Best Digital Nomad Insurance for Canadians

Many Canadians mistakenly believe that provincial health insurance—such as OHIP—provides complete protection for their extended digital nomad trips abroad. Well... we’re here to burst that bubble.

Remote workers and long-term travelers, in fact, face risks beyond those encountered by regular tourists. Increased travel frequency, dependence on timely delivery of belongings, and the occasional absence of routine preventative care make dedicated digital nomad insurance a necessity for Canadians who want to take their digital nomad lifestyle seriously.

This guide covers all things digital nomad insurance for Canadians, including how to choose the right policy and which providers are best for Canadians living abroad.

Why OHIP/Provincial Insurance is NOT enough for Canadian Nomads

Listen, we’re not here to complain about the amazing healthcare options available in Canada. Canadian provincial insurance is highly regarded all around the world and is a great service to have access to.

The problem is that it’s only intended for people living full-time in Canada.

If you’re a digital nomad based outside of the country for the majority of the year, then Provincial insurance like OHIP is just not enough.

To start with, most programs require you to be living in the province for a certain number of days in the year to even access their health insurance at all. For example, for OHIP you have to have spent at least 153 days a year for the last two years in Ontario. Go under that threshold without nomad insurance and you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to unexpected medical costs.

And even if you do meet the minimum days requirement, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear either. Provincial health plans don’t automatically cover you for medical expenses once you’re outside of the country, in fact, many won’t cover anything at all. And, if your territory does have a traveler plan, it probably only covers a small amount of emergency procedures.

Why Digital Nomad Insurance is a Better Alternative

It's also worth noting that if you’re a digital nomad moving to Canada (or returning back home), you still have to face a 3-month wait period for your provincial healthcare to kick in. That means you’re not covered at all for those first few months. The unfortunate truth, though, is that emergencies can happen at any time.

This is why you need to be properly insured no matter what country you find yourself in.

Healthcare in other countries can also get super expensive super quickly and without sufficient travel or health insurance, you could be facing those bills solo.

And given the limitations we just discovered about provincial insurance it might be a good idea to start thinking about digital nomad insurance. These are flexible health and travel policies tailored to long-term travelers that cover you across multiple countries regardless of whether you’re abroad for months or even years.

Best Nomad Insurance Providers for Canadians

Unsurprisingly, there are a ton of different plans, products, and providers when it comes to nomad insurance for Canadians. We’ve used and reviewed many digital nomad insurance providers in the past, so here's is our narrowed list of the be 6 top providers, each having unique characteristics and plans based on your needs:

1. SafetyWing

SafetyWing is a pioneer in the digital nomad space, offering both travel and health insurance with easy-to-understand policies that auto-renew each month.

With their Nomads Essential plan, you get not only medical coverage but lost luggage, travel delays, and even 30 days of coverage in your home country are also included. Did we mention that you can cancel at literally any time too? That's their biggest selling point which is why many nomads often choose this provider over the others.

2. Genki

Genki is another top digital nomad insurance provider that brings you great international health insurance at amazing budget-friendly prices. Between the Genki Explorer and Native plans, you’ll have your choice of health insurance benefits. Whether you need coverage for adventure sports, planning ahead to start a family, or just need a plan with pre-existing conditions coverage, you'll probably find something of interest with Genki.

Be aware, though, that Genki only covers medical-related costs, so it isn’t necessarily ideal if you’re looking for personal belongings or trip protection coverage.

3. Heymondo

We love Heymondo as they have generous coverage and a long list of benefits. They have plans for single-trip, annual multi-trip, and long-stay insurance with total compensation amounts in the millions. Heymondo also has a great app for you to access your policy, speak directly to customer service, and file claims all in one place, which also makes this provider very convenient to use.

4. World Nomads

If you’re an adventure junkie, then World Nomads could be a good alternative. They have you covered with hybrid travel and health insurance with their plans, including up to 250+ activities for Canadian residents.

World Nomads also knows how much digital nomads rely on their gear which is why they cover loss, damage, and even delays for electronics and sports equipment.

5. Faye

Faye is new to the digital nomad travel insurance space with a mission to make people-first policies. They have a user-friendly app to speak directly to agents with transparency when it comes to their claims approval process. They offer all-in-one health and travel insurance and miraculously include pre-existing conditions if you book two weeks ahead of your trip, which is a major plus for Canadian travelers.

6. Insured Nomads

Insured Nomads is all about protecting borderless living. They create specialized global plans with options for health or travel insurance to cover you on trips between 7 and 364 days long. Being designed directly for nomads, this provider has even made sure to throw in some amazing non-insurance perks like airport lounge access and a Global Nomad pass, so that's why they could not be off our list of best digital nomad insurance for Canadians.

What to Look For in a Good Nomad Insurance for Canadians

Knowing what to look for in a good insurance plan is going to save you a lot of time (and potentially money) down the line. Here at Freaking Nomads, we’re all about sticking to your remote work budget, so these are a few things you should immediately look for when choosing your digital nomad insurance:

• Emergency medical costs
• Medical evacuation and repatriation
• Flexible and renewable plans
• Multi-country/worldwide coverage
• 24/7 customer service and emergency helplines

Digital Nomad Travel Insurance vs International Health Insurance

It’s important to understand that not all digital nomad insurance plans are equal and that they generally come in two forms: digital nomad travel insurance and international health insurance.

Travel insurance, in particular, is all about in-depth trip protection to make sure you get to wherever you need to be. A great travel insurance for digital nomads will include things like:

• Trip cancellation
• Travel disruption
• Missed connections
• Gadget and electronics coverage

International health insurance, on the other hand, is concerned with maintaining your general well-being. These are long-term plans that go beyond just emergency care with inclusions such as:

• Routine check-ups
• Pre-existing conditions coverage
• Maternity care

So, Which Digital Nomad Insurance is Right For You?

Here’s the reality: only you know your exact situation. Every provider offers something a little different, and it’s important to choose the one that fits your needs exactly.

Ultimately, we’re always going to recommend getting quotes from multiple providers before making a final decision to make sure you know all your options.

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Need more help in narrowing down your options? Check out our comparison guides to learn the exact differences between the top nomad insurance providers for Canadians:

• SafetyWing vs World Nomads
• Heymondo vs SafetyWing
• Genki vs Safetywing
• Genki vs World Nomads

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