SafetyWing Travel Insurance + Honest Comparison
Planning to explore the world without worrying about medical issues or travel hassles? SafetyWing Travel Insurance might be just what you need. Designed with digital nomads and long-term travelers in mind, this insurance option is gaining popularity for its coverage tailored to those who work or live abroad.
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What is SafetyWing Travel Insurance?
SafetyWing is a travel health insurance provider made specifically for digital nomads, remote workers, and frequent travelers. Unlike traditional travel insurance, it offers a flexible subscription plan, so you can stay covered for as long as you need without being tied to set trip dates.
Founded by people who live the nomad lifestyle, SafetyWing understands the needs of global wanderers and offers coverage that reflects that. Their main goal? To give travelers peace of mind with access to healthcare and travel-related protection wherever they are.
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Key Areas of Coverage
Medical Coverage
Having dependable medical insurance while abroad is crucial. SafetyWing covers a wide range of medical needs, such as:
- Emergency treatments
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Emergency dental care
One standout feature is their coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. If you’re somewhere that can’t provide the medical care you need, they’ll arrange and pay for you to be transported to the nearest facility or back home.
In light of the pandemic, they’ve also added COVID-19 coverage, which includes testing and treatment if you catch the virus while traveling.
Travel-Related Coverage
SafetyWing also protects you from common travel hiccups, like:
- Travel delays
- Trip interruptions
- Lost checked luggage
A unique aspect of their plan is coverage for political evacuation and natural disasters. If your destination becomes unsafe due to unrest or a disaster, they’ll help you get to safety.
Extra Protection
SafetyWing doesn’t stop at basic travel insurance. They also include:
- Personal liability
- Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
- Quarantine cost coverage (a very relevant feature today)
SafetyWing Pricing and Plans
When traveling the world, having the right insurance can make all the difference. SafetyWing offers two insurance plans tailored to digital nomads, long-term travelers, and remote workers: Nomad Insurance Essential and Nomad Insurance Complete. While both plans provide valuable coverage, they cater to different needs. Below, we’ll break down their features, costs, and key differences to help you decide which one is best for you.
Comparing the Plans: Essential vs. Complete
1. Medical and Health Coverage
- Essential Plan: Covers emergency medical treatments, hospital stays, and urgent care up to $250,000. Routine check-ups and preventive care are not included.
- Complete Plan: Provides comprehensive health insurance, covering emergency care, hospitalizations, routine check-ups, mental health support, and maternity care (after a waiting period). Coverage extends up to $1,500,000.
2. Travel Protection
- Essential Plan: Covers trip interruptions, lost checked luggage, and travel delays. Adventure sports coverage is available as an add-on.
- Complete Plan: Includes everything in the Essential Plan plus trip cancellations for illness or unforeseen events, coverage for lost/stolen baggage (including electronics), and built-in adventure sports protection.
3. Additional Benefits
- Essential Plan: Offers emergency evacuation, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) benefits, and personal liability coverage.
- Complete Plan: Extends coverage to cancer treatment, dental care, and home country coverage with restrictions.
4. Cost Comparison
- Essential Plan: Starts at $56.28 per 4 weeks for travelers aged 18-39.
- Complete Plan: Starts at $150.50 per month for travelers aged 18-39.
While the Essential Plan is a budget-friendly option, the Complete Plan is better suited for travelers seeking full health coverage beyond just emergencies.
Which Plan is Right for You?
- Choose the Essential Plan if you’re looking for affordable emergency medical coverage and standard travel insurance. It’s ideal for short-term travelers or those who already have health insurance in their home country.
- Go for the Complete Plan if you need a comprehensive policy that includes routine medical care, mental health support, and trip cancellation coverage. It’s a great option for long-term travelers and remote workers who want full protection while living abroad.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
1. Age Restrictions for Senior Travelers
If you’re over 50, the cost of these plans increases, and the coverage may not be as competitive as other options. It’s advisable to compare plans from different providers to find the best fit for your needs (see below).
2. Exclusions and Limitations
While both plans cover a wide range of situations, some common exclusions apply:
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Professional or extreme sports require additional coverage.
- Cancer treatment and maternity care are only included in the Complete Plan.
- Home country coverage is limited and varies by plan.
3. Claims and Reimbursements
The claims process with SafetyWing is straightforward but requires proper documentation. You’ll need to submit medical reports and receipts to get reimbursed. A major advantage of the new policy is that there’s no deductible, meaning you get full reimbursement for approved claims.
Travel insurance Alternative Options
As a full-time traveler, I don’t always use the same insurance. It all depends on the kind of trip I am doing and what coverage I need. I will soon be on a Liveaboard in Norway, where I won’t be diving but swimming with the orcas. For that specific trip, I chose DiveAssure Insurance because it includes trip interruption coverage. You never know what can happen when I am out at sea.
Also, Cancun is a great diving destination, and if you are planning on taking a couple of diving trips, Dive Assure would be more convenient.
So here is a list of what Dive Assure covers and how it compares with SafetyWing-
DiveAssure Insurance
DiveAssure is designed with scuba divers in mind, but it also provides non-diver travel insurance options, making it a versatile choice for both divers and non-divers. Here’s what DiveAssure covers that SafetyWing doesn’t:
1. Dive Accident Coverage
- Hyperbaric treatments: DiveAssure covers treatment for decompression sickness (DCS), including hyperbaric chamber costs.
