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As digital nomads who travel the world for local authentic food experiences, having insurance designed for our lifestyle is key.
SafetyWing Insurance is a travel insurance company designed specifically for nomads. It offers travel and medical coverage for digital nomads and remote workers while outside their home country.
While we have used several nomad insurance companies over the years, we recently decided to give SafetyWing a try.
With this SafetyWing review, we highlight the important features, pros, and cons, and answer the ultimate question: Is SafetyWing insurance the best long-term travel insurance?
Overview of SafetyWing
SafetyWing is one of the only insurance companies that offers insurance for nomads by nomads.
Created in Norway and based out of California, their travel insurance policies are underwritten by Llyod’s.
One of the things that sets SafetyWing apart is their unique subscription model where you can buy travel insurance on a month-by-month basis.
The auto-renewal option gives you the flexibility every 28 days to stop or pause your subscription. And, when you choose to use it again, you don’t have to subscribe again.
You can also purchase insurance coverage when you are already traveling.
These two benefits, among others, were some of the reasons we chose Safetywing’s nomad insurance coverage.
Pros
- Affordable: The travel insurance provided offers very competitive rates due to its focus on emergency medical, including Covid coverage.
- Ease of Use: Easy to navigate website for signing up. No need to choose a destination beyond US coverage or not. And, the claim process is clear and easy to use.
- Flexible Coverage: SafetyWing offers a subscription model with a flexible insurance policy where you get covered for 4 weeks. It renews automatically for up to 12 months and you can cancel anytime. Beyond that, you can easily renew your policy year over year.
- On-Trip Coverage: You can purchase an insurance plan anytime before or during your trip. There is no lag-time for coverage and the policy is effective immediately even while traveling.
- Add-on Coverage for Electronics and Adventure Sports: For a small additional fee, you can get coverage for the loss or theft of your electronics and gear, as well as coverage for sports such as mountain biking, cave diving, or scuba diving.
- Coverage In Your Home: Once you are back in your home country, SafetyWing covers for an additional 30 days (limited to 15 days in the US).
- Passport & Visa Coverage: One nice benefit from SafetyWing is their reimbursement policy to replace a stolen passport or visa.
- Family Coverage: A nice perk from SafetyWing is that they cover up to two children under 10 years old per couple.
Cons
- Deductible: The plan has a $250 deductible for medical expenses. You incur these expenses before claiming or settling the rest of your medical bill per policy period. That said, the deductible doesn’t apply for emergency medical and dental.
- US Resident Restrictions: Unfortunately, Florida residents are not eligible for this insurance coverage.
Get A Quote With SafetyWing
Things to Consider Before Buying SafetyWing Insurance
SafetyWing has been created and developed by digital nomads and, in that sense, is tailored for long-term travelers.
The coverage offered by SafetyWing Insurance works fine for most travel situations, including medical emergencies and Covid coverage.
The SafetyWing nomad travel insurance plan is suitable for someone who wants a cheaper option but one that covers the basic types of claims.
Make sure to review SafetyWing’s services and the coverage limits for the Nomad plan.
This includes the maximum amount the insurance will pay for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and other benefits.
Some of the practical aspects of your travel you want to understand before signing up are:
- Do you need baggage delays to be covered by your policy?
- Is trip cancellation important for you or is a trip interruption benefit sufficient?
- Will you be renting a car for a road trip, visiting vineyards or historical sites?
- Are you looking for plans that include extreme sports coverage?
- Are you willing to accept a smaller claim for both baggage theft and great damage?
- Will you be heading back home before resuming your journey or visiting another food destination?
Always read the finer details in the policy statements before you opt in.
- Who is it For: The nomad plan is best for anyone who wants value service and medical coverage at a reasonable price. It will be the answer for anyone who cannot get insurance for long stays. Or someone who wants a policy that lets them take a brief break before traveling to their next destination.
- Who is it Not For: Someone who needs a plan that covers car rental damage, trip cancellation, or baggage delays. While this policy does not include insurance protection while renting a car, check if you can get coverage through your credit card insurance.
RELATED: Best Travel Insurance for Food Traveler (Long Stay Included)
Review Of Safetywing Insurance Coverage
SafetyWing offers a blend of coverage, trip flexibility, and higher age limits in a cost-effective plan.
For a 30-year-old, it costs $56.28 per 4 weeks. You get health insurance, including emergency dental claims, along with coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, natural disasters, and personal liability.
Most important is to have peace of mind on your travels knowing you are covered.
The best part about the travel protection plan from SafetyWing is their clear pricing structure with the auto-renewal once every 28 days.
