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SafetyWing Insurance is a travel and medical incident insurance created especially for digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers while they’re outside of their home country.
In this article, we explore coverage, the key benefits, and potential drawbacks of SafetyWing insurance for digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers.
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What Does SafetyWing Offer?
SafetyWing offers global health insurance for remote teams – Remote Health – and a global travel & medical insurance for digital nomads – Nomad Insurance. Remote Health covers a company’s employees and contractors worldwide under one plan, regardless of their location. Remote Health works in more than 175 countries which are covered as the main residence.
In this article, we’ll focus on Nomad Insurance, since it’s primarily designed for digital nomads, freelancers, solo entrepreneurs, and remote workers.
Sign up to SafetyWing for access to affordable and reliable travel medical insurance.
Quick Overview of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing’s primary appeal lies in its cost-effective and adaptable nature, which makes it a suitable option for digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers in search of affordable travel medical insurance.
It stands out as an economical choice compared to many competitors, with prices starting at $45 for a 4-week period.
SafetyWing Insurance offers flexibility that frequent (and spontaneous) travelers are bound to appreciate, since it can be acquired even when you’re already traveling abroad. The ease of purchasing it through a monthly subscription model also adds to its appeal.
| • Unexpected illness (including COVID-19) or injury: eligible expenses for hospital, doctor, or prescription drugs outside your home country • Evacuation from local unrest, unplanned overnight stay, lost checked luggage | Around $45 for up to 4 weeks for a member aged 10-39 | • Affordable • Subscription to continuous coverage • Travel to multiple countries with 1 policy • Can be purchased online for 4 weeks & extended or canceled at any time | NOT covered: • Cancer treatment • Routine check-ups • Pre-existing conditions • Professional (high-risk) sports and activities |
Who Can Use SafetyWing Insurance?
| Age limit | 70 years old |
| Nationality | Any |
| Max limit for age 65 to 69 | $100,000 |
| Max limit for all others | $250,000 |
By understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by professionally active travelers and explorers, SafetyWing offers insurance coverage that’s both affordable and adaptable.
It aims to bridge the gap between traditional insurance plans and the ever-evolving demands of location-independent professionals.
As a result, digital nomads and freelancers can access tailor-made insurance solutions that cater to their specific lifestyles and requirements. Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens who are at least 14 days of age through age 69 are eligible for coverage outside of their home countries.
Anyone aged 65 to 69 during the policy period is subject to a $100,000 of overall maximum limit, i.e. overall maximum amount the travel insurance company will pay for covered expenses. While anyone up to 65 years old is subject to a $250,000 overall maximum limit.
Generate a quote based on your specific needs using the SafetyWing price calculator.
What Does SafetyWing Insurance Cover?
SafetyWing Insurance provides medical and travel insurance coverage tailored to the needs of digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers. Some of the key areas of coverage include:
- Medical coverage: Coverage for expenses related to unexpected illness or injury (accidents) during the policy period, including eligible expenses for hospitals, doctor visits, or prescription drugs. This may include hospital stays, outpatient treatment, emergency dental treatment, and physical therapy.
- Emergency medical evacuation: In case of a medical emergency, coverage for the cost of transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility. If necessary, they also cover the cost of repatriation to your home country for further treatment.
- Travel assistance: Coverage for various travel-related incidents such as trip interruption, evacuation from local unrest, lost checked luggage, and travel delays that require an unplanned overnight stay.
- Accidental death and dismemberment: Coverage for accidental death and dismemberment, providing financial support to your beneficiaries or to you in case of a fatal accident or a qualifying injury.
- Personal liability: Coverage for personal liability, protecting you in case you’re legally responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage or loss to a third party.
| Max Limit: $250,000 • $100,000 for 65 years and above | Trip interruption: Up to $5,000 • Not subject to deductible |
| Deductible: $250 | Travel delay: Up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay period requiring an unplanned overnight stay • Subject to a maximum of 2 days • Not subject to deductible |
| Intensive care: Up to the overall max. limit | Lost checked luggage: Up to $3,000 per certificate period • $500 per item • Up to $6,000 lifetime limit • Not subject to deductible |
| Urgent charges: For each visit, a $50 co-payment • Not subject to deductible | Natural disaster – a new place to stay: Up to $100 a day for 5 days • Not subject to deductible |
| Physical therapy and chiropractic care: Up to $50 per day • Must be ordered in advance by a physician | Political evacuation: Up to $10,000 lifetime max. • Not subject to deductible |
| Emergency dental: Up to $1,000 • Not subject to deductible | Emergency medical evacuation: Up to $100,000 lifetime max. • Not subject to deductible or overall max. limit |
| Other medical expenses: Up to the overall max. limit | • For personal liability, check table no 2 below • For accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), check table no 3 below |
Personal Liability
| Type | Max limit* |
|---|---|
| Lifetime maximum | $25,000 |
| Third-person injury | $25,000 |
| Third-person property | $25,000 |
| Related third-person property | $2,500 |
You’re covered for up to the sum shown in Table No. 2 (inclusive of legal costs and expenses) if you become legally liable to pay damages in relation to:
- Accidental bodily injury, including death, illness, and disease of a third person, and/or
- Accidental loss of or damage to a third person’s material property, and/or
- Accidental loss of or damage to a related third person’s material property.
