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World Nomads Travel Insurance Review: What’s Included & What’s Not

I’ve used World Nomads as my travel insurance provider a lot over the years and, though I’ve written about travel insurance in the past, I’ve never properly reviewed World Nomads .

They were the first company I ever used and I’ve continued to use them throughout the years as I’ve traveled. Since I get asked a lot about them, today, I want to share my review of World Nomads Travel Insurance with you.

Here’s everything you need to know about World Nomads travel insurance:

Table of Contents

Who are World Nomads?

What’s included in world nomads insurance policies, emergency medical coverage, emergency dental treatment, lost or stolen baggage, trip cancellation, interruption, or delay, 24/7 assistance, what’s not covered by world nomads, what you can do with a world nomads policy, additional things to remember, travel insurance claims, my experience using world nomads.

World Nomads is a travel insurance distributor based in Australia. It was founded in 2002 by travelers who wanted to address the three key concerns: freedom, safety, and connection.

Now, the insurer provides coverage to people from more than 100 countries, offers overseas emergency medical and dental cover for sudden illness and injury, medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, 24-hour emergency assistance, some coverage for COVID-19, cover for lost, stolen or damaged baggage, cancellation cover, and coverage for a over 150 types of adventure activities.

I originally found them via Lonely Planet (but they were also featured in National Geographic and Rough Guides). There are a lot of travel insurance providers out there, but World Nomads was designed for backpackers and budget travelers, which is why I decided to go with them on my first big trip around the world.  

World Nomads has two plans: Standard and Explorer. The Explorer Plan typically has a higher premium because it has a higher level of coverage that includes all the benefits of the Standard Plan and a few more, with higher benefit limits.

World Nomads covers some higher-intensity activities and sports, even on the Standard Plan. Not all activities, sports, and experiences are covered under every plan and the coverage varies by the country you’re visiting and where you’re from, so always check before purchasing a policy.

Other benefits and services may include:  

World Nomads offers cover for overseas emergency medical expenses for accidents or sudden illnesses on both the Standard and Explorer plans.

Its policies also offer coverage for expenses related to medical evacuation or repatriation if you’re accidentally injured. For example, if you’re hiking in the woods and you break your leg, your policy may cover your evacuation to the nearest hospital or back to your country of residence (if deemed medically necessary).

In the images below, the coverage amounts in the left column are for the Standard Plan, while the prices in the right column are for the Explorer Plan.

World Nomads also covers emergency dental treatment for accidental injuries that occur during the trip. It does not include standard dental work, such as checkups or cleanings, fillings, or root canals and the like (or things that can wait until you get back home), however, if you get an injury then that may be covered.  

World Nomads offers some coverage for events related to COVID-19, such as emergency medical, trip delay, and trip interruption coverage if you contract COVID-19 while traveling. Be sure to read the policy wording to understand what’s covered and what the benefits are as these vary depending on your country of residence.  

Here’s a list of key items and situations not covered:

• Alcohol or drug-related incidents.
• If you’re reckless, acting in an irresponsible manner or not complying with local laws.
• Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups. Read the policy for full details.
• Lost or stolen cash (can vary depending on your country of residence or plan)
• Participation in a sport or activity not listed in the policy wording, or one that’s offered by World Nomads, but you haven’t purchased the required level of cover.
• Not following doctors’ orders: disobeying your treating doctor’s directions and/or those of World Nomad’s Emergency Assistance team.
• Stolen, lost or damaged personal belongings that were left unguarded.
• Buy additional coverage if you extend your travel dates.
• Purchase a policy while already on a trip (waiting periods apply)
• Make a claim online
• Access 24/7 Emergency Assistance
• There are age restrictions that apply depending on your country of residence.
• Its online system can be a little confusing to figure out.
• They offer limited gear/electronics coverage. Also, while using your gear, it won’t be covered.
• You can’t get “cancel for any reason” coverage.
• It doesn’t cover anything related to pre-existing conditions.
• World Nomads premiums vary in cost based on your age, destinations, where you’re from, and your country of residence.

I’ve been traveling for over 15 years and have only had to make a few claims during that time. Fortunately, for most travelers, travel insurance is something we buy but never have to use.

However, if you do get into a situation where you need to make a claim, there are a couple things that can help.

First, before a trip, I always make sure to save copies of all of my receipts and travel information in my inbox so that I can submit them to World Nomads if I need to make a claim. I also save their emergency phone and email contacts in my phone and inbox so that I can easily contact them in an emergency.

The more documentation you have about your claim, the faster and easier it will be processed. Claims can be submitted online; you simply start a claim, follow the prompts, and submit your documents. World Nomads will follow up if they need anything else from you.

Here are a few things that may make your claiming process easier:

• Injury or illness? Call their assistance teams ASAP and make digital copies of any related receipts.
• Take a photo of your luggage before your trip in case something happens to it (especially your valuable gear).
• If an airline loses your things, tell them straight away, fill in their paperwork and keep a copy.
• Theft? Report it to the police as soon as possible. Keep all documentation from the police.
• Check what refunds you can get first from your transport or accommodation providers. Only if they can’t help should you go to your insurance provider

Making a claim isn’t fun by any means, but it’s quick and simple to do thanks to World Nomad’s online portal. And, since they have 24/7 support, you can reach out to them if you have problems or questions.  

Luckily, the airline paid me, and I didn’t need to be reimbursed by my travel insurance policy, but I learned through this process that if you have all your documents and proof, the claims process can be a lot easier.

Another time, in Argentina, I was suffering from anxiety and worried that it was something more. It felt like someone was stomping on my chest. I contacted Emergency Assistance and they took my information and symptoms and gave me a list of emergency doctors that they recommended. They were helpful, quick, and got me a doctor right away. I was very happy with the service and know that if something really does go wrong, they act quickly.

Nobody likes to think about what might go wrong when they travel. But if you plan ahead and ensure that you have suitable coverage, you can travel with confidence knowing that, should something go wrong, you’ll be made whole and have access to a team that can help you navigate the situation.

I never leave home without insurance. You shouldn’t either.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORLD NOMADS .

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . 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.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel 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:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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World Nomads Travel Insurance – From Wheel Chairs to Lost Items (but we use different Travel Insurance)

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. We at Hostelgeeks are not an affiliate, and we will not receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. We have been advised directly by World Nomads to omit specific details. We’ve retained our original guide for your reference.

Are you looking into your own travel insurance? This is a huge topic. We at Hostelgeeks are traveling full time and we had a look at a few companies out there.

Personally, we no longer use World Nomads as travel insurance.

We are currently using Heymondo and Safetywing . Personally, it is easier for us  to handle and manage.

• HeyMondo Travel insurance review – our first-hand review and why we use
• SafetyWing travel insurance – pros and cons; perfect for digital nomads

Since we travel with a bit of gear and planned to do some activities like skydiving, motorbiking, diving and such, a travel insurance simply makes sense.

• 5 good reasons to get insured by World Nomads
• What is covered by World Nomads?

How much is it?

• Standard vs Explorer Plans (compared in a table)
• Our review and Experience
• My best tips
• Safetywing Insurance
• is world nomads worth it?
• Pros and Cons in short
• Promo Code for World Nomads
• How to Claim
• How long does a claim take?

Extending your insurance

• Alternatives to World Nomads

How late can you buy travel insurance?

• Last thoughts – Opinion

This medical insurance is especially popular for US-American travelers and Australians. More on that later. Although we are sasoned travelers, the insurance is always something changing.

Do you actually need Travel Insurance?

Our best recommendation to find travel insurance: spend a bit of time and read all the terms and conditions .

Yes yes, we know and we are sorry! But here is the thing: it really depends on your trip of travel, where you are from, pre-existing injuries and such. It’s or at least can be seriously complicated, but it does not have to necessarily be.

Below we list how you can avoid getting the wrong insurance and how World Nomads can help you.

Important : We will not talk you into buying insurance. It is your own decision; we are not your parents. Obviously, we give our honest opinion as a friend, based on experienced and other traveler stories.

Please check first if you are already covered by your own insurance. Maybe you don’t need another one, check that now ! If you have doubts, call your current insurance in your home country!

Important Update 2023:

We have been advised directly by World Nomads to omit specific details. We’ve retained our original guide for your reference. This is information only.

Travel insurance: simple & flexible

As stated, back in 2016 we decided to go with World Nomads. After comparing and listening to a few friends, the decision was final.

You can buy and claim online World Nomads, even after you’ve left home.

Quick and simple!

Travel insurance from World Nomads is available to people from 130 countries. That is especially useful since our team has different nationalities. It was interesting to see that the German insurance was more expensive than the Spanish.

It’s designed for travelers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. However, you need to check with World Nomads which activities they actually include.

What World Nomads can provide cover for?

World Nomads travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, to cover different types of trips. What does this mean?

