Insured Nomads Review: Honest Take for Full‑Time Travelers

Insured Nomads Review: Honest Take for Full‑Time Travelers
Insured Nomads Review

Insured Nomads is a relatively new player in the nomad insurance world, but one built specifically with digital nomads, remote workers, and expats in mind.

They’re a U.S.-based company, and their plans work like building blocks: start with a basic policy, then add extras like telemedicine, mental health support, and even airport lounge access (which I didn’t expect from an insurance provider, to be honest).

In this review, I’ll break down what’s actually included, what’s not, and what real users think, so you can figure out if Insured Nomads is worth it for your travels.

Is Insured Nomads Actually Legit?

When you’re picking insurance as a nomad, trust is everything. The good news is Insured Nomads checks out.

They’re a U.S.-registered company based in Alabama, and their plans are backed by big-name insurers like Tokio Marine HCC and Crum & Forster, both known for financial strength and global coverage. That means your policy isn’t just coming from a random startup, but it’s underwritten by established players in the insurance world.

Which Insurance Plans Does Insured Nomads Offer?

Insured Nomads keeps things pretty simple. They’ve basically got two options: one for short trips and one for when you’re living abroad long-term.

Feature Connect (Preferred/Preferred Plus) World Explorer Hotspot
Plan duration Long-term (1 year+) Short/medium-term (7–364 days)
Main focus Full medical coverage for living abroad Emergency medical coverage for travel
Type of medical coverage Routine care, hospitalization, prescriptions, mental health (add-ons) Emergencies, accidents, evacuation
Medical evacuation
Mental health & wellness
Telemedicine
Access to private hospitals
Non-medical coverage (luggage, etc.)
Ideal for Long-term nomads, expats, remote workers Frequent travelers, short-trip nomads
Cost Higher More affordable

1. World Explorer Hotspot

This one’s for trips from 7 days up to a year. It’s great if you’re maybe spending three months in Bali or exploring Europe for the summer.

It covers medical emergencies (so if you break an arm or end up in the hospital, you’re good), emergency evacuation, lost luggage, and even flight delays. There’s also a nice bonus: airport lounge access if your flight gets messed up!

The catch is that it doesn’t cover your routine doctor checkups or pre-existing conditions.

2. Connect Preferred & Preferred Plus

These are their long-term plans for when you’re actually living somewhere abroad for a year or more, like moving to Portugal, Mexico, or Thailand.

They go beyond emergencies and cover regular doctor visits, prescriptions, blood tests, and even optional extras like dental or maternity care. Basically, it’s what you’d want if you’re setting up a home base somewhere and need real health insurance.

Insured Nomads Pricing

Pricing with Insured Nomads isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on things like your age, how long you’re traveling, and which plan you choose.

To give you a rough idea, here’s what it looks like for a 30-year-old nomad based on average costs:

Plan Plan duration Base price (30 days) Annual price
World Explorer Hotspot Short or medium-term (7 to 364 days) US$120 US$1,440
Connect Preferred Long-term (1 year or more) US$408 US$4,896
Connect Preferred Plus Long-term (1 year or more) US$589 US$7,068

Insured Nomads isn’t the cheapest option out there, but, in theory, you’re paying for flexibility and extras like telemedicine and airport lounge access.

Whether that price tag feels worth it? We’ll dig into that a bit later when I share my own experience using them.

What’s Covered By Insured Nomads Insurance Plans

Here’s what you really get when you sign up (and what it means in real life):

Emergency medical care

If you get sick or injured while traveling, Insured Nomads covers you for urgent care, like doctor visits, emergency meds, and procedures you actually need right away. So if you get Bali belly or have a scooter accident, you won’t be stuck paying out of pocket.

What’s not included are routine checkups or pre-existing conditions (unless you pay for extra coverage).

Emergency evacuation

This is for those “worst-case” moments, like having an accident in the middle of nowhere or being caught in a natural disaster. Insured Nomads will arrange and pay to get you to a proper hospital, or even fly you home if needed.

💡
Pro tip: Always contact their emergency team as soon as something happens.

Lost or stolen luggage

If your bag goes missing, gets stolen, or is damaged, you can claim up to around $1,000–$3,000 depending on your plan. Keep receipts, though, and don’t expect a payout if you left your bag unattended.

If you travel with laptops, cameras, or other gear, this can save you a lot of stress (even if some reviews say claims can take a bit of time).

Travel delays

If your flight’s delayed by more than 12 hours, they’ll cover things like meals or a hotel stay while you wait. On the World Explorer Hotspot plan, you also get airport lounge access if you register your flight in advance, which makes delays way more bearable.

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Heads up: you pay upfront and get reimbursed later.

Routine care (Connect plan only)

If you’re on the Connect Preferred or Preferred Plus plan, you also get coverage for routine doctor visits, prescriptions, diagnostic tests like bloodwork, and optional add-ons for dental or mental health care.

