The Best Digital Nomad Health Insurance

As a digital nomad, one of the most important things to consider before embarking on a trip is securing travel and health insurance. It’s easy to overlook the importance of insurance but the reality is that unexpected accidents or illnesses can occur while you’re on the road!

Fortunately, I’ve been using digital nomad health insurance through SafetyWing which caters specifically to digital nomads and offers a comprehensive insurance plan that works with every budget.

What is SafetyWing? 

SafetyWing is a leading provider of digital nomad health insurance. Of course, you don’t need to be a digital nomad to use them, however, it was created by digital nomads and remote workers so if you fall into that category, they have you in mind!

Their travel insurance was designed to provide peace of mind and ensure that you’re covered no matter where you are in the world.

Budget Travel Medical Insurance 

When I had to change digital nomad health insurance providers in February 2022, I was looking for the most affordable option. That’s when I stumbled upon SafetyWing! I was travelling through Zanzibar, Tanzania and in need of travel medical insurance.

Their Nomad Insurance (Essential) starts at $56.28 USD for a month of mcoverage for ages 18-39.

SafetyWing also offers another option for digital nomad health insurance which is their Complete Nomad Insurance starting at $150.50 USD for a month for ages 18-39.

The main difference here is that it would include lots of extras such as:

• Routine medical care anywhere in the world
• Mental health support, therapy and cancer treatment
• Cancelled accommodation, delayed luggage, burglary
• No restrictions for coverage in your home country

Essentially, this is one of the most full-coverage insurance plans out there. Any type of medical coverage you can imagine is listed in their Complete Plan which you can find more information about here.

SafetyWing Travel Insurance (Essential plan): What it Covers

• Travel Medical Expenses – Up to $250,000
• Emergency Dental – Up to $1,000
• Emergency Medical Evacuation – Up to $100,000 during your lifetime – emergency ground and/or air transport to receive emergency medical care
• Home Country Coverage – Up to $250,000 – for every 90 days of active coverage, you’re covered for 30 days of emergency medical treatment in your home country
• Trip Interruption – Cost of one-way airfare or ground transport back to your home country due to an unforeseen event (death of a family member, damage to home, etc) up to $5,000.
• Travel Delay or Trip Cancellation – Up to $100/day or after a 12-hour delay period requiring an unplanned overnight stay (2 days max)
• Lost Checked Luggage – Up to $3,000 per certificate period; $500 per item of luggage ($6,000-lifetime limit)
• Driving Accidents – Up to $250,000 – applying only when you are properly licensed, wearing appropriate safety equipment and are not intoxicated
• Arrangements if You Die – Up to $ 20,000-lifetime maximum for accidental death
• Sports – Up to $250,000 for medical, excluding high-risk activities

*SafetyWing doesn’t cover if you have a pre-existing condition and certain lost/stolen belongings.

Biggest Benefits of SafetyWing

SafetyWing has quickly become my favourite digital nomad health insurance company because of the many benefits their plans offer: 

• PRICE – North American travellers won’t find a better monthly rate! I’m telling you, I looked far and wide and this is as good as it gets. I also love that the plan rolls over each month and you can easily cancel when you don’t need it anymore.
• WORLDWIDE COVERAGE – SafetyWing covers just about every country you could imagine travelling to. You also don’t have to update or notify SafetyWing when you switch from one country to another, which most other providers make you do. I love this because it saves me a lot of time and it’s just one less thing to think about.
• BUY ABROAD – If you’re looking for a new insurance provider while you’re abroad, you’ll have no problem purchasing SafetyWing’s plans. Many insurance companies won’t start a policy while you’re abroad so this is a huge benefit. 
• COVERAGE AT HOME – If you’re working remotely but want to come home to visit friends and family (after 90 days abroad), SafetyWing will cover you for up to 30 days (15 days if you’re from the US). 
• FLEXIBLE COVERAGE – Only going on a two-week trip? SafetyWing will cover you for the exact dates of your trip so that you don’t need to pay for additional coverage that you won’t be using.
• AUTO PAYMENTS – Unless you choose to cancel your plan, it will automatically renew every 4 weeks. 
• 24-HOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE – You never have to worry about an issue arising while you’re travelling, as SafetyWing is available 24/7 if you need them! 
• YOUNG CHILDREN INCLUDED – Travelling with your child? Two children under the age of 10 per family are added free of charge to your plan!
• FIND A HOSPITAL – If you’re in need of medical attention abroad and don’t know where to go, you can use SafetyWing’s ‘find a hospital‘ feature to get recommendations for the best place to visit. 

The Downsides of SafetyWing

This wouldn’t be an honest review if I didn’t shed light on some of the downsides of SafetyWing. Previously, SafetyWing had a really high deductible. That meant that if you had to visit the doctor abroad, you’d have to pay the $250 USD deductible and the entire visit wouldn’t be covered.