Here is a list of things can they can cover:

• Delayed baggage
• Emergency Overseas Medical
• Medical Repatriation
• Death Overseas
• Emergency Dental
• Baggage Lost
• Stolen Passports
• Schengen Area Cover
• Trip Cancellation

Again these incidents CAN be covered. It all depends on the insurance you purchase. Coverage is always subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy along with the particular circumstances of the particular claim.

In regards to experiences, they cover more than 150 activities you love.

Can pregnancy be covered by World Nomads?

Any pregnancy is considered a pre-existing medical condition under the EU policy, however, this policy does provide cover for pregnancy complications which arise due to accidental bodily injury or unexpected illness which occurs while on your trip, excluding costs incurred during the period between 12 weeks before and 12 weeks after the estimated date of delivery.

This policy does not intend to cover the normal costs or losses otherwise associated with a single or multiple pregnancy or childbirth. Such normal costs include, but are not limited to, delivery by caesarean section or any other medically or surgically assisted delivery which does not cause medical complications.

Not all activities are covered under every plan.

You may have to upgrade the policy and sporting level to make sure you’re covered for everything you plan to do. Please read your policy wording carefully before you buy it.

Here’s this year’s top 10 activities under each category that World Nomads love to do:

• Bobsledding
• Ice Skating
• Snowboarding
• Snow kiting
• Snowmobiling
• Tobogganing
• Paddle Boarding
• Scuba Diving
• Windsurfing
• Aerial Safari
• Bungee Jumping
• Hang Gliding
• High Diving
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Passenger in a commercial aircraft
• Tandem Skydiving
• Bushwalking
• Camel Riding
• Elephant Riding
• Orienteering
• Motorbiking
• Mountain Biking
• Ultimate Frisbee

The last item on this list is experiences like WWOOFing, fruit picking etc.

This is very popular for budget travelers doing work and travel (or Work Away) in countries like Australia, New Zealand and others.

Experiences

• Childcare work
• General farm work
• Hospitality
• Fruit Picking
• Ski instructor or Snowboard Instructor
• Office work

Before you say “Travel Insurance is too expensive”, let’s have a look.

My dad always says “ Before saying you cannot afford it, always check prices first. It may be cheaper than you think “.

I have to admit, he was right quite a lot of times.

So, how much is it? I wish I could type right now a fix number for you.

But, you may have realized this already: this seems to be impossible. Again, our team has different nationalities. And everybody pays something different.

To give you an idea, we pay anything between 40€ to 90€ per month.

How to get your insurance with World Nomads?

Okay, by now you should have an estimated price, right?! You may be surprised how affordable it is; or how expensive and want to cancel now your trip.

Confession : I always thought it would be much more expensive. But again, my Dad convinced me to at least have a look.

Okay, let us assume you liked the price you saw. How can you take it from there?

What I really like here is that it’s super simple. And before you pay anything, you get a full, transparent quote. I cannot emphasize this enough.

First of all, the quote you receive will be depending on your

• nationality (country, maybe state too)
• the countries you are visiting and
• the duration of your travels

Above I included the form to get your first quote.

Step 1: Choose your plan

Last but not least, you can pick a different package: Standard Plan vs. Explorer Plan .

Let us talk about this a bit. Obviously, as you might have already guessed, the two plans cover different items.

Step 2: Sign Up with your Name and Email

This is pretty simple and regular too. You type in your name, surname, email address, address, maybe even an alternative travel address, date of birth and your phone number.

Your phone number is very important! Make sure your email and phone number is up to date!

Then you have to agree to the terms and conditions. Standard, again.

You have to confirm the following:

• I have read the policy wording, terms of business and insurance product information document, and agree to receive all policy document electronically.
• I have read in full and accept the privacy notice.
• I am a citizen of XYZ
• I would like to receive the latest news, deals & opportunities by email. (optional)

Step 3: Payment

And you made it to the payment form. You can pay only via credit card:

• Master Card
• American Express

PayPal or wire transfers are not possible at this point.

World Nomads Standard vs Explorer

I created a case for you to showcase a bit better the standard vs explorer plans of World Nomads.

There is only two different packages you can choose from.

The quote below is for:

• For 1 month travel (in August in this case)
• Traveling to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand
• Traveler’s age is 23

Below you find a detailed table.

So, here you have it. Personally, I was surprised how affordable it really is. For me, I decided to take only the standard plan.

The next one will be for sure the Explorer, in my case.

The reason is simple : The Explorer Plan covers Baggage & Personal Effects up to $3000. When traveling with a laptop and the newest iPhone, it’s worth it!

Our review of World Nomads Insurance

As stated in the beginning, we are fans and we use it ourselves. This is our extended World Nomads Travel insurance review for a reason.

We had zero issues, everything went smoothly.

From the consulting and many many questions we had to payment and extending the insurance.

It’s fair to say : We did not have anything to claim. We were lucky enough to had no lost luggage, no accidents or any sickness during our travels. We even didn’t lose our laptops, never got anything stolen.

*knocking three times on the table*

Even when we traveled 3 months by motorbike through Vietnam .

We hope you will never ever need any insurance. Yet, better safe than sorry.

We would love to give you a super detailed review for World Nomads Insurance.

But, here is the thing: There is no way we can write up a generic review that covers EVERYTHING!

Every insurance works different, every insurance covers different issues.

There are so many different policies, that are changing all the time. I wish I could give you the one quick super-solution, but it is clearly impossible.

Yet, this is the reason we like World Nomads.

They actually help you to pick the right plan for your travel plans. Again, it is super important that you are honest with your insurance agent. If you planning to go scuba diving, then do not pretend it is only a beach holiday.

If anything happens and you need to go to a hospital due to a scuba diving accident, no insurance in this world will cover you.

Important : If your plans change during your travel, you can always call them and upgrade your plan!

This is exactly what I did.

My own experience : I never planned to go scuba diving.

When we arrived at Gili Castle Hostel on the Gili Islands, Lombok, Indonesia, I decided to give it a go.

The local scuba instructor usually also have the possibility to sell you extra scuba insurance. I called up my insurance agent, and I was covered.

Here is world nomads phone number, listed by country:

Australian and New Zealand Residents:

• Phone: +61 2 8263 0470; or
• Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges* via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Brazilian Residents

• Phone:+45 70 23 24 61 (calls are not toll free. You can claim your itemised call costs)
• Text message: +45 42 41 30 00 (include your policy number in the text message. No phone calls.)

Canadian Residents

• Phone: +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.); or
• Phone: +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)

UK and Irish Residents

• Phone: +44 20 7183 3751 (Call via an operator reverse charges*. Not toll free.)
• Phone: 020 7183 3751 (from the UK)

U.S Residents

• Telephone: +1-855-878-9588 (toll free within the US and Canada)
• Telephone: +1-603-328-1329 (toll free outside the US and Canada)
• Telephone: +1-603-328-1384 (Collect*)

Residents of all other countries

• Phone:+45 70 23 24 61 (calls are not toll free. You can claim your itemized call costs)

My 6 Best tips for you

Here’s my best 6 simple tips:

• Start your research by checking if you already have a travel insurance
• Read the terms & conditions – carefully!
• Always ask if in doubt! Don’t be too proud or shy to ask twice if needed.
• Be honest on where you are and what you do
• Document all of your valuables
• Do not be an idiot

#1 You may already have insurance

Especially Europeans may already have a valid travel insurance.

And you may not need an extra one.

Or maybe you have one, but it is only valid for 30 days in a foreign country.

First things first: Call your current insurance and talk to them. If you are not covered, then consider World Nomads before purchasing something extra form your current provider.

World Nomads is highly experienced in travel. They actually know what to do in case something goes wrong, and can help you.

#2 Read the terms & conditions – carefully!

Whatever insurance you go for, it’s valuable, no, crucial to read them through.

Carefully! Do not just pick one for the peace of mind, without knowing what you just paid and what is covered, and what is NOT.

It may help to make a list of things you want to do before paying. Then go for the package that covers your adventures.

#3 Always ask if in doubt! Don’t be too proud or shy to ask twice if needed

Nobody expects you to understand every single line.

Ask your agent if anything is unclear. After all, you are the paying customer, and they are happy to help you. If you are too proud or too shy to ask, it could be really fire back on you.

What do we really like about this company?

You can contact an agent and ask everything that is not clear to you. No matter how “stupid” this question may sound to you, ask it! Do not leave anything unclear for you, you have to know what you are buying and what not.

Just let them know about your travel plans with details like

• countries you plan to visit
• your nationality
• duration of your travels
• planned activities

They will help you to find a suitable package for you. After all, this is what we did.

#4 Be honest on where you are and what you do

First of all be honest with yourself and do not pretend you will be chilling 4 weeks on the beach, when you actually want to dive, drive a motorbike, go skydiving and probably wrestle a shark.

It does not make sense to pay something that actually does not your cover your adventures.

Also, be honest when an accident happened.

