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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people were transitioning to remote work. Digital nomads were becoming increasingly common as people quit the cubicle to work from wherever they felt like. <\/p>\n
Today, as the pandemic recedes, an even greater number people are working remotely. Studies show that remote workers are happier<\/a> even as productivity has stayed the same<\/a> \u2014 if not increased. Numerous countries now offer visas exclusively for digital nomads<\/a> too.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve written about finding the best travel insurance<\/a> a ton over the years. That is for emergencies on the road, with the idea that if something really bad happens, you’ll go home and take care of it. After all, trips usually have a start and end date. <\/p>\n But being a digital nomad or remote worker is a different thing. When you are roaming the world without an end date and need prescriptions and regular checkups, normal travel insurance won’t really do. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re considering the transition to working remotely abroad or becoming a digital nomad<\/a>, it’s important to know your options.<\/p>\n Digital nomads need to make sure their travel insurance plan doesn’t just cover emergencies. They need a plan that also<\/em> includes routine medical coverage (more on that later).<\/p>\n First, though, I\u2019d make sure your policy has at least $100,000 USD in medical coverage. Such a high limit is important, because if you get sick or injured or need serious attention and have to seek professional care, you want to make sure your high hospital bills are covered. The worst thing you can do is go cheap and get a policy with a $50,000 USD coverage limit and then burn through it in an emergency, leaving you to potentially foot a bill in the tens of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n Second, you want to make sure your policy also covers emergency evacuation (separate from your medical coverage). If a natural disaster occurs or if you fall and break a leg hiking in a remote area and you need to be evacuated somewhere else, your plan should cover that as well, at least up to $300,000 USD (emergency evacuations are expensive!).<\/p>\n Additionally, here are a few other standard provisions a good travel insurance policy will have coverage for:<\/p>\n It should also offer:<\/p>\n A comprehensive policy will have all of this and more \u2014 these are just some of the most important things to keep an eye out for when evaluating one.<\/p>\n Now, as a digital nomad, on top of emergency coverage described above, you’ll also want coverage for more standard medical situations. These include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n These elements are not covered by standard travel insurance, because that is only for emergencies. So, by buying a plan that covers emergencies as well<\/em> as routine care, you’ll be able to wander the world with confidence, knowing that all your medical needs will be looked after, no matter what the road throws your way.<\/p>\n Just keep in mind that these long-term plans with nonemergency coverage are going to be more expensive than standard travel insurance, because they include much more than just basic emergency support. 1. SafetyWing \u2013 Nomad Health<\/a><\/strong> Nomad Heath<\/a> is a fully equipped health insurance policy designed specifically for remote workers and nomads. If you spend most \u2014 or all \u2014 of your time abroad, this is a good plan for you. (Note: Nomad Health is not currently available for US residents.)<\/em><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at Nomad Health and what coverage it includes:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re 18\u201339, a Standard Nomad Health plan costs around $133 USD per month. For a Premium Plan, that same traveler will pay $208 USD per month. Unlike the company\u2019s standard travel insurance, there is no deductible for Nomad Health. <\/p>\n To see how much a plan will cost for you, click here to get a free quote<\/a>. Here\u2019s a look at the coverage for IMG\u2019s Global Medical Insurance:<\/p>\n IMG has four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The latter two have the option to add sports activities; the Platinum plan can be bolstered to include terrorism incidents, if that\u2019s a concern for you. As always, prices vary based on location and age (they cover up to age 74). <\/p>\n Click here to get a quote<\/a>. Is travel insurance mandatory?<\/strong> In short, travel insurance generally isn’t mandatory \u2014 but it’s always a good idea to have, since you never know what will happen on the road.<\/p>\n Can’t I just use regular travel insurance?<\/strong> What isn’t covered by travel insurance?<\/strong> Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?<\/strong> Am I covered if I visit my home country?<\/strong> I have preexisting conditions. Am I covered?<\/strong> After many years on the road, I\u2019ve learned the hard way to never leave home without travel insurance. Whether for a quick weekend getaway or a multi-month adventure, I always travel with travel insurance<\/a>. It provides peace of mind, so I don\u2019t have to think twice about being covered in an emergency. <\/p>\n As a digital nomad, you have more important things to focus on. Travel insurance removes the worry, so you can enjoy your journey, grow your business, and live your best life on the road.<\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong> Need a Rental Car?<\/strong> Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?<\/strong>
\n <\/p>\nWhat to Look for in Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\nThe Best Insurance Companies for Digital Nomads<\/h3>\n
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\nWhile SafetyWing<\/a> is known for its affordable travel insurance plans (the basic one is just $56.28 USD for 4 weeks, for travelers aged 10-39), it also has a comprehensive health insurance plan for remote workers and digital nomads called Nomad Health.<\/p>\n\n
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\n2. IMG \u2013 Global Medical Insurance<\/a><\/strong>![\"IMG](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/2020\/imglogo.jpg\")
\nIMG<\/a> has a range of plans for short-term and business travelers, students, and expats. Its Global Medical Insurance policy is specifically designed for long-term travelers who will be out of their home country for the majority of the year (for US citizens, you have to be outside of the US at least 6 months out of the year). There are several options for a deductible (ranging from $100 to $25,000 USD) and also multiple tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), so you can get the coverage you need.<\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nHere are some of the most commons questions I get asked about travel insurance for digital nomads:<\/p>\n
\nFor most travelers to most destinations, it is not mandatory. However, many digital nomad, work, and student visas do require some form of insurance \u2014 as do many tours and excursions. <\/p>\n
\nIf you just want basic coverage for emergencies, lost luggage, theft, etc., then general travel insurance<\/a> plans will work for you. However, on these plans, you will only<\/em> have emergency coverage. That means none for general checkups, basic dental care, prescriptions, etc. But if that’s fine with you, then standard insurance can work!<\/p>\n
\nWhile this varies by plan, generally you can expect injuries sustained while intoxicated, extreme sports, reckless behavior, lost or stolen cash, and civil unrest to not be covered by most plans. Again, it all varies by policy, so make sure you read the fine print!<\/p>\n
\nMost plans now provide some coverage for COVID-19 and other pandemics. <\/p>\n
\nPossibly. Some plans provide coverage for short-term stays in your home country while others don’t. It all depends on the policy you get. Some companies have an upgradable option for you to visit your home country, while others let you do so but only provide coverage if you’re not near your actual home (e.g., if you’re from New York, you are covered if you visit California, but not if you return near your home).<\/p>\n
\nThat depends. Every policy \u2014 and every medical condition \u2014 is different, so I would call your prospective travel insurance companies to ask them directly. This is the best way to get accurate, up-to-date information about your specific situation.<\/p>\n\nBook Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nTravel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover Cars<\/a> is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best \u2014 and cheapest \u2014 rental for your trip!<\/p>\n
\nGet Your Guide<\/a> is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. <\/p>\n