The World Explorer Hotspot plan doesn’t include this, it’s strictly for emergencies.

What’s NOT Covered By Insured Nomads Insurance Plans

Like all insurance, there are things Insured Nomads won’t cover unless you pay for extras. Here are the big ones:

Pre-existing conditions

These aren’t included in most plans by default. You can add them as extras, but it’ll bump up your premium. Still, if you have an ongoing condition, it’s worth thinking about. Paying out of pocket abroad could be a lot worse.

High-Risk activities

Planning on scuba diving, paragliding, or bungee jumping? You’ll need the Adventure Sports add-on. Even then, check their list of what they consider “extreme” because some activities might still be excluded.

Non-Medical cancellations

If your flight is canceled for reasons unrelated to health, it’s not covered unless you’ve added extra cancellation coverage.

High-Risk countries

Heading to a country that’s considered high-risk or in conflict (think certain parts of the Middle East)? You’ll need a specific plan like World Explorer Hotspot designed for that kind of travel.

My (Brutally Honest) Experience Using Insured Nomads

I picked Insured Nomads because, on paper, they looked solid: backed by well-known underwriters, built for people like us... And to be fair, my experience wasn’t bad. I felt covered, and the policy did what it said it would.

But after using it and talking to other nomads, I’m not completely sold. A lot of people complain about slow reimbursements, sometimes taking months, and customer support did drag its feet in my case too. That’s the last thing you want when you’re sick or stuck abroad.

For me, the process felt clunky. Filing a claim wasn’t as straightforward as I expected. By comparison, SafetyWing is way easier to deal with, and Genki even covers some pre-existing conditions without all the hoops. With Insured Nomads, you pay more, but it doesn’t feel smoother or more transparent.

If you just need short-term travel insurance, it’s fine. But for long-term nomads, honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. There are better options out there that cost less and are easier to work with.

If I had to sum up where Insured Nomads could improve, it would be speed and communication. Faster claims, support that actually picks up when you need it, and clearer policy details would make a world of difference. Until then, it feels like you’re paying for peace of mind, but not always getting it when it counts.


Insured Nomads - Pros and cons:

Pros
  • Flexible plans for short trips and long-term stays
  • Backed by big-name insurers like Tokio Marine HCC
  • Custom add-ons (including adventure sports coverage)
Cons
  • Reimbursements can be slow
  • Customer service isn’t always responsive
  • On the pricey side, especially for long-term coverage

Travel Insurance Alternatives to Insured Nomads

If Insured Nomads doesn’t feel like the right fit, you’ve got options. Plenty of other insurers are out there that might suit your style (and budget) a lot better.

Genki

Genki was built for digital nomads from the ground up. It’s affordable, covers emergency medical care, and even includes some limited pre‑existing conditions (which is rare). It doesn’t cover trip cancellations, but if all you really need is medical coverage without a ton of extras, it’s a solid pick.

SafetyWing

SafetyWing is pretty much a household name among nomads. It’s affordable, covers you almost anywhere in the world (even the US), and the claims process is fast and painless. It covers the basics: medical, evacuation, some belongings, and even a bit of adventure sports. If you’re traveling long-term or relocating permanently, it’s a no‑brainer.

Heymondo

Heymondo offers flexible plans for short and long trips and has one of the easiest apps to manage policies and file claims. It covers medical care and even trip cancellations, which makes it great for families or frequent travelers who want something simple and stress‑free.

Bottom line: Insured Nomads works fine for short, one‑off trips if you like perks like lounge access. But if you want something cheaper, easier to use, or more comprehensive, SafetyWing or Genki will probably make you feel more secure on the road.

Insured Nomads FAQs

How does Insured Nomads work?

You sign up online, pick the plan that fits your trip, and add any extras you need. Once you pay, you get your policy by email and you’re good to go. If something happens or you need help, everything is handled online.

Does Insured Nomads offer annual travel insurance?

Yep. Their World Explorer Multi plan lets you take multiple trips in a year, as long as each one is 90 days or less.

Does Insured Nomads cover flight cancellations?

Kind of. The World Explorer Plus and Global Citizen plans cover cancellations for medical reasons. For everything else, like non‑medical cancellations, you’ll need to add the Trip Cancellation Plus option.

Who underwrites Insured Nomads plans?

hey’re backed by Tokio Marine HCC and Crum & Forster, two big names in the insurance world.

Is Insured Nomads only for digital nomads?

Nope. Anyone can buy their plans, but they’re built with digital nomads in mind, which means things like flexible trips and add‑ons for adventure sports.

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Angelina Bertoni
Written by Angelina Bertoni

After trying the conventional life, I packed everything into a backpack and started walking the world. I feel the energy of the spaces I explore — and that’s what I write about.

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