Insurances have lots of experience, and if you have scratches all over the body and a broken bone in Thailand, they will probably not believe you when you say it was a cat…

Update : Worldnomads does not cover China now (4th of Aug 20). A user of our website was comparing prices, and it would not let him add China. So he went with safety wing. Please check this info before purchasing.

Per Worldnomad website when trying to enter the country; Sorry, we’re currently unable to provide cover for China.

#5: Document (your valuables and illness)

Whatever insurance you will be choosing in this world, when you have to claim something, you have to document all your valuables or illness.

When you have been sick, make sure you take a copy of your hospital bill or medication bill. You will need this. Best, fastest and easiest way to do this is with your phone and sending it to your emails. This way you have an instant backup.

In the unfortunate event something has been stolen, take a photo or make a copy of the official police report. Again, take a photo and send it to you via email.

Also, when your things got stolen, you have to provide receipts for all items.

You cannot go and claim a $3000 laptop without a receipt. I know, that is quite an annoying part. But sorry, quite necessary.

Read : Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips

Best way to do this : Document all your belongings before hitting the road. Unpack your final backpack or suitcase and take photos of all items with bill/ invoice if possible.

#6: Don’t be an idiot

Sorry, I do not mean to make you feel bad, but please please: Do not be an idiot .

Buying a travel insurance does not make you invincible or immortal. You won’t suddenly become a super hero that can drive the fastest motorbike in the world on a German highway with 350 kilometers per hour.

You cannot suddenly drive a motorbike with flips flops and without a helmet. You cannot suddenly fight a tiger!

Okay okay, your get my point.

I am only emphasizing this since we have seen so many travelers that experienced bad accidents. Especially in South East Asia. Once you travel around this area of the world, you will see many fellow travelers with many bad injuries…the moment you see it you know what I mean here.

Read : Big guide on 39 travel safety tips; both offline and online.

SafetyWing Insurance

SafetyWing is another option if you are traveling, specially if you are looking for a nomad insurance. It costs around $40 for the full month, so it is very affordable to begin with.

We wanted to test Safetywing for two reasons:

• We can have our team of remote travel-ninjas insured
• write another review for you, my dear reader!

However, and this is important, Safetywing and World Nomads are very different. More on that below.

We have now a full review of Safetywings . There we share our complete experience and compare it to World Nomads.

Here is our first impression.

The sign-up process was super smooth. I was really impressed by the simple and fun design. It seems like they do want to take away the complicated part getting insurance.

Now, that does not mean, insurance is suddenly easy. Always, and we mean, ALWAYS read what is exactly covered. We cannot state this enough!

Once you signed up, there a simple main screen with two tabs: either you can get your insurance or go to your profile. Make sure you fill out your profile completely. You have to fill out your citizenship, phone number, email address and your actual home country and mailing address.

The more interesting part however is the insurance tab.

Check how much your next trip could cost you in travel insurance. My upcoming 3 months trip to Colombia will be €121.44 (roughly $40 per month).

Update : We have used now Safetywing from December 2019 to March 2020. We had no accident so we had not to do a claim with Safetywing. However, since February and March the Coronavirus hit. We got constant updates on how they could evacuate us under what circumstances.

It did not apply to us since we have been to Mexico and there the situation was fine. We did not want to take any risks and paid our own flight back to Europe. The communication by Safetywing was great and useful.

Now, there is always two sides to a travel-related insurance. Under “ What’s included? ” you have all the details of medical and travel related insurance. They state:

SafetyWing covers you if you are suddenly in an accident or fall sick while you are outside your home country and need medical assistance.

• Hospital Room and nursing services
• Intensive care Up to the overall maximum limit.
• Ambulance Usual, reasonable and customary charges when covered illness or injury results in hospitalization.
• Urgent care $50 co-payment, not subject to deductible.
• Physical therapy and chiropractic care Up to $50 per day. Must be ordered in advance by a physician.
• Emergency dental Up to $1,000. Not subject to deductible.
• All Other Eligible Medical Expenses Up to the overall maximum limit.
• Notable exclusions · High risk sports activity · Pre-existing disease or injury · Cancer treatment

Unforeseen things can happen when you’re travelling. Includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability.

• Trip interruption Up to $5,000. No deductible.
• 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. No deductible.
• Lost checked luggage Up to $3,000 per certificate period; $500 per item. Up to $6,000 lifetime limit. No deductible.
• Natural disaster — a new place to stay Up to $100 a day for 5 days. No deductible.
• Political evacuation Up to $10,000 lifetime maximum. Not subject to deductible.
• Emergency medical evacuation Up to $100,000 lifetime maximum. Not subject to deductible or overall maximum limit.

It all sounds very good, right? Read all the pros an cons of SafetyWing in our full review.

Difference between Safetywing vs HeyMondo

• SafetyWing is best for <40 years demographic
• For <40 years – especially as age and duration increases it becomes more expensive
• For travelers of +50, World Nomads may be the better option
• Prices for US travel insurance is noticeably higher with SafetyWing. The cover for travellers from outside US may be too low for some of their more expensive hospitals to accept entry
• Aussie Rules
• Hag Gliding
• Ice Hockey (indoor only)
• Kite Surfing
• Martial Arts
• Mountaineering +4500m
• Quad Biking
• Paragliding
• Parachuting
• Parasailing
• White Water Rafting

You see, there is a big difference really. As always, I recommend having a closer look on what your insurance should cover.

When doing lots of kite surfing, then obviously you need an insurance covering that.

Is world nomads worth it?

A world nomads travel insurance is definitely always a good and safe idea!

Now, if World Nomads is worth it? If you actually need travel insurance, then YES!

I am not gonna lie to you, there are obviously more agencies offering this service. It’s important to mention this, because we want you make a good decision about this issue here.

But, here is the thing : A few insurance providers of our friends from Germany and Spain for instance cover certain activities and a time frame for traveling abroad. If you have an insurance that covers already your travel plans, then you do not need to get anything extra.

Please pay attention : Ask your actual health insurance first what is covered – and what is not!

Therefore, here is our action guide to insurance:

• Call up your own health care in your country
• What is covered?
• What is not covered?
• Do they have an own travel insurance?
• Compare the prices and coverage with Worlds Nomads vs your own insurance

In our case our health insurance would have been the same price as World Nomads. We decided to go with World Nomads. Why? They have the experience! Our own health insurance was not really experienced with travelers around South East Asia. Inside Europe they were really experienced. Hence, we are Europeans. Yet, we wanted the coverage more for Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Quick real story : I twisted my knee and broke my meniscus in Bali.

Painful, very painful…VERY painful.

Needless to say I had to go to the hospital. The simple treatment (X-ray, crutches and pain killers) cost me whopping $350. The worst part? I had to pay it out of my own pocket. My insurance just expired after 4 months traveling. And I thought: Well, I never used it, I don’t need it…

Well, that backfired in many ways!

I was lucky though since it was “ only ” $350. Surgery and such could get easily in the thousands…

And if that was not bad enough, I almost broke my arm in Vietnam.

Of course, it was a small motorbike accident. Luck was on my side, it was only a massive bruise for around 3 weeks.

FAQ about World Nomads

Here we walk you a bit through common questions we had to ask ourselves before purchasing our first insurance.

If you have any other questions, please leave a comment below.

We would be happy to add this to the list so we all help with our fellow travelers to make a better choice.

Does World Nomads Travel insurance cover Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Yes, if it is a medical prescription. Kindly note if the country requires to quarantine until you get the results and you do not test positive it won't be covered.

Can you get insurance while already overseas?

Yes! You can get your health insurance whenever you want. You can also always extend.

How late can you buy travel insurance? Could you buy it after your accident?

You can buy your travel insurance whenever you want. There is a 3 days waiting period (72 hours) from the time you buy the policy until your cover starts. Basically, you cannot buy your world nomad insurance today and make a claim 10 minutes after. That does not work.

What about pre-existing medical conditions?

This policy changed in 2017 and is worth it to keep an eye on. Pre-existing conditions, unless they are controlled and stable, are not covered for

• Trip Cancellation,
• Trip Interruption,
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment,
• Emergency Sickness Medical Expense,
• and Emergency Accident Medical Expenses.

World Nomads Claim - how does this work?

It could not be easier: do it online! If you're a World Nomads member (I recommend to register with them and have an account), you will just need to log in and follow the claims path. There is a tab for claiming your insurance. Here you also have to upload/ attach your supporting documents like medical statements, bills etc.

How long will it take to settle a claim?

Most claims with World Nomads take between 1 - 2 months to settle . It takes a while. But, this is normal for any insurance - whether it's your car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance. It does not matter.

Another very good question, how late can you actually buy travel insurance? And could you buy it after your accident?

You can buy your travel insurance whenever you want. There is a 3 days waiting period (72 hours) from the time you buy the policy until your cover starts.

Basically, you cannot buy your world nomad insurance today and make a claim 10 minutes after. That does not work.

