The Best Travel Insurance Companies for Backpackers

Last Updated: 1/12/24 | January 12th, 2024

I’m a backpacker at heart. Even after traveling the world for over a decade, I still love to travel cheap, prioritizing experiences over fancy accommodation and transportation. I still love staying at hostels, meeting locals, and sampling as many local delicacies as I can.

Contrary to popular belief, being a backpacker is not about pinching every penny — it’s about finding value. If you want to have a genuine and authentic trip without breaking the bank, then you need to spend your money wisely.

And when it comes to backpacking around the world, one of the wisest choices you can make is to purchase travel insurance.

I know, travel insurance seems like just another expense that will chip away at your budget. I used to think that too.

But it also has the potential to save you thousands of dollars should something go wrong on your trip.

And after traveling around the world for over twelve years, I can confidently tell you this: things will go wrong.

To help you stay safe on your next trip, here is everything you need to know about buying insurance as a backpacker.

 

Why Do Backpackers Need Insurance?

The reason you need to buy travel insurance is because accidents happen. Regardless of whether you’re at home or abroad, things go wrong. At home, you likely have access to medical care and reliable medical facilities.

On the road, that isn’t always the case.

While serious injuries are rare, they do happen. And it’s always better to be safe than sorry. But insurance isn’t just for medical emergencies. It also covers a lot of incidents that are much more common than you think!

I’ve had my bags stolen, I’ve needed to go to the hospital overseas, and I was even stabbed while traveling in South America.

I didn’t plan for any of these things to happen. But when they did, I was glad I had insurance to help me get reimbursed as well as to help me navigate the confusion that comes with having an emergency abroad.

 

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

While it’s unpleasant to spend time dwelling on these things, the truth is, you need to be prepared for the worst. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your insurance plan, but if you need to, you want to make sure you have the coverage you need.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect your backpacker insurance to cover:

• Coverage for most countries in the world
• Medical emergencies (surgery hospitalization fees, medical evacuation to the nearest hospital)
• Flight delays and cancellations
• Trip cancellations (due to injury or a death in the family)
• Emergency evacuation (due to injury or natural disaster)
• Dental emergencies
• Lost or stolen baggage
• Death overseas

I know, as a backpacker you like to keep costs low. Insurance isn’t free, after all, which makes it seem like a burdensome and unnecessary expense.

But it’s much better to pay a few bucks a day than risk losing your life savings should an emergency occur while you don’t have coverage.

 

What Does Travel Insurance NOT Cover?

While most travel emergencies and injuries are covered by travel insurance, it’s important to know what is not covered by your plan. Knowledge is power, after all.

Most backpacker insurance policies do not cover:

• Accidents sustained while participating in extreme adventure activities (which often include hang-gliding, paragliding, or bungee jumping)
• Alcohol- and drug-related incidents
• Carelessness or negligence (such as if your bag gets stolen after you left it unattended)
• Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
• Stolen cash
• If civil unrest makes your destination unsafe but your government hasn’t called for an evacuation (unless you have more advanced coverage from a company like Medjet)
• Changing your mind about your trip or unfriending/breaking up with your travel partner will disqualify you from trip-cancellation coverage
• If your visa to a destination is refused you won’t be reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip

 

The Best Backpacker Insurance Companies

There’s only two companies worth using as a backpacker.

The first (and my favorite) is SafetyWing.
Started by Norwegian digital nomads based in California, SafetyWing caters to budget travelers and remote workers, offering bare-bones plans for a super affordable price.

They are the best choice for long-term travelers as you can renew your plan while abroad and their $250 USD deductible keeps your monthly fee low. While their coverage isn’t as comprehensive as other companies, it covers the most important stuff, making them a good choice for travelers on a tight budget.

Here’s a quick overview of SafetyWing:

• Super affordable plans (with a deductible)
• Can purchase and renew plans while abroad
• Claims can be filed online
• $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
• Friendly and responsive customer service
• After being abroad for 90 days, you keep your medical coverage for 30 days in your home country (15 days for US residents)
• Best for digital nomads and frugal travelers

Their standard coverage costs just $45.08 USD for 4 weeks of travel outside the United States (for travelers aged 10-39, plus a $250 USD deductible). That’s one of the lowest prices out there for reliable travel insurance. Learn more details in my SafetyWing review here.
 
The second is Insure My Trip.
Insure My Trip is a policy aggregator that helps you compare insurance plans and prices so that you can purchase the plan that’s best for you and your budget. You can compare plans from over 20 different insurance providers, with plenty of budget-friendly options available for backpackers.

Insure My Trip also provides comparisons from insurance companies that cover older travelers (many travel insurance companies won’t cover travelers over 65), making them the go-to company for retirees and other senior adventurers.

Here’s a quick overview of Insure My Trip:

• Guaranteed low prices
• Coverage for senior travelers over 65
• “Anytime Advocates” ask the insurer to give your claim a second look if you think it was unfairly denied
• Compares 23 different companies to ensure you get the best plan
• Reviews of each policy so you can see what other travelers are saying

The huge benefit of using Insure My Trip is that they guarantee you won’t find the same policy elsewhere for less money! Click here to get a quote from Insure My Trip.
 

Finally, there’s World Nomads. They offer comprehensive plans for adventurous travelers who plan to do things like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and even some extreme sports like rock climbing or bungy jumping. With 200 different activities covered, World Nomads is the best choice for active travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and adventure seekers.

Here’s a look at World Nomads at a glance:

• Tiers for basic and premium coverage
• Delay and cancelation coverage
• Can submit a claim after your trip ends
• Offers some COVID coverage
• Everything can be done via the website
• Trusted by brands like Lonely Planet, Eurail, and Intrepid Travel

World Nomads is more expensive than SafetyWing (roughly 3x the price) but they also cover more activities and include more coverage for things like cancelations and delays. In short, they’re best for adventurous travelers or travelers who want more more coverage and have the money to spend.

***

I never leave home without travel insurance. I’ve experienced first-hand how helpful it can be. It’s saved me thousands of dollars over the years — as well as countless headaches too.

Being a backpacker is all about having amazing, memorable travel experiences all without breaking the bank. And there’s no better way to insulate yourself from expensive (and unnecessary) costs than by buying travel insurance (Remember that Safety Wing is our top pick!)

You can use the widget below to get a quote: