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Budget travelers love saving money \u2014 myself included. But one of the expenses that we shouldn\u2019t be cheap with is travel insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n After over 17 years of traveling the world, I still never leave home without it.<\/p>\n Why?<\/p>\n Because I\u2019ve seen firsthand how useful it can be \u2014 and how much money it can save.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve lost baggage, had my camera broken, and even needed emergency medical help over the years.<\/p>\n Travel insurance has been there for me each time. Not only has it saved me money but it\u2019s provided me with peace of mind as I explore.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve written extensively over the years about why you need insurance<\/a>, how to pick the right company<\/a>, and listed my preferred providers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Today, I want to talk about my favorite<\/strong> travel insurance company: SafetyWing<\/a>. <\/p>\n SafetyWing<\/a> is an insurance company that focuses on affordable coverage for budget travelers and digital nomads (though you don’t have to be either to get coverage). It is run by nomads and expats who know exactly what such travelers need. <\/p>\n SafetyWing offers basic insurance plans (called “Nomad Essential”) for a fraction of what other companies charge, although they are also less comprehensive. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.<\/p>\n Their standard Nomad Insurance coverage costs just $56.28 USD for 4 weeks (for travelers aged 10-39). That’s one of the lowest prices out there for reliable travel insurance. They are super competitive when it comes to price.<\/p>\n Their coverage extends all the way to age 69, however, travelers aged 60-69 should expect to pay upwards of $196 USD per month for coverage. Still very reasonable, to be honest.<\/p>\n But is the coverage actually<\/em> good? What about the customer service?<\/p>\n Today I want to review Safety Wing and talk about when it is \u2014 and isn\u2019t \u2014 worth using so you can better prepare for your next trip and ensure you have the coverage you need. SafetyWing\u2019s standard Nomad Insurance plan is the Essential plan. It\u2019s just $56.28 USD for four weeks of travel (outside the US). That works out to just $1.87 USD per day!<\/p>\n For travelers under age 64, that plan includes the following:<\/p>\n Be sure to check the description of coverage for any conditions that apply.<\/p>\n Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low end, but unless you\u2019re heading out into the remote wilderness, that should be fine. (If you want higher coverage, get MedJet<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Its travel-delay payout is pretty low, but airlines and most travel credit cards<\/a> provide travel delay assistance too so you might not even need the coverage offered by SafetyWing. Additionally, it doesn\u2019t really cover expensive electronics, which sucks if you have a pricey camera or video gear. <\/p>\n As with most standard travel insurance plans, this one doesn\u2019t include pre-existing conditions or certain adventure sports, so it’s not a good policy if you’re going to do a lot of adventure activities on the road.<\/p>\n They do offer a couple helpful add-ons that I think a lot of travelers will appreciate, including coverage for adventure activities and electronics theft. That means that if you need the coverage, you can pay extra for it. However, if you don’t need it then you don’t have to pay for it, keeping your costs low. I appreciate that, as someone who always needs electronic coverage but who never needs adventure activity coverage (I’m not a big adrenaline junkie). The Essential plan is primarily geared towards covering medical emergencies and basic travel mishaps (like delays and lost luggage). Here are some things that aren’t<\/em> covered:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2023, SafetyWing launched Nomad Health<\/a> (now called their “Complete” plan). It\u2019s insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers. This new plan offers a mix of the standard emergency coverage that we\u2019ve been discussing above along with \u201cregular\u201d health care coverage, such as routine visits and preventive care.<\/p>\n The Complete plan also offers coverage in 175 countries, includes wellness benefits, mental health care, and the ability for individuals to choose their own doctor while traveling. They will be expanding coverage too, including an add-on for “electronics theft” (which, as someone who has been robbed while traveling, I think is a great idea).<\/p>\n It\u2019s like the kind of health insurance you\u2019d find in your home country, ensuring that you\u2019re looked after no matter what happens while you\u2019re abroad.<\/p>\n You can learn more and compare the plans here<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just heading out for a couple weeks or a couple months, SafetyWing\u2019s Essential plan is the option for you. It\u2019s perfect for emergencies, is super affordable, and is designed for budget travelers. It’s the plan I use when I travel these days.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re going to be working abroad or traveling for months (or years), then their new Complete plan<\/a> is the better option. It offers much more coverage while still being affordable. In fact, it\u2019s the plan I wish I had when I started traveling long-term!<\/p>\n You can learn more about the Complete plan in my dedicated review.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n SafetyWing makes it easy to file a claim through their online portal. You just upload all the required documents, screenshots, and photos, and wait to hear back. While claims can take up to 45 business days, most are handled in less than a week (as of writing, the average wait time is four days).<\/p>\n If you read the reviews online, most people who had a negative experience either didn’t know about the deductible (SafetyWing removed their deductible for non-US residents as of 2024) or hated the length of time it took to get paid. But that’s pretty normal for people to complain about. <\/p>\n On the plus side, SafetyWing’s average time to handle a claim is down to just four days. That’s way<\/em> faster than most companies! SafetyWing<\/a> does include coverage for COVID-19. As long as the virus was not contracted before your plan starts, then it will be covered (as long as it is medically necessary). <\/p>\n SafetyWing also covers quarantine costs (outside your home country) for up to $50 USD\/day for 10 days (provided that you’ve had your plan for at least 28 days). Here’s a look that the pros and cons of SafetyWing at a glance to help you decide if it’s the best insurance provider for you and your trip:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SafetyWing<\/a> is designed as mainly medical coverage. Since SafetyWing is designed for the budget-conscious digital nomad, it doesn’t cover some areas that might be more of a priority for a shorter-term traveler. Here’s a quick chart to help you decide if SafetyWing is right for you:<\/p>\n Travel insurance is something I never leave home without. I know it\u2019s a boring topic to read about and research, but it can literally save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in bills! I never, ever leave home without it. You shouldn’t either.<\/p>\n So, the next time you’re on the road, consider SafetyWing<\/a>. To me, they are the best travel insurance company out there for budget travelers.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can use the booking widget below to get a quote (it’s free):<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWho is SafetyWing?<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\nWhat Does SafetyWing Cover?<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\nWhat’s Not Covered?<\/h3>\n
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Nomad Complete: Coverage for Digital Nomads and Long-Term Travelers<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMaking a Claim<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nA Note About COVID<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nPros and Cons of SafetyWing<\/h3>\n
\n\nPROS<\/div>\nCONS<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nMost affordable travel insurance out there<\/div>\nOnly covers up to age 69<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nOffers coverage for COVID-19<\/div>\nLimited coverage for gear\/electronics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nYou can buy plans online even if you’re already
on your trip<\/div>\nLimited coverage for adventure activities<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nEasy to submit claims online<\/div>\nNo trip cancellation coverage<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAfter being abroad for 90 days, you keep your
medical coverage for 30 days in your home
country (15 days if you’re from the U.S.)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nUp to 2 children under 10 per family
(1 per adult) can be included for free<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n24\/7 assistance hotline<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nNo need to set an end date (subscription
renews every 4 weeks)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nTwo different plans mean you can easily find one that works for you\/your budget<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWho is SafetyWing Good<\/em> \u2014 and Not Good<\/em> For?<\/h3>\n
\n\nGOOD FOR<\/div>\nNOT GOOD FOR<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nBudget travelers<\/div>\nPeople traveling with a TON of electronics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nSomeone looking for simple emergency coverage<\/div>\nAnyone needing comprehensive trip delay
or cancellation<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nPeople without lots of expensive electronics<\/div>\nPeople doing excessive extreme sports\/activities<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDigital nomads who need medical coverage
for long-term travel<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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