They are saying that you simply don’t actually need journey insurance coverage till you do. Sadly, I found the reality behind this maxim the onerous method after dropping my backpack and every part I owned, at a bus station in Barcelona again in 2015.
Quick ahead to 2020, I’m nonetheless dwelling on the highway and now making a dwelling from a laptop computer. Despite the fact that yearly there are increasingly location-independent employees and vacationers, it appears that evidently we’re nonetheless a comparatively uncovered demographic with regards to insurance coverage for the inevitable journey calamities.
Nevertheless, after doing a little bit of analysis and talking to different full-time vacationers, I’ve discovered two digital nomad journey insurance coverage firms that appear to rule the roost.
Right here’s the run-down evaluating SafetyWing vs. World Nomads insurance coverage for digital nomads.
What I Look For in Digital Nomad Journey Insurance coverage
Since I’m not an insurance coverage specialist and I don’t know your private insurance coverage necessities, it’s a tough activity for me to give you a complete checklist of must-haves for you.
Regardless, what I can element is precisely what I search for in an insurance coverage coverage. Clearly, all digital nomads’ existence differ. As a frugal backpacker, photographer and author my wants would possibly cowl the bases of a minimum of a choose few of you.
Precedence No. 1: Journey Medical Protection
Undoubtedly, you’d get this identical reply from most with regards to insurance coverage priorities. A digital nomad life-style signifies that a daily medical health insurance coverage gained’t cowl us once we’re overseas.
You’ve probably already heard some horror-stories of motorcycle crashes and different accidents that left a traveler with extra sore than only a headache and a few scraped up knees. Emergency medical payments and hospital prices can shortly climb into the 10s if not 100s of hundreds with out satisfactory cowl.
Contact wooden, however up to now, I’ve by no means needed to declare any medical or hospital prices. A fast fine-needle biopsy and some stitches within the Philippines and in Indonesia ended up being so low-cost that it wasn’t definitely worth the declare. That’s to not say that I gained’t be glad to have journey insurance coverage the day I might have it.
Precedence No. 2: Baggage Cowl
This one would possibly differ for many. Within the previous days, I used to solely lug round an inexpensive DSLR and a bag filled with soiled garments. Nonetheless, even then, when each the pack and the pockets was lighter, I nonetheless valued baggage cowl.
Despite the fact that my possessions weren’t costly, it was nonetheless nice to have the funds to purchase new underwear and a jacket on the opposite aspect of that Barcelona – Bern bus.
Since most digital nomads sought out this life-style resulting from an analogous low-budget love-story with journey, I’m certain all of us share those self same sentiments. Having cowl for the few possessions we personal is nice peace of thoughts. I’m certain you additionally take into account baggage cowl to your costly laptop computer, cameras and different belongings as effectively.
Precedence No. 3: Journey Cowl
I’ve categorised “journey cowl” as normal cowl for flight cancelations, journey modifications, and any emergency change of plans.
For me, this isn’t as essential as the opposite two classes above, however a requirement nonetheless. I say this as a result of I largely make plans on the fly, and have a tendency to ebook flights and lodging last-minute.
Nevertheless, within the occasion that I’ve to fly residence to Australia in an emergency or cancel a deliberate journey, I’d prefer to know that my digital nomad journey insurance coverage has me coated. A misplaced passport can also be an costly substitute, which implies journey paperwork is normally additionally coated beneath this class.

I’ve Heard of World Nomads however What’s SafetyWing?
Now for the roundup; SafetyWing vs. World Nomads. Most digital nomads have heard in regards to the latter, however what’s SafetyWing?
SafetyWing is a brand new competitor on the block providing journey medical insurance coverage particularly for location dependent employees and long-term vacationers.
Though they’ve solely been round for a few 12 months, they’re backed by Tokio Marine, which is without doubt one of the largest insurance coverage suppliers on this planet. Reliability is essential, and having this backing is bullet-proof in my eyes.
What does SafetyWing Provide?
As talked about, SafetyWing gives Journey Medical Insurance coverage. What this implies is that you simply’ll get protection for being in an accident, falling sick outdoors your private home nation or want medical help for:
- hospital rooms and nursing providers
- intensive care
- ambulance
- pressing care
- bodily remedy
- emergency dental
On high of this, you’ll additionally get journey cowl for:
- journey interruption
- journey delay
- misplaced checked baggage
- restricted pure catastrophe protection
- political evacuation
- emergency medical evacuation
- private legal responsibility
- unintended demise and dismemberment (AD&D)