This policy changed in 2017 and is worth it to keep an eye on.

Pre-existing conditions, unless they are controlled and stable, are not covered for

What is a pre-existing condition?

Pre-existing medical condition is where you, a member of your travelling party, a close relative or any other person upon whom your trip depends has, at the time of policy purchase:

• An ongoing medical or dental condition, or related complication, the symptoms of which you are aware, or that is currently being or has been investigated by a medical practitioner, dentist or a chiropractor; and/or
• a medical or dental condition for which advice, treatment or medication has been prescribed by a medical practitioner, dentist or a chiropractor within 180 days before you purchased your policy.

If this applies to you, then check with your agent directly.

Again, it is not worth it to lie about it. Be open and upfront with what you got, what you want. This, and only this, will pay off.

World Nomads Claim – how does this work?

It could not be easier: do it online!

If you’re a World Nomads member (I recommend to register with them and have an account), you will just need to log in and follow the claims path.

There is a tab for claiming your insurance.

Here you also have to upload/ attach your supporting documents like medical statements, bills etc. No worries, the claims path is easy. To settle any claim, you need to send in certain documentation. World Nomads Insurance strongly suggests that when you do this you take photocopies so that if items get lost in the mail, they can avoid further settlement delays.

Depending on the type of claim the documents can be:

• Any reports or reference numbers obtained from the police,
• hospitals or the responsible authority.
• Proof of purchase for all lost, stolen or damaged items.
• English translations of all documents (not required for UK/Irish residents).

Step 1 : complete submission of your claim online

Step 2 : get your documentation together

We already mentioned this. We recommend to document all your valuables before you hit the road. This makes things so much easier.

Step 3 : send in your documentation (everything is online, no post office or mail is needed!)

Now you only need to keep an eye on your account in World Nomads. The agent might get back to you with further questions or requests for other documents (if needed).

Important : Always get the bills and official documents from the doctor, hospital, police! Again, take a photo with your phone and send it to you via email.

They have the support 24/7 and all year around. You are covered!

It takes a while. But, this is normal for any insurance – whether it’s your car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance. It does not matter.

Most claims with World Nomads take between 1 – 2 months to settle.

Others can take longer than that. This often depends on how quickly you can get the required documents, answer further questions etc, as stated above.

Important : No insurance in this world can instantly resolve your claim.

This is almost impossible since there are a few steps an insurance company has to follow before they can reimburse you for instance.

You can buy your insurance on a monthly basis. Once it expires, or actually before it expires, you will get notified via email.

You can always extend your insurance. All you have to do is to log into your account, and choose your package again. You can always upgrade and downgrade. This is up to you.

Real-Life Claims with World Nomads

When it comes to insurance, usually there is some big story behind we all want to avoid.

In a recent podcast, World Nomads featured an interview with a teacher who survived a gas station explosion in Cambodia with life threatening injuries. Her first hand account of how the World Nomads EA team helped her (even flying out her Mum to be with her in the process) is extremely eye opening!

Alternatives to World Nomad

Is world nomads good travel insurance? Yes it really is, we experienced it first-hand.

Yet, I am not going to pretend World Nomads is the only travel insurance in the world. There is obviously many agencies, like BMC Travel insurance, True Traveller Insurance, IMG Patriot, Orbit protect insurance. There is also cheaper travel insurance than world nomads.

Update : As mentioned before, we have a full review of Safetywings .

Make also sure you read our detailed review of Heymondo . One of the better alternatives to World Nomads.

Make a difference: Donation

Just on a side-note, I would like to mention the NGOs World Nomads works with that you can support.

Giving a little back to the communities in which we travel is the right thing to do. So far World Nomads customers have raised over $2 Million. 100% of all donations go to the program you choose.

During your process of purchase you can choose between 3 programs to support. You can donate between $0 and $10. You can also decide not do donate, no worries!

Why is Travel Insurance so complicated?

First of all, everything around insurance is complicated.

It is only in rare cases you can get an insurance and EVERYTHING is covered under all circumstances, whatsoever.

The world of travel insurance is even a bit more complicated, if you will, because it all depends on your nationality. There is different rules for US Citizens, for Spaniards, for Australians, for Africans, well, for everyone actually.

When visiting World Nomads for instance, you have to choose your own country first to see what is covered in your case.

What if something gets stolen?

Here is what World Nomads states for US Citizens, for instance:

There’s cover to claim up to the policy limits if:

• luggage and personal effects are stolen, accidentally damaged or lost on your trip.
• checked-in bag is stolen, lost or damaged by a common carrier (like an airline or bus company).
• travel documents, traveler’s checks or passport are stolen, accidentally lost or used fraudulently.
• sporting equipment when lost by the carrier or if it’s damaged (while not in use) or stolen.

The maximum amount you can claim for all your belongings and personal effects is $3,000 per insured person with a maximum claim amount of $500 per item for an Explorer policy; or $1,000 per insured person with a maximum claim amount of $500 per item for a Standard policy.

This means as well if something gets stolen in your hostel, this would be covered. Just the amount of cash is the remaining question.

Especially when traveling with a laptop, the Explorer Package is the better option.

Last notes about Budget Travel and saving money

We know, Budget Travel means you save money wherever you can.

Finding the cheapest flights, hotels, hostels, activities, free things to do…you name it! Backpacking is fun, traveling is a lifetime experience. The more borders you cross, the better.

Yet, there are a few things that are really essential. I remember in a forum a traveler once asked “ Do I really need vaccinations? “.

There is really a limit to saving money; risking your health is out of limit.

The most important thing you have: Is your Health!

Not having an insurance can really bite you in the a**. And I have to say again, please to not be an idiot. Yet, that goes with and without insurance!

Read : 10 most common backpacker mistakes

We are not trying to make you afraid, it will be your final decision. But we want to give you a few tips on the hand on WHY insurance makes sense, but also HOW you can avoid stupid accidents and limit the risk.

The most important thing you have: your Health!

Why do I mention this?

We have seen quite some crazy people not caring a bit about their health.

• That girl that wanted to save money on essential vaccinations, but traveling to exotic destinations.
• That hostel girl we met in Lombok that had a terrible scooter accident in Bikini and shorts – and was bleeding all over. No bone was cracked, but she had a “ souvenir ” for the net 6 months, this is my guess on how long her skin needs to recover
• That guy in Vietnam who drove a motorcycle in Flip Flops and then wondered why his feet got burned….
• That guy in Chiang Mai driving a motorbike without a helmet
• This girl in Bali that passed out drunk as a monkey on the beach and got everything in her pockets stolen.

You see, there’s a few things you can limit.

The best insurance is the one you will never need, but is always there!

I am not trying to scare you. Again, this is a genuine article. Whenever I write an article for our readers, I only give recommendations I would give my sister.

Over to you

Do you have any questions? Anything unclear?

Please leave us a comment below.

We would be keen to help, and we would love to make this review even better.

Also, we would love to hear your own review of World Nomads Insurance. Have you had any experiences? How did you use it?

We would love to have you on board and hear your positive and negative feedback.

Just leave a comment and let us know! We want your real experiences with the company! Please remember to use proper language. If your review of World Nomads has bad language, we cannot publish it. And again, we want your actual experience. It will help the whole travel community!

What’s next?

We collected for you the most amazing hostels in the world; from wineries to castles, island retreats and monumental buildings.

Check out as well the best hostels in the world, the 5 Star Hostels .

Here is more reviews of our favorite travel platforms:

• Our favorite ways to find flights –  Skyscanner in review
• Who to fly with? Qatar Airways in review and Etihad from Abu Dhabi
• HeyMondo Travel insurance review – is it legit?
• SafetyWing travel insurance – pros and cons
• Hostelworld in review – how to use it properly
• Get Your Guide – the best platform for booking tours?
• Klook.com – ideal for finding global experiences
• Onward Ticket – save money, time & stress at the airport
• Omio – book travel transport easily & save money

Safe travels and take care, The Hostelgeeks

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MASSIVE LOOPHOLE WARNING Conditions that are “similar”, but unrelated to, a condition that was subject to a previous claim ARE NOT COVERED.  Here is an example, in their own words:

“If you were to develop a new stomach condition not related to the previous stomach issue but a similar condition you would not be covered due to it would be considered pre-existing unless it was due to an injury or something totally unrelated.” 

I would be happy to share their emails to me for posting on this site. 

This is a shocking and appalling loophole, especially for a policy that is marketed towards long term travellers, who are likely to get separate but “similar conditions” – such as stomach issues, the most common travelers’ ailment.  This company is unethical and anyone who promotes it without mentioning this loophole is irresponsible.  I can only assume they didn’t know.  World Nomads will not provide any further details on how they define a “similar condition”. Of course they don’t issue any refunds after policy holders have discovered this loophole the hard way – it certainly is not explicitly stated anywhere in the policy!!  I have confirmed this loophole multiple times, so I know it wasn’t just one agent giving incorrect information. 

