SafetyWing Review: Is It Legit or a Scam?

Traveling outside of your native country is one of the greatest adventures in life. You learn so much about yourself, discover new cultures and ways of life, and meet many people along the way.

Travel gives us a chance to alter our perspectives on the important things in life and appreciate the value of community, preserve and respect other cultures, and remain curious and open through every experience we have.

If you’re planning a trip outside the country, whether for pleasure or to live the digital nomad life and work as you travel (which is just as fun!), you’ll need a reliable travel insurance company to lean on during your trip(s).

Some travelers may be reading this and thinking, “Is SafetyWing legit?”, so this post will explore the key features, pros and cons, general feedback, and reviews from its customers to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information on SafetyWing.

We will even share a few travel insurance alternatives in case you need more specific coverage for your trip abroad.

What is SafetyWing?

SafetyWing is a global insurance provider specializing in travel insurance for digital nomads (those who travel around the world while working remotely), remote workers, and long-term travelers from most countries that need flexible, affordable coverage.

SafetyWing is owned by the insurance giant Tokio Marine, which makes sign-up and selecting insurance plans straightforward and fool-proof. With other travel insurance providers, you’ll often have to deal with various companies depending on your location or nationality when you shop for insurance.

With SafetyWing, medical and travel insurance is handled by all the same company, regardless of where you live. SafetyWing understands that spending a ton of money on travel insurance can dissuade travelers from making the investment.

However, it is highly recommended to have travel insurance with a reliable insurance provider once you leave your home country. You can’t plan for what accidents or emergencies may occur on a trip, regardless of where you go.

Maintaining the appropriate travel insurance from travel insurance providers like SafetyWing is crucial on any trip abroad. It provides you and your loved ones back home with the peace of mind that, in the unfortunate event something happens to you, you won’t be left with massive medical bills, financial stress, or ruin. 

SafetyWing aims to make purchasing travel insurance easy for digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and remote workers from all over the globe. With access to flexible, affordable, and easy-to-understand health and travel insurance plans, people can focus on the exciting parts of travel rather than mundane (but necessary) tasks like obtaining the proper travel insurance.

See Related: Best Cheap Places to Travel in the US

How Does SafetyWing Work?

SafetyWing travel insurance offers two insurance plans that we will be exploring in this article. The first is its travel insurance plan, called Nomad Insurance.

Nomad Insurance is a standard travel medical insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. The medical coverage includes if you become sick or get in an accident while traveling abroad.

The travel insurance includes coverage for travel delays, lost checked luggage, and personal liability. The second plan is called Remote Health, the global primary health insurance plan for remote workers and digital nomads that travel long-term.

Remote Health is a fully-equipped insurance plan designed for remote workers and digital nomads who can stay abroad for as long as they please. Remote Health offers full coverage in a traveler’s home country as well as all over the world. 

SafetyWing Review: Key Features

The first thing we will discuss in this SafetyWing insurance review is each plan’s key features. For most travel insurance companies, these are the benefits that play a significant role in why you would choose one insurance company over the competition. 

Nomad Insurance Policy Key Features

Here are the key features of the Nomad Insurance policy for travel medical insurance. 

Standard travel medical insurance

Standard travel medical insurance through SafetyWing covers:

• Hospital stays including daily room and board, nursing services, a room in the ICU
• Emergency treatment for illness or injury
• Emergency local ambulance, if related to emergency illness or injury
• Physical therapy and chiropractic care
• Emergency dental treatment or surgery
• Emergency eye exam for lost or damaged glasses
• Limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions
• Transportation of one relative bedside in a medical situation
• The convenience of direct billing for hospitals listed in SafetyWing’s network

Standard travel insurance through SafetyWing covers: 

• Up to $5,000 in trip interruption
• Up to $100 a day in travel delays 
• Up to $6,000 maximum lifetime limit for lost checked luggage

One major bonus about SafetyWing’s travel coverage is you don’t have to state where you’ll be traveling. You simply specify if you’re going to be within the US or not, and the rate is based on that information.

