SafetyWing Insurance Review: A New Secret Weapon for the Digital Nomad Lifestyle?

Recently, there has been a lot of talk in digital nomad circles about a relatively new travel insurance company called SafetyWing.

As a digital nomad myself, I was curious about SafetyWing and wanted to know more – was this company right for me? To find out, I have thoroughly reviewed Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance plan. Below, I have laid out what I learned and who I think would benefit the most from this new option for travel insurance.

First – do you need travel medical insurance?

Yes, absolutely! If you do end up needing medical attention while outside your home country, it can be a huge unexpected expense.

Accidents are called accidents for a reason – you never know when they’re going to happen, and if they do happen, you definitely want to be prepared to avoid the worst-case scenario. This is where travel insurance comes in!

What is SafetyWing?

SafetyWing is a fairly new company on the travel insurance scene. According to their website, they were created by nomads for nomads and aim to create a global safety net for those traveling or living outside their home countries around the world.

SafetyWing’s flagship travel insurance product is called Nomad Insurance. This product includes coverage for both medical (sickness or accident) and travel-related (lost luggage or travel delay) events. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance plans start at $45/month.

What is included in SafetyWing travel insurance?

Medical coverage

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides medical coverage if you are injured or fall sick outside your home country up to a maximum limit of $250,000. This includes ambulance transport, hospital stays, intensive care, and emergency dental work.

Travel coverage

Nomad Insurance also covers travel delays, lost checked luggage, and other travel-related emergencies such as natural disasters and political instability.

Flexibility/auto-extend option

SafetyWing works basically like a subscription – buy it whenever, even if you have already started traveling, and it will auto-renew until you cancel it.

Yearly (vs. incident-based) deductible

A deductible refers to how much you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Unlike some other travel insurance companies, SafetyWing has a yearly deductible. This means that once you reach this out-of-pocket amount for the year ($250), all further charges are covered.

Home county coverage

With SafetyWing, after traveling for 90 days, you can keep your medical insurance for a certain period of time in your home country. This means that if you go back to visit, you are still covered for 30 days, or 15 days if you live in the US.

Who is SafetyWing travel insurance for?

SafetyWing is best for digital nomads with flexible travel plans and who do not have a lot of expensive equipment. Travelers of any nationality are eligible for SafetyWing insurance.

Who is SafetyWing travel insurance not for?

Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all. There are a few groups of people who may want to choose a provider other than SafetyWing for their travel insurance.

Older travelers

You must be under the age of 70 to be eligible for SafetyWing travel insurance. Travelers 70 and older will need to opt for a different coverage provider.

Those traveling with a lot of expensive gear

Although SafetyWing does cover lost checked luggage, this coverage is capped at $3,000 total and $500 for each individual item. If your gear is worth more than this, you should consider a different insurer (or an additional insurer).

As far as I can tell, SafetyWing does not cover loss or theft of gear in any situation other than luggage lost between being checked and reclaimed at an airport.

Travelers planning on doing a lot of adventure sports

Travelers should be aware of which activities are not covered by SafetyWing. If you are not sure if an activity you plan to do is covered, it’s a good idea to check with customer service to see (and maybe keep a record of your conversation).

Travelers with pre-existing conditions

SafetyWing does not cover medical treatment for pre-existing illnesses or injuries.

Final words

In short, SafetyWing is a great option for most travelers and digital nomads looking to avoid being on the hook for unplanned medical expenses while outside their home countries. Compared to other insurance providers out there, SafetyWing is inexpensive and highly flexible to allow for changing or short-notice travel plans – great for travelers like me who like to keep their options open!

In addition, though I’ve done my best to compile the highlights of SafetyWing Insurance in this review, don’t just take my word for it! Be sure to review the complete and up-to-date information about Nomad Insurance on the SafetyWing website before making any purchases. Remember that, as with all insurance products, it is important that you carefully read the fine print to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

Check out SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance here!

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