Whether skiing in the French Alps or backpacking through South America, travel insurance is crucial for every journey. You protect yourself against costs you can't cover, and unlike U.S. health insurance, travel insurance is quite affordable. My preferred provider is SafetyWing, especially their Essential plan. This article shares details about their insurance options and my personal experience with SafetyWing.
This article includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps maintain the blog. Originally published in February 2025, it has been updated with my latest insights.
Why Is Travel Medical Insurance Necessary?
Travel insurance protects you from mishaps—like a flight delay that stranded me in Istanbul or a sudden illness before my return from Mongolia. Both instances were covered by my insurance. I always secure travel medical insurance for every trip, typically costing around $56-100 per month depending on age.
Introducing SafetyWing
Established in 2018, SafetyWing is a remote Norwegian startup based in California, catering to budget travelers and nomads. Their services are available to everyone, not just those on a budget.
SafetyWing Travel Insurance Options
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance offers two plans:
Essential and Complete. Neither covers pre-existing conditions; I'm currently using the Essential plan.
Recently, Nomad Citizen was introduced—a beta membership providing global coverage for freelancers and nomads who join Plumia's program.
SafetyWing Nomad Essential
Ideal for short trips, the Nomad Insurance Essential offers unexpected medical coverage while traveling abroad. Add-ons include coverage for adventure sports and theft of electronics, alongside U.S. coverage for non-residents.
Payment options include monthly or full payment, with policies set to auto-renew. You can cancel anytime for a pro-rated refund. Policies can be purchased for specific dates, starting at $56.28 for ages 18-39.
SafetyWing Nomad Complete
Best for long-term travel, the Nomad Insurance Complete plan requires a 12-month commitment and offers comprehensive coverage for ongoing medical needs worldwide. You can pay monthly or annually for a 10% discount. Adventure sports are included, with optional theft coverage. This plan starts at $150.50 per month.
One standout feature is that you can purchase while traveling, with 24/7 customer support available. Prices begin at $161.50 for those aged 18-39.
SafetyWing Nomad Citizen
Global coverage for freelancers and nomads, the Nomad Citizen program (currently in beta) caters to individuals under 50 residing abroad for six months annually and earning $4,000 USD monthly. It offers premium healthcare including emergency and preventative services, maternity, mental health coverage, and travel protection. Plans start at $400/month for ages 18-39 for members of Plumia or similar organizations. Join the waitlist for more information.
Coverage of SafetyWing Travel Medical Insurance
While it's essential to review the full policy details, here are the covered aspects of SafetyWing's Essential and Complete plans:
Essential Plan
Each Essential plan has a $250,000 USD maximum limit, with a $100,000 USD limit for U.S. residents over 65.
- Emergency medical and sickness expenses.
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation. (Includes up to $100,000 USD for evacuation to a better-equipped facility.)
- Trip cancellation or interruption. (Coverage begins after 12 hours of delay, up to $100/day for two days.)
- Baggage delay and damage. ($500/item, maximum $3,000.)
- Injuries from leisure activities.
- Motor vehicle accidents. (Coverage applies if you're properly licensed and sober; max limit $250,000.)
- Continued coverage in your home country after 90 days abroad. (30 days for non-U.S. residents and 15 for U.S. residents.)
For full policy details, visit their website.
Complete Plan
This annual plan offers $1,500,000 overall limit for ages 18-65.
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization. (Includes evacuation to better-equipped hospitals.)
- Routine check-ups and preventative care.
- Psychological care and wellness therapies.
- Trip cancellation or interruption. (Coverage begins after three hours.)
- Lost luggage and stolen property.
- Injuries from leisure activities and motor vehicle accidents.
- Maternity care. (10-month waiting period.)
- Cancer testing and treatment.
Refer to the complete policy for more information.
Adventure Sports Coverage
Adventure sports can now be covered by adding a policy option to the Essential plan. It's included in the Complete plan. Coverage extends to activities like paragliding and scuba diving. Check the list of covered sports here. Organized and professional sports are excluded.
Electronics Theft Coverage
Yes, you can add coverage for electronics theft to both Essential and Complete plans for an extra fee. This includes cameras, laptops, and phones with a limit of $1,000 per item and a $3,000 annual limit. Claims require proof of ownership, such as a receipt. For more details, check this page.
Exclusions of SafetyWing Travel Medical Insurance
SafetyWing does not cover pre-existing conditions under either plan. The Essential plan excludes cancer treatment, lost or stolen personal property (except electronics with the add-on), and cancellations made prior to departure.
Eligible Destinations with SafetyWing
You can travel globally except for your home country and nations under U.S., U.K., EU, or UN sanctions, including Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Ukraine.
After being abroad for 90 days, you can receive 30 days of home country coverage (15 days for U.S. residents). This applies only to the Essential plan.
Eligibility Criteria
Essential Plan: Available to anyone aged 69 and under, covering travelers from across the globe while outside their home country. Policies can be purchased abroad, covering over 180 countries. One child under 10 can be included at no extra charge per adult.
Complete Plan: For ages 18-65, excluding residents of countries where one resides for six months yearly, such as Belarus, Canada, and the U.S. Note that this policy does not cover you in your primary residence.
Nomad Citizen (beta): Aimed at ages 18-50 who live abroad six months a year and earn $4,000 USD monthly, available to members of Plumia or organizations promoting borderless living.
Cost of SafetyWing Plans
Plans are affordable, costing only a few dollars daily, making SafetyWing one of the best options for travel medical insurance. Policy add-ons like U.S. coverage, adventure sports, and theft coverage are additional costs on the Essential plan.
How to Purchase SafetyWing Insurance
Filling out the online form is quick, requiring details like your age, home address, and travel destinations. The chat feature allows you to connect with real human support anytime. Customer service is efficient and follows up as needed.
My Personal Experience with SafetyWing
This reflects my experience with three claims from late 2025 to early 2024.
Every winter, I spend time in Southeast Asia and always choose a Nomad Insurance policy. In December 2025, I visited Bangkok Hospital in Chiang Mai for a UTI. The total cost for two visits and medication was $113.70 USD. (I've also shared my experiences with affordable healthcare in Thailand.)
Filing a claim with SafetyWing took about five minutes and was very straightforward. I submitted the medical report, itemized bill, and payment proof. You can upload all documents as a single file, which simplifies the process compared to traditional health insurance. After submitting my banking details, the claim was complete!
Note: I uploaded documents from both visits together for convenience, but you can submit them separately if needed.
Claims typically take five business days to process. I submitted my claim right before Christmas, anticipating delays, but it was approved on the fifth business day (December 29th). With no policy deductible, the full amount was deposited into my account the same day via wire transfer.
In February 2025, I filed a claim for a minor case of food poisoning in Cambodia, costing less than $20 USD. That claim was approved the following day and deposited promptly. The quick processing likely stemmed from the small amount involved. Overall, my experiences have been consistently positive since the streamlined claims process was implemented.
In early 2024, SafetyWing also covered a claim for knee pain requiring an MRI, totaling $331. They've effectively handled various injuries and illnesses for me over the years.
Overall, the claims process is smooth. It's vital to keep all documentation organized, including the doctor's report and payment receipts. I've consistently had a great experience with their services.
Safe travels!
