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The way digital nomads travel is changing, with more nomads staying in one place for longer thanks to digital nomad visas that let them experience a new place and culture for longer. But that means the original digital nomad insurance plans designed for nomads who are always on the move don’t always offer the best value for the modern digital nomad. The digital nomad insurance market is overdue for an update.
SafetyWing is leading the charge to meet the needs of modern digital nomads with new plan options. They now have plans ideal for eternal travelers and for digital nomads staying put for longer. Choose between a SafetyWing Essential or Complete plan, both of which combine travel insurance and nomad health insurance, so you are covered no matter where you are or what you are doing.
Choose Your Coverage
SafetyWing lets you choose the coverage that is ideal for you based on how you prefer to travel. Their two principal plans for individual travelers are the Essential and Complete plans. The Essential plan covers travel and medical emergencies with options for adventure sports and electronics theft. The Complete plan offers comprehensive health coverage with routine healthcare, mental health support, and maternity, anywhere in the world, including in your home country – on top of all Essential benefits.
Use SafetyWing’s excellent pricing tool to figure out how much coverage is for you based on your age, plan, and add-ons.
The Essential Plan
The Essential Plan is for travelers who want flexibility. Coverage starts from US$56 for four weeks (28 days), after which it is extendable up to a maximum of 364 days. You can choose fixed dates for your trip, and you are only covered while you are outside your home country. It also offers a lower level of coverage than the Complete Plan. Plan coverage includes:
- Medical Treatment and Hospitalization including hospital stays, nursing care, ambulance for hospitalization, diagnostics like MRIs, extended care after hospital, emergency dental up to US$1,000 (up to US$250,000)
- Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (up to US$100,000)
- Evacuation from Local Unrest (up to US$10,000)
- Trip Protection including delays (US$100 per day for two days), interruptions, and lost luggage (up to US$500 per item and US$3,000 total)
- Trip Interruption in case of Family Emergency (up to US$5,000)
- Leisure Sports Coverage (up to US$250,000)
- Motor Accident Coverage (up to US$250,000)
- Add-ons for Adventure Sports and Electronic Theft
- Arrangements if you die (US$20,000 for transport, US$10,000 for local burial)
- Add-on US Coverage
The plan does not include routine checkups, vision, dental, or maternity care, or extended home country coverage. The policy does not cover pre-existing conditions, and any conditions that arise will be considered pre-existing for future contracts.
The Complete Plan
The Complete Plan is designed for long-term travelers and starts at a 12-month minimum and is renewable indefinitely. Plans start from US$150.50 per month, paid monthly or annually. It also includes full coverage in your country of residence. Plan coverage includes:
- All Essential Coverage with increased limits, including up to US$1,500,000 for medical treatment and hospitalization
- Cancer Screening and Treatment
- Outpatient Services, Maternity Care, Mental Health Support, Complementary Therapies like Chiropractors
- Trip Coverage including Accommodation Cancellation, Burglary, and Delayed Luggage
- Add-ons for Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States
The plan does not cover pre-existing conditions from before the plan. Any new conditions that arise during the plan continue to be covered while the plan is renewed.
Peace of Mind
When you read the fine print, it is clear that SafetyWing is a complete plan, ensuring you are OK no matter what happens. For example, if you are hospitalized, it can cover care for children or even pets. You can also always get an emergency plane ticket home in case of unforeseen circumstances such as an ill family member or your home being affected by fire.
Depending on the expense, you either need to contact SafetyWing in advance for them to organize what you need, or you pay and submit a claim after the fact. Most reimbursements happen within 21 days. Whatever you need, always contact SafetyWing first on the 24/7 hotline.
Other SafetyWing Products
This is only one of the great products for digital nomads on offer from SafetyWing. They also offer nomad health insurance for individuals or teams. This is ideal for companies that work with remote teams that need coverage, or for workers whose roles require a lot of international travel. They offer lots of great tools for managing plans for employees so you can make sure they are always covered, and you are always legally compliant.
Plans are easy to set up no matter where in the world your team is, as there are no medical checkups and pre-existing medical conditions aren’t excluded. But be aware that the plan only covers US citizens outside the US and does not cover remote workers based in the US or Canada.
A Changing Market
The number of digital nomads in the world is increasing, but also diversifying, with people traveling in different ways. From long-term digital nomad visa holders and slowmads to workations and backpacking remote workers, there is no standard template for what it means to be a digital nomad.
The insurance market only started to emerge around ten years ago, but the challenge is now for providers to evolve their plans to meet the needs of modern nomads. SafetyWing is doing an impressive job of keeping up with what nomads need while offering value.
