Looking at travel insurance is the most boring part of planning a trip, but unfortunately for us travellers it’s a necessity.
And I was interested to trial SafetyWing, who seem to be one of the few modern insurance providers attempting to make buying insurance easier and more straightforward.
I used them most recently for our 2 month trip through Eastern Europe, and had a seamless experience understanding their policies and signing up.
I had never bought insurance in this rolling, subscription fashion, and was quite impressed by how relatively easy it was!
However, Cazzy was actually unable to go with them due to their limits towards people with pre-existing medical conditions (more on that below).
In this article, I’m going to do an in-depth review of SafetyWing insurance, and the differences between their two travel plans - Essential and Complete (there's also a 'Remote Health' policy which is primarily for businesses so it's not relevant to this article).
I’ll break down each policy by category so you get a deeper understanding of the insurance jargon, and what you need.
This way you can make an informed decision about whether SafetyWing is for you, and which plan would suit you the most.
Let’s get started…
SafetyWing makes it easy by having only two policies to choose from.
There is a huge difference between both policies when it comes to what they cover. But in short...
Flexible monthly travel insurance covering:
Targetted mainly towards digital nomads who travel for extended periods of time.
But is also great for most types of travellers, from most countries.
Has the unique benefit of being able to purchase whilst already abroad.
Flexible health insurance policy purely for travel medical insurance cover and doesn’t cover any of the other factors that can go wrong during travel.
Incredibly helpful if you’re travelling around the world on a long-term basis.
Long-term stays are covered for every single country in the world, and that includes countries like the UK, U.S and Australia.
Not only does it cover accidental injuries and illness, but it also covers cancer treatments, specialised treatments and palliative care, among others.
Is great for companies looking to insure a team of remote workers.
Like any travel insurance company, there are pros and cons.
In my opinion, several factors make SafetyWing stand out from other insurance providers.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that make them stand out:
This is a crucial benefit, as the vast majority of insurance providers don’t allow you to start a policy whilst already abroad.
This happened to me in Bali a few years ago where I had stupidly forgotten to buy insurance before flying, so had to pay a hefty premium to go with another company.
If I had considered SafetyWing, I wouldn’t have had to pay this largely inflated price that I did end up paying!
SafetyWing’s easy subscription model is one of the things that makes them stand out from other providers.
First of all, you don’t have to pay for a whole year upfront this way. Instead, you are charged automatically every 28 days (for the Nomad Insurance Essential plan).
This is great if you have no idea how long you’ll be out of the country for. It’s also super easy to cancel, with no penalty to do so or contract commitments.
Just be aware that the Nomad Insurance Complete plan requires a 12-month commitment and is paid monthly.
Many travel insurance providers require a travel duration, but SafetyWing doesn’t. That means if you have no idea when you’ll be back home, it’s all good.
A lot of providers also need a return date (and a return ticket) to activate your insurance. SafetyWing needs neither of those things, meaning you can travel with a one-way ticket, and plan your trip from there.
Travelling spontaneously this way is also super easy, as there is no need to choose a destination as they provide worldwide coverage. The only thing you need to state is whether you want to include the United States or not (as this will increase the price dramatically).
If you opt for the Complete plan (which is tailored towards long-term travellers), then you'll be covered in your country of residence and anywhere you travel.
This is a huge benefit of SafetyWing, as many travel insurance providers won't cover you in your own country, neither will they cover trips back home.
Just be aware that countries and areas which are sanctioned won't be covered. This includes the likes of Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
If you decide to opt for Nomad Insurance Essential (which is cheaper), you won't be covered in your home country so keep that in mind.
This is quite a unique aspect of travel insurance. Most insurance providers don’t provide coverage for riding a motorbike or scooter, but SafetyWing does.
They cover any accidents involved with riding a motorbike or scooter, as long as it doesn’t fall under any exclusions such as racing or intoxication.
This is perfect for nomads, especially those travelling around countries like Thailand, as scooters are one of the most popular ways to get around.
Just be sure to double check the exact limits on how fast a moped/scooter you can ride.
SafetyWing has a very clear pricing structure.
When it comes to the Nomad Insurance policy, prices will vary depending on your age, and whether you want to include travel to the United States.
There are also two plans to choose from - the Essential plan and Complete plan, with the latter being more costly.
If you go for the Nomad Insurance Essential plan , the policy is charged on a 4-week basis (28 days), while the Complete plan is a yearly contract and is billed monthly.
The Nomad Insurance policy also allows a child under 10 to be insured on an adult's policy for no extra charge. If you’re a family of 4 this is incredibly cost-effective.