Purchase the nomad plan before your trip or at any time while traveling. You can cancel the subscription at any time.
If you happen to make any home visits during your trip, your insurance coverage continues.
There is an added advantage for families with kids. You get free insurance for two children under ten years old.
Let’s look at the essential coverage and how it benefits you.
Medical Coverage
| Medical Coverage | SafetyWing |
|---|---|
| Price (28 days) | $56.28 |
| Emergency Medical Coverage | $250,000 |
| Repatriation | $20,000 |
| Deductible | $250 |
| Emergency Dental Treatment | $1,000 |
| Covid Coverage | Included |
Travel medical insurance from Safety Wing covers such unexpected possibilities. Your hospital bills, lab tests, even emergency medical evacuation and Covid treatments are taken care of by the insurance company.
Covid Coverage Overview
With COVID-19 still circulating, new variants and sudden surges can make foreign and domestic travel unpredictable.
Vaccinated or not, when you have insurance coverage, it reduces your worries about dealing with travel uncertainties,
SafetyWing travel insurance plans include the following Covid-19 coverage:
- Treatment and Test Coverage: you are covered for any medically necessary treatments and tests.
- Quarantine Coverage: If you are quarantined due to testing positive for Covid-19, you’ll receive indemnity coverage of $50 a day for up to 10 days.
- Emergency Medical Care and Transportation: similar to medical coverage, you may be protected if you need to remain in a hospital at the destination or evacuated home for treatment.
Trip Interruptions and Flight Delays
| Trip Interruptions | SafetyWing |
|---|---|
| Interruption coverage | $5,000 |
| Medical Evacuation | $20,000 |
| Flight Delays | $200 |
What if you fall sick, get injured, or have a family emergency during your trip, forcing you to leave for your home country?
The insurance for digital nomads provides compensatory support for trip interruptions.
You are covered for the cost of a one way ticket in economy to your home airport.
If you were evacuated from your current location to home airport or from the hospital area to your city of stay, the flight or road transportation charges are covered by your policy.
Flights and transportation charges for minor children returning home are also considered valid.
Lost Luggage and Stolen Passport
| Baggage/Passport | SafetyWing |
|---|---|
| Flight Delays | $200 |
| Baggage Loss or Theft | $3,000 |
| Passport/Visa Loss or Theft | Cost of Replacement Up To $100 |
Misplaced, delayed, stolen, or lost luggage is something most frequent travelers have experienced.
You’re on your own when it comes to delayed baggage on account of security checks or flight cancellations.
If you have reported baggage that remains stolen, lost or misplaced for over 10 days despite your best efforts to locate it, then you’re eligible for compensation.
This will, however not exceed $500 for each lost or stolen piece of baggage.
Have you ever been pickpocketed as soon as you land in the streets of a new city?
With Safetywing passport cover, you don’t have to worry about a stolen visa or passport.
You can claim the expenses paid towards a replacement document after you’ve reported it to the police.
Gear or Equipment Damage
| Gear or Equipment | SafetyWing |
|---|---|
| Baggage Claim Included | $3000 |
| Per Item | $500 |
Smartphones, laptops and cameras are gears carried by most food travelers. The SafetyWing travel insurance plan provides compensation of up to $1,000 for theft of your equipment though as an add-on option.
Without purchasing the add-on, you are covered for damages up to $500 per item if it is lost with your baggage.
RELATED: Unleash Your Inner Chef By Taking a Cooking Class on Your Travels
Sports Activities
Safety Wing travel insurance plans offers solid coverage for standard sporting activities including horse riding, snow tubing, and cycling, among many others.
For an additional fee, you can add on the adventure sports coverage to extend your protection to higher-risk activities such as cave diving, skiing, or whitewater rafting.
If you get injured while playing a covered sport or fall sick while gym training, your medical expenses can be claimed. Check their policy details for the excluded activities.
Evacuation and Accidental Death/Disability
| Evacuation | SafetyWing (28 days) |
|---|---|
| Natural disaster | $100/day for 5 days |
| Medical | $100,000 |
| Political | $10,000 lifetime |
| Accidental Loss – 2 limbs | $25,000 |
| Lifetime Maximum | $25,000 |
| Accidental Death | $25,000 |
Most travel insurance companies don’t cover natural disasters or local events, but SafetyWing does. They provide coverage for natural disasters that’s adequate. Expenses for shifting to a new area can be claimed for 5 days under the policy.
Safety Wing offers compensation for all these unforeseen tragic events with its accidental death and limb loss coverage.
