Many people forget to get insurance for digital nomads, but you don’t want to be caught without it. When you travel, medical expenses, last-minute flights, and cancellations can all have a significant financial impact. In the end, spending a small amount on something you might not need is preferable to spending a large sum later on when you are uninsured.

However, when it comes to health insurance, a digital nomad has a special challenge. A lot of plans only cover one trip. They will still demand you to spend the most of your time at home, even if they allow you to travel several times a year. For digital nomads who live overseas permanently, this is not ideal.

Additionally, there are other medical needs for digital nomads. If you’re only going to be there for a few weeks, emergency care is fantastic, but if you’ll be traveling regularly, you’ll probably also want things like dental coverage, checkups, and travel immunizations. These expenses mount up rapidly.

Digital Nomad Health Insurance

Fortunately, a number of insurance companies have entered the market for digital nomads. Medical expenses are very crucial, so if you just choose the most basic insurance, be sure it at least covers you.

Many plans are now available to accommodate various travel preferences. There are several insurance requirements, even among digital nomads. While some people travel widely, others spend months in one place. Now that they are increasingly conscious of this, insurance firms are beginning to provide customized coverage. This is mostly dependent on your travel style. These are a few of the most popular kinds of health insurance coverage that nomads seek for.

• Medical: If you don’t get anything else at least make sure you get medical insurance. Different countries have different healthcare systems – and you don’t want to end up in a country that charges through the nose for the most basic procedures. Medical coverage will give you peace of mind that you’ll be taken care of in the worst case scenarios. Medical coverage can vary from insurer to insurer. At the very least you want emergency cover – but for long term digital nomads we recommend opting for the more comprehensive plans. Nothing kills the vibe like toothache, you don’t want matters made even worse by how much the local dentists charge.
• Luggage and Gadgets: Luggage insurance covers you in the event that an airline loses your luggage along the way. This is getting less common these days but it still happens. You want to make sure you at least have access to cash to replace your items when abroad. The last thing you want is to have to wear the same outfit for months at a time. Having said that, gadget insurance is increasingly more relevant since the last couple of years – especially for digital nomads. Laptops, phones and cameras are like magnets for pickpockets and thieves. If you lose these you might end up having to cancel your next trip in order to pay for them. Most insurance plans will charge a little extra for this coverage but it’s absolutely worth it.
• Cancellations and Emergencies: Cancellations are a bummer but sometimes they’re unavoidable. Now more than ever it has become apparent how important this kind of coverage is. Those who were covered at the start of the pandemic were at least able to recuperate some of their emergency travel costs. You don’t want to have to fork out for something as basic as bad weather. Emergency costs can extend beyond sudden pandemics and natural disasters. You should also consider the political stability of the countries you are visiting. Some places might have tensions bubbling below the surface that are hidden from tourists. Emergency coverage takes care of you in case you need to get home fast.

To save you the stress and hassle that we’ve gone through, we’ve laid out some of the best insurance companies on the market:

1. Safety Wing

Safety Wing is a startup that was established to solve a major problem with the digital nomad lifestyle – what do you do if you get sick abroad? If you come from a country with universal healthcare it can be daunting facing your first medical bills. Even those from insurance based systems will be horrified to discover the cost of setting up different plans in every country. 

The health insurance plan Safety Wing offers aims to remove these barriers. It covers you in almost every country in the world so you won’t have to worry about researching the different healthcare systems of everywhere you visit. They also offer online healthcare insurance for companies that employ digital nomads. So it might be worth chatting to your boss about it.

2. Medical for Nomads

Medical for Nomads is a specialist healthcare insurance plan for digital nomads. They’re very clear about the fact they do not provide travel insurance. It is simply health coverage for those who live and work abroad. Whilst some expats use it this is specifically tailored for those who are constantly crossing borders. They have four levels of health insurance.

• Major Medical plan: Their most affordable plan is the Major Medical plan. This covers you for medical emergencies and inpatient treatment (including cancer treatment). It goes a little bit beyond the bare minimum for health insurance. If you’re from the EU, think of it like an EHIC card but with more extensive inpatient coverage (and also valid outside of member states).
• Standard Plan: The Standard Plan is where outpatient benefits start to kick in. GP visits, specialist consultation and prescribed medicine are all covered under this plan. It offers a lot more than the Major Medical Plan, whilst only costing you a small amount more every month. This compares to most Universal Healthcare schemes across the world.
• Comprehensive Plan: Their Comprehensive Plan is where those coveted extra benefits really start to come into play. Things like dental care, eye care and annual check-ups are all included with the plan. Importantly, you can also receive vaccinations under the comprehensive plan – an absolute essential for visiting some countries.
• Fully Comprehensive: Finally, their most expensive plan is the Fully Comprehensive option. This covers you for everything above, but with higher (or completely removed) spending limits. You will also get to enjoy a fully private healthcare system. Whilst all of the other plans rely on a mix of private and public healthcare depending on the country you are needing care.