Thanks for sharing, AJ!

Agree with other commenters. They outsource to Trip Mate, who then refuse to pay. Was assured by the WN rep by phone that I was eligible for trip delay/trip interruption coverage. Now I’m left on the hook for expenses he assured would be covered. World Nomads are scammers who simply take your money and do nothing in an actual emergency.

YEP! World Nomads is awful. Just got my policy and they PUT THE WRONG DATES! I get an email saying “Welcome home” when I haven’t even left for my trip.

Tried calling, emailing, texting, etc – no response. Impossible to even leave a message.

This is odd! I strongly believe there’s a solution for this! Please keep us all posted to this, pretty sure many travelers are curious to know!

Wish you all the best, Matt

WORLD NOMADS IS THE WORST!

I”VE WRITTEN WORLD NOMADS FIVE TIMES AND CALLED SIX. NO RESPONSE! THEY ARE NOT EVEN TAKING MESSAGES THEY ARE SO DISORGANZED.

IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT IN AN EMERGENCY???

I forwarded your email, name and comment to the one contact I have with World Nomads.

Guess what World Nomads is the worst! And not because people can’t read about Covid in the policy. No problem with that I’m an attorney and can read just fine. They outsource the insurance to TripMate which is one of the worst companies on the web. The policy clearly states they cover travel providers that go bankrupt.

I have tickets on the bankrupt South African Airlines and the as not required anywhere in the contract they want proof that the tickets have been canceled by a company out of business that does not answer its phone. This is not required by the contract. They are just flat out not paying anyone!

When you try to call or email World Nomads, they don’t answer, don’t resolve, don’t provide any service at all!

You are wrong and no doubt getting paid as an affiliate to help everyone get scammed!

Hey Judith,

Sorry to hear that. Personally never had the case of an airline going bankrupt. Airhelp is a solid resource for more information. Hopefully that helps!

The policy clearly states they cover travel providers that go bankrupt. Well, I would say it makes that they need some official paper stating that the airline went bankrupt. That being said, it makes sense that you as a customer can get some official information on this. The question is: How? I just checked quickly. Yeah, does not seem like an easy task…

I sent your email to the contact we have at World Nomads. They are certainly not a scam, as you stated in your comment. I’ll drop you an email now with some more information!

Take care, Matt

Avoid buying from this company “World Nomads” for your future travels they are not honoring our claims with many hidden exclusion clause. e.g. pandemic or epidemic will not be covered during your travels. If your claims doesnt exceed certain limit also is an issue to make a claim. Even referring to independent travel insurance to review your claim but still does not help. Feeling angry and cheated.

Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience with World Nomads, Randall! Always valuable to hear more stories and experiences! Sorry to hear you had a bad experience! Matt

I do not understand the hatred of these comments. I had a case with world nomads in Barcelona, my backpack got stolen. Everything got solved and got my money. It took some time to get the money, but I got it. I’d say world nomads is like any insurance, they take their sweet time.

Hey Lora, Thanks for sharing your own experience! Matt

In the beginning of february I enquired three times World Nomads regarding what was covered related to Coronavirus in Cambodia and Vietnam and NEVER got an answer. Then my travel companion got injured 12 days before departure and we had to cancel, we where travelling together, same airplane tickets bought together, same hotels room etc. One claim, the one of the injured was payed after one month, and I’m still struggling to get the refund. The person following my claim namely Andrew is different from the one that followed my sister claim and this is very unprofessional disorganization, two answer for the same documents is not a good message of thrus. Simply the non pay policytactic is to drive people crazy with request like asking to the Air line that got me a refund is I’m also entitled to a tax refund…. or ask to the air line if the clearly not refundable fare is refundable etc. Or asking if i can confirm math of ticket cost minus refund……. Look for a more professional company avoid World Nomads if you don’t want to lose money and time.

Hey Cristina, Thanks for sharing your own experience! Matt

We used World Nomad for a 3 week trip to Europe. They wouldn’t cover any of our costs after world pandemic cancellations. We bought the most expensive plan and they wouldn’t even return our calls or answer emails. They are a complete scam.

World Nomads is an absolute scam of a company and I think you should remove this article. Go online to their twitter or Facebook or any social media page and read the horrible stories. I have one myself and I will never buy insurance from them again.

Hey Jennifer, Thanks for sharing your opinion! Matt

World Nomads is not a good company. I have made a claim with them 3 weeks ago, and called them numerous times, emailed them at serviceUSA[at]worldnomads.com and filled out their website form numerous times, wondering why my claim hasn’t been processed. I cut my hand in Malaysia and needed stitches.

They refuse to call me back, contact me, and I feel they have just taken my money. Save your money and find another company. This is disgraceful and sure, having insurance is smart while on a trip, however, if they don’t pay or even contact you, what’s the point. My trip got canceled due to Corona Virus and they won’t address whether I am getting the 6 weeks I am not traveling anymore on reimbursement either.

Sorry to hear that! I am completely surprised because I never heard they do not even get back in contact with you. Did you try to login and check in your profile? There should be the claiming process specified and current status. Sending you an email now!

Stay healthy, Matt

I had a medical emergency in South Africa early February that resulted in 10.000 NZ Dollars of bills….emergency team in Oz were amazing….they checked with my GP in New Zealand to make sure I did not have a pre existing condition then once I had forked out the 10 grand (in South Africa you pay upfront for everything from Scans to Anaesthesia to Surgery) they sent me an email to say all my medical bills will be covered and did I want Nomads to pay the hospiral bill but id already paid it. Since lodging my claim on 14 Feb and answering one question they do not reply to my emails asking for an update on when I will be paid out. I have the email confirming my medical bills will be paid so I do not understand why they are not responding to my emails regarding payment….I have already been approved and have a legit email from Nomads to say exactly this so I do beleive they are now using stalling tactics. Im ten grand out of pocket and im still sick…iv had further hospitalization home in New Zealand which fortunately is free but having this financial burden has put me under a lot of stress. Il defs keep you posted if and when I get paid out so heres hoping there is a positive outcome to my claim!!

Thanks a lot for sharing, Cheryl!!! Keep us in the loop, dropping you an email now! Matt

Does World Nomads offer “Cancel for Any Reasons” package as an optional upgrade?

Not that I am aware of, never seen this option! You always pre-pay for your trip, there is no automatic subscription charge. They do send you a reminder though if you want to renew/ extend your travel insurance with World Nomads.

Hope that helps, Matt

I had my luggage and valuables stolen in the train at Barcelona. Made a claim in accordance with their instructions and submitted all required documentation which took a very long time. They required further information and/or documentation until they come across one which you cannot produce, at which point they refuse assess your claim and do not pay you. They took an average of 10 working days to reply to each of my emails (which is the maximum time requirement for them to reply to you). In my case, they are now refusing to assess my claim as I cannot submit my train ticket which was inside the stolen luggage. This is ridiculous. I cannot stress enough for any potential customers to avoid World Nomads at all costs. It is very easy to pay for the travel insurance with World Nomads as is the process to make a claim because their website is very easy to use. However, the claim process takes a very long time, and in the end, if you are not frustrated into giving up the claim, they always find a way to not settle the claim and do not pay out. If this is not an example of a scam, I don’t know what is. Please read the other reviews very carefully – most of the good reviews on World Nomads is in regards to how easy it is for you to use their website to pay and make a claim, not getting your claim paid out.

Thanks for a lot for sharing your first-hand experience and claim with World Nomads Travel Insurance. That must be frustrating indeed! I hope you can still resolve it! Thanks again for sharing this, I am sure this is very helpful for many readers! Yeah, Barcelona is a pain with the pick-pocketing-problem. I apologize for my home town 🙁

Very disappointed I’ve been travelling around the world for 30 years and the first time I make a travel insurance claim, having purchased trip insurance from World Nomads, they refuse to pay for a wisdom tooth extraction I had whilst on holiday. If this dental work had not been done the pain would have ruined my whole trip. Seriously, if they are not prepared to pay for this what about something more serious? How can you have confidence or trust in an organisation who will endeavour to weasel out of paying for even straightforward things?

Thanks a lot for your feedback. Which insurance package did you get? Did it mention anything about dental? Will drop you an email!

All the best, Matt

I had to file three claims with world nomads… the first was for a simple doctors visit for a parasite infection. World Nomads, or Tripmate, or Nationwide, or whatever umbrella company you want to call them by, eventually paid me back.

The Second two claims were for an accidental damage claim for a lens that broke when I fell while hiking. For that one they EVENTUALLY approved my claim and “sent” me a check that never arrived. I have been trying to get it re-issued and to get my $700 refund for a year and a half with no luck.