There is a maximum of 2 children allowed per family on the policy without an added cost.
Before we go any further, let’s address the main issue when it comes to purchasing travel insurance.
Does SafetyWing cover COVID-19? The answer is yes!
Contracting COVID-19 works the same as any other illness when it comes to claims, as long as it wasn’t contracted before your policy start date.
However, SafetyWing doesn’t cover the costs of COVID-19 tests so it’s important to factor this into your budget if your destination requires them to enter. They will only cover the cost if a physician deems a test necessary.
In April 2021, SafetyWing also started to cover part of your quarantine costs (as described in the screenshot below).
This quarantine had to be mandated by a physician or government, be outside your home country, and you have to be covered by the policy for a minimum of 28 days before you can claim for it.
Now, although quarantine is no longer needed in the majority of destinations, we all know how quickly COVID-19 restrictions can change. As such, it's reassuring that SafetyWing previously made these changes - especially as pandemics can come along without warning.
The one thing to remember is that the COVID-19 cover comes included automatically with any new plan. However, if you have an existing plan you will need to get in touch with SafetyWings’ customer service time to upgrade it.
SafetyWing is one of the few travel insurance companies that offer such broad COVID-19 coverage in their policies.
Several things aren’t included with either of SafetyWings policies. Including:
The claims process is fairly simple, which is always handy.
There is a “make a claim” section in the dropdown menu under your profile. It will walk you through the whole process, so you know exactly what you’re doing.
The claims form can be filled out digitally, and then it just needs to be uploaded with photos of the receipts and any other documents that are needed.
Your claim should take less than 45 days to be processed, and you can check on the website to see live status updates whilst your claim is being reviewed.
It’s important to note that all claims must be filed within 60 days of the end of your insurance. You’re policy auto-renews every 28 days so this isn’t a problem unless you are nearing the end of your annual policy.
Below is a detailed rundown of each policy, but for now let’s briefly compare them and discuss which one is for you!
This is a quick table showing the differences between the two Nomad Insurance plans. (insert table from Google Docs here)
Each one of these policies has advantages and disadvantages, and it all depends on what you want cover for.
If you want comprehensive health insurance that will cover more than just emergencies, it’s worth opting for the Complete plan.
If you're planning to spend a lot of time away and think you may require regular medical care or health checks, it’s a great option.
Not only does it cover a variety of illnesses including cancer, but it covers you worldwide. This makes it the perfect health insurance for digital nomads and remote workers.
Better yet, this policy now includes travel benefits (under the previous remote health policy, it didn't). This includes trip cancellation, lost/stolen luggage, travel delays, and trip interruption.
However, it’s a big commitment as it’s an annual policy and doesn’t come cheap to people over the age of 50.
Although the Nomad Insurance Complete plan is more suited to long-term travellers, the Essential plan is still a fantastic option.
Not only is the Essential plan much cheaper, but it still covers medical emergencies and offers various travel benefits.
Just be aware that its medical cover isn’t nearly as extensive, and trip cancellation and stolen luggage cover aren't included.
When it comes to cost, the price will vary depending on which policy you choose.
However, unlike other travel insurance providers, SafetyWing has a very clear pricing structure.
The prices for this insurance policy will only change depending on your age, and whether you want to include travel to the United States.
The Policy is charged on a 4-week basis (28 days) and starts from $56.28 (for 18-39 year olds).
So for example, for an 18-year-old travelling somewhere like Ireland, and on to elsewhere in Europe, that would be the total cost for 4 weeks.
If they want to add America to their policy, it would cost them an extra $48.16.
SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance policy renews every four weeks for 364 days. However, you can cancel it at any time without a penalty.
Now, the Complete plan is much more expensive as it offers comprehensive healthcare.
This plan requires a 12-month commitment and the payments can be made either monthly or annually (if paying annually, you can save 10%).
Those aged 18-39 years can expect to pay $150.50 per month (this excludes travel to the United States). This increases to $263.50 if you're travelling to the United States.
Although the Nomad Insurance Complete plan has so much to offer, there's less flexibility as you'll need to commit to 12 months.
If you are from the US, here is how SafetyWing compares to other top providers:
* All quotes are for a 3-month backpacking trip around Asia for a 24 year old traveller (exact pricing will differ depending on personal circumstances, so use the below as only a rough idea)
If you are from the UK, or elsewhere in Europe, here is how they compare to top providers in these countries:
Again, all quotes are for a 24 year old traveler, spending 3 months backpacking Asia.
Getting travel insurance with SafetyWing is incredibly easy.
First of all, head to their website and create an account. You will be asked for some details including your home country, date of birth and address.
