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    SafetyWing Review: Great Travel and Nomad Insurance for ~$1 A Day

    I live for adventure and travel.  Along the way I hope for the best, and plenty of luck, but let’s be honest – accidents happen.  The best I can do is be prepared so that when something finally does go wrong, handling it is as quick and easy as possible.  Maintaining travel insurance, with emergency medical coverage, evacuation coverage, and perks for my trips is the first line of defense against travel mishaps, and something I adamantly recommend.  Now, thanks to SafetyWing travel insurance coverage for only ~$1 per day, any traveler can wander with a great safety net, regardless of how tight their budget is.

    In this SafetyWing travel insurance review, you’ll discover why every traveler should stay covered while they wander and why SafetyWing is an excellent option I recommend…and use myself to stay safe while adventuring hard. Cheap, reliable, and convenient

    Note: This article may contain affiliate links

    SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review
    • Coverages
    • Claims Process
    • Customer Support
    • Global Availability
    • Price
    4.4

    SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review

    SafetyWing is an excellent, budget insurance options for travelers that, only ~$1 per day, offers emergency medical , trip insurances, and the coverages we need to adventure well without breaking the bank.  A convenient, recurring subscription model, easy signup, and straight forward claims process makes this a great, affordable travel insurance option for backpackers, budget travelers, and digital nomads wandering the world.

    Rating Breakdown:

    • Price: 5/5 – Cheaper than most other travel insurance options

    • Coverage: 5/5 – Adequate coverage limits for emergency medical, evacuation, baggage, adventures and more

    • Claims Process: 3/5 – Easily done via email and processing filled out and scanned forms
    • Customer Support: 3/5 – Available 24/7 via email or phone with processing being constantly improved (reputation over the long term is still being assessed)
    • Global Availability: 5/5 – Covered issues can be treated at any hospital, with in-network hospitals available for direct payment

     

    Sending
    User Review
    5 (1 vote)
    SafetyWing Travel Insurance Review: 4.4/5

    SafetyWing is an excellent, budget insurance options for travelers that, only ~$1 per day, offers emergency medical , trip insurances, and the coverages we need to adventure well without breaking the bank.  A convenient, recurring subscription model with low monthly payments (~$40), easy signup, and straight forward claims process makes this a great, affordable travel insurance option for backpackers, budget travelers, and digital nomads wandering the world.

    Rating Breakdown:

    • Price: 5/5 – Cheaper than most other travel insurance options
    • Coverage: 5/5 – Adequate coverage limits for emergency medical, evacuation, baggage, adventures and more
    • Claims Process: 3/5 – Easily done via email and processing filled out and scanned forms
    • Customer Support: 3/5 – Available 24/7 via email or phone with processing being constantly improved (reputation over the long term is still being assessed)
    • Global Availability: 5/5 – Covered issues can be treated at any hospital, with in-network hospitals available for direct payment

    CONTENTS OF THIS SAFETYWING REVIEW

    Quick Safetywing Insurance Review

    Full Safetywing Review

    Traveling adventurously (like everyone should) is inherently risky as it gets better.  Whether you’re trekking through the Himalayas, diving through the Philippines, or eating street food in Bangkok, travel insurance is a must to make sure you’re covered during accidents without breaking the bank and disrupting your travels. 

    Unfortunately, most travel insurance is pricey, and some travelers skip the coverage when they really should get it – ultimately putting their adventure, budget, and life at risk.  Until now.  SafetyWing is a new travel insurance option that offers emergency medical coverage and a host of other benefits for just $1 a day. In this SafetyWing insurance review, I’ll explain why SafetyWing may (or may not) be great for you, and share some tips for getting the most from your coverage

    In my years of traveling, I’ve seen all kinds of accidents, from trekkers getting helicoptered out of the Himilayas due to altitude sickness to a friend having rabies ridden bat fly right into his mouth, and countless stomach bugs requiring antibiotics and antiparasitics. Even worse (and more adventurous), more than 90% of my travelers friends that have been to Southeast Asia have crashed a motorbike. 

    As travelers and backpackers, regardless of how bulletproof we think we are, there is always the possibility of an accident or medical emergency that costs much more than we anticipated. 

    This doesn’t mean we should adventure less (we should always go further!), this just means we should be prepared.

    In this SafetyWing review, I’ll share why this budget-friendly travel insurance coverage might be the perfect emergency tool for travelers on tight budgets – protecting you from the inevitable without burning your hard-earned cash, and leaving more spare change for those beachside coconuts to come.

    WHAT IS SAFETYWING:  TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR NOMADS FOR ~$1 PER DAY

    Safetywing is a new, popular option among travel insurance companies for emergency health insurance and travel insurance while wandering abroad. 

    The coverage is much cheaper than other options, at ~$1 per day, and works based on a subscription model, renewing your travel medical insurance every 30 days until you cancel.

    In my experience, the signup process is quick, easy, and simple, all handled online via the SafetyWing website.

    SAFETYWING TIPS UP FRONT

    • Keep your SafetyWing ID card on you to present at the hospital for insurance verification – bearing your policy number and SafetyWing claims contact info
    • Use the “In-Network” hospitals when possible (found in the menu logged in, in the upper right) to allow for direct payment – but know you can go to any hospital
    • Beware of what is not covered, like pre existing conditions, or any injuries sustained while intoxicated, reckless, or engaging in an activity without proper protection (think lifeguards and helmets)

    WHY YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE: FOR THOSE UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

    For the first year of traveling, I wandered pretty hard without international health insurance, nomad insurance, or comprehensive health insurance of any kind.  Considering my adventures, that was a big risk.  I motorbiked through Vietnam and Laos, trekked solo to Everest Base Camp, snorkeled with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos Islands and ate things I couldn’t pronounce everywhere I went. 

