SafetyWing Essential Review: The Best Value Travel Insurance for Nomads?

When I first started looking into insurance for digital nomads, I immediately felt buried under endless options and fine print... All I wanted was something simple and easy to understand.

That’s when I found SafetyWing's Essential Plan, a no-nonsense travel insurance you can buy even while you’re already on the move.

I’ve been using Safetywing for 5+ years as a digital nomad, and since they recently launched this new plan, the switch was pretty easy for me. Here’s exactly what it covers (and doesn't), who it’s best for, and why I think it’s worth it.

Is SafetyWing a Reliable Insurance Company?

SafetyWing is an insurance company founded by fellow digital nomads who’ve lived the remote life themselves. They specialize in travel medical insurance built specifically for people working and living around the world.

Their flagship product is called Nomad Insurance, and you can choose between two options:

• Essential Plan: a travel insurance made for remote workers and digital nomads, covering trip protection and emergencies (what we're talking about here)
• Complete Plan: more like a full-scale global health insurance policy, with routine checkups, mental health coverage, and long-term care.

Since launching in 2018, they've grown to over 300,000 users, and their plans are backed by Tokio Marine HCC, one of the biggest, most established insurance companies out there.

What Is SafetyWing’s Essential Plan?

The Essential Plan is for travelers who want the important stuff covered without paying for extras they'll never use. It focuses on trip protection for things like canceled flights and travel emergencies, all in 180+ countries.

It skips the full medical coverage, which is why it’s cheaper than most insurance out there. Plus, you can start your plan even while you're already abroad and cancel anytime. Not many insurance companies make that easy.

You can choose coverage from as little as 5 days up to 364 days at a time, and you can keep renewing it as long as you’re under 70.

So, if all you need is an affordable and flexible safety net for trip-related problems, this plan does the job without adding a bunch of stuff you don’t need.

How Much Does SafetyWing’s Essential Plan Cost?

One of the biggest reasons I’ve stuck with the Essential Plan for so long is how budget-friendly it is. Right now, if you’re between 10 and 39 years old, it costs $56.28 for 4 weeks. And that’s on a flexible subscription you can cancel anytime.

Your cost will depend on your age group and whether you add extras like U.S. coverage, adventure sports, or electronics theft. Naturally, U.S. coverage bumps the price up since healthcare costs there are sky-high, but it’s worth adding if you plan to spend time stateside.

You can check exactly what it would cost for you on the Nomad Insurance page or by using their handy calculator tool below:

What Does the Essential Plan Cover?

The Essential Plan keeps it simple, focusing on the things travelers actually need, with the flexibility to add extras only if you want them. Here's what's included:

Trip Protection

It covers the most common travel headaches, including canceled or delayed flights, lost or stolen luggage, stolen passports or visas, and trip interruptions that force you to head home early. You’re also covered for extra accommodation if you get stuck somewhere unexpectedly, and for evacuation costs if local unrest or natural disasters occur.

Emergency Medical & Evacuation

While the Essential Plan isn’t full health insurance, it does step in for emergencies. This includes ambulance transport, evacuation to a better-equipped hospital, and certain urgent treatments for sudden illness or injury. There’s also limited emergency dental coverage and help with repatriation if you need to return home for medical reasons.

Coverage During Short Home Visits

If you have an active policy for at least 90 days, you also get short-term emergency medical coverage during visits back to your home country: up to 30 days per 90-day period (15 days if your home country is the U.S.). This is a rare perk in affordable travel insurance.

Sports & Activities

A generous list of activities is already included (hiking, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, and more). If you’re into something more adventurous, you can just add the Adventure Sports option instead of paying for a whole new policy.

Optional Add-Ons

Speaking of extras... The plan is easy to customise with:

• U.S. Coverage: Extends your plan to include travel in the U.S.
• Adventure Sports: Covers more extreme activities.
• Electronics Theft: Reimburses you for stolen gadgets like laptops, cameras, and smartphones.

What Is Not Covered by the Essential Plan?

Like any travel insurance, the Essential Plan does not cover certain things. And it’s better to know them before you’re halfway across the world. Here are the main things to watch out for:

Pre-Existing & Routine Care

The plan focuses on new and unexpected issues, so it won’t cover ongoing conditions you had before your coverage started (except in rare emergencies). Routine check-ups, vaccinations, cosmetic treatments, and most fertility-related services aren’t part of the package either.

Pregnancy & Specific Conditions

Pregnancy and childbirth aren’t covered, except for certain serious complications. Mental health care, hereditary conditions, cancer, and chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS aren’t included. It also doesn’t cover treatment for substance abuse, sleep disorders, obesity, or cosmetic procedures unless directly linked to a covered accident or illness.