To activate the insurance you just have to choose your start date, and state whether you plan on travelling to the United States or not.
It’s literally that easy!
You can also sign up to SafetyWing from anywhere, whether you’re still at home or you’re already on the road.
The Nomad Insurance policy is a typical travel insurance plan and covers all the basics.
This includes medical cover, trip interruption, travel delays and lost luggage.
A great thing about the Nomad Insurance Essential plan is that coverage automatically renews every four weeks for 364 days (the Complete plan requires a 12-month commitment).
This means you don’t have to remember to renew it yourself, and you can cancel it at any time without a penalty.
The Nomad insurance policy also covers you for a wide range of activities during your trip.
To give you a quick idea of cover:
As SafetyWing Nomad Insurance has two separate plans within its policy (Essential and Complete), I’m going to break them down into subcategories to give you a more in-depth understanding of the two different options.
Trip Interruption
The Nomad Insurance policy (both plans) covers the cost of trip interruption up to $5,000.
It covers the cost of a one-way flight back home if you have to end your trip due to the death of a close family member, destruction of your property or after an emergency medical evacuation.
You will, of course, have to provide proof of these events to claim. In the event of an emergency medical evacuation, the physician must state that it’s physically necessary for you to return to your home country.
Trip interruption cover is a great thing to have on your travel insurance policy, as we all know things can go wrong when it comes to travel.
Travel Delay
Both plans of the Nomad Insurance policy provide cover for travel delays.
The Essential plan covers up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay period, which leads to you requiring an unplanned overnight stay. This is subject to a maximum of 2 days. The Complete plan covers up to $150 per day for 3 days.
The reimbursement is for reasonable accommodation and meal costs, and you are not covered unless the delay is 12 hours and certified due to the following reasons:
Travel delays are incredibly common, so this is always a great cover to have on any travel insurance.
Lost checked luggage
Lost checked luggage is covered up to $3,000 per certificate period, with a $500 limit per item. There is also a lifetime limit of $6,000 with the Nomad Insurance policy.
However, if you opt for the Essential plan, the keyword here is ‘checked’. With this plan, SafetyWing currently only cover luggage that is lost after being checked in with your airline or cruise ship. They don’t cover loss of luggage elsewhere or theft.
You must also file a formal claim for lost luggage with the transportation provider first, and follow all the measures directed by the provider to locate your lost luggage.
If this doesn’t work and you don’t retrieve your luggage, you can then file a claim with SafetyWing.
Alternatively, you can opt for the Complete plan which also covers stolen baggage (up to $5,000).
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are a completely unexpected factor when it comes to travel. They can happen at any time, and it’s always good to have cover for them in your travel insurance.
SafetyWing covers up to $100 a day for 5 days, for replacement accommodation.
This is if you’re displaced from planned paid accommodation due to evacuation from a forecasted natural disaster, or following a natural disaster.
The policy states:
“a natural disaster means an event of natural cause, including wildfire, earthquake, windborne dust or sand, volcanic eruption, tsunami, snow, rain or wind, that results in widespread and severe damage”
This doesn’t generally include named storms like hurricanes or typhoons unless they meet several circumstances.
Political evacuation
The Nomad Insurance policy has a lifetime maximum limit of $10,000 when it comes to political evacuation.
This means SafetyWing will cover the cost of transportation to the nearest country of safety or your home country by the most economical means possible.
When it comes to political evacuation there are several conditions you need to meet. These are:
Emergency medical evacuation
SafetyWing has a $100,000 lifetime maximum cover when it comes to emergency medical evacuation.
This means you’re covered if you need to be flown to a suitable airport nearest to the hospital you’ll receive treatment, or emergency ground transportation is necessary.
The evacuation needs to be recommended by the attending physician, and they must state it's medically necessary or loss of life/limb could occur.
This is one of the most important aspects of any travel insurance policy, as unfortunately, medical emergencies can happen as we travel.
Several conditions need to be met when claiming emergency medical evacuation.
You can find more information about these conditions on the SafetyWings website.
Personal liability
SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance policy can cover you if you become legally liable to pay damages in terms of:
They have a $25,000 lifetime maximum limit that you can claim (for third person injury: up to $25,000; for third-person property: up to $25,000; for related third person property: $2,500).
Personal liability is a complicated one and as with all insurance providers, SafetyWing has several requirements that you must meet to be covered.
Accidental death & dismemberment
The cover amount for accidental death & dismemberment differs depending on your age.
Here are the maximum cover limits for ages 18-69:
If the worst were to happen and you were involved in a fatal accident, the amount indicated will be paid to your beneficiary.