You could find the total checklist of up-to-date protection choices right here.
Advantages of SafetyWing
I received interested by SafetyWing principally due to the good worth. Their refreshing and distinctive ongoing fee plans are additionally extra akin to common well being cowl choices moderately than conventional journey insurance coverage up-front funds.
As an alternative of paying yearly or renewing your coverage each quarter, SafetyWing has protection ranging from $37/4 weeks or $1.32 per day. That is less expensive than most journey insurance coverage insurance policies and as much as a 3rd cheaper than World Nomads.
Listed here are some extra perks of buying SafetyWing:
- Out there in 180 international locations
- Begin and cancel your coverage at any time
- 24/7 assist
- No cap for journey length
- MUCH decrease price
Who’s SafetyWing Finest for?
SafetyWing is clearly an ideal choice for digital nomads and different long-term vacationers who need low-cost and high-value journey medical insurance coverage with a simple 4-week fee plan.
All About World Nomads Journey Insurance coverage
For some time now, World Nomads have been the primary participant within the sport of long-term journey insurance coverage, particularly for journey vacationers like myself.
For complete info concerning World Nomads, you could find it on this article.
What does World Nomads provide?
World Nomads covers vacationers and digital nomads from 130 international locations, with separate protection choices relying in your nation of residence. For a full checklist of detailed choices, try their checklist.
Widespread protection throughout the board contains:
- Medical and hospital cowl
- Cowl for journey actions like snowboarding, snowboarding, whitewater rafting
- journey delay and cancellation prices
- private legal responsibility
- theft or harm to private gadgets
- demise or disablement
Advantages of World Nomads
World Nomads is a a very talked-about insurance coverage choice for long-term vacationers or journey vacationers. Though they’re extra priceier than the options, some would possibly want them due to the next advantages.
- Confirmed monitor document of reliability
- Protection particularly of journey actions, together with climbing above 4000m
- Nice customer support and 24/7 assist
- Sturdy and dependable underwriters
Who’s World Nomads Finest For?
World Nomads is a powerful choice for journey vacationers who need cowl for extra harmful journey actions like snowboarding, snowboarding, climbing and so forth.
They’ve additionally received a confirmed monitor document for having simple claims and high quality customer support. Though they’re costlier, some might want to pay extra for the extra electronics protection on their insurance policy.
The Outcome: SafetyWing vs. World Nomads
So, what’s the perfect digital nomad insurance coverage then? On this SafetyWing vs. World Nomads roundup, we coated the advantages and which choice could be finest for various kinds of nomads.
Now, let me contact on a few of the points I’ve with each insurance policies.
One caveat that I’ve to say with SafetyWings is that they don’t at the moment have protection for misplaced or stolen electronics and tools. As I discussed earlier, I take into account this an important element for me. Nevertheless, I used to be informed that the crew at SafetyWing is working diligently to make this occur very quickly, so watch this house. One various work-around is to get separate tools insurance coverage with one other supplier to remain coated.
For World Nomads, their insurance policies are fairly complete, however they’re much costlier than SafetyWing. I do know loads of vacationers who could be stoked with SafetyWing’s choices with out having to pay a giant premium for electronics cowl.
Moreover, when you’re a resident of one of many international locations that World Nomads doesn’t cowl, then don’t stress, you’ll nonetheless most likely be coated beneath SafetyWing’s coverage.

A Ultimate Phrase
I hope that this comparability has helped you resolve between Safetywing vs. World Nomads to your digital nomad journey insurance coverage wants. When you’ve got any additional questions, you may get a quote with SafetyWing right here and one for World Nomads right here.
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