Digital Nomad Insurance Protects Your Health, Finances and Possessions
One of the biggest challenges digital nomads confront is managing their health care. Most insurance plans cater to travelers or expats, but nomad travelers don鈥檛 easily fit into either category. So, what kind of insurance should a digital nomad get? And do you need insurance at all?
Don鈥檛 Subscribe to the 鈥淩oll the Dice鈥 Plan
Let鈥檚 settle the last question first. A wise nomad traveler has an insurance plan available to help them when they get sick, or things go sideways.
Many of the most popular remote living destinations require ill or injured people to show proof that they can pay before a hospital agrees to treat them. If you鈥檝e had a compound leg fracture or are suffering from meningitis, the last thing you want to do is wrestle with your bank account鈥檚 international ATM limits to get the cash to pay the bill in advance. The right digital nomad insurance plan will be the proof you need to show you can pay. It can also protect you when you encounter issues like flight cancellation, lost baggage, or stolen items.
You can get digital nomad insurance even if you plan to travel back to your home country for short stints while you are a nomad. There are two major types of medical insurance for remote living鈥攐ne of them will be the right one for you.
Travel Medical Insurance vs. International Health Insurance
There are two types of insurance that nomad travelers can get. Your best plan will depend on your needs and your nomadic lifestyle.
Travel medical insurance is designed to take care of urgent medical needs. If you sprain your ankle in Sicily or get strep throat in Sydney, digital nomad insurance will cover your visit to a local medical facility. If it鈥檚 more severe 鈥 say a motorbike in Rio de Janeiro runs you over or has a heart attack in Hanoi 鈥 your travel medical policy will stabilize you and transport you home for recovery. But for some people engaged in remote living, going 鈥渉ome鈥 is not an option, so this may not be a good fit.
Travel insurance will cover you even in cases of a minor health issue such as a cold. If you need an elective procedure, you鈥檒l need insurance with more coverage. It鈥檚 important to note that 鈥渆lective鈥 doesn鈥檛 mean 鈥渘ot important.鈥 It means 鈥渃an be scheduled in advance.鈥 So if you have kidney stones, a hernia, or need to have pins removed from a broken leg, for example, you will need insurance that has a broader scope than travel insurance.
Some travel insurers have direct billing networks, so you won鈥檛 see a bill. When the provider you鈥檙e seeing is not part of an insurer鈥檚 direct billing network, you will pay for your care, and insurance will reimburse you for eligible expenses.
Great travel medical policies also offer benefits such as natural disaster evacuation, coverage for lost baggage, and more. Most plans cover you for up to 12 months. Because the medical benefits offered are more limited, travel medical insurance is more affordable than international medical insurance.
Recommended Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
Premium Coverage 鈥 Best for US Citizens
GeoBlue Voyager Plan
- For U.S. citizens up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Coverage on a Budget 鈥 Best for All Nationalities
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
International health insurance, also called international medical insurance or global medical insurance, covers urgent medical issues as well as everyday needs. It is an annually renewable plan that offers more comprehensive medical benefits but fewer travel insurance benefits, like cover for lost luggage.
If you want standard medical checkups like routine physicals, Pap smears, and mammograms while you are on the road, international health insurance will cover you. If you need elective surgery such as a biopsy, meniscus surgery for your knee, or a tonsillectomy, that鈥檚 where international health insurance comes in. Many plans also cover travel vaccinations, surgery, and medical transportation such as ambulances and medevac flights. You can also get coverage for your child to receive regular medical care.
If there is a medical prescription you rely on, many plans will cover the cost, as well as the cost of the doctor鈥檚 visit to get it prescribed in your new location. Some plans also offer dental and vision benefits. Many plans have networks that will directly bill your care to the insurance company, so you never have to see a bill. Generally speaking, you need to be out of your country for three months or longer to get an international health insurance plan.
Recommended International Health Insurance for Digital Nomads
Best for U.S. Citizens
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan
- Premium Benefits, Coverage and Service
- Define your deductible and prescription benefits
- For Foreigners in the US or US citizens abroad
Best for International Citizens
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- Access to Cigna Global鈥檚 trusted network of hospitals and doctors
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
Which One is Right for Me?
The matrix below provides several scenarios that should help you determine which kind of digital nomad insurance you need. You can also get a free quote,聽and our staff will find the best plan for your needs.
Travel Medical Insurance | International Health Insurance |
I will be out of my home country for anywhere from a week to a year. | I will be out of my home country for anywhere from 90 days to indefinitely. |
I don鈥檛 plan to get regular medical care while overseas. | I want to make sure to keep up with my preventive medical care while abroad. |
If I am in a bad accident, I want to be sent to my home country to recover. | If I am in a bad accident, I want to have the option to stay where I am while I recover. |
I don鈥檛 have any prescriptions I will need to refill. | I have several prescriptions that I take regularly and will need to refill. |
I want coverage for medical emergencies and illnesses and travel insurance benefits like coverage for lost or stolen items | I want comprehensive medical benefits available throughout the world. |
I want a policy that I only pay for during the specific dates I am abroad, which I have provided in advance. If those dates change, I will remember to notify the insurance company so my insurance doesn鈥檛 lapse while I鈥檓 overseas. | I want a policy that covers me throughout the year so I have the flexibility to return to my home country or leave on my own schedule without having to update my insurance company. |
I don鈥檛 care about being able to renew my coverage. When I reach the time limit for an insurer to cover me, I鈥檒l switch companies. | I want to be able to renew my coverage every year so I can stick with the same provider and avoid developing pre-existing conditions. |
For the Adventurous: Extreme Sports Travel Medical Insurance
There are many exciting things to do when you鈥檙e on the road. You might want to try cave diving at Cenote Angelita in Mexico, parasailing in South Africa, swimming with sharks in Indonesia, or zorbing in New Zealand. But if you read the fine print on your travel insurance plan, you鈥檒l learn that most of these activities aren鈥檛 covered. If you plan to participate in these exciting activities, you鈥檒l want adventure sports travel insurance.
For 鈥淕rey Nomads鈥: Insurance for Seniors
If you are a nomad who is over 65, there are special considerations when it comes to your international health insurance and travel medical insurance. See our detailed pages on international health insurance for retirees abroad and the best travel insurance for seniors.
World Nomads Travel Insurance Plans
The World Nomads Standard Plan covers over 100 activities. The World Nomad Explorer Plan covers even more adventures and offers higher insurance limits than the Standard Plan. Both plans include coverage for trip cancellation, emergency medical care and transport, lost gear and technology, and more.
World Nomads Travel Insurance
- Coverage for 200+ adventure activities
- Generous benefits for lost and stolen bags and gear
- 24/7 emergency assistance
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Stay Safe on Your Nomadic Journey
The digital nomad lifestyle is incredibly rewarding, but your experience can be disrupted or destroyed by an accident, illness, or lost or stolen gear. Protect yourself with the right digital nomad insurance for your specific remote living style, and explore knowing that you鈥檙e protected no matter what bumps you encounter on the way.
Also Read: Health Insurance Plans for Working Abroad