My third claim was for emergency dental for teeth broken in the same fall. They did not respond to my claim, or my request for emergency assistance. They delayed for more than two weeks until after my claim expired. (I extended my policy before it expired). Two days after my original policy expired they responded to tell me that because my policy had expired they would not cover me beyond the end date, and that the extension was a new policy and considered it a pre-existing condition.

Hey Tristan,

Thanks a lot for sharing your first-hand experience, very helpful! Matt

I also have to second the mechanical problems thing too. I was delayed 24 hrs because of technical issues on my way to New Zealand. We missed our connecting flights and had to buy new ones. I was informed the only reason I would receive coverage is if the airline delay was due to 1. the workers at the airport striking (what??) 2. weather causing a 24 hour or more delay. Seems like a completely ridiculous loop hole to me.

uff, agreed, not very cool! Let me check back with them, I will drop you an email! Matt

We used World Nomads just recently for a 1-month trip to Europe and discovered after the fact that they do NOT cover travel delays when the airline company cancels your flight due to mechanical or technical problems. It happened to us…and we are out $1500 for a new flight, loss of one night’s hotel in Amsterdam, and non-refundable museum tickets from the 30-hour delay. The only thing World Nomads covered was a meal in the airport. The representatives were kind in explaining this, but the “mechanical problem” exception was nowhere to be found in the contract or website. Just an FYI…

Thanks for that, very interesting! So the Airline canceled and did not refund? This is so odd. You should get in touch with the Airline directly. At least in Europe, customers are well protected when it comes to flight cancellations and delays. World Nomads should have also covered a part. Not sure which package you got. Will drop you an email 🙂

Thanks again for your super helpful comment, always appreciated! Safe travels, Matt

Super helpful, cheers. Was not sure about bali. Will be in Bali for 2 weeks and planning to rent a scooter and to hike the volcanoes. Will this be covered too? So confusing topic…

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The World's Best Travel Insurance for Long-Term Travelers

Updated: Jan 13, 2023 • by Thomas K. Running

While there are many types of insurance you might buy as a digital nomad or long-term traveler, the most essential is usually travel insurance—specifically a comprehensive “travel health insurance” policy.

Some of us may also need global primary health insurance (often called expat health insurance).

To help you determine the right type of insurance for your situation, I’ve created a short, interactive quiz. No personal data or contact details required!

In short, as long as you’re covered for long-term health care in your “home country” or somewhere else where you have the legal right to live indefinitely, a travel health insurance plan that covers medical costs in case of accidents and serious illness abroad is what you’ll need. And that’s what I’ll cover in this article.

Coronavirus update 🦠 Due to the novel coronavirus and the resulting COVID-19 pandemic, I want to provide some resources related to travel, insurance coverage, and how to stay safe and avoid disruptions to your travel plans. Insurance coverage of COVID-19: It’s very common for insurance policies to contain general exclusions regarding epidemics and pandemics, meaning it’s not a given that expenses related to the coronavirus outbreak will be covered by your policy. Check with your insurance provider to be certain what’s covered. SafetyWing now fully covers COVID-19 related illness as of August 1, 2020. They even cover PCR tests if deemed medically necessary by a doctor. Read more here . World Nomads do not cover anything related to the COVID-19 (or any other) pandemic for customers from most countries (their insurance policies vary depending on where you’re from). US residents are the one exception to the rule that I spotted. Read more in their FAQ (make sure to select the same country of residence you used when signing up). Changed travel plans It also varies what insurance providers will cover if your travel plans were affected by the pandemic (so check with them). However, many airlines (as well as hotels, cruise companies, car rental agencies, etc) are allowing you to make changes to your reservations free of charge. In many cases, they’ll even refund tickets you no longer need, want, or can use. Helpful resources: Worldwide travel restrictions (IATA) Information on country-specific measures (US State Department) WHO’s COVID-19 pages CDC’s coronavirus pages

Table of Contents ↺ Coronavirus update Should you insure your stuff? The alternative: Self-insure for the little things Getting the right insurance Travel Health Insurance Emergency Evacuation Travel Insurance Things to note when picking your policy The Showdown SafetyWing World Nomads True Traveller IMG Travel Health Insurance Other insurance providers worth looking into Common questions (FAQ)

Should you insure your stuff? 🎒

While some insurance is important, I’d recommend against getting too much insurance. Keep in mind that, on average, getting insurance doesn’t pay off financially. The insurance companies need to collect enough in premiums to cover not only claims (legit and fraudulent) but also their own staff, marketing, and profit margins.

My personal policy is to insure against the unlikely events that would ruin me financially.

Yes, it sucks having to pony up $2000 for a new MacBook Pro if it were to get stolen or destroyed. But is it worth paying $500 dollars for certain every year, just in case? Only if you cannot possibly manage to save up a few thousand dollars as a buffer or make do with a less expensive laptop for a while in case it breaks and can’t be fixed at a reasonable price.

If someone stole all the belongings that I travel with—including the clothes I was wearing and the phone in my pocket—it would cost me about $6000 to replace it all with brand new items.

While painful, I have enough of a buffer that it wouldn’t put me in debt. And the likelihood of it happening in the first place is quite slim. Hence, I won’t waste any money insuring my possessions.

The alternative: Self-insure for the little things 💰

Most people are paying way too much in insurance premiums. I can appreciate that you might value the extra peace of mind that comes with knowing that you’re covered no matter what happens.

But if you start doing even rudimentary back-of-the-envelope calculations, it becomes clear that you’re throwing money out the window.

Instead, consider this approach.

Get quotes for insuring everything you instinctively want to insure. Missed flight connections. That camera you bring along but almost never use. Your smartphone. Your laptop. Baggage delays. Petty theft. And, of course, emergency travel health insurance.

Get quotes for everything with zero deductibles if possible.

Let’s say your total yearly premium comes to $3000.

Then look at what you would be paying if you only get insurance for the stuff that would ruin you financially. In other words, probably only emergency health insurance.

Pick the highest deductible you’re comfortable with. At the very least a couple of hundred dollars per year. Remember, your goal is to never actually have to use the insurance, so it’s better to pay less every year and potentially a bit more in the year where you actually need to rely on your policy.

Say you end up with a premium of about $500 per year. As you’ll see later, that’s a very easily attainable number.

Now, buy the cheap insurance with the high deductible. Every year, put the money you saved ($2500 in this example) on a high interest savings account (or even better, a low-cost index fund or ETF ) earmarked for situations where you would have relied on the expensive, all inclusive insurance.

Now sit back and watch your own personal insurance fund grow ever larger year by year. Whenever you need to pay for something that would have been covered by the more expensive insurance (including deductibles), just withdraw the money to cover it from your own insurance fund.

As an added bonus, you don’t even have to fill out lengthy claims forms, go hunting for old receipts for your valuables, and fight with claims agents that are trying their very best to find loopholes to avoid paying you what you’re rightfully owed.

Getting the right insurance

Let’s take a look at the different types of insurance you should consider getting for your trip.

Travel Health Insurance 🏥

Even if you’re covered for health expenses in your home country, it’s important to be covered for emergencies abroad.

What would happen if you’re in the US, or Japan, or Australia (or even countries where health care is cheaper), and you get a debilitating disease or end up in an accident that has to be treated locally?

You’ll very quickly end up with medical bills in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. Unless you have insurance, that is.

A good emergency medical travel insurance will take care of any costs of any life-threatening treatment you get locally.

It’s important to note that most travel health insurance policies are not “primary” health insurance policies. They rely on you being entitled to treatment somewhere and will ship you there if needed for long-term care.

So even if you get travel health insurance, it’s important that you make sure you’re covered for long-term treatment at “home”.

If that’s not the case, you should check out our article on worldwide primary health insurance .

Emergency Evacuation 🚁

Many travel health insurance policies come with built in emergency medical transportation or emergency medical evacuation as it’s often called. There are also standalone evacuation memberships, which tend to be quite a bit more expensive for similar coverage.

What exactly is covered by such policies, what limit is sufficient for your needs, and do you actually need it?

Usually, an emergency evacuation policy will kick in when the initial hospital or medical facility is not suited to provide the appropriate care for your medical emergency.

The decision to move you elsewhere will usually be made by the local doctor and your insurance company’s medical advisor.

While the policy will cover transportation to a suitable hospital, the medical costs on arrival are not covered—unless part of a travel health insurance policy . In other words, the standalone evacuation memberships usually only cover you until you’ve reached the hospital.

Due to their nature, emergency evacuation policies are most essential if you’re often hiking in remote areas, traveling or staying long-term in less developed countries, etc. If you’re spending most of your time in large cities in developed countries, it’s less important. In that case you should just make sure you’re covered for individual trips you make where it can come in handy.

The policy limits usually range from $25,000 up to millions or even unlimited . Since evacuation costs can get really high in extreme cases, I’d recommend a policy with at least a $100,000 limit. Perhaps even more if you’re traveling in very remote and underdeveloped areas.

