SafetyWing Digital Nomads Health Insurance - An Honest Review
Table of Contents
I have reviewed SafetyWing health insurance and would like to share my opinion about it with you. So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive review of SafetyWing, your search ends here.
For digital nomads or long-term travelers, finding an insurance provider that covers their unconventional lifestyle and doesn’t cost a lot can be challenging. However, SafetyWing claims to offer this type of coverage. It’s worth considering if you fit this lifestyle, but you should shop around if it doesn’t meet your needs.
Do Digital Nomads need health insurance?
It that you may need health insurance as a digital nomad. I previously wrote a detailed post on why it is important, but to summarize, having health coverage is crucial no matter where you are in the world to ensure your well-being.
There are various situations that could arise such as getting the flu and requiring medication, experiencing an unforeseen allergic reaction, injuring your toe and suffering a severe infection, or being involved in an accident and needing emergency medical attention at a hospital.
Having an accident on the road can lead to expensive medical treatments that most people can’t afford out of pocket. To avoid such situations, it’s important to have an insurance policy no matter where you are.
Is SafetyWing any good?
If you work remotely, freelance, run your own business, or live in a foreign country, SafetyWing offers travel medical insurance designed for people like you. It is a great option if you identify as a digital nomad.
SafetyWing was founded by three Norwegian friends who are digital nomads themselves. They noticed that there was a lack of insurance coverage for their community. Recognizing that the digital nomad lifestyle is becoming more popular, they decided to create SafetyWing.
What coverage do you get with SafetyWing?
So you are probably asking yourself now: Can you provide more information about the coverage provided by your SafetyWing insurance policy?
SafetyWing policy includes coverage for the following incidents:
– Emergency medical treatment
– Lost luggage
– Travel delays
– Evacuation due to terrorism, political disruption, or medical emergencies
– Accommodation in the case of natural disasters
– Transportation expenses for a family member to join you if you are hospitalized for a long duration
– Personal liability for losses or injuries to third parties
I just want to point out that our coverage is better than what many other travel and health insurance providers offer.
I’ve listed some of the most important benefits for you and their coverage limits in detail:
Benefit
Limit
Acute onset of a pre-existing condition
Up to $250,000
Local ambulance
Usual, reasonable, and customary charges, when covered injury or illness results in a hospitalization as an inpatient
Emergency dental
Up to $1,000
Intense care unit
Up to $250,000
Hospital room and board
This is the average semiprivate room including nursing service
Outpatient physical therapy and chiropractic care
Up to $50 per day
Terrorism
Up to $50,000
Other eligible medical expenses
Up to $250,000
Emergency medical evacuation
Up to $100,000
Political evacuation
Up to $10,000
Replacement accommodation after a natural disaster
Up to $100 a day
Trip interruption
Up to $5,000
Lost checked luggage
Up to $3,000
Travel delay
Up to $100 daily after a 12-hour delay period – requiring an unplanned overnight stay
Personal liability
Up to $10,000
Repatriation of remains
Up to $20,000
Accidental death & dismemberment
Up to $50,000
*There is a deductible of $250.
What is NOT covered by SafetyWing ?
It is important to discuss what is not covered by SafetyWing. Like most travel and international health insurance providers, they do not cover certain things such as cancer treatment, routine check-ups, or pre-existing conditions. It may be expensive to include coverage for these and in many cases not practical.
Two things not covered by them are:
Trip cancellation and
Adventure sports, which might be important for some of you.
If’re a digital nomad who tends to travel spontaneously, you probably won’t have a lot of expenses related to trip cancellations. However, if you’re someone who enjoys adventure sports and plans to participate in a lot of them, this could be a major drawback. In that case, you could seek out additional coverage specifically for those activities.
How much does SafetyWing cost?
So far, I have found SafetyWing to be the least expensive option for international health and travel insurance. Their rates are only one-third of what their biggest competitor charges. Here are the main prices:
Age Range
Price per Month
18-39
$36.96
40-49
$59.92
50-59
$94.08
60-69
$127.68
If SafetyWing is good, why is it so cheap?
You be curious why SafetyWing health insurance is more affordable compared to other options. Here are the explanations.:
They only have one policy and it is the same for all customers, which simplifies both the consumer experience and their internal operations.
Furthermore, SafetyWing sells directly to the consumers without the involvement of middlemen, which eliminates the need to pay agent fees.
Lastly, they concentrate on providing essential coverage. Including high-cost treatments like cancer would result in significant expenses for affected patients. Consequently, the company would be forced to raise prices for everyone to cover those costs. By excluding coverage for these treatments, they can maintain lower rates.