This gives travelers the freedom to go almost anywhere in the world with the peace of mind that they will be safe with SafetyWing’s worldwide travel coverage. Many insurance companies require a destination country, return date, and other information that SafetyWing travel insurance does not ask for.

Other Travel Coverage

Here is what SafetyWing covers on the Nomad Insurance policy:

• Up to $25,000 in personal liability 
• Up to $100 a day for a new place to stay in a natural disaster
• Up to $10,000 maximum lifetime for transport during a political evacuation
• Up to $1,500 to cover transport for one relative to visit you in the hospital
• Up to $100,000 lifetime maximum for an emergency medical evacuation

Covered adventure sports include:

• Bungee jumping, hot air balloon rides, jet skiing, safari tours
• Baseball, soccer, horseback riding, zip line
• Mopeds and scooters (ideal for travelers in Southeast Asia)
• Windsurfing, wakeboarding, scuba diving (if you are certified or with an instructor)

Affordability for Travelers Under 50

For travelers in the age range of 18 to 39, the Nomad Insurance policy pricing begins at $42 a month. For those 40 to 49 years old, the price jumps to $68 per month. If you’ve shopped around for travel insurance, you probably know that this is a very competitive and affordable rate, and the no-cancellation fee is the cherry on top.

With SafetyWing’s subscription model, you’ll make monthly payments for your travel insurance and not have to worry about being expected to pay upfront or having a large lump sum due once a year.

Great for Families 

Digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers often have families and little ones who tag along on the family’s adventures abroad. SafetyWing understands that families are starting to travel abroad now more than ever. It has included coverage for children in the Nomad Insurance policy to make adding family members easy and convenient.

With the Nomad Insurance policy, up to 2 children under 10 per family (1 per adult) can be included on your insurance free of charge.

You won’t have to fret about adding kids on later or finding them separate insurance. Everyone’s covered, so you’re free to enjoy the journey! 

Convenient Subscription Model

The appeal of digital nomad insurance through SafetyWing is achieved through its convenient subscription model. Most insurance providers require a one-year contract, which can be expensive and inconvenient for travelers if their plans change, something comes up, or they need to head home early.

When you’re traveling with no return ticket, the last thing you want is to be stressed about deciding where and when you’ll end your time abroad and return home. SafetyWing’s subscription model allows nomads to do what they love — wander, experience, and immerse themselves in many local cultures without the stress of booking a flight home.

By purchasing insurance with SafetyWing, you can cancel at any time without any penalty or cancellation fee. You’ll be charged for your insurance coverage every 28 days and are not required to pay upfront for the entire year.

With a clear pricing structure and simple cancellation, travelers can make plans to travel outside of their home country, knowing they’ll be covered in the event that anything happens to them while abroad.

See Related: Important Pros and Cons of Travel Insurance

Remote Health Insurance Plan Key Features

Here are the key features of SafetyWing’s Remote Health insurance plan. 

Live and Travel Anywhere

Whether in your home country, traveling in between countries, or constantly on the move, the Remote Health plan by SafetyWing has you covered for both standard medical care and emergency medical care.

Remote Health is a primary insurance plan that does not require a return ticket or specifications on where you’ll be traveling. Additionally, you’ll be covered in your home country should you return home in between trips.

Comprehensive Global Medical Coverage

Because Remote Health is designed specifically for remote workers and digital nomads, it is different from the Nomad Insurance plan and many other insurance plans on the market. You will receive in-depth medical coverage, including cancer treatments, palliative care, health screenings, and much more.

If you have a pre-existing condition but still want to see the world, Remote Health has you covered should you get sick or have any type of flair-up while traveling. The extensive coverage in the Remote Health plan is ideal for individuals who think they may need medical treatment (other than emergency medical services) while outside of their home country.