Repatriation of remains
Repatriation of remains is another worst-case scenario when it comes to travel but it’s important.
It means if you were to be involved in a fatal accident, the costs would be covered to send your body back home.
The Essential plan covers up to $20,000 when it comes to the repatriation of remains, whereas the Complete plan covers up to $100,000.
Sports and activities
SafetyWing covers a wide variety of adventure sports and activities. This is always great to have on your insurance policy, as let’s be honest we travellers generally try out a lot of activities during our trip.
As well as sports, you are also covered if you join a gym, get a personal trainer or try out some fitness classes.
Some of the sports and activities included within the policy are:
You can find the full range of sports and activities on SafetyWings FAQ.
It’s also important to note that the policy doesn’t cover organised athletics or professional sports/activities.
Lost or Stolen Passport/Travel Visa
Both plans (Essential + Complete) cover the cost of a lost or stolen passport/travel visa up to $100.
You will only be covered for this if you exercise reasonable care and supervision of the passport or visa, and you report the loss or theft to the police within 24 hours.
You will also need a written police report, and to provide receipts for the cost of the document to file a claim.
Crisis response
When it comes to crisis response, the Nomad Insurance policy covers you up to $10,000.
This means you are covered for ransom, personal belongings, and crisis response fees and expenses.
Now, this isn’t something any traveller usually thinks of and is a much less common occurrence than other factors on this list.
However, it’s good to be covered.
It’s important to note that if kidnapping does occur, there are certain countries SafetyWing won’t cover. These include, but aren’t limited to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
They also can’t cover any country where they are prohibited from transaction due to sanctions by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Medical cover is the most important aspect when it comes to your travel insurance policy.
If you suddenly fall sick or are involved in an accident, it means you’re covered when it comes to needing medical assistance.
As you've probably gathered already, you'll want to look at the different payouts between the two Nomad Insurance plans (Essential and Complete).
When it comes to medical cover, SafetyWing's maximum payout is $250,000 for the Essential plan and $1,500,000 for the Complete plan.
The deductible is $250 which is the amount you’ll need to pay if you make a claim.
If you have another accident within a year of starting your policy, and you’ve already paid the deductible, SafetyWing will simply pay out the full amount.
It’s also important to note that some scenarios aren’t subject to a deductible within this policy.
Hospital
The Nomad Insurance policy will cover many aspects of hospital services including, but not limited to:
For full details of what SafetyWing covers in terms of hospital treatment, you can find the full policy on their website.
Ambulance
Emergency local ambulance transport is covered in this policy if it’s necessary in connection with an injury or illness that results in the patient being hospitalised.
Physical therapy and chiropractic care
Outpatient physical therapy of chiropractic care is covered up to a maximum of $50 per day.
It has to be prescribed by a physician who isn’t affiliated with the physical therapy or chiropractic practice. They also must state that it’s necessary to continue recovery from a covered injury or illness.
Emergency dental
SafetyWing also covers emergency dental treatment up to the maximum limit of $1,000.
This includes:
Emergency eye exam
An emergency eye exam is covered if your glasses are lost or damaged due to a covered loss, and you require an eye exam to obtain a new prescription.
However, the policy doesn’t cover the replacement cost of prescription glasses or contact lenses.
The Nomad Insurance policy covers you up to $100.
Acute onset of pre-existing conditions
Although SafetyWing doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, it does cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
That means if there is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition. For it to be covered it has to occur spontaneously, rapidly progress and require urgent care.
Treatment must also be obtained within 24 hours.
You can claim up to the overall maximum limit for this.
Bedside visit
This is one of the best aspects that SafetyWing offers when it comes to medical coverage.
They will pay for a round-trip flight or transportation for one relative if you are in an Intensive Care Unit abroad.
The maximum cover is $6,000.
If you opt for the Essential plan, you'll only have medical emergencies covered.
Now, the Complete plan works very differently from the Essential plan, or any other travel insurance policy for that matter.
The Complete plan offers comprehensive health insurance (as well as travel insurance), making it perfect for remote workers, digital nomads, and long-term travellers.
With this insurance, you can spend as much time abroad as you please, and you’re also covered in your home country too.
Not only does the Complete plan cover accidental injuries and illnesses, but it also covers other medical issues such as cancer tests and treatments, rehabilitation and specialised treatments.
It’s a yearly contract with monthly payments and covers long-term stays in every country in the world (apart from those that are sanctioned). That includes the UK, Australia and the United States.
It’s a great cover if you’re travelling around the world on a long-term basis, especially as this policy now offers travel coverage.
To give you a quick idea of medical cover:
There is an age limit to apply for this policy which is 64 years.