How about payments to SafetyWing?
SafetyWing offers subscription-based coverage, which is convenient for digital nomads. You pay for the first 4 weeks of your trip, and the coverage automatically extends for another 4 weeks until you decide to cancel. There are no cancellation fees, and you can cancel at any time. If your policy is about to end after 364 days of coverage, SafetyWing will notify you. You can easily renew your policy if you are still traveling.
This is a great way to prevent accidentally running out of coverage because we often don’t know how long we will be traveling.
At SafetyWing, you can begin your travel and health insurance coverage at any time, including during your travels, which sets us apart from other policies. You don’t need to be in your home country to sign up.
What countries are covered by SafetyWing?
SafetyWing provides coverage in over 180 countries around the world, making it possible to travel to almost anywhere. However, it’s important to note that if you plan on traveling to the USA, the monthly rate for your digital nomad health insurance will go up because medical expenses in the USA are higher.
Does SafetyWing cover me while I am visiting my home country?
If you travel to your home country, you can still get coverage from SafetyWing as long as you don’t spend more than 30 days there for every 90 days of coverage. However, if you are a US citizen, the coverage for your home country is limited to 15 days for every 90 days of coverage. This is a more generous offer than what other insurance providers usually provide.
Do I need any country residency?
One of the benefits of SafetyWing is that you don’t require a registered residence in your home country or anywhere else. Some insurance companies require you to maintain residency in order to provide coverage. This can be difficult for digital nomads who don’t have strong ties to a single location and frequently travel.
When I started my nomadic life, finding insurance was difficult because most companies required a permanent address. However, SafetyWing doesn’t have this requirement. You only need a postal address for receiving your final bill, which can be a friend’s or parent’s address.
What happens in case of an emergency?
Don’t worry, no need to panic!
If needed, your phone should be able to automatically convert 911 to the local emergency number.
If your medical issue is not urgent, you can locate the nearest medical provider by logging in to yourWing profile and selecting “find a hospital or doctor”. This will provide you with a list of qualified doctors, specialists, and hospitals worldwide.
When you arrive at the medical facility, present your SafetyWing ID card to the attendant. In some instances, medical providers can send the bill directly to SafetyWing, which is convenient. If this is not possible, you are responsible for paying the bill before departing.
Ask to be provided with proof of your payment, such as receipts or bills.
File your claim with SafetyWing.
Important Note: It’s important to obtain a receipt or bill for any payments you make, whether for medical bills or pharmacy purchases. Be sure to take photos of these documents right away because they can be lost easily. Without proof of payment, it won’t be possible to file a claim.
Filing a claim with SafetyWing?
The process for making a claim is similar to that of other insurance companies. Here are the basics:
Please gather receipts for all the expenses you incurred such as doctor’s treatments and pharmacy bills, and capture a photo of them.
Send your claim form and all photos of your receipts to service@hccmis.com or print everything and just send it to Tokio Marine HCC –MIS Group, Box No. 2005, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-2005.
After submitting your claim, you’ll get a confirmation email. You can track its progress by checking your online profile. The processing time for your claim is up to 8 weeks.
Make sure to always have an emergency fund in case you need to cover your expenses until you receive your money back.
Is SafetyWing a scam?
Because SafetyWing is new and has a website that looks different from typical insurance websites, some individuals may be uncertain about trusting them.
You can trust SafetyWing as they are a legitimate and excellent health insurance option for digital nomads. They have collaborated with Tokio Marine, one of the largest insurance companies globally, which ensures that all claims are handled by a reliable and experienced company. There is no possibility of fraud with SafetyWing.
Is SafetyWing right for you?
If you meet any of the following criteria, SafetyWing is the appropriate insurance for you:
– You are over 18 years old.
– You are a digital nomad seeking to travel overseas for more than 4 weeks.
– You require travel or international health insurance while you are outside your home country.
– You are an expat or remote worker residing abroad.
– You want to travel for more than 4 weeks, even if you are not interested in working remotely or living abroad.
In which cases should I NOT go for SafetyWing?
SafetyWing might not be the best option for you if you frequently participate in adventure sports or carry valuable equipment, such as camera equipment worth $4,000.
Bottom Line: SafetyWing -Yes or No?
I highly recommend SafetyWing as their policy covers everything a typical traveler needs, including personal liability and travel delays. The procedures are easy to understand and follow. Moreover, the subscription model is perfect for digital nomads as it allows them to begin coverage while traveling without having a permanent address, and they can cancel it whenever they want.
To purchase international health insurance, consider SafetyWing as a great option. You can register for your upcoming trip on their website.
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