Travel Insurance 🛫

Although all the different types of policies we have covered so far could fit under the umbrella term travel insurance , in this section I am referring to things like delayed or lost baggage, missed flight connections, car rental insurance, and so on.

If you have it included in a credit card or similar for free, then of course it’s worth having. Rental Car insurance can save you some money as well, but make sure to read the fine print.

Many travel health insurance policies include some coverage for these things as well, so if you’re anyway getting that kind of insurance (which you should) and the price differential is small, it can be worth to get it bundled. As you’ll see below, my recommended all-in-one insurance (SafetyWing) is actually cheaper than the already affordable health-only insurance from IMG.

If on the other hand you’re not covered through your credit cards or other insurance you already have, spending money on a dedicated travel insurance is usually a terrible deal bordering on pointless. There are a few reasons why this is the case:

• It’s very unlikely that anything will happen, and if it does the insurance policy probably has an exclusion
• If something happens, it will be relatively cheap to deal with on your own
• In many cases you can get compensation from airlines or others, even without insurance

Let’s take one example; missed flight connection insurance . Most policies require from two to four (!) hours in between flights to be valid.

Ask yourself, how often are you traveling with connecting flights on separate tickets? Perhaps some times, but likely not that often.

And how many flights are more than two to four hours delayed? Only about 0.1% to 1.5% of flights, depending on airlines (US airlines generally coming out behind).

Assuming you mostly fly on through tickets and only have a handful of risky connections on separate airlines per year, that’s a very slim chance (perhaps 1-2%) that you will miss a flight connection on separate tickets in a given year. And even if you did, the expected cost of an average replacement ticket is only a few hundred dollars.

That means, even with as much travel as most nomads do, the expected financial loss of missed connections is only a few dollars per year. So skip the insurance, and put the money saved into your own self-insurance fund .

Things to note when picking your policy

• Usually whenever you extend your policy (technically, when you enter a new period of coverage ) any things that happened before the extension will now be treated as pre-existing conditions , and will often no longer be covered.
• You’re a legal (tax) resident of that country. If you’re traveling long term you might not be.
• For trips of a certain length (often 30 or 60 days, but I’ve also seen 90 days) before you have to return to your home country. Many even require you to have purchased round trip flight tickets before embarking on your trip for your coverage to kick in.
• If it’s a credit card policy, if at least 50% or even 100% of the trip costs have been pre-paid with the card in question.
• Many insurance policies (even some of the ones included in this article) limits the number of visits you might make to your home country during the lifetime of the policy. Say you purchase a typical one-year policy, and you happen to visit your home country for any reason more than once in that period, the rest of your policy will be canceled with no refund given.
• When it comes to deductibles, look out for if the deductible is per incident or per policy period (which can typically extend to a year). The latter is clearly better, since if you already had to pay the deductible once, you don’t have to pay it for the rest of the period/year.

The Showdown 🥊

In the rest of this article I will compare some of the most popular and well-suited insurance policies for digital nomads and long-term travelers who already have some sort of primary health insurance cover at home.

I’ve included policies that meet these basic requirements:

• It should be possible to buy and renew the insurance while already traveling.
• They should be available to the residents of many if not most or all countries.
• There should not be any upper limit for how long you can travel before returning home.

Note that all prices are rounded to the nearest dollar.

This relative newcomer is my personal top choice , and what I’m personally using. And while SafetyWing is still a startup (launching about two years ago), their insurance policy is backed by Tokio Marine, one of the most solid insurance companies in the world. So in the unlikely event that something were to happen to SafetyWing, you would still be taken care of by Tokio Marine.

Their long term goal is to offer a complete suite of products to build a country-independent social safety net for freelancers and digital nomads , which I think is really cool! In addition to the travel health insurance described here, they also recently launched a complete worldwide primary health insurance called Remote Health , so if you don’t have health coverage in your home country, check that out! However, their first product (which is what I describe in this article) is marketed as a “ digital nomad travel insurance ”.

And compared to the alternatives, it is both a really good value and offering some genuinely useful features that I know many of you will appreciate.

In many ways it’s even more comprehensive than the competitors, but still only a fraction of the price.

Some highlights:

• Recurring billing . Pay monthly just like you would for Spotify or Netflix without having to decide upfront for how long you need the policy. Why other companies don’t offer this is to me a complete mystery.
• The lowest cost of any company in this comparison. For a worldwide excluding the US policy you’ll pay about $37 per month, while most comparable companies charge over $100 for a less convenient product.
• A yearly deductible . While most companies charge a deductible for each claim, SafetyWing will cap your deductible at $250 per policy period (which—as long as you keep your subscription running—equals 364 days).
• No deductible at all for many types of claims , including emergency dental, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, crisis response, emergency reunion, bedside visit, trip interruption, accidental death and dismemberment, lost checked luggage, travel delays, personal liability and a bunch more.
• Home country coverage . While most of the competitors might even void the rest of your policy if you visit your home country, SafetyWing’s policy will even cover you in your home country for up to 30 days per 90 days of insurance.
• The same low daily price no matter how short cover you buy. Perfect for nomads who have other health coverage in the countries they spend most of their time (e.g. EU/EEA residents spending a lot of time in Europe), and only need cover for part of the year while traveling elsewhere.
• Covers private health care . No need to go to a public hospital or doctor in a third world country when there’s a much better private one available.
• They support direct billing to most hospitals and clinics in their extensive, worldwide network (searchable on your online account page). You can still opt for a different medical provider, but you’d generally have to pay out of pocket and be reimbursed later.

Some things to note:

• A bit high price if you order their US inclusive policy for a long time. If you are planning on visiting the US, you’re better off getting the US cover only while you’re in the country and switch back to the non-US cover as soon as you leave.
• After 364 days of coverage, the insurance will lapse if you don’t actively renew it. Luckily that’s as simple as clicking a link in an email that will be sent to you before your current policy expires.

Pricing for a 35 year old nomad who’s already traveling:

For recurring policies longer than 28 days, payment is only due every 4 weeks , so you don’t have to pay for a long policy in advance , unlike virtually any other insurance company.

Full policy wording

World Nomads

They might have been innovative a decade ago, but today I sincerely believe most bloggers are only recommending them due to financial incentives (they pay bloggers—including me—for referrals) or plain ignorance. Or perhaps a combination of both?

What they offer might have been revolutionary 10 years ago (travel insurance that could be purchased and renewed while already traveling), but today there are better alternatives available.

I’m really not sure what World Nomads offer that can justify the more than triple price, but my hunch is that it’s mostly due to brand recognition rather than any tangible benefits to you as a customer.

If you get their most expensive package, you do get pretty good extreme sports cover, although they have recently become much more restrictive here than before—without that being reflected in the price.

Highlights:

• They support direct billing , at least in some circumstances. In my only experience being hospitalized while covered by their Explore plan, I still had to pay the hospital myself and got the settlement about 6 weeks later. But they do claim that they can arrange direct billing, so I assume they would help out if the claim was a bit bigger (mine was only about $1300).
• Decent extreme sports cover in their most expensive package (although not as good as it used to be).

Things to note:

• Since World Nomads use different insurance providers depending on your country of residence the insurance price, terms, limits and benefits vary from one country to another . Be extra careful to read the full policy wording for your country of residence.
• Extensions are expensive . Say you take out and pre-pay for a long-term policy, you would pay about $75 to extend your policy with a mere week (assuming you’re from the US and on the Explorer plan).
• You’re only allowed return home once during the entire duration of your policy. If you’re a nomad with a home base, or you tend to return home to visit friends or family on occasion, you’re effectively not able to buy a long term policy to save money. Instead you’ll have to buy a series of short and expensive policies.

I’ve used World Nomads a bit in the past (with BUPA Global as the insurance provider) and while the claims involved lots of paperwork they usually were handled fairly. Payouts aren’t super quick, and I had to send them a few reminders before the claims were settled.

The only time I had an issue (which was at least partly my fault) was when I waited until only a few days before the expiry of my current insurance policy before extending it. In that brief time window a close relative first got very ill and later passed away. Since the relative became ill before I had ordered the extension (even though I was unaware of it until a few days after and she only passed away into my new policy period, since it was no longer “unexpected”), they refused to cover my round trip tickets back to Europe so I could attend the funeral.

According to the policy wording they were of course in the right, although someone more understanding could have used their discretion to decide otherwise. Anyway, with the auto-renewal feature that SafetyWing offers this would have been a non-issue.

Note that pricing for World Nomads depend on your country of residence. To get the long term discounts you have to order and pay for the whole period in advance . Extensions are charged at non-discounted prices and will start a new policy period. If you’re at all unsure about how long you need your policy, you’re much better off using SafetyWing’s subscription feature or another insurance provider with cheap extensions (also like SafetyWing, and IMG below).