Beyond healthcare benefits, they also offer a few extras. All of the plans come with some level of psychology, security (muggings etc) and death benefits. You can also pay a little bit extra for evacuation and repatriation cover. Something that we’d suggest if you’re visiting an area that experiences natural disasters or unstable politics.  This would also cover you in the event of having to evacuate a country due to an emerging healthcare issue (such as COVID-19 and Ebola breakouts).

3. World Nomads

World Nomads is a comprehensive travel insurance plan that caters to both vacationers and long-term digital nomads. They provide coverage for citizens from across the globe. With plans differing slightly depending on where in the world you are. The coverage is underwritten by a local insurance company in your home country.

Read Also: How to Manage Taxes as a Digital Nomad

The feature that really makes World Nomads Travel Insurance stand out is its flexibility. You don’t need to start your plan in your home country – you can purchase it whilst you’re already out on the road. If you decide to extend your trip abroad you can also extend it indefinitely, giving you ultimate flexibility if your plans change (although you cannot decrease how long your coverage lasts). This is an absolute game-changer for nomad insurance. Often plans have to change at the last minute – and a one-year trip to Australia can become a two-year trip that includes New Zealand and the South Pacific.

World Nomads Travel Insurance means you don’t have to faff about with flights back home before you can extend your coverage. Their coverage is also pretty extensive. Health care is included in the event of emergencies – including a 24/7 assistance team that can help you navigate international healthcare systems.

Your transport and treatment will also be included (up to a certain limit) giving you peace of mind if you suddenly feel ill abroad. They also pride themselves on offering coverage for more than 200 adventure activities. Kayaking, skiing, rock climbing are all covered, as well as a number of cultural experiences. Started by digital nomads, World Nomads understand how important this coverage is to let you truly enjoy your destination. You don’t want to have to worry about how to deal with a broken wrist during a sporting accident.

World Nomads Local Charities

Your money will also go further than your own insurance coverage. World Nomads donate to local charities in the destination of your choice. These charities run projects that work directly with the community. World Nomads have carefully vetted each charity – making sure your money actually helps people in need. This is a great way to give back to the communities that have provided you with life changing experiences.

4. Insured Nomads

Insured Nomads specialises in two categories of coverage: travel insurance for those who make regular trips abroad and health insurance for those who live and work overseas. No matter the requirements, all policies can be customised for individuals, couples or families.

For expeditioners using their home country as a base, the World Explorer package is suited to single trips of between seven and 364 days. This starter option encompasses 24-hour medical care, Covid-19 and emergency dental treatment, as well as evacuation and repatriation up to the sum of $2 million. 

You can also claim for lost luggage, flight delays and sports equipment. World Explorer Multi, meanwhile, boasts the same benefits but covers you for multiple trips of up to 30 or 45 days each, depending on the exact version you choose.

Created for American residents in particular, Insured Nomads offers World Explorer Guardian, which includes all the benefits of the standard World Explorer plan, plus trip cancellation coverage. 

As if that wasn’t enough, you can buy add-ons for adventure sports, pet insurance, car rental, and accidental death and dismemberment. It’s worth noting, however, that riskier countries like Iran, Syria, Sudan and North Korea are excluded from the policy.

Turning to the other side of Insured Nomads’ offering, the health insurance packages conceived for those living overseas long term are more comprehensive than the World Explorer options in terms of what is included. 

In addition to emergency assistance, you are also covered for routine, preventative and chronic care. That means not just physician consultations and surgeries, but mental health support as well. Vaccinations, prescriptions, screenings – all are contained by the Preferred Global Health bundle. 

Depending on where you are planning to reside, the cost will differ – the most expensive alternative covers the entire world (apart from the US), but the cheapest choice excludes such locales as Australia, Mexico and the European Union. If you want US-inclusive coverage, however, you’ll have to opt for Preferred Global Health Plus.

INC Membership

All Insured Nomads policies include INC membership as an added bonus. This entitles you to benefits like a telemedic consultation and mental health assessments, as well as more generally helpful things like cultural cheat sheets that tell you how much to tip and what the local traditions are. In some instances, you’ll be provided with airport lounge access and a VPN for cybersecurity abroad.

The company also gives back to communities through partnerships with charitable organisations like Not For Sale and Share Hope International, making a donation each time coverage is purchased.

Bottom Line

When digital nomads decide to live and work anywhere in the world, health insurance is a crucial factor. Finding a health insurance plan that fits your demands and lifestyle as a digital nomad while still satisfying Germany’s regulatory standards is possible with enough planning and research.

Even while the procedure may seem overwhelming, keep in mind that it’s a vital step toward living as a digital nomad in one of the world’s most fascinating and stress-free countries.

We hope that this thorough information will help you make an informed decision by elucidating health insurance alternatives for digital nomads. Keep in mind that your health is your greatest asset, particularly if you’re leading a nomadic lifestyle! Remain safe and insured.