SafetyWing vs. World Nomads Insurance for digital nomads

SafetyWing vs. World Nomads Insurance for digital nomads

They say you don't really need travel insurance until you do. Unfortunately, I discovered the truth behind this maxim the hard way after I lost my backpack and everything I owned at a bus stop in Barcelona in 2015.

Fast forward to 2020, I still live on the road and now make a living using a laptop. Although there are more and more remote workers and travelers every year, we still seem to be a relatively unprotected population when it comes to insurance for the inevitable travel disasters.

However, after doing a little research and speaking to other full-time travelers, I found two travel insurance companies for digital nomads that seem to rule the roost.

Here is the overview of the comparison of SafetyWing and World Nomads insurance for digital nomads.

What I look for in travel insurance for digital nomads

Since I am not an insurance specialist and do not know your personal insurance needs, it is difficult for me to offer a comprehensive must-have list for you.

Regardless, I can describe exactly what I look for in an insurance policy. Of course, the lifestyles of all digital nomads differ. As a frugal backpacker, photographer, and writer, my needs may cover the basics of at least a few of you.

Priority #1: Travel Health Insurance

No doubt you would get the same answer from most when it comes to insurance priorities. A digital nomad lifestyle means that regular health insurance doesn't cover us when we're abroad.

You've most likely heard some horror stories of motorcycle accidents and other injuries that have left a traveler in more pain than just a headache and a few scraped knees. Emergency medical and hospital bills can quickly climb into the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands without adequate coverage.

Touch wood, but to date I have never had to claim any medical or hospital expenses. A quick fine-needle biopsy and a few stitches in the Philippines and Indonesia ended up being so cheap that it wasn't worth the claim. That's not to say I'm not glad to have travel insurance the day I need it.

Priority #2: Luggage Cover

This may differ for most. All I used to carry around was a cheap DSLR and a bag full of dirty clothes. But even then, when both the backpack and wallet were lighter, I still appreciated the luggage cover.

Even though my possessions weren't expensive, it was great to have the money to buy new underwear and a jacket on the other side of the Barcelona-Berne bus.

Since most digital nomads have sought this lifestyle due to a similar low-budget love affair with travel, I'm sure we all share the same feelings. Having insurance for the few possessions we own brings great peace of mind. I'm sure you're also considering a luggage cover for your expensive laptop, cameras and other items.

Priority #3: Travel Protection

I have categorized “travel coverage” as general insurance coverage for flight cancellations, trip changes, and any emergency plan changes.

For me this is not as important as the other two categories above, but still a requirement. I say this because I tend to make plans spontaneously and tend to book flights and accommodation at the last minute.

However, in the event that I need to fly back to Australia in an emergency or cancel a planned trip, I want to know that my digital nomad travel insurance will cover me. A lost passport is also an expensive replacement, which is why travel documents usually also fall into this category.
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I've heard of World Nomads, but what is SafetyWing?

Now for the summary; SafetyWing vs World Nomads. Most digital nomads have heard of the latter, but what is SafetyWing?

SafetyWing is a new competitor on the block that offers travel health insurance specifically for location-dependent workers and long-term travelers.

Although they have only been around for about a year, they are backed by Tokio Marine, one of the largest insurance providers in the world. Reliability is important and having that support is bulletproof in my eyes.

What does SafetyWing offer?

As already mentioned, SafetyWing offers travel health insurance. This means you will be covered if you have an accident outside your home country, become ill or require medical attention for:

• Krankenhauszimmer und Pflegedienste
• Intensivstation
• Ambulanz
• Notfallversorgung
• Physiotherapie
• Notfall zahnärztlich

In addition, you also receive travel protection for:

• Reiseunterbrechung
• Reiseverzögerung
• aufgegebenes Gepäck verloren
• begrenzter Schutz vor Naturkatastrophen
• politische Evakuierung
• Notfall medizinische Evakuierung
• persönliche Haftung
• Unfalltod und Verstümmelung (AD&D)

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The full list of current coverage options can be found here.

Advantages of SafetyWing

I was interested in SafetyWing mainly because of its good price-performance ratio. Their refreshing and unique ongoing payment plans are also more similar to regular health insurance options than traditional prepaid travel insurance options.

Instead of paying annually or renewing your policy every quarter, SafetyWing offers coverage starting at $37/4 weeks or $1.32 per day. This is much cheaper than most travel insurance policies and up to a third cheaper than World Nomads.

Here are some other benefits of purchasing SafetyWing:

• Verfügbar in 180 Ländern
• Beginnen und kündigen Sie Ihre Police jederzeit
• 24/7-Support
• Keine Obergrenze für die Reisedauer
• VIEL niedrigere Kosten

Who is SafetyWing best suited for?

SafetyWing is clearly a great option for digital nomads and other long-term travelers who want affordable, high-quality travel health insurance with an easy 4-week payment plan.

Everything about World Nomads travel insurance

For some time now, World Nomads has been the major player in the long-term travel insurance game, especially for adventure travelers like me.

For comprehensive information about World Nomads, see this article.

What does World Nomads offer?

World Nomads covers travelers and digital nomads from 130 countries, with separate coverage options depending on your country of residence. For a complete list of detailed offers, see their list.

General coverage across the board includes:

• Kranken- und Krankenhausabdeckung
• Abdeckung für Abenteueraktivitäten wie Skifahren, Snowboarden, Wildwasser-Rafting
• Reiseverspätung und Stornokosten
• persönliche Haftung
• Diebstahl oder Beschädigung persönlicher Gegenstände
• Tod oder Invalidität

Advantages of world nomads

World Nomads is a very popular insurance option for long-term travelers or adventure travelers. Although they are more expensive than the alternatives, some may prefer them because of the following benefits.

• Bewährte Erfolgsbilanz der Zuverlässigkeit
• Abdeckung speziell von Abenteueraktivitäten, einschließlich Wandern über 4000 m
• Toller Kundenservice und 24/7 Support
• Starke und zuverlässige Versicherer

Who is World Nomads best suited for?

World Nomads is a strong option for adventure travelers who want to insure themselves for more dangerous adventure activities such as skiing, snowboarding, climbing, etc.

They also have a proven track record of easy claims and quality customer service. Although they are more expensive, some may prefer to pay more for the additional electronics coverage in their insurance plans.

The result: SafetyWing vs. World Nomads

So, what is the best insurance for digital nomads then? In this SafetyWing vs. World Nomads roundup, we've covered the benefits and which option might be best for different types of nomads.

Now let me address some of the issues I have with both policies.

One caveat I have to mention with SafetyWings is that they currently do not have coverage for lost or stolen electronics and equipment. As I mentioned before, I think this is an important component for me. However, I'm told that the SafetyWing team is working diligently to make this happen very soon, so watch this space. An alternative workaround is to purchase separate device insurance from another provider to stay covered.

For World Nomads, their policies are pretty comprehensive, but they are much more expensive than SafetyWing. I know many travelers who would love SafetyWing's offerings without having to pay a huge premium for electronics insurance.

If you reside in one of the countries that World Nomads does not cover, then don't worry, you will likely still be covered by SafetyWing's policy.
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One last word

I hope this comparison helped you decide between Safetywing and World Nomads for your digital nomad travel insurance needs. If you have additional questions, you can get a quote for SafetyWing here and World Nomads here.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Don't worry, clicking on these links is free for you but still helps keep WeSeekTravel alive.

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