One of the most reliable travel insurance options for long-term digital nomads is Safetywing Nomad Insurance. We will discuss various aspects of this travel insurance company in this guide.
As a digital nomad, it is important to have reliable, comprehensive travel insurance. With such a cover, you will travel the world without worrying about emergency medical costs, evacuation costs, or trip cancellations.
So, let’s get started.
What Is Safetywing Nomad Insurance?
Safetywing is a Norwegian-based travel insurance company that started in 2018. This nomadic travel insurance company focuses on covering digital nomads and budget travelers.
One of its unique qualities is that it is driven by expats and digital nomads who understand the unique needs of travelers.
Safetywing Nomad Insurance provides coverage for all travelers all over the world and can be acquired even when you are already abroad.
Another good thing about this insurance company is that it offers basic insurance packages for a fraction of what other competitors are charging.
This nomadic insurance firm covers trip interruptions, lost baggage, and medical expenses up to $250,000, among many other benefits.
It also offers broad COVID-19 coverage to help you meet unexpected expenses associated with hospital visits.
Advantages of Safetywing
Safetywing Nomad Insurance is what you need whenever you plan a trip abroad. There are so many unique advantages that it offers that are lacking in other travel insurance packages.
We have listed the most important ones here:
- Subscription model: Safetywing allows you to pay your insurance premiums on an ongoing basis. This subscription model charges you every four weeks, making it ideal for digital nomads who are still determining their travel duration. It also makes it possible to cancel your trip without penalty.
- Pay for your cover while abroad: Unlike many digital nomad insurance providers that only issue you a cover before traveling, Safetywing allows you to begin your insurance policy while you are already abroad. So, if you forgot to purchase your travel insurance before your trip or decide to extend your stay abroad, then Safetywing will come to your rescue.
- Limitless travel duration: Unlike other travel insurance providers, Safetywing doesn’t force you to have a return date or ticket. You can activate your insurance with a one-way ticket, making it a perfect choice for open-ended trips.
- Scooter or motorbike coverage: It covers scooter- or motorbike-related accidents, a unique offering that is missing in other travel insurance covers.
- Coverage while in your home country: Safetywing covers US residents if they decide to visit home within the trip duration. Specifically, it allows US residents to visit home for up to 30 days every three months. But you should note that the visit should be medical-related.
- Straightforward pricing structure: Safetywing is one of the few travel insurance companies with a transparent pricing structure. Pricing is based on factors such as age and your travel destination.
Limitations of Safetywing
While Safetywing Nomad Insurance offers transparent and flexible travel insurance solutions for digital nomads, it is not without limitations. Here are the major ones:
- Doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions: One of the most outstanding shortcomings of Safetywing is the lack of coverage for pre-existing conditions. So, if you have a recurring medical issue or critical illness, your insurance coverage won’t cover treatment related to the condition.
- Lacks cover for all adventure sports: Unlike World Nomad, Safetywing Nomad Insurance doesn’t cover injuries related to certain adventure sports. So, if you are the sporty or adventure type and wish to participate in extreme adventure activities, then this insurance coverage may limit your plans.
- Doesn’t cover routine check-ups and preventive care: Sometimes, you may want to go for routine checkups while on the go, especially if you have a chronic illness. Sadly, Safetywing doesn’t cover these expenses, meaning that you have to pay them out of your pocket.
- Lack of coverage for lost or stolen items: Sometimes, digital nomads may lose some of their belongings. Expensive personal belongings like gadgets can easily be stolen. So, if you don’t have insurance coverage for them, then that poses a significant risk. Unfortunately, Safetywing Nomad Insurance doesn’t cover lost or stolen personal items.
- Lack of coverage for some countries: Some countries, such as North Korea, Iran, and Cuba, are not covered by the Safetywing Nomad Insurance. So, if you are planning to travel to these countries, look at other options.
- Deductible: Another unique disadvantage of Safetywing is the $250 deductible. What it means is that you have to pay your part of the claim. If you have a covered expense, the insurance will only kick in after you pay $250. This can be a challenge to file for smaller claims. In fact, you may pay the entire cost of the claim if it is less than the deductible.
