SafetyWing: A Review of an Upstart Travel Insurance Company

Last Updated: 7/31/23 | July 31st, 2023

Budget travelers love saving money — myself included. But one of the expenses that we shouldn’t be cheap with is travel insurance.

After over 15 years of traveling the world, I still never leave home without it.

Why?

Because I’ve seen firsthand how useful it can be — and how much money it can save.

I’ve lost baggage, had my camera broken, and even needed emergency medical help over the years.

Travel insurance has been there for me each time. Not only has it saved me money but it’s provided me with peace of mind as I explore.

I’ve written extensively over the years about why you need insurance, how to pick the right company, and listed my preferred providers.

Today, I want to talk about my favorite travel insurance company: SafetyWing.

Who is SafetyWing?

In 2018, a new insurance company emerged: SafetyWing. It is a fully remote Norwegian start-up based in California that focuses on coverage for budget travelers and digital nomads (though you don’t have to be either to get coverage). It is run by nomads and expats who know exactly what such travelers need.

SafetyWing offers basic insurance plans (called “Nomad Insurance”) for a fraction of what other companies charge, although they are also less comprehensive. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.

Their standard Nomad Insurance coverage costs just $45.08 USD for 4 weeks (for travelers aged 10-39). That’s one of the lowest prices out there for reliable travel insurance.

Their coverage extends all the way to age 69, however, travelers aged 65-69 should expect to pay upwards of $157 USD per month for coverage.

And while their base price jumps to $83.44 USD for coverage if you include travel to the US (again for travelers aged 10-39), that’s still cheaper than a lot of the competition.

But is the coverage actually good? What about the customer service?

Today I want to review Safety Wing and talk about when it is — and isn’t — worth using so you can better prepare for your next trip and ensure you have the coverage you need.
 

What Does SafetyWing Cover?

SafetyWing’s standard Nomad Insurance plan is the “Nomad” plan. It’s just $45.08 USD for four weeks of travel (outside the US). That works out to just $1.50 USD per day.

For travelers under age 64, that plan includes the following:

• $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
• $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
• $100,000 USD for medical evacuation ($25,000 USD if the cause of medical evacuation is acute onset of pre-existing condition)
• $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
• $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
• Up to $200 USD for a travel delay
• $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
• $20,000 USD for repatriation of remains

Be sure to check the description of coverage for any conditions that apply.

SafetyWing covers the basics. Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low end, but unless you’re heading out into the remote wilderness, that should be fine. (If you want higher coverage, get MedJet.)

Moreover, its travel-delay payout is pretty low, but airlines and most travel credit cards provide travel delay assistance too so you might not even need the coverage offered by SafetyWing. Additionally, it doesn’t really cover expensive electronics, which sucks if you have a pricey camera or video gear.

As with most standard travel insurance plans, this one doesn’t include pre-existing conditions or certain adventure sports, so it’s not a good policy if you’re going to do a lot of adventure activities on the road.

You can read their description of coverage here.
 

What’s Not Covered?

Nomad Insurance is primarily geared towards covering medical emergencies and basic travel mishaps (like delays and lost luggage). Here are some things that aren’t covered:

• Alcohol- or drug-related incidents.
• Extreme sports & adventure activities (including boxing, ruby, parachuting, parasailing, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, and more)
• Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
• Trip cancellation
• Lost or stolen cash

Deductibles and SafetyWing

Most travel insurance companies do not have a deductible (which is why they cost more per month), so I’m not a huge fan that SafetyWing does.

There is a $250 USD deductible for most expenses, which means that you need to pay the first $250 USD out of pocket before you are reimbursed for the remaining amount of covered expenses. So, for example, say you get injured and your hospital visit costs $1,000. You have to pay $250 and SafetyWing pays the rest.

Obviously, if your bill is thousands of dollars, then $250 USD is a drop in the bucket. However, if it’s only a couple hundred dollars, then you essentially are paying the whole thing out of pocket and won’t get any assistance from SafetyWing. When I needed medical care for being stabbed in Colombia, it didn’t even cost $250 USD, which means that if I had had SafetyWing, I wouldn’t have been reimbursed.

(That said, you only need to pay the $250 deductible once. So, for example, if I paid it during this emergency and then I was injured again a few months down the road, I wouldn’t need to pay the $250 again).

SafetyWing is there to help you when BIG things go wrong. For minor expenses under $250 USD, you’re on your own (which is why its plans are so much cheaper per month than other companies).

In short, if you want some basic medical coverage, don’t really care about trip-delay coverage, and are OK covering the first $250 USD, then get SafetyWing, since it’s only $45 USD per month.
 

Nomad Health: Coverage for Digital Nomads and Long-Term Travelers

In 2023, SafetyWing launched Nomad Health. It’s insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers. This new plan offers a mix of the standard emergency coverage that we’ve been discussing above along with “regular” health care coverage, such as routine visits and preventive care.

Nomad health also offers coverage in 175 countries, includes wellness benefits, mental health care, and the ability for individuals choose their own doctor while traveling.

It’s like the kind of health insurance you’d find in your home country, ensuring that you’re looked after no matter what happens while you’re abroad.

Nomad Health has two tiers: Standard and Premium, with the premium tier offering a few extra perks. You can learn more and compare the plans here.

If you’re just heading out for a couple weeks or a couple months, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is the option for you. It’s perfect for emergencies, is super affordable, and is designed for budget travelers.

However, if you’re going to be working abroad or traveling for months (or years), then their new Nomad Health plan is the better option. It offers much more coverage while still being affordable (prices start at just $123 USD per month). In fact, it’s the plan I wish I had when I started traveling!
 

Making a Claim

SafetyWing makes it easy to file a claim through their online portal. You just upload all the required documents, screenshots, and photos, and wait to hear back. While claims typically get processed under 45 days, sometimes it can take up to 45 business days.

If you read the reviews online, most people who had a negative experience either didn’t know about the deductible or hated the length of time it took to get paid. But that’s pretty normal for people to complain about.
 

A Note About COVID

SafetyWing does include coverage for COVID-19. As long as the virus was not contracted before your plan starts, then it will be covered (as long as it is medically necessary).

SafetyWing also covers quarantine costs (outside your home country) for up to $50 USD/day for 10 days (provided that you’ve had your plan for at least 28 days).
 

Pros and Cons of SafetyWing

Here’s a look that he pros and cons of SafetyWing at a glance to help you decide if it’s the best insurance provider for you and your trip:

Who is SafetyWing Good — and Not Good For?

SafetyWing is designed as mainly medical coverage. Since SafetyWing is designed for the budget-conscious digital nomad, it doesn’t cover some areas that might be more of a priority for a shorter-term traveler. Here’s a quick chart to help you decide if SafetyWing is right for you:

Travel insurance is something I never leave home without. I know it’s a boring topic to read about and research, but it can literally save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in bills! I never, ever leave home without it. You shouldn’t either.

So, the next time, you’re on the road, consider SafetyWing. To me, they are the best travel insurance company out there for budget travelers.

You can use the booking widget below to get a quote (it’s free):

For a comparison with other travel insurance companies, check out this post that lists my five favorite travel insurance companies, along with their pros and cons.