Funds vacationers love saving cash — myself included. However one of many bills that we shouldn’t be low-cost with is journey insurance coverage.
After over 17 years of touring the world, I nonetheless by no means go away house with out it.
Why?
As a result of I’ve seen firsthand how helpful it may be — and the way a lot cash it might save.
I’ve misplaced baggage, had my digicam damaged, and even wanted emergency medical assist over time.
Journey insurance coverage has been there for me every time. Not solely has it saved me cash but it surely’s offered me with peace of thoughts as I discover.
I’ve written extensively over time about why you want insurance coverage, the right way to decide the best firm, and listed my most popular suppliers.
Right now, I wish to speak about my favourite journey insurance coverage firm: SafetyWing.
Who’s SafetyWing?
SafetyWing is an insurance coverage firm that focuses on inexpensive protection for finances vacationers and digital nomads (although you don’t must be both to get protection). It’s run by nomads and expats who know precisely what such vacationers want.
SafetyWing affords fundamental insurance coverage (referred to as “Nomad Important”) for a fraction of what different firms cost, though they’re additionally much less complete. To me, they’re the perfect general journey insurance coverage firm on the market.
Their customary Nomad Insurance coverage protection prices simply $56.28 USD for 4 weeks (for vacationers aged 10-39). That’s one of many lowest costs on the market for dependable journey insurance coverage. They’re tremendous aggressive relating to value.


Their protection extends all the best way to age 69, nevertheless, vacationers aged 60-69 ought to count on to pay upwards of $196 USD per 30 days for protection. Nonetheless very affordable, to be trustworthy.
However is the protection truly good? What in regards to the customer support?
Right now I wish to evaluate Security Wing and speak about when it’s — and isn’t — price utilizing so you possibly can higher put together to your subsequent journey and guarantee you might have the protection you want.
What Does SafetyWing Cowl?
SafetyWing’s customary Nomad Insurance coverage plan is the Important plan. It’s simply $56.28 USD for 4 weeks of journey (exterior the US). That works out to simply $1.87 USD per day!
For vacationers underneath age 64, that plan consists of the next:
- $250,000 USD in emergency medical protection
- $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
- $100,000 USD for medical evacuation ($25,000 USD if the reason for medical evacuation is acute onset of pre-existing situation)
- $10,000 USD for an evacuation on account of political upheaval
- $5,000 USD for a visit interruption
- As much as $100 a day after a 12-hour delay interval requiring an unplanned in a single day keep. Topic to a most of two days.
- $12,500–25,000 USD for dying or dismemberment
- $20,000 USD for repatriation of stays
You’ll want to test the outline of protection for any circumstances that apply.




Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low finish, however except you’re heading out into the distant wilderness, that must be tremendous. (If you’d like larger protection, get MedJet.)
Its travel-delay payout is fairly low, however airways and most journey bank cards present journey delay help too so that you won’t even want the protection supplied by SafetyWing. Moreover, it doesn’t actually cowl costly electronics, which sucks when you’ve got a dear digicam or video gear.
As with most traditional journey insurance coverage, this one doesn’t embrace pre-existing circumstances or sure journey sports activities, so it’s not a very good coverage for those who’re going to do a number of journey actions on the street.
They do provide a pair useful add-ons that I believe a number of vacationers will respect, together with protection for journey actions and electronics theft. That implies that for those who want the protection, you possibly can pay additional for it. Nevertheless, for those who don’t want it then you definitely don’t must pay for it, preserving your prices low. I respect that, as somebody who at all times wants digital protection however who by no means wants journey exercise protection (I’m not a giant adrenaline junkie).
What’s Not Coated?
The Important plan is primarily geared in direction of protecting medical emergencies and fundamental journey mishaps (like delays and misplaced baggage). Listed below are some issues that aren’t coated:
- Alcohol- or drug-related incidents.
- Excessive sports activities & journey actions (except you buy the journey sports activities add-on, which is accessible for non-US residents)
- Pre-existing circumstances or basic check-ups
- Journey cancellation
- Misplaced or stolen money
Nomad Full: Protection for Digital Nomads and Lengthy-Time period Vacationers
In 2023, SafetyWing launched Nomad Well being (now referred to as their “Full” plan). It’s insurance coverage for digital nomads, distant staff, and long-term vacationers. This new plan affords a mixture of the usual emergency protection that we’ve been discussing above together with “common” well being care protection, corresponding to routine visits and preventive care.
The Full plan additionally affords protection in 175 nations, consists of wellness advantages, psychological well being care, and the power for people to decide on their very own physician whereas touring. They are going to be increasing protection too, together with an add-on for “electronics theft” (which, as somebody who has been robbed whereas touring, I believe is a superb thought).
It’s just like the sort of medical insurance you’d discover in your house nation, guaranteeing that you just’re taken care of it doesn’t matter what occurs whilst you’re overseas.
You may be taught extra and examine the plans right here.
