Regular travel insurance just doesn’t cut it for digital nomads. Who had time to lock in exact dates and destinations ahead of time? We’re all about freedom and flexibility, and our insurance should reflect that.
If you’re working remotely and traveling full-time like us, then you need insurance that keeps up. This guide covers what digital nomad insurance is, why it’s different from regular insurance, and how to choose the right provider for you.
Why Regular Health Insurance is NOT Enough For Digital Nomads
Health insurance is a very common practice across most of the world, and when people go on vacation, they typically get some form of travel insurance because they want to be covered, whether at home or away. These practices have been going on for…Well, as long as anyone can remember!
For digital nomads, however, the situation is a little more complicated.
If we don’t live in our home country, then we don’t want to waste money on normal health insurance but when our ‘trips’ are more actually months or years on the road, normal travel insurance doesn’t quite fit the bill either.
Normal single-trip travel insurance only covers emergency medical costs, but if you live abroad full-time, then you still need coverage for things like regular checkups, dental, or preventative care. This is the stuff normally covered by long-term health insurance back at home.
That's why we need flexible insurance that travels with us. That means zero limitations when it comes to where we can go and how long we’re going for.
And this is also where digital nomad insurance comes in. It’s tailor-made for long-term travel and doesn’t require single trips or time spent in your home country. It often also comes with benefits like personal belongings and electronics coverage, which is particularly important for working nomads who rely on their digital nomad setup to make a living on the road.
What Does Digital Nomad Insurance Cover?
Digital nomad insurance comes in many shapes and sizes, and coverage will depend on which provider and policy you choose. That being said, here are some of the things that are generally included with digital nomad insurance:
- Emergency medical costs
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Trip disruptions like cancellations, interruptions, and missed connections
- Lost or damaged personal belongings
- Adventure activities and sports
Nomad Travel Insurance vs Nomad Health Insurance: What’s the Difference?
If you’re spending extended periods of your life abroad, you might also need to think about international health insurance instead of digital nomad travel insurance. This will keep you covered with medical treatments beyond just emergencies.
They might sound similar, but don’t make the mistake of getting one type of insurance when you actually need the other! To help you figure out what type of digital nomad insurance is right for you, we’ve put together this quick insurance-type comparison table.
| Feature | Short-Term Travel Insurance | Digital Nomad Travel Insurance | Expat-Style Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Specific countries only | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Policy Length | Trip dates only | Monthly subscription | Annual |
| Purchase While Abroad | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open-Ended Travel | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Emergency Medical Coverage | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Regular Medical Check-Ups | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Preventative Care | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mental Health Care | ❌ | ✅ (in some cases) | ✅ |
| Trip Disruption | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Personal Belongings | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Home Country Coverage | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
The Best Digital Nomad Insurance Providers
The sheer number of travel insurance providers can be daunting, and you might want to filter out the truly viable options.
We have thoroughly tested different digital nomad insurance for various trips, so to spare you the frustration of endless research, here is a curated selection of some of the top travel insurance companies on the market:
1. SafetyWing
One of the top names in the digital nomad insurance game, SafetyWing offers both travel and health insurance in the form of Essential Nomad Insurance and Complete Nomad Insurance, respectively. They’re best for flexible, subscription-based policies that cover 140+ countries.
2. Genki
Genki is our budget-friendly choice for hassle-free digital nomad health insurance plans. They’re founded by digital nomads and offer a monthly subscription that auto-renews called Genki Explorer, as well as Genki Native, a more comprehensive long-term international health insurance option.
3. Heymondo
Heymondo has high coverage and a ton of extra benefits and add-ons like adventure sports and specialist items. They have single-trip, annual multi-trip, and long-stay insurance options, although coverage is limited for US residents.
4. World Nomads
Offering both health and travel insurance, World Nomads is the best choice for adventurers. They include 150+ adventure sports in all their policies so that you’re covered for anything from snowboarding in Bansko to bungee jumping in Queenstown.
5. Faye
A newcomer to digital nomad insurance, Faye provides all-in-one travel and health insurance to keep you covered when it comes to emergency medical costs, trip cancellations, and personal belongings. They even include pre-existing conditions if you book two weeks before your trip starts.
6. Insured Nomads
Insured Nomads is all about specialized global plans that are tailored for long-term expats and remote workers. They even throw in non-insurance perks that digital nomads love, like airport lounge access and a Global Nomad pass.
How to Choose the Right Digital Nomads Insurance For You
Finding the right digital nomad insurance for you is all about critically evaluating your actual needs. Every plan has a slightly different coverage breakdown, and there’s no point paying extra for activities or benefits that you don’t really need.
Start by reflecting on the following questions:
- How long are you planning to be abroad?
- What's your budget for insurance?
- Do you need medical coverage beyond emergencies?
- Are you carrying expensive work equipment that needs protecting?
- Are you likely to take part in adventure activities on a regular basis?
- Will you be staying in one place or moving frequently to different countries?
Expats living full-time in one country with occasional trips probably don’t need full-time worldwide travel insurance. Equally, digital nomads who return home often might not want to pay for comprehensive health insurance while abroad.
Is Digital Nomad Insurance Worth It?
The digital nomad lifestyle comes with risks. A flight can be canceled at any time, food poisoning can set you back hundreds in hospital bills, and lost luggage means repurchasing your entire set of belongings.
While digital nomad insurance can’t 100% guarantee saving you money in the long run, it can ensure you’re never facing $100,000s of debt due to a medical emergency.
Travel and health insurance is an investment into your future well-being, and when your life and livelihood come from being able to work from the road, we think it’s well worth the money.
Of course, choosing the right nomad insurance is crucial. It’s so important to research the different plans available and select the one that best suits your personal travel, work, and lifestyle needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is digital nomad insurance mandatory?
Generally speaking, digital nomad insurance is not necessary. That being said, there are many countries (including those in the Schengen Zone) that require proof of health or travel insurance in order to enter.
Does digital nomad insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
It’s common practice for health insurance policies not to cover pre-existing conditions so that they can keep costs low for everyone. There are some providers, however, that make allowances for some pre-existing conditions under certain circumstances, such as Genki or Faye.
How much does digital nomad insurance generally cost?
Digital nomad insurance rates can vary hugely depending on factors like age, country of residence, and trip duration. Monthly rates for digital nomad travel insurance can be as low as $50/month with international health insurance starting from $150/month.
Do digital nomad insurance cover flight cancellation?
Flight cancellation coverage will depend on your policy and provider, however, many digital nomad travel insurance policies will include trip disruptions and cancellations. Check out Faye and Heymondo if trip cancellation coverage is a priority.
When is it too late to buy digital nomad insurance?
Here’s the best thing about digital nomad insurance - you can buy it at any time! Most policies can be purchased even after your trip has started, although you won’t be able to claim expenses that happened before the insurance officially begins.
Ready to Find a Digital Nomad Provider and Get Coverage While Traveling?
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