Risky Situations & Dangerous Behavior

Understandably, coverage doesn’t extend to injuries from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (including drunk driving), joining riots, committing a crime, or breaking local laws. Professional sports, extreme expeditions, and activities not listed under the covered sports are also excluded.

Non-Medical & Unapproved Care

Like most travel insurance plans, treatment must be medically necessary, supervised by a licensed doctor, and not experimental to be covered. Free treatments, services from family members, and missed appointments aren’t covered. Things like hearing aids, corrective eye surgery, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other alternative treatments are also excluded.

Location & Timing Limits

The plan covers you almost anywhere (180+ countries worldwide), but not in your home country (except short visits) and not in the U.S. unless you’ve added the U.S. coverage option.

How Does the Claim Process Work?

Making a claim with SafetyWing is pretty straightforward, and you have up to 60 days from when your insurance ends to submit it.

You can do it in two ways:

• Pay first, get reimbursed: Submit everything through the SafetyWing website or email [email protected].

• Have them pay directly: Call their 24/7 assistance team and they’ll sort it for you (not available for every type of claim!)

Keep in mind, the Essential Plan has a $250 deductible per approved claim, which just means you’ll cover that first portion yourself before insurance kicks in. This is pretty standard for travel insurance, and not something you’ll notice much on bigger claims.

My Experience Using SafetyWing’s Essential for 5+ Years

I’ve been using SafetyWing for over 5 years now since their main plan was just called “Nomad Insurance”, and honestly, it’s done exactly what I needed it to do.

For me, it’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” travel insurance. It's simple, flexible, and not trying to sell me stuff I don’t need. I already have my health covered elsewhere, so I just wanted protection for trip-related mishaps... And that’s exactly what I got.

The flexibility has been the biggest win. You can start, cancel or add extras anytime through the website, and it actually works. When I was in Lombok doing a diving course, I added the extreme sports add-on for that month only. As soon as I was done, I removed it so I wasn’t paying for coverage I didn’t need.

I’ve also had to contact their 24/7 support once, just to check something about my policy before a trip. I messaged them through the live chat expecting to wait ages, but they replied within minutes and gave me a clear answer.

And yes, I’ve actually had to make a claim. I had a small scooter accident in Turkey that meant a trip to the hospital. I paid the bill upfront, sent my documents and a short medical statement through their website, and got reimbursed in a few weeks. The process was straightforward, and there were no endless requests for extra paperwork. That alone made me trust the plan a lot more.

This is why SafetyWing is the insurance I personally use for all my nomadic travels. It’s not trying to be everything, but it nails the essentials.

SafetyWing’s Essential Plan: Pros and Cons

Is There Any Alternatives to SafetyWing’s Essential Plan?

Of course, SafetyWing Essential Nomad Insurance is not the only option out there. And depending on how you travel (and what you want covered), these are the other travel insurance for nomads and how they differ from SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Essential:

Genki

Genki offers a more comprehensive medical coverage than bare-bones trip insurance. It works well for long-term travelers who want health coverage everywhere, including at home. You’ll pay more than for SafetyWing Essential, but that’s because you’re getting a lot more medical protection baked in. But a fairer comparison would be with SafetyWing Complete.

Heymondo

Heymondo takes a more modern, app-first approach. You get both travel and medical coverage, plus a 24/7 medical chat and the option for them to pay big bills directly, so you’re not out of pocket. It’s more of an all-in-one package compared to SafetyWing’s pick-and-choose style, but it doesn’t have the full flexibility that you would have with SafetyWing plans.

World Nomads

World Nomads has been around forever and is a favorite among adventure travelers. They bundle trip protection with medical coverage and automatically include loads of activities, like trekking and scuba diving, without having to add them on. It’s generally pricier, but if you’re going on an action-packed trip, it can be worth it. Or, you could just have adventure sports added as an add-on for the SafetyWing Nomad Insurance plan.

SafetyWing’s Essential Plan FAQs

Is the Essential Plan good for digital nomads?

Yes, especially if you already have separate health insurance. It’s designed to cover travel-related mishaps and is flexible enough to fit a nomadic lifestyle.

Can I sign up while abroad?

Yes, and that’s one of its biggest advantages. You can activate your plan from anywhere, at any time.

Does it include medical coverage?

No, it’s focused on trip protection and specific emergencies. For full health coverage, you’d need to upgrade to the Complete Plan.

How do I cancel my SafetyWing policy?

Just log into your account and pause or cancel in a few clicks. No phone calls or back-and-forth emails.

Is the Essential Plan enough on its own?

If you already have other health insurance and just want travel coverage, yes. If not, you might want something more comprehensive.

What’s the deductible?

It’s USD $250 per approved claim. Keep your invoices and documents handy so you can get reimbursed smoothly.

Does it cover trip cancellations?

Yes, as long as the reason falls under their covered events, like illness, accidents, or airline-caused cancellations.

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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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