What’s Not Covered
- Chronic Illnesses and cancer: If you have any pre-existing condition, cancer treatment, or food allergies, medical care claims are not covered by SafetyWing’s Nomad insurance plan.
- Trip cancellation coverage: Most of us have had one trip or part of the journey canceled due to emergencies or events beyond our control. While other travel insurance providers compensate you for non-refundable booking, SafetyWing does not provide this benefit. Be prepared to lose your booking amount in case you cannot complete any part of your trip.
- Car rental damage coverage: If you’re planning to drive around in a rental car at your next food destination, be prepared to foot any charges related to accidental damage or loss of vehicle.
- Cover for Food Allergies: Pre-existing conditions, including food allergies, are not included in the Safetwing coverage. However, if you develop an allergy during an insured trip, you may be reimbursed for any incurred medical expenses. Though you want to check with the Safetywing to confirm.
What Is The Claim Process?
The SafetyWing website is easy to navigate, and the claims process is clearly outlined.
They recently streamlined their claims form and reduced turnaround time to 7-10 business days.
While we have not had to file a claim, the steps to follow are well-indicated. The claims page is accessed in the dashboard after you log into your SafetyWing Nomad Insurance account.
You will find detailed instructions on the expenses and payments you can get back under the policy.
Download and fill out the claim form with the incurred expense and simply upload it to the portal along with screenshots or photos of receipts.
Is SafetyWing The Best Long-Term Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a very solid option for food travelers considering long-term travel insurance due to its affordability and comprehensive coverage.
We find it to be one of the best long-term travel insurance options available for our needs and travel style.
That said, we’d love to see SafetyWing add more coverage for car rental and personal electronics, something we use on our travels.
Ultimately, the best insurance for you will depend on your specific needs and travel plans.
SafetyWing Insurance Review From The Web
While we are new to SafetyWing and have had a good experience so far. SafetyWing gets a solid rating of 4.0 from Trustpilot and overall people are happy with their nomad travel insurance plan. Here are some of the reviews from Trustpilot and the web.
What People Like
The customer service at SafetyWing stands out in most of the reviews.
“I went to see a specialist for a follow-up visit, paid the fee myself, and then filed a claim for reimbursement to Safetywing. The process was efficient and flawless, and I received the refund directly in my bank account after a couple of weeks. Very satisfied with the service.”
“My experience was nice. Even if it took longer than I expected. The team is very helpful and friendly, they know how to manage every situation.”
“I have a lot of questions regarding the process (how to start, how long it will take for the reimbursement etc), all the associates I talked with were so accommodating, and they guided me all the way.”
What Could Be Improved
It seems that most of the complaints revolve around the lack of clear communication on the claim statuses. Some people are also dissatisfied with the time it takes to process a claim. SafetyWing’s new streamlined claims process should help address some of the issues.
“The support email and type of communication is great. However, it seems that it would be more comfortable if there was an option to follow the statuses of claims online without the need of writing emails.”
“It’s a good insurance company with responsive customer service but the reimbursement process could be improved because it took a long time to process.”
Alternative Travel Insurance
SafetyWing Insurance vs Genki Explorer
For those interested only in health insurance, Genki Explorer is a good option. While more expensive than other insurance options, Genki offers unlimited medical coverage.
However, Genki does not include any coverage for travel interruptions, baggage, or gear loss. You could check your credit card company for these other travel-related coverage benefits.
If you are looking to protect yourself against travel delays, lost baggage, or stolen gear, SafetyWing is the better option.
SafetyWing Insurance vs HeyMondo Insurance
A good alternative for those who need car rental, gear, and adventure sports coverage are the long term insurance plans offered by HeyMondo.
This travel insurance company offers coverage for medical treatment, travel interruption and delay, and electronic equipment for worldwide travelers up to 69 years old.
While premiums are a bit higher, HeyMondo provides comprehensive coverage for everything from medical emergencies to lost baggage.
For more information and comparison of these travel insurances, check our full review of travel insurance for food travelers.
SafetyWing Insurance vs World Nomads Insurance
SafetyWing is the leading insurance provider for digital nomads, remote workers and long-term travelers. Another popular insurance company for travelers is World Nomads.
While we used WorldNomads at the beginning of our journey years ago, we have since moved to more comprehensive and affordable travel insurance.
In addition to being more costly, WorldNomads has revised its policy in 2021 and excluded European residents from their coverage. Further, Covid coverage is not included, making it unsuitable for us.
What do you think of SafetyWing Travel for long-term travel insurance? Please let us know in the comments below.
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Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest