Remote working and the “everywhere office” have paved the way for a new way to travel. Digital nomads are free to work from anywhere, within reason, and may spend months or even years at a time bouncing from place to place, balancing adventure and cultural immersion with earning a living. Regardless of whether you’re freelancing, running a location-independent business, or tethered to a company as a remote worker, digital nomad-friendly insurance is an important, if not mandatory, step of the journey.
Digital nomads generally need a policy that blends typical travel mishaps with longer-term healthcare and equipment coverage. One option is to purchase a travel insurance plan alongside an international health insurance plan. The second, and usually most efficient option, is to shop around for a digital nomad travel insurance plan tailored for this lifestyle and your individual requirements.
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Key features of digital nomad travel insurance
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Traditional travel insurance typically applies to common inconveniences like delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and medical emergencies, with the option to add a plethora of extras such as adventure travel coverage, travel disruption, collision damage, and pre-existing conditions. This type of insurance is trip-specific – purchased for a one-off vacation or multiple trips spread over a year. On the other hand, international health insurance offers long-term medical support abroad – these policies have historically served expats, or those living temporarily in one overseas location for a prolonged period of time.
Insurance plans for digital nomads are a hybrid of the two with customizations to suit your personal needs. World Nomads and Safety Wing are the prime examples of nomad insurers, with different pricing tiers and optional add-ons. When comparing policies, these are the most important elements.
- Geographic coverage: As with regular travel insurance, digital nomad travel insurance is tied according to region, with coverage for the United States and Canada often carrying a premium. You can pay for worldwide/global coverage or tailor your policy to the region(s) you intend to visit. Not all providers will cover high-risk or sanctioned countries.
- Flexibility: Many nomads travel long-term with no fixed plans to return “home”. Digital nomad travel insurance is available on a rolling basis or as a prepaid agreement. Unlike standard plans that require purchase ahead of departure from your home country, digital nomad-friendly plans may be purchased and extended while overseas. Proof of return flight is not usually needed for digital nomad insurance. World Nomads allows a policy to be purchased online at any time, although they may impose a waiting period before the coverage is valid. That means – don’t wait for the worst to happen before purchasing a plan.
- Gear and electronics: Digital nomad plans provide coverage for those remote office essentials – laptop, phone, camera, and other personal effects. Note that this isn’t always the default and any claims for theft or damage will require documentation such as proof of purchase. World Nomads covers a maximum of $3,000 on their Epic Plan or $2,000 on an Annual Plan.
- Home visits: Unlike traditional travel insurance, digital nomad travel insurance usually permits “home visits” during your plan. Coverage is temporarily paused while you visit your family and friends, although most policies specify a number of days in relation to the policy duration. This tends to account for 15-30 days per 90-180 days. Travel-oriented insurance plans typically will not cover medical care during these visits.
- Duration: Some plans cover a specified period in a given location. This works fine if you are hopping from country to country. If you intend to spend longer than 90 days or 180 days in one country, either on a tourist or digital nomad visa, check that the policy will cover the entire stay.
- Emergency medical, evacuation, and repatriation: Fundamental to any travel or backpacker insurance, coverage for unforeseen medical emergencies or evacuation is a must. This coverage will either transfer you to a better-equipped hospital in the region or, if necessary, cover a return flight for medical care in your home country. When applying for a digital nomad visa, the country will set a minimum coverage for emergency medical care and repatriation.
Add-ons and customizations for digital nomad insurance
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While those items are the essentials of a digital nomad travel insurance plan, you may also need to pay a surcharge for the following components.
- Adventure travel coverage: Popular adventure activities, such as mountain biking, surfing, snorkeling, and horseback riding, are usually included in digital nomad insurance plans. Winter sports, scuba diving, parachuting, and other high-risk or technical activities may be subject to a surcharge. Whether you’re a nomad or a vacationer, adventure sports like skiing and climbing are often subject to limitations relating to altitude.
- Motorcycling: Crucial for nomads heading to the hotspots of Chiang Mai and Bali, where many foreigners rent a scooter, you’ll need to incorporate this into your quote. In the event of a motorbiking accident, claims may be refused if you drive without the correct documentation or are found to have broken local regulations such as driving without a helmet or on the back of an unlicensed driver.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Chronic, ongoing, and routine care is not automatically covered in travel and digital nomad insurance plans. You’ll need to provide honest information about your situation for an accurate quote.
- Dental care, mental health, and other specialist care: In the case that a provider will cover such treatments, a surcharge is applied to the base package. Safety Wing does offer such add-ons in their packages. However, specialist care is where an expat health insurance plan often comes up trumps.
Is digital nomad travel insurance mandatory?
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The majority of countries proposing digital nomad and remote work visas stipulate that the candidate must carry an insurance policy. The specifications vary from country to country; in some cases, private health insurance is required, while others accept a travel insurance policy. A number require a travel insurance policy and private medical insurance. Proof of a plan may need to be presented during the application process or at immigration upon arrival.
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Namibia, and the Seychelles are examples where mandatory insurance is imposed. Any insurance policy should be valid for the entire duration of your stay and will need to meet a minimum coverage amount, as detailed on the country’s immigration website. World Nomads and Safety Wing are not always eligible in these cases – you may need to shop around for a health and medical plan tied to that specific country, from a local provider.
Best travel insurance plans for digital nomads
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The following providers rank highest for digital nomad insurance, blending gear coverage, healthcare, and adventurous pursuits for travelers.
- World Nomads: Trusted by backpackers and adventure travelers from all walks, World Nomads is a comprehensive provider of digital nomad travel insurance. Policies, designated as Standard, Explorer, Epic, and Annual, may be customized to cover electronics, gear, and adventure sports. The main drawbacks are not covering pre-existing medical conditions. Recommended for long-term coverage.
- Safety Wing: Insurance specifically for digital nomads and remote workers with flexible plans billable on a rolling basis. Safety Wing’s policies suit fledgling nomads who are testing the water and want peace of mind without breaking the bank. Lots of customizations are available but pay close attention to the coverage terms for electronics, gear, and pre-existing conditions. Safety Wing isn’t always accepted by digital nomad visa schemes.
- Genki: Focused on health insurance for expats and longer-term digital nomads, Genki Native offers comprehensive plans inclusive of preventative care, dental care, pregnancy and postpartum care, and eye care. Genki Traveler is a lighter, flexible healthcare plan for digital nomads traveling for up to one year, while Genki Native carries a minimum contract of 12 months. Genki is an option for travelers applying for digital nomad or remote work visas in select countries.
- Insured Nomads: Backed by Allianz Partners, their comprehensive policies cover emergency, routine, preventive, and chronic medical care alongside mental health treatment, diagnostics, and travel insurance. Catering to established expats and longtime digital nomads, their plans carry more customization than competitors. These highly bespoke policies are most likely to be accepted for digital nomad visas and remote working programs.
- True Traveller: Much like World Nomads, True Traveller offers customizable packages pitched at adventure travelers, backpackers, and digital nomads who want flexibility and top-notch customer service. Transparent policies are divided into True Value, The Traveler, and Traveler Plus, with options to add extreme sports, electronics coverage. True Traveller policies are limited to United Kingdom and European passport holders.
