How we score nomad insurance providers — the criteria that matter most
NomadShield verdict — June 2026
SafetyWing is the best entry-level insurance for long-term nomads. Unbeatable value and flexibility — but not a replacement for full health insurance.
✦ Best for
- Budget-conscious long-term nomads
- Open-ended travel with no return date
- Families (kids under 10 free)
- Signing up mid-trip while already abroad
- EU residents wanting global coverage
✦ Not ideal for
- Pre-existing / chronic conditions
- Extreme adventure sports
- Trip cancellation protection
- Expensive gear / electronics cover
- Full health insurance replacement
What is SafetyWing?
SafetyWing was founded in 2018 by three Norwegian digital nomads — Sondre Rasch, Sarah Beyahte Sandnes, and Hans Kjellby — who noticed that no existing insurance product was designed for people who live and work across multiple countries without a fixed home. They built SafetyWing to fill that gap.
SafetyWing works on a subscription model billed every 4 weeks, which means you don't need to know your return date, you can cancel at any time, and coverage rolls over automatically. This makes it fundamentally different from traditional travel insurance, which requires a fixed start and end date.
SafetyWing covers 190+ countries and is used by hundreds of thousands of nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers worldwide. It's not a full health insurance replacement — it's designed for emergencies and unexpected illness while traveling — but for most nomads, that's exactly what they need.
Plans overview: Essential vs Complete
SafetyWing currently offers two main plans under the Nomad Insurance umbrella.
Essential
Most popular$62.72 / 4 weeks
Ages 18–39. Prices vary by age.
- Emergency medical up to $250,000
- Emergency evacuation up to $100,000
- $250 deductible per claim
- 180+ countries covered
- Kids under 10 free
- 30 days home country coverage
Complete
Premium$161.50 / month
Ages 18–64. Full health coverage.
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Mental health & therapy
- Maternity / pregnancy
- Dental (add-on available)
- Wellness & preventive care
- Covers conditions that develop on plan
What's covered (and what's not)
✓ Emergency medical treatment
Hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits for unexpected illness or injury up to $250,000 per policy period. This covers the vast majority of real-world medical emergencies in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In the US, $250,000 can be exhausted faster, which is why US coverage requires an add-on.
✓ Emergency evacuation
SafetyWing covers up to $100,000 for medical evacuation, and $25,000 if the evacuation is needed due to an acute onset of a pre-existing condition. There is also $10,000 for evacuation due to political upheaval. For most destinations, $100,000 is sufficient — but if you plan to trek in remote areas or visit conflict-prone regions, consider whether this is enough.
✓ Home country coverage
Non-US citizens get 30 days of coverage in their home country per 90-day period. This is a genuinely useful feature that most travel insurers don't offer — if you fly home for a holiday or family visit, you're still covered for emergencies during that time.
✓ Sports & activities
SafetyWing covers a range of amateur sports including skiing (on-piste) and snowboarding (on-piste). Most leisure activities — hiking, snorkeling, surfing, cycling — are covered. High-risk activities like skydiving, base jumping, mountaineering above 4,500m, scuba diving below 30m, and professional sports are excluded. Adventure sports can be added as an optional add-on.
✗ Pre-existing conditions
SafetyWing Essential does not cover pre-existing conditions. SafetyWing Complete will cover conditions that develop while you are on the plan. However, conditions you had before signing up are not covered under either plan. If managing a chronic illness is important for your coverage, consider Genki Native or Cigna Global instead.
✗ Trip cancellation & baggage
SafetyWing Essential does not include trip cancellation, flight delay, or baggage cover. It is a medical-only product. If you have pre-paid bookings or expensive gear, you'll need a separate policy or should consider World Nomads Explorer which includes these protections.
✗ Routine & preventive care
Regular check-ups, dental cleanings, prescription refills for ongoing conditions, vision exams, and non-emergency treatments are not covered by Essential. SafetyWing Complete covers some of these, but for routine care coverage, expat-grade plans like Cigna are more comprehensive.
Pricing breakdown 2026
SafetyWing uses age-based pricing, adjusted annually. The following are 2026 rates for the Essential plan.
| Age group | Per 4 weeks | Est. per month | Per year (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–39 | $62.72 | ~$68 | ~$815 |
| 40–49 | $58.61 | ~$63 | ~$760 |
| 50–59 | $112.46 | ~$122 | ~$1,462 |
| 60–64 | $138.31 | ~$150 | ~$1,798 |
| 65–69 | $218+ | ~$236 | ~$2,830 |
Loyalty discounts: 5% off after 12 months, 10% after 24 months, 15% after 36 months. If you're planning long-term travel, this adds up to significant savings.
US/Canada add-on: $30–50 per month extra for full US and Canada coverage. Non-US residents already get 30 days of US coverage per 90 days included in the base plan.
How to file a claim
Understanding the claims process before you need it is one of the most important things you can do as a SafetyWing customer. The process is straightforward, but there are steps that significantly improve your outcome.
Call the 24/7 emergency line first
Before going to hospital for non-life-threatening situations, call SafetyWing's emergency assistance. Pre-authorization before treatment reportedly increases final reimbursement by 10–15% and avoids disputes later.
Keep every document
Save all receipts, doctor's notes, prescriptions, hospital discharge papers, and any correspondence. Photos are acceptable — digital copies work fine.
Submit via the online claims portal
Log in to your SafetyWing account and submit through the claims portal. Upload all documents. Be descriptive in your explanation — more detail means fewer back-and-forth requests.
Wait for processing
Average claims processing time is approximately 8 business days according to Trustpilot data. More complex claims involving hospitalization can take 2–4 weeks. Reimbursement is sent to your bank account.
Real claim experiences
Here are representative experiences from the nomad community. We've included both positive and negative outcomes to give you an honest picture.
Maria, 31 — Thailand
Appendix surgery, Bangkok
"I was rushed to Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok for emergency appendix surgery. Total bill came to $6,800. I called SafetyWing before going to theatre and they pre-authorized the procedure. After submitting all the paperwork, $6,200 was reimbursed within 11 days. The $600 difference was my deductible and some items that weren't covered. Overall very happy — it was a stressful situation and they made the claim process as painless as possible."
James, 27 — Portugal
Broken wrist, Lisbon
"Fell off my skateboard and broke my wrist. X-rays, cast, two follow-up visits — total around $1,100. Submitted everything through the portal. Got full reimbursement minus the $250 deductible in about 9 days. The process was straightforward. Only frustration was they asked for an extra document proving I wasn't covered by any local insurance, which took a few days to sort."
Sophie, 38 — Indonesia
Knee injury, Bali
"I had a knee injury while surfing in Bali. SafetyWing covered the initial ER visit ($340) but denied the follow-up MRI ($580) because I hadn't obtained pre-authorization. Lesson learned: always call them before any procedure beyond a basic ER visit. If I had called first, the MRI would likely have been covered. The claims team was polite about explaining why it was denied, but I was frustrated at myself for not following the process."
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
Alternatives to SafetyWing
World Nomads Explorer
Better for: adventure sports, trip cancellation, fixed-term trips
Genki Native
Better for: EU residents, pre-existing conditions, 12+ month stays
Cigna Global
Better for: chronic conditions, routine care, long-term expats
Ready to get covered with SafetyWing?
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Best travel insurance for digital nomads 2026 More real nomad claim storiesAffiliate disclosure: NomadShield earns a commission when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations. All coverage details are based on publicly available policy documents as of June 2026. Always read the full policy before purchasing. Prices vary by age, nationality, and destination.