In the event you’re simply heading out for a pair weeks or a pair months, SafetyWing’s Important plan is the choice for you. It’s good for emergencies, is tremendous inexpensive, and is designed for finances vacationers. It’s the plan I take advantage of after I journey lately.
Nevertheless, for those who’re going to be working overseas or touring for months (or years), then their new Full plan is the higher choice. It affords rather more protection whereas nonetheless being inexpensive. Actually, it’s the plan I want I had after I began touring long-term!
You may be taught extra in regards to the Full plan in my devoted evaluate.
Making a Declare
SafetyWing makes it simple to file a declare by means of their on-line portal. You simply add all of the required paperwork, screenshots, and pictures, and wait to listen to again. Whereas claims can take as much as 45 enterprise days, most are dealt with in lower than per week (as of writing, the common wait time is 4 days).
In the event you learn the opinions on-line, most individuals who had a destructive expertise both didn’t know in regards to the deductible (SafetyWing eliminated their deductible for non-US residents as of 2024) or hated the size of time it took to receives a commission. However that’s fairly regular for individuals to complain about.
On the plus facet, SafetyWing’s common time to deal with a declare is down to simply 4 days. That’s means quicker than most firms!
A Word About COVID
SafetyWing does embrace protection for COVID-19. So long as the virus was not contracted earlier than your plan begins, then it is going to be coated (so long as it’s medically needed).
SafetyWing additionally covers quarantine prices (exterior your private home nation) for as much as $50 USD/day for 10 days (offered that you just’ve had your plan for at the least 28 days).
Professionals and Cons of SafetyWing
Right here’s a glance that the professionals and cons of SafetyWing at a look that can assist you determine if it’s the perfect insurance coverage supplier for you and your journey:
Most inexpensive journey insurance coverage on the market
Solely covers as much as age 69
Gives protection for COVID-19
Restricted protection for gear/electronics
You should buy plans on-line even for those who’re already
in your journey
Restricted protection for journey actions
Straightforward to submit claims on-line
No journey cancellation protection
After being overseas for 90 days, you retain your
medical protection for 30 days in your house
nation (15 days for those who’re from the U.S.)
As much as 2 kids underneath 10 per household
(1 per grownup) will be included without spending a dime
No must set an finish date (subscription
renews each 4 weeks)
Two totally different plans imply you possibly can simply discover one which works for you/your finances
Who’s SafetyWing Good — and Not Good For?
SafetyWing is designed as primarily medical protection. Since SafetyWing is designed for the budget-conscious digital nomad, it doesn’t cowl some areas that is likely to be extra of a precedence for a shorter-term traveler. Right here’s a fast chart that can assist you determine if SafetyWing is best for you:
Funds vacationers
Folks touring with a TON of electronics
Somebody on the lookout for easy emergency protection
Anybody needing complete journey delay
or cancellation
Folks with out a lot of costly electronics
Folks doing extreme excessive sports activities/actions
Digital nomads who want medical protection
for long-term journey
Journey insurance coverage is one thing I by no means go away house with out. I do know it’s a boring matter to examine and analysis, however it might actually prevent tons of or 1000’s of {dollars} in payments! I by no means, ever go away house with out it. You shouldn’t both.
So, the subsequent time you’re on the street, think about SafetyWing. To me, they’re the perfect journey insurance coverage firm on the market for finances vacationers.
You need to use the reserving widget under to get a quote (it’s free):
Guide Your Journey: Logistical Ideas and Tips
Guide Your Flight
Discover a low-cost flight through the use of Skyscanner. It’s my favourite search engine as a result of it searches web sites and airways across the globe so that you at all times know no stone is being left unturned.
Guide Your Lodging
You may e-book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you wish to keep someplace aside from a hostel, use Reserving.com because it constantly returns the most affordable charges for guesthouses and inns.
Don’t Neglect Journey Insurance coverage
Journey insurance coverage will shield you in opposition to sickness, damage, theft, and cancellations. It’s complete safety in case something goes unsuitable. I by no means go on a visit with out it as I’ve had to make use of it many occasions prior to now. My favourite firms that provide the perfect service and worth are:
Wish to Journey for Free?
Journey bank cards permit you to earn factors that may be redeemed without spending a dime flights and lodging — all with none additional spending. Take a look at my information to selecting the correct card and my present favorites to get began and see the most recent greatest offers.
Want a Rental Automobile?
Uncover Automobiles is a budget-friendly worldwide automobile rental web site. Regardless of the place you’re headed, they’ll be capable of discover the perfect — and least expensive — rental to your journey!
Want Assist Discovering Actions for Your Journey?
Get Your Information is a large on-line market the place you will discover cool strolling excursions, enjoyable excursions, skip-the-line tickets, non-public guides, and extra.
Able to Guide Your Journey?
Take a look at my useful resource web page for the perfect firms to make use of once you journey. I checklist all those I take advantage of after I journey. They’re the perfect at school and you’ll’t go unsuitable utilizing them in your journey.