Since then they’ve changed this (YES!) and there is no longer a deductible! Of course, this means that their monthly fee increased from around $45 USD to $56 USD +.

In my eyes, this isn’t a huge deal, as you’re still saving a LOT on monthly insurance so paying a little extra each month is still worth it.

Another downside to keep in mind is that their basic coverage doesn’t include adventure sports, US travel or electronics theft coverage! If you want to add any of these to your plan, you have to cancel your existing plan and start a new one with the add-ons.

As someone who travels to South Africa a lot where theft and crime rates are high, I wanted to add on electronics coverage and didn’t know until speaking to someone from their team that I would have to cancel my existing plan first and re-purchase.

Depending on where you are in your plan, you might end up essentially paying for an extra month which is a bit annoying.

They also used to let you pause your plan and have since discontinued this. Instead of pausing when you’re home or not travelling, you have to cancel your plan and re-purchase when you’re travelling again.

This was so frustrating when I was home in Canada for a couple of months in the summer, as they do this purposely to up the price when you re-join.

Why Do Digital Nomads Need Health Insurance?

Digital nomad health insurance is absolutely essential in my eyes!

This is because if an unforeseen injury or illness occurs while you’re travelling, you won’t have to worry about hefty medical bills.

Also, a lot of hospitals won’t accept you as a patient if you aren’t able to show insurance coverage. If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll have to pay for the appointment or visit up front which can be a LOT of money.

Difference Between Digital Nomad Health Insurance and Travel Insurance

Travel insurance companies like SafetyWing have different options for health and travel insurance. Depending on the company you choose, they might have plans that are separate from each other.

With SafetyWing, travel insurance and health insurance are combined to give the digital nomad the most peace of mind when moving from place to place.

Digital nomad health insurance is designed for long-term medical coverage, ensuring access to routine checkups, emergency care, and ongoing treatments, even outside your home country.

Many international health insurance plans cover hospital visits, prescriptions, and sometimes even preventive care, making them ideal for digital nomads who stay abroad for extended periods.

Meanwhile, digital nomad travel insurance focuses on emergencies like accidents, trip cancellations, or lost luggage. While some policies include medical coverage, they usually don’t cover routine care or chronic conditions, making them less suitable for long-term nomads.

Digital Nomad Health Insurance Cost

Digital nomad health insurance prices range anywhere from $50 – $300+ per month.

The cost depends on a few main factors:

• Your Age – Essentially, the younger you age, the cheaper your digital nomad insurance will be. I was SHOCKED to see the price of digital nomad insurance doubling as soon as you hit 40, and tripling by the time you’re 50 or 60.
• Your Provider – Each provider has different plans available and a different pricing structure (that’s always changing and increasing each year).
• The Coverage – The more that’s included in your coverage, the more you’re going to pay. It’s as simple as that!

How Do I Choose My Insurance?

When it comes to choosing digital nomad insurance, you’re going to be faced with many options!

I sat down, compared pricing first and foremost and then took a look at the overall coverage and add-on options.

As a Canadian, I have free health care when I’m back home so I’m not so concerned about a health insurance plan because I know I’ll still have access when I return to Canada.

If you’re from the US or another country where medical care isn’t free, you might want to pay more attention to the medical options to ensure you’re properly covered while you’re travelling!

What About World Nomads Travel Insurance?

I used to use World Nomads travel insurance and I’ll be completely straight with you – I only stopped using them because they randomly stopped covering people from my home province, Ontario, a couple of years ago.

That’s when I turned to the internet, seeking a better option and found SafetyWing.

Not only is SafetyWing CHEAPER than World Nomads but you don’t have to provide a list of countries you’re visiting, which was a huge pro for me.

If you’re stuck between the two options, I’d always choose SafetyWing, as it’s about half the cost!

Other Blogs You Might Find Helpful

• Want to work for an airline this year? These are some of the best!
• Cape Town is one of my favourite digital nomad destinations. Here are the top laptop-friendly cafes to check out
• Looking to connect with other travellers? This is the best place to find online travel communities!
• Everything you need to know about visiting Montenegro as a digital nomad
• How I travel the world with my skateboard in hand!

Best Travel Insurance for Nomads

Overall, SafetyWing is an excellent choice for budget travellers, solo travellers or digital nomads seeking affordable travel medical insurance. I’ve personally been using SafetyWing for over THREE years now, as I travel full-time and have yet to find a better option! 

So what are you waiting for? If you have a trip coming up, I’d check out SafetyWing’s different plans. You’ll be able to relax and properly enjoy your trip knowing that you’ve covered all your bases. 

I’ll be back in the next few days with another blog but in the meantime, follow my adventures through Colombia and Central America on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. I share travel tips and tricks each day, as well as vlogs of the new places I’ve travelling and working from!

Cheers, 

Amy xx