They want to travel but need the assurance that if they fall ill or need treatment, it will be easy to access and won’t cost them any massive out-of-pocket fees.

Primary International Insurance

The Remote Health insurance policy covers a multitude of medical problems, health issues, and care at medical facilities. If you’ve been curious about what the extra cost of SafetyWing’s Remote Health offers, you’ll be impressed.

Coverage of this plan includes:

• Emergency room visits
• Primary care physician visits
• Specialist visits
• Medication or prescriptions
• Psychiatric treatment (outpatient)
• Complementary therapy
• Routine dental work including check-ups, fillings, and cleanings
• Other dental care, like new crowns, dentures, inlays, and surgery
• Standard vision care, including one eye exam per year
• Contact lens evaluation and fitting once a year
• One pair of glasses every two years
• Cancer screenings, vital signs exams
• Immunizations and boosters (not including COVID-19 vaccine)

Other medical care includes:

• Palliative care (up to $50,000 for a patient with a terminal illness)
• Rehabilitation and specialized care
• Inpatient surgery, reconstructive surgery
• Organ transplants
• Emergency ambulance
• Care home nurse for up to 60 days

Does SafetyWing cover COVID-19? Yes! From treatment to quarantine (aside from vaccines), COVID coverage is insured by SafetyWing no matter where you are in the world. Few travel insurance companies offer this level of coverage for COVID-19, which offers weary travelers some comfort that their medical expenses will be covered should they become exposed or ill with coronavirus (or any other illness).

Long-term Stays In Any Country

The plan really does offer travelers the chance to see the world without worrying about their health or their coverage in the event of an accident, injury, or becoming ill.

For remote employees who have the freedom to work from anywhere, it becomes much more possible to see the world while maintaining a full-time job, rather than having to constantly use vacation time and strategically plan every minute of an international vacation.

With a remote job and primary health insurance in any country, the opportunity to live abroad has never been more accessible for anyone who wants to make it happen. SafetyWing’s Remote Health plan can help anyone make that dream a reality.

See Related: How to Find Cheap Flights [An Actual Step-by-Step Guide]

Pros and Cons of SafetyWing Insurance 

Now that you’re familiar with how SafetyWing works for travelers, let’s explore the pros and cons of the two insurance plans in this SafetyWing insurance review.

Pros of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

• The subscription model makes it easy to cancel at any time without penalties or fees
• Affordable coverage for travelers under 50 years old
• Does cover COVID-19 (aside from testing)
• The coverage auto-renews every four weeks
• The pricing model offers affordable monthly payment options
• Two children per family can be included in a policy
• Personal liability coverage is included

Cons of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

• Only covers medical emergencies, unexpected illnesses, or injury
• $250 deductible 
• Low maximum payout at $250,000
• Limited coverage in a traveler’s home country for short-term visits
• Does not cover cancer, routine check-ups, or a pre-existing condition
• Policies do not cover trip cancellations
• Prices increase significantly for those over 50
• No theft coverage for electronics or device coverage
• Does not offer coverage on extreme sports like paragliding and parachuting
• Does not cover travel to Iran, North Korea, or Cuba

Pros of SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance

• $0 deductible
• Offers COVID coverage (aside from testing), cancer treatments, and approved pre-existing health conditions
• The claims process takes about seven days 
• $1 million annual maximum
• Offers full health care coverage in a traveler’s home country 
• Travelers can pay monthly for their coverage
• Add family members for an extra premium 
• 175+ countries covered as main residences around the world
• Travelers can buy insurance when they’re already abroad and keep traveling while covered

Cons of SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance

• SafetyWing’s Remote Health plan is an annual contract and is not available as a short-term plan 
• It does not cover any other factors that can go wrong on a trip or any travel benefits, including trip interruption, lost luggage, etc.
• In the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore, only limited coverage is available for 30-day trips
• No theft coverage for electronics or standard device coverage
• Prices drastically increase for those over 50 
• Does not provide coverage for those over 74
• Does not cover travel to Iran, North Korea, or Cuba

See Related: Best Day to Book Flights: Is Tuesday the Cheapest?