* Not subject to the deductible or overall maximum limit.
| Type | Amount** |
|---|---|
| Loss of 1 limb | $12,500 |
| Loss of 2 limbs | $25,000 |
| Lifetime maximum | $25,000 |
| Death | $25,000 |
Personal Accident – Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
In the case of a personal accident, you’re covered for:
- Death, or
- Loss of 2 or more limbs or eyes, or
- Loss of 1 limb or eye.
Up to the sum shown in Table No. 3
** $250,000 maximum benefit for any one family or group. Not subject to the deductible or overall maximum limit.
Benefits of SafetyWing Insurance
One significant advantage that SafetyWing offers digital nomads is its flexibility. Unlike conventional insurance plans that often impose strict limitations on coverage periods and travel destinations, SafetyWing provides a subscription-based model that allows you to activate, pause, or cancel your policies as needed.
This means that you can adjust your coverage according to your travel plans. SafetyWing insurance covers medical emergencies, and travel mishaps, which gives digital nomads peace of mind while traversing the globe.
SafetyWing’s global network of healthcare providers is another key benefit for digital nomads. You can also go to any licensed hospital/clinic/doctor of your choice, whether private or public. Furthermore, SafetyWing’s 24/7 assistance ensures that nomads receive prompt and efficient service, even in unfamiliar or remote locations.
Compared to some private medical insurance policies, which can cost multiple times what SafetyWing does, it’s definitely earned its spot as an affordable travel insurance provider. SafetyWing Insurance can cost as little as $45 for 28 days. It’s easy to buy and operates like a monthly subscription. It can also be purchased while already abroad, which is great if you ever forgot to sort it out prior to leaving.
SafetyWing Insurance also provides coverage during trips back home, but your return home cannot be for the purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that began while abroad. For each 90-day period, you’re covered for up to 30 days in your home country or 15 days if you’re from the US, but only for unexpected eligible medical conditions. If you stay in your home country for more than 30 days (or 15 days for the US), your coverage is invalid until you leave again.
Recap of Main Benefits of SafetyWing Insurance:
Easy to use & flexible.
Budget-friendly with affordable rates (from $45 for 4 weeks).
Convenient subscription-based payment system.
Highly adaptable for digital nomads, freelancers, remote workers, & backpackers.
Primarily for medical expenses.
A global network of healthcare providers.
24/7 Customer assistance around the clock.
What Doesn’t SafetyWing Insurance Cover?
| SafetyWing Insurance | Included? |
|---|---|
| Covid-19 coverage | Yes |
| Trip interruption | Yes |
| Cancellation costs | No |
| Trip resumption | No |
While SafetyWing offers a good breadth of coverage, it’s essential to be aware of certain limitations and exclusions. For example, coverage for pre-existing conditions, routine check-ups, cancer treatment, and high-risk sports and activities are excluded from the coverage.
Additionally, individuals between the ages of 65 and 69 may be subject to lower maximum coverage limits ($100,000 instead of $250,000 overall maximum limit).
Organized athletics or professional sports or activities aren’t covered. This means that the sport or activity cannot involve regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or be performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.
In practice, this means the yoga classes you sign up for at the gym, or lessons with a personal trainer, will be covered. However, if you’re a professional athlete or instructor, you won’t be covered while practicing your sport.
You’re covered for travel anywhere in the world outside of your home country, with the exception of any country or area that is sanctioned such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, and North Korea. SafetyWing complies with US, UK, EU, and UN sanctions.
SafetyWing is a great choice for digital nomads, freelancers, remote workers, and backpackers seeking affordable insurance while working remotely. It offers extensive medical coverage, easily accessible healthcare options, and sufficient travel insurance for many travelers pursuing their location-independent careers.
Always choose travel insurance based on your individual needs, preferences, budget, and travel destinations. Read the policy details carefully and understand what is and isn’t covered.
FAQs – SafetyWing – Medical & Travel Insurance For Digital Nomads
The choice of the best travel insurance provider on the market depends on your individual needs, preferences, and travel plans – check our travel insurance overview for digital nomads & freelancers including some popular and reputable travel insurance providers such as SafetyWing, BattleFace, and Insured Nomads.
To choose the best travel insurance provider for your needs, you should consider the following factors:
• Your destination(s) of travel,
• The duration of your travel,
• Your budget and level of risk tolerance,
• Your health conditions and pre-existing medical issues,
• Your work requirements and technical equipment,
• Your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Read more on how to choose the best travel insurance for digital nomads & freelancers.
Many travel insurance providers now offer coverage for COVID-related expenses. This may include medical expenses due to COVID-19 infection, trip cancellation or interruption due to a positive COVID test, or quarantine requirements. It’s crucial to carefully review the policy details to understand the extent of COVID coverage and any related exclusions or limitations.
For example, SafetyWing offers Covid-19 coverage as long as it wasn’t contracted before your coverage start date. You’re covered for medically necessary treatment and tests (not the antibody test). Read more about what SafetyWing Insurance covers.
Get SafetyWing insurance today for reliable travel medical insurance while on the road!