This plan covers a full range of medical issues and illnesses, making it comprehensive health insurance.
I’m going to break these down, so you have a clearer understanding of what’s covered in this policy.
All cover costs discussed in this part of the article are per policy year.
So let’s go!
Outpatient care is when you need medical services without being admitted to the hospital.
The Complete plan has a maximum cover of $5,000 across all charges.
This includes:
This policy has a maximum cover of $1,000 for dental work.
This covers routine care such as check-ups, cleanings and fillings as well as more complex dental care. This may include new crowns, dentures, inlays and root canal surgery, among others.
This benefit is subject to a 9 month waiting period.
The Complete plan has a maximum cover of $300 when it comes to vision.
This includes:
This policy has a maximum cover of $350 for health screenings and vaccines.
This includes routine health checks including cancer screening, cardiovascular and basic vital signs exams, as well as basic immunisation and booster injections.
It’s important to note that the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t covered.
The maximum cover amount for evacuation and repatriation of remains is $100,000.
This includes emergency evacuation by air ambulance, repatriation and repatriation or cremation of remains.
When it comes to health insurance, Palliative care is so important.
The Complete Nomad Insurance plan covers up to $50,000 for palliative services to a patient with a terminal illness.
These services must be provided by a medically supervised team of professionals and in an accredited hospice.
Nomad Insurance Complete covers a maximum of $500,000, or up to 30 days per medical condition for rehabilitation and specialized care.
This includes physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy.
Other provisions and benefits included within the policy that can be issued for a *full refund against the policy cover include:
*SafetyWing states that “full refund benefits are based off of usual, customary and reasonable costs for the geographical area where the expenses where incurred”.
As you can see Nomad Insurance Complete offers a wide range of benefits.
It’s impossible to go through every single one in this document, but these are just a few of the most important ones.
However, the policy document for this policy can be found on SafetyWings website.
You can buy insurance with SafetyWing either before your trip or whilst overseas.
It doesn't matter if you’re already abroad, but some parts of the cover require you to have had the policy for a certain amount of time before you can make a claim. So keep that in mind!
SafetyWing offers travel insurance coverage to almost every country in the world. This excludes Iran, North Korea or Cuba.
However, if you’re a US citizen with permission to travel to Cuba from the US government, they will cover you.
Although this isn’t something any of us want to think about, SafetyWing also can’t cover you for kidnapping that first occurs in specific countries or where they are prohibited from transaction due to sanctions by the U.S government.
These countries include but aren’t limited to Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Yes - especially if you opt for the Complete plan!
With Nomad Insurance Complete, you're completely covered both at home and while away as this policy offers comprehensive health insurance.
If you opt for the Essential plan, SafetyWing does cover visits home, but the visit has to be incidental. That means you can’t return home to obtain treatment for an illness or injury that began whilst abroad.
For every 90 days, you are covered for up to 30 days in your home country for unforeseen eligible medical conditions. This goes down to 15 days if you’re from the United States.
If you stay in your home country longer than your policy allows your coverage is void until you leave.
With the Essential plan, you can add-on electronic thefts cover.
This optional add-on covers items such as cameras, laptops, and tablets, for up to $1000 per stolen item (there's an annual limit of $3,000)
Just be aware that you must have proof of ownership for your items (such as a receipt).
Trip cancellation is only covered if you opt for the Complete plan -the Essential plan doesn't cover it.
Even so, it's not a great amount.
You'll be covered for $300 per trip and up to $600 per year.
This is may be due to the fact that the policy is tailored specifically towards nomads, and as trips would have to be cancelled before you leave your home country it’s not usually relevant.
Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered under SafetyWing, which is pretty much standard practice when it comes to travel insurance.
However, they do have limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Make sure you read the policy document first to decide whether that covers you or not.
We all know that things can go wrong with travel and that insurance is a must.
Whether that be an illness, injury or trip interruption, it’s almost a guarantee that something won’t go to plan during your trip.
When it comes to travel insurance, SafetyWing is up there with the best.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you go for the Complete plan or Essential plan but both have huge advantages.
If you want an insurance policy that includes travel benefits (e.g. trip interruption, lost checked luggage), you can choose from either.
However, if you're after comprehensive health insurance rather than just having medical emergencies covered, you should check out the Complete plan.
This is a global insurance plan and is specifically for nomads and remote workers who are spending a prolonged amount of time in another country. It caters for many health issues rather than just the standard injury and illness and gives an amazing level of cover.
We hope this article has helped you understand the different policies at SafetyWing, and which one would be best for you!
Now over to you...
Are you thinking of trying SafetyWing, and still have any questions?
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