SafetyWing Insurance Plan Ratings

The perfect insurance plan does not exist, right? Maybe so, but there are steps that modern insurance companies can take to make their coverage noteworthy and the customer experience a memorable one.

Here’s how SafetyWing insurance plans measure up in the convoluted world of travel insurance.

Ease of Use — 4

Everything from creating an account to selecting an insurance plan is very simple and easy to follow. Travelers can sign up for SafetyWing while they’re already on their trip, making the entire process of travel insurance much less stressful.

Making an insurance claim and the general claims process seems uncomplicated. To begin the claims process, simply send the claims form to SafetyWing, receive a confirmation email, and check the website for live claim updates as they become available.

You can follow the claims process in real-time rather than waiting around, not knowing what stage of the process your claim is in. Once your claim is approved, you’ll receive payment via wire transfer to your bank account on file.

While some customers claim to have had issues with claims and refunds, they are few and far between. No company is perfect, and there will always be circumstances in travel insurance that can’t be handled exactly how the company or the customer would like.

Features — 4.5

From the convenience of the subscriber pay model to the in-depth medical coverage of the Remote Health plan, the features of SafetyWing’s insurance plans speak for themselves.

Being able to purchase travel insurance while on your trip is extremely valuable and convenient for those who occasionally forget to purchase insurance before a trip (it happens to the best of us!). It may be difficult to believe that an insurance company is actually looking out for you. Still, SafetyWing really has taken many steps to mitigate any errors people make while planning trips abroad.

As nomads ourselves, it’s easy to see that the founders of SafetyWing genuinely wanted to design an insurance policy that would make life easier for travelers — not more difficult, stressful, and confusing as so many insurance plans do.

The various convenient features of SafetyWing, including recent COVID-19 coverage, are undoubtedly why so many travelers from all over the world are selecting SafetyWing as their insurance provider.

Customer Service — 4.5

For the most part, online reviews of SafetyWing’s customer service are excellent. Customers describe their positive experiences in terms of quick response time, an approachable, knowledgeable, and friendly staff, and an easy-to-use website to find additional information or plan and coverage details.

If you are traveling abroad and have questions or concerns about your medical coverage, the SafetyWing team is just a Skype call away, and they’re happy to help in any way they can.

Many satisfied customers have needed assistance with medical coverage and claims while abroad. Customers are consistently satisfied with SafetyWing’s responses and helpfulness, along with the support team’s medical knowledge to provide insight and support.

Value for Money — 4

The Nomad Insurance plan starts at $42 for ages 10 to 39. For the standard medical and travel insurance coverage the plan offers, this is a very competitive price.

The Remote Insurance plan is significantly more expensive, offering plans for 18 to 39-year-olds beginning at $206. However, the coverage included for this price is significant. Coverage includes outpatient care, eye exams, dental coverage, screenings, and vaccines, all within a $0 deductible.

If you are within the age range of 10 to 49, the value of SafetyWing for the cost is superb. The financial drawback of using either SafetyWing insurance plan is the cost increases significantly for those 50 and older.

With the Nomad Insurance plan, plans start at $106 for those over 50. The same plan is $42 for ages 10 to 39. The Remote Health plan starts at $489 a month for people over 50.

If you’re an over-50 traveler, you are better off looking into other travel insurance providers that offer more competitive rates for your age group.

See Related: Best Travel Insurance for Children

How to Get a SafetyWing Quote

Getting a quote for a SafetyWing travel insurance plan is simple and straightforward. On the SafetyWing website, click on the pricing tab, select your age range from the drop-down, and you’ll see the price you’ll pay per month for a SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Plan. 

To get pricing for Remote Health insurance for digital nomads, visit the pricing page, select your age range, and the handy price calculator will give you a monthly or annual estimate. 

