Travel health insurance for digital nomads is a must-have for any traveler. Too many stories of odd bug bites turning into infectious diseases, scooter accidents and natural disasters are enough to make even the most experienced traveler run for cover. Without travel health insurance, every day as a digital nomad is a gamble as the slightest injury could drain your bank account. A quality travel health insurance plan will give you the freedom to travel from country to country with the knowledge you are covered should any harm come your way.
Unfortunately, choosing a quality travel health insurance plan as a digital nomad can be a bit of a challenge. This is because the vast majority of travel health insurance companies in business today cater primarily to tourists and those who are abroad for only a week or two at a time, meaning they rarely have a policy suitable for the perpetual traveler whose work allows them to venture from place to place at their leisure.
Don’t worry though, we’ve got your back. Having spent time as digital nomads, we know exactly what you should be looking for in your search for a travel health insurance policy you can rely on and we know the companies most likely to provide you with coverage. Below you will find some of the best travel health insurance providers for digital nomads.
The Best Travel Health Insurance for Digital Nomads
Seven Corners Liasion Travel Policies
Seven Corners deals exclusively in travel health insurance and offers a number of different options spread across a variety of price ranges – Liaison Student, Liaison Economy, Liaison Elite, and so on – meaning you’ll likely be able to find a Liaison policy which doesn’t stretch your budget to its limits. It is a solid company, and my personal insurer. I’ve already been reimbursed easily and quickly for several claims I had in Thailand. Assuming you go with the brand’s Liaison Elite plan, you will receive a comprehensive package which covers you in virtually all eventualities.
Under Elite protection (which can last from five days to a year), you can rely on Liaison to pay for, among other things, home health care up to a maximum of $2,500, local ambulance transportation up to a maximum of $5,000, and personal liability up to a maximum of $25,000.
It is important to note, however, many Seven Corners Liaison policies provide protection to citizens of any nation when traveling outside their home country. For example, if you are a US Citizen, and choose Liasion, you will receive coverage almost every where in the world, including the U.S. if you choose to pay for it. On the other hand, the Liaison Elite Insurance plan provides visitor health insurance for non-U.S. citizens visiting the USA.
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Bupa Global
Bupa Global is the travel insurance arm of Bupa UK (which provides health insurance to those within the United Kingdom) and is one of the most seasoned and reputable providers of travel health insurance in the game. While this means a policy with the company may set you back a little more than it would from some other brands, you can take comfort in knowing you are covered by a company which has been relied upon by travelers, much like yourself, for half a century.
The standard Bupa Global policy is surprisingly comprehensive, so much so it covers certain extreme sports, meaning if you want to take a break from your work to indulge in surfing or skiing you can do so with total peace of mind.
Similarly, Bupa travel health insurance policies cover pregnant women and take pre-existing conditions into account. On top of that, Bupa Global promises 24-hour medical assistance, which is particularly advantageous, as digital nomads tend to keep odd hours and often find themselves working on projects late into the night.
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World Nomads
As you no doubt guessed from the name, World Nomads deals in travel insurance policies for those who are constantly on the move. World Nomads offers some of the most flexible travel health insurance plans available right now and is not just limited to medical emergencies when it comes to coverage. Go with a policy from World Nomads and you will be protected in the event of lost or delayed luggage, as well as in the event of your passport being stolen.
The coverage the brand provides for medical emergencies is, some would say, second to none, with one World Nomad customer reporting the company paid out after he was bitten by a shark while swimming in Tortuga Bay, Galapagos. The company website is loaded with stories similar to this, along with inspiring tales from World Nomads customers. If you’re a digital nomad who deals in content writing, the company may even provide you with another outlet for your work.
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Allianz
Allianz is one of the most trusted names in the insurance game and is often recommended by insurance agencies to their clients, be they searching for an insurance plan for home or an insurance plan for abroad. Allianz offers a number of travel health insurance plans, some of which will set you back less than $20.
In light of complaints from policyholders in the past, Allianz has recently restructured its claims process to allow customers to make claims in as swift and as timely a manner as possible, so you won’t have to worry about being stranded while waiting for approval. The company has also recently introduced the TravelSmart App, which allows digital nomads to access their policy information, file claims, contact customer support, and more from their smartphone.
The only major downside of taking out a travel health insurance policy with Allianz is the brand insists policyholders also have insurance in their home country, which is a total inconvenience if you spend the majority of your time abroad.
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SafetyWing
SafetyWing is the chosen travel health insurance provider of many a digital nomad and has the distinction of being the world’s first insurance provider for digital nomads by digital nomads. A comprehensive policy under SafetyWing includes access to hospitals and the doctors within them, as well as emergency medical evacuation should it be necessary.
You’ll also be covered in the event of lost luggage, travel delays, natural disasters, and personal liability. One of our absolute favorite things about SafetyWing is its determination to go beyond the realm of insurance in order to provide its clients with experiences and memories. With ambassadors spread across 20 cities, SafetyWing organizes events and meetups to help policyholders find fellow digital nomads for both fun and networking.
More Travel Health Insurance Companies
- Travelex
- 1 Cover travel insurance (Australia)
- GeoBlue (US)
Is Travel Health Insurance for Digital Nomads Optional?
At Tech4Trek, we say no. Of course, no one will force to be insured but so many of these policies are so low cost, especially relative to any possible expenses you may incur, we think it’s as close to mandatory as you can get when traveling.
More From Tech4Trek
- Travel Health Insurance Advice (from a health insurance professional)
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