and it is determined you were infected before your policy started, then your bills associated with COVID-19 will not be covered (which makes sense). To make double-sure this is still the case, click the little chat icon on the bottom right of their homepage to ask. They usually answer super fast!

Ok, now onto the negatives (dun dun dun!).

Sucky Things About SafetyWing

I have three main complaints. 

Now, this is the case for most travel insurance companies, so I don’t know if it’s really a fair complaint…

But basically, if you don’t go to a hospital in their network (or one with a fancy international department), you may have to pay out of pocket first and then make a claim to get reimbursed later.

This is much less convenient than having the insurance simply work directly with the hospital from the beginning. 

That said, SafetyWing’s product roadmap shows they plan to launch some kind of special Visa card you can use to pay your bills so you don’t have to go through the lengthy claims process to get reimbursed.

(And now that Nomad 2.0 allows gives them more freedom to add features, I’m hoping it comes soon!)

This would be clutch, as it sucks paying a bill with your credit card, then having to pray they reimburse you in time to pay it off.

That said, since Nomad 2.0 no longer has to work through Tokio Marine, the payout times are much faster.

When I originally made one of my claims, I got an email saying it should take around 30-45 days to process.

That’s pretty long, but this particular claim actually took four and a half months to finally get reimbursed.

Now, I don’t know how common this is — I can just speak from my own experience — but it seems like it may have been a fluke.

I waited the 30-45 days as instructed. Nothing happened. So I emailed them again. They said they had some sort of problem in the system, and I had to redo the whole process. 

Here are a few of the many emails sent between me and Tokio Marine/Safetywing.

Every couple weeks, I gave them a little nudge. And in the end, I did get paid. 

Basically, don’t be surprised if you have to give some little nudges and reminders to push your claim through. 

I never had to fight or argue. Just regular check-ins to make sure everything was on track.

If you have to make a claim someday (with any company), I recommend setting a recurring alarm in your phone to go off every two weeks. Then send them a simple one-line email like:

“Hey, how’s the progress going on this?”

If you do that, it’ll keep them on their toes and help things from slipping through the cracks.

ALL THAT SAID…

Since Tokio Marine is no longer in the picture with Nomad 2.0, these process should be WAY more streamlined.

You can send a message to SafetyWing’s chat and get an instant response.

Fewer companies involved means fewer opportunities to fall through the cracks.

By pre-approval, I mean trying to get your exams or treatment covered before you actually do the treatment. 

If you can do this, you don’t have to pay out of pocket, fill out a bunch of annoying forms, and wait for reimbursement.

The problem is, when you’re trying to do this, communication between the insurance company and the hospital’s international health team can be awful.

You basically have to act as the middleman.

In my case, the hospital would tell me they’re waiting on the insurance company for something.

Then I’d have to call the insurance company to tell them the hospital is waiting. 

Then the insurance company would say they already sent it.

Then I’d go back to the hospital and ask them if they got it.

It was annoying, to say the least. Why can’t they just talk to each other??

The hospital claimed that when they try to communicate directly with travel insurance companies, they always drag their feet. But if the patient calls, it lights a fire under their bum.

Who knows if this is true or not. Maybe the hospital workers were just lazy.

In the end, I wouldn’t consider it a deal breaker. I was able to get my main surgery pre-approved. And these quick phone calls were well worth all the money I was saving on cheap SafetyWing premiums.  

Also, my situation was fairly complex — with multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments abroad. If you just need a simple doctor’s visit, I’m sure this process would be much easier.

And with Nomad 2.0, Tokio Marine is out of the picture, so you’re no longer dealing with 3-way communication.

If you ever want to do an activity but aren’t sure if it’s covered, try this trick.

I once wanted to take a motorcycle trip in Thailand from Chiang Mai to Pai ( don’t do this, by the way !).

I looked online to see if this was covered, but the language wasn’t super clear. I was a bit nervous about whether I should go or not ( I should’ve said no !). 

I decided to message SafetyWing’s chat directly, explain exactly what I wanted to do, and ask if it was covered. 

And here’s the key.

I screenshotted the whole conversation as evidence. (Or just save the email transcript).

Now, I’m no lawyer, and I can’t guarantee such a screenshot would hold up in a court of law.

But it definitely could help if your insurance company ever tries to pull a fast one on you.