Yup, it’s that easy!  If you have additional questions or need clarification on plan details, you can reach out to the SafetyWing customer service team. They are attentive, knowledgeable, and happy to help get your questions answered promptly.

The Final Verdict: Is SafetyWing Insurance Worth It?

SafetyWing offers two affordable, flexible travel insurance plans for people who have wanderlust and want to see the world but need international health insurance to do so.

Is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Worth It?

For a standard travel insurance plan, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance plan checks every box. It’s affordable, offers standard coverage for injury and illness, covers emergency medical expenses, and can be purchased when you are already abroad. 

The convenient subscription model makes it easy to cancel at any time without getting charged. The monthly payments are ideal for travelers who don’t want to pay for one year at a time, particularly for those on tight budgets who need extra wiggle room for expenses and unforeseen payments.

Is SafetyWing Remote Health Insurance Worth It?

For those traveling abroad for the foreseeable future and long-term trips, SafetyWing Remote Health is a fantastic option for its thorough coverage offering for remote workers and digital nomads to have their medical expenses handled outside of their home country.

If you are planning on being away from your home country for months at a time, Remote Health insurance offers comprehensive health insurance no matter where you are in the world. Particularly for those with pre-existing conditions or who think they will require more than standard travel medical insurance, Remote Health provides a fully-equipped primary health insurance plan.

In our humble opinion, SafetyWing travel insurance is probably the most legitimate travel insurance company on the market today. They’re newer to the travel industry than other insurance providers, so they have to build trust with seasoned travelers.

Even so, we have no doubt that SafetyWing will be one of the top travel insurance providers in the coming years as more people adapt to the nomad life and travel abroad with their partners and families.

SafetyWing Alternatives: Other Insurance Providers

We understand that SafetyWing may not offer the best insurance policies for your specific travel plans or coverage needs.

There are a few alternatives to SafetyWing that we recommend, and we’ll compare their perks to SafetyWing’s, so you can decide which insurance providers are best for your particular itinerary or the experiences you’d like to have in your travels.

World Nomads

For adventure-seekers, World Nomads is a solid choice for travel insurance when exploring the world. As far as travel insurance companies go, World Nomads insurance is catered to travelers and digital nomads who seek outdoor adventures while traveling abroad.

World Nomads offers coverage for a wide variety of activities, including snow sports, bungee jumping, surfing, scuba diving, hang gliding, rock climbing, and much more. While SafetyWing offers coverage of basic outdoor activities, it does not offer coverage for more extreme sports or activities that can be done outside your home country, as World Nomads does.

In terms of medical coverage, World Nomads and SafetyWing offer similar medical care. Unforeseen illness and injury are covered, along with emergency medical evacuation, hospital visits, care from a doctor, and emergency dental treatment. World Nomads also offers baggage benefits in the event that your items are stolen or lost while traveling. 

Additionally, World Nomads covers the loss, theft, or damage of any technology, devices, or electronic gear you bring along on your travels. This includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and more. SafetyWing does not cover the loss of this type of gear or electronics unless they are inside your checked luggage that was lost.

World Nomads offers generous trip cancellation and trip interruption policies. In contrast, neither of SafetyWing’s insurance policies cover any canceled trips because they are designed for long-term travelers with one-way tickets. Instead, SafetyWing offers coverage on trip interruptions. If you do need the wiggle room of potentially needing to cancel a trip, World Nomads provides an excellent cushion.

World Nomads has a $100 deductible, while SafetyWing’s similar travel insurance plan, Nomad Insurance, has a $250 deductible. 

As you know, SafetyWing’s pricing for the basic Nomad Insurance plan starts at around $42 a month for people between the ages of 10 to 39. World Nomads’ base travel insurance plan begins at around $120 per month, depending on the location and package you choose. 

There are definitely benefits to choosing World Nomads for travel insurance if you are on the hunt for thrill-seeking activities on your trip abroad. 