- Decompression illness: Full coverage for medical expenses related to decompression sickness and other dive-specific injuries.
- Emergency medical evacuation for dive-related accidents: DiveAssure ensures evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility if you suffer a diving accident.
- Permanent disability due to dive accidents: DiveAssure provides financial protection if you become permanently disabled because of a diving incident.
- Search and rescue operations for divers: DiveAssure covers the costs of search and rescue if you go missing during a dive—something SafetyWing doesn’t include.
2. Liveaboard Coverage
- Liveaboard trip protection: DiveAssure offers specific coverage for liveaboard diving trips, including trip cancellation, interruption, and delays. If you’re forced to cancel or cut short a liveaboard trip, they cover the non-refundable payments, which SafetyWing doesn’t offer.
3. Diving Equipment Protection
- Coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged scuba gear: DiveAssure provides protection for expensive diving equipment, whether lost, stolen, or damaged during your travels or dive, a feature absent in SafetyWing.
4. Technical Diving Coverage
- Coverage for technical diving: DiveAssure insures both recreational and technical divers, including activities like wreck diving, cave diving, and deep diving, which are considered higher-risk activities that SafetyWing does not cover.
5. Trip Cancellation for Diving-Specific Reasons
- Cancellation due to dive-related medical issues: DiveAssure covers trip cancellations if you need to cancel due to medical conditions specific to diving (e.g., ear or sinus infections), which wouldn’t be covered under general travel insurance like SafetyWing.
Non-Diver Coverage with DiveAssure
DiveAssure also provides non-diver travel insurance plans for those who don’t engage in diving but want comprehensive travel insurance. This option includes:
- General medical emergencies and emergency evacuations
- Trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays
- Baggage loss or delay, covering personal belongings (not just diving equipment)
- COVID-19 coverage similar to SafetyWing
- Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
This flexibility makes DiveAssure an attractive option even if you aren’t a diver but are traveling with others who dive or want full travel protection.
Dive Assure is one of the top diving insurance companies, and we cannot recommend them enough. I am sure you have heard of them as they are one of the most popular.
🔽 Get a free Dive Assure quote here 🔽
SafetyWing vs. DiveAssure: Key Differences
What DiveAssure Covers That SafetyWing Doesn’t:
- Hyperbaric treatment and decompression illness: Dive-specific coverage for emergencies related to scuba diving.
- Search and rescue for divers: DiveAssure covers the often-expensive costs of search and rescue operations for diving accidents.
- Technical diving coverage: DiveAssure covers high-risk dives like wreck, cave, and deep diving, while SafetyWing does not cover such activities.
- Diving equipment protection: DiveAssure covers lost, stolen, or damaged diving gear, which SafetyWing doesn’t include.
- Liveaboard travel coverage: DiveAssure offers special trip protection for liveaboard diving trips, including cancellations and interruptions.
- Trip cancellation for dive-related medical issues: Coverage for cancellations due to dive-specific medical reasons, such as ear or sinus infections.
What SafetyWing Offers That DiveAssure Doesn’t:
- Flexible subscription model: SafetyWing allows you to start and stop your coverage as needed, ideal for long-term travelers or remote workers.
- Home country coverage: SafetyWing offers limited medical coverage when you visit your home country, a feature not found in DiveAssure.
- Political evacuation and natural disaster protection: SafetyWing has broader coverage for political unrest and natural disasters outside of the diving context.
Which Should You Choose?
- For divers: If you’re a scuba diver, DiveAssure is the clear winner due to its comprehensive dive accident coverage, dive gear protection, and liveaboard-specific benefits. It’s especially valuable for technical divers or those participating in high-risk dive activities.
- For non-divers: Even if you’re not a diver, DiveAssure’s non-diver coverage option can provide robust travel insurance similar to what SafetyWing offers, but with the added flexibility of upgrading to dive-specific coverage if needed.
- For long-term travelers: If you’re a digital nomad or remote worker and don’t engage in diving, SafetyWing might be more appealing because of its flexible subscription model, home country coverage, and political evacuation protection.
What if I am not happy with either of those insurance plans?
Worry not! I’ve got you covered. If you can’t seem to align with either of the previously mentioned insurance policies, you may want to check out Travel Insurance Master. It’s a very convenient platform that allows you to search for the perfect insurance company for your needs. As long as you fill out the online quoting tool with all your information, their system pulls out all the available travel insurance options among many. The quotation tool is free, so you may just as well give it a try and see what it pulls out for you.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, DiveAssure is the go-to for dive enthusiasts with its specialized coverage, while SafetyWing is a solid choice for general travel and health coverage, especially for nomads. DiveAssure’s non-diver option adds even more flexibility for those seeking comprehensive travel insurance.
If you’re a digital nomad, remote worker, or long-term traveler, SafetyWing Travel Insurance could be just the backup you need. Its flexible model, solid coverage, and reasonable price make it a strong option for those who live life on the go.
While it may have some limitations around pre-existing conditions and preventive care, it offers the protection you’re likely to need for medical emergencies and travel disruptions. SafetyWing’s focus on the nomad lifestyle sets it apart from more traditional insurance providers.
If you are unsure check out your best option with Travel Insurance Master. No matter what insurance you choose it’s always best to be covered in some way for any mishaps.