Fortunately, I never had to whip out the recording because after my accident, SafetyWing had my back as promised.

SafetyWing is a legitimate travel insurance company that was designed specifically for nomads and long-term travelers. This is based on personal experience with over $15,000 in successfully reimbursed medical claims. Most complaints about the company originate from those who try to get reimbursed for something that isn’t covered, like pre-existing conditions.

If you found this Safetywing nomad insurance review helpful, decided it is right for you, and would like to support the site (at no extra charge), you can sign up using the form below. Thanks in advance!

Mitch is your typical nomadic backpacker. Or at least, he was . But after stopping in Colombia to take “one week” of salsa lessons, his life took a sharp left turn. He met a cute Colombian girl in dance class, fell in love, and got married. Over half a decade has passed since he left his career to travel the world as a digital nomad, and he’s never looked back.

Nowadays, he’s the blogger behind Project Untethered — where he runs an awesome email newsletter and Youtube channel teaching adventure-craved wanderlusters how to escape the rat race, earn money from anywhere, and build an “untethered life”.

His advice has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, Reader’s Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.

Mitch's Travel Recommendations: Travel Planning Resources - Everything you need to plan your trip on one convenient page. Going Cheap Flights Newsletter - Get flight deals from your airport up to 90% off sent straight to your inbox. Safetywing Insurance - This cheap travel insurance has saved me over $15,000 in medical bills. Booking.com - Book accommodation without adding your credit card (in case you need to cancel). Trusted House Sitters - Take care of pets in exchange for free (sometimes luxury) accommodation. Flexjobs - Find remote jobs without having to sift through crappy ones. Skillshare - Free trial to take unlimited classes that teach digital nomad skills. Wise - Send and receive money abroad cheaply (great for freelancers).

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SafetyWing   Reviews

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Reviews 4.1.

1,381 total

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Amazing customer service

I've always had a great experience with the customer service team! They are always incredibly kind, patient, and go above and beyond to help me with my concerns. It’s rare to find such attentive and helpful service these days!

Date of experience : 20 September 2024

Reply from SafetyWing

Hi César 👋 Aww! That's such a heartwarming feedback 🤗 It's great to hear that our customer care team was patient and supportive. Psst, we also love our Customer Care team 😍 Thank you for recommending us!

Truly amazing!

Truly amazing! If only all insurance providers were so helpful, quick to respond, and patient with detailed questions. Would highly recommend SafetyWing to everyone!

Date of experience : 22 September 2024

Hi Patañjali, thank you for the lovely feedback! Our customer care team is open 24/7 to help you with any concerns. Take care and safe travels!

Insurance company that lives up to their word

Firstly, SafetyWing has an excellent user interface that's so intuitive and simple. Secondly, I ruptured my achilles tendon playing paddel tennis and they covered the treatment for my surgery in full without any issues, which is what you would expect from a good insurance company but often doesn't happen. I've been using SafetyWing for several years now as a digital nomad and I've been happy with the experience.

Date of experience : 17 September 2024

Hi Mark 👋 WooHoo!! 🎊 That's such a wonderful and heartwarming feedback there! We're more than happy to accompany you during your journey and that we are there when you need us the most ❤️ Thank you for recommending us and safe travels! ✈️

Best online insurance platform

SafetyWing is the best online insurance platform I've ever used. The claim process is super easy and support staff are always professional with concise answers to all the questions I have. Highly recommended!

Date of experience : 18 September 2024

Hi Navin 👋 Thank you for sharing such a positive experience with us! That's so nice of you to say 🥹 It's great to hear that our customer care team was patient and supportive 😍 Thank you again!

Super easy to use. Clear dashboard. User friendly website. 24/7 chat

Really appreciate the experience with SafetyWing so far. I've been trying to find a nomad insurance like them for a while now and glad i succeed. They are super professional, quick to answer and ultra relevant. You don't have to wait hours waiting in the phone, but usually 2min on the chat to get your answer. Coverage is super appreciated, already had some expenses abroad (Canada/France) and got reimbursed within 48h on my account ! My wife was at the embassy for a visa demand. She needed a special document, and successfully had it after only 5min on the chat. 100% recommand it. Keep it this way.

Date of experience : 01 August 2024

Hi Lucas, We are super delighted to hear about your experience! Our customer care team is the best and they are also open 24/7 to assist our members. Glad you have been reimbursed in a timely manner too. All the best and safe travels!

Awesome service

I'm the Head of People in a Company, and SafetyWing was my decision to add as a benefit for international workers. This is our third year under insurance, and I have only the best to say about the service—they are fast, improving their process all the time and decreasing the time for refunding. Coverage is awesome, and they are willing to meet everyone's needs.

Date of experience : 13 September 2024

Hi Lily, Thank you for your continuous support! This made me smile from ear to ear! 😊 We truly appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear our process improvements have made a difference for everyone. It is good to know that the coverage works for everyone and meets their needs. All the best!

Efficient and Trustful Health Insurance

Really high quality customer support! SafetyWing will respond any of your questions in less than 2 minutes. Their agents answer clearly and accurately. I highly recommend that insurance :)

Date of experience : 11 September 2024

Hey Alex, this is wonderful to hear! And yes, the customer care team does answer fast! Thank you for recommending us! Cheers

SafetyWing is AMAZING!

SafetyWing is AMAZING! I have used SafetyWing for all of my trips outside the U.S. and love their excellent coverage for a great price. Their support and responsiveness are also instant. You can call or email them, and you get an answer in less than a minute—literally. Compared to all other Travel Insurance on the Internet, don't go anywhere else but SafetyWing.

Date of experience : 03 September 2024

Hey Matthew! Thanks for sharing your awesome experience! Our customer care team is 100% human support and open 24/7 so you can be sure somebody is always there to help you with your questions wherever you are. Glad the pricing and coverage with $0 deductible works for you. Safe travels!

Rude support for rejected claims

Only ever made one claim for a stolen passport which was rejected. Support was rude, and condescending and wouldn't answer my questions. One suupport response is below. "One of the conditions for a reimbursement is that you Keep an eye on your things. which is not the case with you." They also refused to answer my question about what is reasonable care.

Date of experience : 05 August 2024

Hi there 👋 We're really sorry to hear this. We've reached out to you via Trustpilot to get more information.

Thieves! My family and I were traveling through Asia when I contracted two bacterial infections. I visited a doctor in Bali, which cost me €60, and SafetyWing reimbursed this amount. However, my pain only worsened, eventually requiring hospitalization in Bangkok, where I had to stay for several days. I paid €12,000 out of my own pocket, and SafetyWing is now refusing to reimburse me simply because the amount is significantly higher than what I paid in Bali—even though I sought treatment for the exact same pain. Do NOT take out insurance with SafetyWing—they are nothing but scammers who will leave you high and dry when you need them most!

Date of experience : 05 July 2024

Easy online service and communication.

Easy online service and I have used Safetywing before for a 3 month trip so happy to take out another policy for my next trip. I feel secure travelling as I opt for the roll on monthly cover, so I dont have to worry. You get prompt updates informing you that you are covered and you can cancel using the app at anytime you finish your travels. It was recommended to me and one of the only companies that offer long term travel insurance that you can also purchase outside of the UK. They also had a great price compared to general comparison sites.

Date of experience : 01 September 2024

Hi Philip 👋 This is such great feedback! Thank you 🤩 We are happy to accompany you during your travel and that you're happy with what we do. Safe travels ✈️

scam I have had such a bad experience…

scam I have had such a bad experience they have denied my claim when I had my laptop and phone stolen. I had theft insurance add on. and have only been met with a claim denial and no explanation and their emails have pages of code after it which tells me they arn't properly review your claim. either way im not the only one wish I read the reddit reviews.

Date of experience : 12 April 2024

Hi Richard 👋 We are sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your recent experience with Nomad Insurance. We can assure you that we are not a scam. There are certain conditions that needs to be met to ensure that it is clearly within the policy terms. Our team have received your appeal and we will be in touch ❤️

Outstanding Service

I had the unfortunate experience of getting a serious case of pneumonia while solo traveling in Turkey. I was extremely sick and terrified to be dealing with this all alone in a foreign place. The friendly team at SafetyWing were quick to respond to any of my questions and guided me through the process as soon as I arrived at the hospital. After only a few days in hospital, they had already approved my claim, taking an immense weight off my shoulders! This meant I could begin to focus on recovery. I would highly recommend SafetyWing to anyone who lives and works remotely as their customer service team is second to none. This is an insurance company who genuinely cares about their customers and I'm so glad I found them!

Date of experience : 26 August 2024

Hi Ann 👋 We cry happy tears reading this! Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming and honest feedback about us. This means a lot to us 🤗 We are happy to be part of your journey. Sending you so much love from here, XOXO ❤️

user friendly

I find the site very "friendly-looking" and simple to read. I got immediate friendly and prompt replies. I find SafetyWing efficient, clear, friendly, user friendly. It was also simple to go through payment procedures and the details on how to proceed in case of an issue, once you have paid and received your insurance card is very clear.

Hi Nadine 👋 Thank you for the great review about us 😍 We're so grateful to be able to support you on your journey! Safe travels ✈️

I would have given a star review if not…

I would have given a star review if not for the outcome. There was a misunderstanding with the claims that I filed and I was not given the payout that I was assured I would be given after the appeal. I made 3 follow ups and finally on the 3rd time I am thankful the team took a closer look at my claims and the final payout was finally sent.

Date of experience : 24 August 2024

Hi Susan 👋 Thank you for sharing your positive experience about our team and that your claim is well processed 😊 Have a wonderful day 🌻

Safetywing has amazing customer…

Safetywing has amazing customer service, fast responses, super support. I had to file a claim on my trip to Mexico and got a response that same day. Got reimbursed for my doctor’s visit within a week. Easy to submit a claim via their App and can go to any doctor you chose. Will use Sateywing again on my next international trip. And have recommended them to several friends already.

Date of experience : 30 July 2024

Hey Ann! Thanks for sharing your positive experience with us. We have indeed simplified our claims process. Glad it made a difference! Our customer care team is also open 24/7 to assist you. Safe travels!

Their insurance makes no sense.

Their insurance makes no sense. My husband and I paid for insurance for a month. I had an insured event — severe pain on the left side of my abdomen. I went to the clinic where I was given a NEW diagnosis, which stated that one of my ovaries is dysfunctional, so my left ovary has taken over its function, which is why I am now experiencing pain. All documents with the diagnosis were provided, but the insurance company made their own conclusion that I have a chronic condition. So, if you suddenly have, for example, a toothache, they will refer to the fact that this pain had been developing for an indefinite amount of time before the insurance was issued, and you would need to provide documents proving that you didn’t have it before… How? Without such a document, they will conclude that this tooth has always been hurting you. 😅 I do not recommend getting insurance with them. My claim # CLM60008587

Date of experience : 19 September 2024

Hi Daria 👋 Thank you for expressing your concern. We can’t share any details on the case you are referring to due to privacy reasons. Having said that, our claims team has reached out to you via email with information about how to submit an appeal. Feel free to reach out to our 24/7 Customer Care team if you need any assistance during the process ❤️

Safetywing is a scam

I've been traveling through Thailand and purchase the safety wing with extra for sports since I was planning to do scuba diving. I got an ear infection and spend around 17000 baht with doctors, medicine, etc When I've tried to claim they declined saying it was a routine medical examination!!! Even though I got an ear infected because of the scuba diving which I was paying extra for that!! This is a scam! I don't recommend it

Date of experience : 16 September 2024

Hi Alex 👋 Thank you for expressing your concern. The team has been in touch with you about the claim and you can always reach out to our 24/7 Customer Care team in our website if you need assistance ❤️

Good experience overall, despite some initial issues processing the payment

After some initial issues processing the payment for a claim it was all sorted. I gather their payment processor cannot process payments to certain banks. However, it was sorted in the end. Thank you.

Date of experience : 10 August 2024

Hi Sage 👋 We're happy to hear everything is sorted in the end 🤗 If you need anything else, feel free to reach out to our wonderful 24/7 Customer Care team ❤️

Straightforward no guessing

Straightforward, no gimmicks, brief policy details all upfront with very little legal smack talk. Chat response to my questions very quick and thorough and pleasant. I bought a 20 day policy for me and my wife both in our 60's for our upcoming European trip.

Date of experience : 21 August 2024

Hi Tim! Thanks for sharing that the policy was easy to understand. Our lovely customer care team is open 24/7 so you can be assured there is a human ready to assist you if you need help. Safe travels!