Base price of a Standard/Explorer plan for a 35 year old traveler from the UK (prices converted from GBP at the time of writing):

Base price of a Standard/Explorer plan for a 35 year old traveler from the US :

The policy wording varies depending on your country of residence . To see the full policy wording, you have to request a quote where you enter your country of residence. On the next page look for the section “View full description of coverage,” and click the View button under the heading of the plan you are interested in.

True Traveller

This is a popular provider, particularly in the UK. Their insurance is only available to residents of the UK and other countries in the EEA.

Their cheaper plans are quite affordable—especially if you pre-pay for a year or more—but they are also quite limited and restrictive in what they cover. Adding various extras will quickly increase your premium.

• No limit on home visits , however you are not covered while in your home country .
• They have lots of good reviews on Trustpilot , for what that’s worth.
• They will strive to arrange direct billing for covered medical treatment surpassing £500. Below this you’ll generally pay out of pocket and be reimbursed once your claim is processed.
• Extensions cost a lot . E.g. if you had a 52-week policy (costing $462 with no extras) you would pay a whopping $50 to extend your policy by a mere week.
• Only available to current EEA residents . If you are a full-time nomad or have a base outside of the EEA, you likely won’t qualify even if you’re from the EEA.
• Does not cover private medical treatment unless no public treatment is available. Personally, I was really happy that my insurance covered private hospital stays when I got hospitalized in India a few years ago. Just saying. Update: True Traveller responded below , clarifying what this policy means in practice.

Base price* for a 35 year old nomad who is already traveling (prices converted from GBP at the time of writing):

* Their pricing changes massively depending on which extras you include. A 7 day policy ranges from £34 to £361 depending on your selections. A 52 week plan can get as pricy as £1511 with all extras selected. In this table I’ve included their mid-range package (“Traveller”), with zero extras and a £75 deductible per claim.

Policy wording

IMG Travel Health Insurance

This is an affordable travel health insurance, which does not include any non-health related benefits (unlike the previous options).

IMG is a financially solid company, with some of the best prices out there. For a reasonable health-only policy it’s a popular budget option, but be aware that they have a reputation for slow claims handling and sticking to the letter of the policy wording beyond what some people would find reasonable.

• Flexible deductibles , so you can select a high one and reduce your premiums.
• The deductible is only payable once per 12 months of continuous coverage (like SafetyWing ).
• Extending and renewing your policy is a lot cheaper than e.g. World Nomads and True Traveller, so if you find yourself needing your policy a bit longer than expected, it won’t break the bank. Extending this way will start a new policy period, however, (unlike SafetyWing’s subscription) which means issues that already arose while traveling will be treated as pre-existing and no longer covered.
• This is a travel health only policy , and will not cover things like trip interruption, travel delays, lost luggage, etc. It is still more expensive than the SafetyWing insurance , which includes those things. Also note that it’s still not primary health insurance , so you still need to be covered in your home country.
• Your insurance will be terminated if you return to your home country for more than 14 days, or at all if your home country is the United States or you returned home for medical reasons.
• They generally don’t support direct billing (i.e. the hospital or doctor billing them directly), which mean you might have to pay pretty hefty medical bills out of pocket and then wait for your claim to be processed before you will be reimbursed.
• The plan which includes travel in the US is not available to US residents .

Pricing for a 35 year old single traveler ( travel health only , $500,000 limit, $250 deductible):

Policy documents:

• Patriot International (excluding travel to the US)
• Patriot America (including travel to the US)

Other insurance providers worth looking into

While not available everywhere, Allianz is an insurance company with a good reputation and (sadly also) premium prices. They tend to be a bit pricier than the options we’ve looked at so far.

Click here to see if they offer their travel insurance product in your home country.

Note that they often require you to purchase your insurance before departing on your trip, making it a poor choice for most nomads.

Genki is a travel health insurance product, so it doesn’t come with any typical non-health-related insurance benefits, however we feel it deserves a mention as it is designed specifically for digital nomads.

While it still has few public reviews on websites like trustpilot.com, it is backed by both Dr-Walter and Allianz, so we see it as a trustworthy newcomer to the travel health insurance market.

They offer their product for travel to every country on the planet – upon questioning them on this, they said “Even North Korea” 😆.

It is based on a monthly subscription, and you can choose to be covered with their “Worldwide” plan or “Worldwide excluding Canada and the US”.

It’s a little more expensive than some of the travel insurance products available starting at €35.70 per month, however it has quite extensive coverage. Covid-19, travel costs for family members to visit your hospital in case of a medical emergency, mental ilness, sports-related injuries (only one’s that are not considered dangerous activities – hiking, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, biking, kayaking etc. are covered), pregnancy (except pre-existing), and emergency dental care are all included in their list of benefits.

Finally, in most cases there is no overall limit in medical cost cover, and they offer 24/7 emergency assistance and direct billing. They will cover emergencies in your home country as well for up to 6 weeks per 180 days.

Common questions (FAQ)

• Q: Will airlines compensate me for lost or delayed luggage?

A: Yes, up to certain limits which depend on the route you fly. For lost luggage on international flights, usually it’s limited to about $1,600 (or 1,131 Special Drawing Rights , to be exact). The limit is $3,500 for domestic flights in the US. For delayed luggage , the practice varies a bit from airline to airline, but generally they either give you a one-off payment to cover essentials or reimburse you based on reasonable and necessary expenditures resulting from the baggage delay when seeing receipts. They will also reimburse you for damaged luggage on the same basis (on seeing receipts documenting expenses).

• Q: Why do I have to fill in my country of residence when purchasing travel insurance? I’m traveling full time, with no fixed address anywhere.

A: While each insurer’s definition of “country of residence” will differ, they generally want to know where to send you in case of serious injury or if you need long-term treatment. So you should choose a country where you have (1) a place to stay (perhaps with family or friends), (2) will be covered by either private or public health insurance to take care of your long term medical bills, and (3) somewhere you have unlimited and unrestricted access (i.e. you don’t need a visa to enter, so typically where you’re a citizen, permanent resident, or—for EU/EEA citizens—all of the EU/EEA). While most of the providers listed in this article won’t require you to be a legal resident you should still read your policy wording carefully, exceptions do occur for certain nationalities with certain providers. Note that many insurance providers offering insurances to citizens or residents of a specific country will require you to be a legal resident there, and also in some cases part of the national social security or health insurance scheme.

• Q: When should I buy the insurance? Can I wait until I depart or already traveling?

A: While the providers listed above all allow you to purchase your policy while traveling, it is better to get it ASAP —ideally as soon as you have your departure flights booked or at least know your departure date. The insurance won’t cover anything that happens until after you buy the policy. So if you for some reason (e.g. medical) you can’t depart when scheduled, and you haven’t purchased the insurance before the issue arises, you won’t be covered. Typically there are also quite a few exclusions to the insurance cover in the first few days after you buy the policy (to combat insurance fraud), so that’s another good reason not to wait.

• Q: How do I know if a plan is good enough for a visa application?
• A: Some countries require you to have travel health insurance before applying for certain visas or entering the country as a visitor. This includes Australia, Canada, the United States, Ecuador, and the entire Schengen area (most of Europe)—among others. Usually the requirements include emergency health cover with varying limits, emergency repatriation to your home country, and a few more things. The providers listed in this article should be good enough for most—if not all—visa applications around the world, but if you’re unsure you can always reach out to the insurance company to make sure. To learn about the visa and entry requirements for various countries, check out the free services listed in the visa section of my travel tools article —particularly Timatic and TravelDoc.

Tips that will make your life a lot easier in a pinch

• Get in the habit of scanning all receipts , medical docs, etc, with your smartphone, and add it all to Evernote, Google Keep or a similar application that can be accessed on both your phone and online. Also do this for any expenses you have as a result of delayed luggage or flights, plus receipts when purchasing anything you will travel with (e.g. clothes, electronics, travel gear, valuables) in case you have to submit a claim at for it at a later date.
• Keep digital (and optionally paper) copies of your essential travel and financial documents , such as passport, driver’s license, visas, entry stamps, etc. Store your debit and credit card information in an encrypted password manager (like LastPass).
• Always bring both a travel-friendly debit and credit card , plus ideally leave a backup credit card at home or with some trusted friends, which you can use to make online purchases in case the cards you bring with you are lost or stolen. Accommodation (which can include breakfast), flight tickets, etc can usually be booked and paid for online.
• Keep a paper copy of your insurance card in your wallet and/or passport. In case of an accident, it’s good to have the relevant contact and policy information on hand. You might not even be conscious yourself, so then the emergency response personnel can still find your information.
• Use the ICE (in case of emergency) feature on your smartphone . That way emergency response or medical personnel can contact your specified ICE contacts without unlocking your phone, and also see potential allergies, blood type, and any other information you have included. It’s a good idea to also include a paper copy of this information in your wallet or on the back of your insurance card.

I hope you enjoyed the article! Hopefully it can save you both money, hassle, and maybe even your life.

Feel free to add any questions and comments (particularly your own first-hand experiences with different providers) in the community thread or below.

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