What Does Safetywing Nomad Insurance Cover?
Safetywing Nomad Insurance covers several medical and travel-related risks. The standard Nomad Insurance package, which costs $45.08 per 28 days, covers the following risks for nomads under the age of 64:
- Offer a maximum of $250,000 for emergency medical expenses. It is $100,000 for nomads who are over 65 years old.
- A maximum of $100,000 for medical evacuation, but the limit reduces to $25,000 if the cause of medical evacuation is related to a pre-existing condition.
- $1,000 for dental care
- $20,000 for repatriation of remains
- Death or dismemberment will be covered up to $25,500–$25,000.
- Safetywing covers evacuations caused by political upheavals up to $10,000.
- Cover for trip interruptions is up to $5,000.
- Cover for COVID-19-related cases
- It covers chiropractic care and physical therapy for up to $50 per day.
For more information on what is covered, be sure to check the description of the coverage. Generally, Safetywing covers what is essential.
Some compensation is on the low end, but if you are planning a normal trip without chronic conditions, then what Safetywing offers should be fine.
Also, some risks, such as travel delays, are already covered by airlines. So, you might not use the Safetywing cover for this purpose.
What Is Not Covered in the Safetywing Nomad Insurance Cover?
As you may have noticed above, Safetywing Nomad Insurance focuses more on basic travel mishaps and medical emergencies.
That means that there are some activities and conditions that are not covered, including:
- Adventure and extreme sporting activities such as boxing, parasailing, parachuting, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, and more
- Alcohol or drug-related activities
- Trip cancellation
- Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
- Lost or stolen cash
Making a Claim
Filing a claim with Safetywing is straightforward because you complete most of the paperwork online. All you need to do is fill out the required claim forms, upload all the relevant documents, photos, and screenshots, and leave the rest to Safetywing.
In most cases, your claim will be processed within 45 days. However, for some selected cases, claims may exceed 45 days.
Another thing to note is that Safetywing does pay claims. Some of the people who had negative experiences with the company were either unaware of the deductible or didn’t like the lengthy period it takes for claims to be settled.
Who Is the Ideal User of Safetywing Nomad Insurance?
Safetywing is ideal for budget-conscious digital nomads who require basic coverage for the time they are away.
You should note that it may not cover some of the activities you intend to participate in, for instance, extreme sports.
It might also not be ideal for you if you already have a chronic condition. Here is a short table that will help you decide if Safetywing is the best travel insurance coverage for you:
| Why it is good for you | Why It is not good for you |
| It is good for you if you are a frugal, long-term traveler. | It is not ideal if you travel with a lot of expensive electronics. |
| Ideal if you are looking only to cover essential expenses such as medical and emergency evacuations. | If you need comprehensive trip delay or cancellation coverage, then Safetywing is not ideal for you. |
| It’s best if you don’t have a lot of expensive gadgets. | It might not be good for you if you love extreme sports or activities. |
| It is good for you if you are a digital nomad who requires medical cover for long-term travel. | If you are over 69 years old and want to benefit from travel insurance, |
| If you are planning to travel with your young children under 10 years | If you don’t want to pay the deductible in case of an emergency |
| It is perfect if you prefer a flexible application and claiming process. This can come in handy if you are already abroad and want to start or extend your coverage. |
Verdict: Is Safetywing Nomad Insurance Worth It?
Safetywing Nomad Insurance is what you need to include in your travel plans. Not only does it offer peace of mind and financial security in case of any eventuality, but it is also affordable.
With comprehensive coverage, you will remain protected from medical emergencies and cancellations. And the best thing is that the application process is hassle-free; there are no complicated procedures or paperwork to get travel insurance.
While it has its limitations, it has several unique features that cater to the special needs of a digital nomad.
So, next time, when you are hopping on a plane, consider Safetywing Nomad Insurance. It is the best travel insurance company for long-term budget travelers.
But we always recommend that you compare different insurance options to see which one fits your needs.
Also, Read: The World Nomads Travel Insurance: Complete Review 2024