You’ll be covered for many activities, have peace of mind in knowing you’re covered in the event your trip gets canceled and have better coverage for tech and gear if it gets lost or damaged. You’ll pay more for monthly coverage with World Nomads but have more of your bases covered in the event of an accident, cancellation, theft, or emergency.

The extra cost is worth it if you travel with a lot of gear to take photos or shoot video content or if you work remotely as you travel and have a laptop, tablet, and other technology with you on your trip.

Visitors Coverage

For people planning trips with pre-existing conditions, travel insurance can be daunting because many companies do not offer health insurance plans with that type of coverage.

Enter Visitors Coverage. This travel insurance company offers travel medical policies that include a pre-existing medical conditions waiver, so you can cancel or interrupt your trip or receive medical treatment while abroad. This is a significant benefit for people who live with medical conditions but are able to travel; they just need the proper insurance coverage to do so. 

Visitors Coverage also offers plans that have coverage for expenses incurred due to illness or injury while traveling, emergency medical evacuation, a natural disaster, trip interruption, and trip cancellation.

If you’re the type who tends to misplace your things, Visitors Coverage has generous coverage for the loss of your wallet, passport, and luggage, and many other scenarios that may interfere with your trip. They have plans that cover COVID-19, urgent care visits, emergency dental care and eye care, prescriptions, flu shots, and more. 

At Visitors Coverage, a basic health insurance plan for a traveler in their 30s going to Europe would cost between $35 and $50 a month for comprehensive health insurance, with a $250 deductible. 

Visitors Coverage offers many individual insurance plans; from medical expenses, trip cancellation, cruise, group travel, business travel, missionary, and multi-trip plans, they have great plans for any itinerary in any country around the world. 

It can get more confusing to book several types of insurance through one company; that’s one of the significant benefits of using SafetyWing — you can get standard medical insurance and travel insurance through the Nomad Insurance plan or more comprehensive medical coverage through the Remote Health plan.

However, if you need an affordable medical insurance plan with pre-existing conditions coverage, Visitors Coverage has a few options that you’ll find suitable. You won’t have to stress about losing any money in the event of trip cancellation or if you need medical care while you’re traveling.

For those reasons, Visitors Coverage is one of the most legitimate travel insurance providers that offer competitive coverage of medical expenses for its customers. Like what you are hearing? Read our full VisitorsCoverage review for more information.

Insured Nomads Travel

For nomads who travel during specific seasons or have several trips planned throughout the year, Insured Nomads has travel plans that include medical, non-medical, and cancellation benefits. 

These travel plans are ideal for remote workers, modern citizens, and students who take short-term trips abroad, away from their home countries, and need to be fully insured while they’re traveling abroad.

Insured Nomads travel insurance offers affordable plans like the World Explorer, which covers single trips from 7 to 364 days away from a home country. The World Explorer plan begins at $29.

The World Explorer Multi plan covers multiple trips throughout the year, where you return home between trips, and starts at $350.

Insured Nomads global health insurance caters to a traveler’s medical emergencies as well as routine, preventative, and chronic care treatments in the country you are in. You can receive medical coverage for the entire duration of your trip, and they cover pre-existing conditions.

Insured Nomads plans offer medical coverage, including emergency dental and eye care, lost checked luggage, personal liability, and phone and device protection. You can add on benefits like adventure sports and marine activities if you plan to go on any outdoor adventures during your trips (which we hope you do!).

There are many other unique benefits and perks through Insured Nomads Community for workgroups, including online counseling, a GPS-enabled panic button, online privacy protection, and airport lounge access. 

If you plan to take multiple shorter trips throughout the year but still want solid travel and health insurance coverage, Insured Nomads will likely meet the needs of your travel itinerary. The competitive pricing and impressive coverage options are enough to explore further if you are interested in a solid insurance alternative to SafetyWing.

Related Resources

• Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
• How to Become a Digital Nomad
• World Nomads Insurance Review