Why I Use SafetyWing for Travel Insurance.

After years of bouncing from Bali to Barcelona and everywhere in between, I’ve learned one thing: travel insurance is not optional—unless you enjoy playing roulette with your health (and wallet).

Whats in the Article

Hey you lovely wanderlusters! I’m Anna, 28, digital nomad, full-time suitcase shuffler, and part-time airport food critic.

Should you gamble with your health insurance? Spoiler alert: I did, and I learned the hard way!

So over the years, I’ve done a fair amount of sifting through endless comparisons for insurance packages that don’t cater to digital nomads. Our unique lifestyles, transient nature, and habit of hunting for adventure tends to result in insurance providers seeing us as a walking red flag, and finding adequate coverage for a reasonable price was next to impossible.

Until now. Let me fill you in on the two companies I’ve actually used that cater to digital nomad insurance: SafetyWing and World Nomads. I’ll tell you why I stick with SafetyWing these days, what it covers (and doesn’t), and who might prefer World Nomads instead.

First Things First… Why Bother With Travel Insurance?

Look, I used to roll my eyes at travel insurance. Then I got food poisoning in Mexico, got road-rash in Cambodia (those scooters are sneaky, wear your damn helmet!), and once had my laptop lifted in Lisbon. Yeah… fun times.

That’s when I got serious about insurance. Not just any insurance—nomad-friendly insurance that actually gets our lifestyle.

Why I Chose SafetyWing Travel Insurance

SafetyWing was built by nomads, for nomads. It’s flexible, super affordable, and I can buy it even if I’m already abroad (which I always am). They have two main plans:

Nomad Insurance (Essential) – great for basic stuff like emergency medical, travel hiccups, and sports accidents.
Nomad Health (Complete) – like actual health insurance with wellness visits, therapy, and even maternity care.

What’s Covered (and What’s Not)

Here’s a quick cheat sheet comparing the plans and how they stack up to World Nomads:

Feature	SafetyWing Essential	SafetyWing Complete	World Nomads (Standard/Explorer)
Medical Emergencies	Up to $250K	Up to $1.5M	$100K – $10M
Evacuation	Up to $100K	Up to $100K	Included
Routine Healthcare	❌	✅	❌
Trip Cancellation	❌	✅	✅
Adventure Sports	✅	✅	✅
Mental Health Support	❌	✅	❔
Electronics Coverage	✅	❌	✅
Deductible	$250	$0	Varies
Starting Price (monthly)	$56	$150	$80–$150+

Why Travel Insurance Works for Me

Here’s what I love about SafetyWing:

It’s flexible. Start, stop, or pause anytime. Great if your plans are as chaotic as mine.
Super budget-friendly. Less than the cost of two cocktails in Singapore!
Covers me in over 180 countries. Yes, even during a random detour to Kazakhstan.
Claims are online and fast. I got reimbursed in under 3 days last time I needed it.

And yes—COVID is covered like any other illness, which is a relief in this weird post-pandemic world.

And the Not-So-Perfect Bits

Let’s keep it real. It’s not all rainbows. Here’s what I found not-so-great about this travel insurance package:

No trip cancellation in the Essential plan.
Pre-existing conditions? Not covered.
Electronics theft = extra cost.
The Essential plan has a deductible ($250), so no small claims for little bumps.
Complete plan needs a 12-month commitment.

So, if you want top-tier coverage for electronics, or do extreme sports every weekend, or you’re planning one short trip—World Nomads might be better for you. But be ready to pay more, and maybe chase a few emails if you ever need to claim something.

How I Feel Using SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Let me paint a quick picture…

Me, in Bali, slipping off a rented scooter. My knee? Bleeding. My brain? Panicking. My wallet? Safe—thanks to SafetyWing. I sent in my receipts, got my cash back, and didn’t need to sell a kidney. The insurance claims process was almost as quick as the crash itself, and certainly less painful. 10/10 would crash again.

It’s refreshing to feel secure, even when your plans are non-existent. Knowing that I have digital nomad travel insurance that has been specifically designed to have my back is a gamechanger, and means that I get to enjoy my freedom, stress-free.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re a long-term traveler, a digital nomad like me, or just someone who hates overpaying for stuff—SafetyWing is a solid pick. It’s not perfect, but for the price, flexibility, and global coverage? It’s absolutely worth it.

In short, if you’re just out to see everywhere with stars in your eyes and work along the way, SafetyWing is worth looking into, but if you’re climbing Everest, traveling with $5,000 in camera gear, or want luxury coverage, then World Nomads or even a more premium provider would be a better fit.

One Last Tip

Whatever you do, don’t skip insurance. That $50 a month could save you thousands—and let’s be honest, nothing screams “adventure” less than phoning home to beg for a loan so that you can afford to get your toe sewn back on! And calling clients to tell them that you’re letting them down because your laptop didn’t quite make it off the ferry with you is next level humiliating. Even if it’s literally the only responsible thing you do on your travels, get yourself covered.

Stay wild, stay safe, and keep roaming

I got my trip, now get yours!
Anna x