    Delilah (my motorbike) and I crossing a large river in north Vietnam on one of the best adventures of my life, with travel insurance as my safety net.

    My original plan, instead of purchasing coverage from a traveler focused emergency health insurance company, was to save the $100 to $200 per month I would have spent on sufficient coverage and set that aside to spend in the event of an accident. Though this tactic might hold reasonable for a small dog bite or scrape from surfing or a small motorbike spill, generally costing between $50 and a few hundred dollars, I soon learned that the accidents we should aim to cover can not only break the bank, but also put us in debt.

    From experience, I observed a friendcrash a motorbike and immediately require $5000 worth of care in the first 24 hours – and that was in Indonesia, a low cost health location. Another friend suffered a liver infection that required a Life flight back to Europe, and the flight alone cost ~$25,000. Even closer to home, I observed a hiker on the Everest Base Camp trek getting an emergency airlift to lower elevation due to altitude sickness and brain swelling, and I later learned the price for that flight on the cheap side is $3,000, with $5,000 to $10,000 being much more possible and likely.

    In my 4 years of travel I’ve observed countless close calls of my own – surfing and bouncing off reefs, barely dropping motorcycles down mountains, and near misses with infections and food poisoning. More convincing though is the high number of travelers I’ve seen with much worse situations, from being bitten by rabies ridden dogs, to getting toes and fingers amputated after accidents, to taking very intense spills motorbiking, hiking, and surfing, for which a hospital visit would drain the travel budget very quickly. That is why emergency health insurance is a must for travelers.

    Luckily nothing ever went wrong medically for me – but more than 90% of traveler friends have all crashed a motorbike during their Asia travels.  One of my friends had to be helicoptered off the Everest Base Camp Trek due to altitude sickness, while another picked up a staph infection on the trek that she was treating for months after the trek.  Another friend spent $1000 getting tested to find out which type of parasite she picked up in Bali.

    All of these incidents were unexpected and would have been very costly if they hadn’t been covered by one of the good travel insurance companies – which is exactly why you should have some form of emergency medical coverage when adventuring outside of your home country.

    THE 4 MAIN REASONS YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE WHENEVER YOU WANDER INTERNATIONALLY

    YOUR HOME COUNTRY HEALTH INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER YOU WHILE ABROAD

    Confirm with your home country’s health insurance provider, but some locations outside of your home country won’t be covered.  This can be double the case if higher-risk activities, like surfing or canyoning, aren’t covered but you still want to travel adventurously. 

    Even more difficult, certain coverages like life flights and evacuation might not be covered.  A friend last year died in Bali after a freediving accident wherein he didn’t have the medical coverage to be transported to a country with a more developed healthcare system.  If he’d had that insurance, covering emergency medical evacuation, he might be alive today.

    If you do have insurance back in your home country confirm that it covers jaunts abroad and to the degree that you need it too, including the adventure sports you have planned and life flights/emergency evacuation.  If your primary health insurance in your home country doesn’t explicitly cover your destination and activities, I highly recommend that you buy insurance with a legitimate travel insurance company that includes life flights and emergency evacuations with worldwide coverage for your upcoming adventures

    MISHAPS ABROAD CAN COST MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED

    How much do you think a case of the upset stomach could cost you?  If you’re most people, just a few dollars for a bottle of Pepto Bismol and a Netflix subscription for an easy night in.  Right?

    Not so much.

    Try $1000 and counting.

    A friend just a week ago came down with a case of “Bali Belly” that ran on for a week, requiring two visits to the emergency room and an expensive string of drugs to treat an infection.  All of this came out of the blue and with a tab (so far) of over $1000, and that’s on Bali where medical care is a fraction of US and western costs.

    Go back one more month and a friend ended up in a late-night motorbike crash in Southeast Asia that left him unconscious, waking up later in the hospital with a couple of “brain bleeds”.  After 2 days in the hospital, a $2000 tab, and no travel insurance he had to check himself out with no way to pay additional bills.  One week later, friends got word that he conditioned worsened he suffered a stroke because he wasn’t able to stay in the hospital, safely monitored by professionals.

    Ultimately, mishaps during travel can happen to anyone (and eventually do) and they usually cost much more than we’d expect – eating through

    SITUATIONS REQUIRING LIFE FLIGHTS, EVACUATIONS, AND CASH PAYMENTS CAN EQUATE TO LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS – HAVING GOOD TRAVEL INSURANCE ENSURES THE “LIFE” OUTCOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

    Whether you’re traveling somewhere that political unrest or violence might be a possibility or you need an emergency flight out of the country for life-saving medical treatment, evacuation is an essential and worthwhile part of any travel insurance policy.

    OTHER TRAVEL INSURANCE PERKS: DELAYED FLIGHT COVERAGE, DELAYED AND LOST BAGS COVERAGE

    Though I haven’t been broken or bruised to the point of needing medical attention during travel, I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with airlines. 

    Flying from Nepal to India to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands, my bags were lost for two weeks.  A combination of having a good travel-ready and travel hacking friendly credit card and having the right travel insurance made buying the gear I needed to get me through my travels and getting reimbursed later much easier than it otherwise would have been

    More recently, some of my surf gear randomly “came up missing” after flights to a country where that surf gear sold for 3x to 4x the price.

    Any good travel insurance has coverage for your bags – lost, delayed, or stolen in transit – and this benefit can be quite the lifesaver and headache reliever.

    Click here to see a full list of SafetyWing benefits

    TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGES YOU SHOULD BE SURE TO HAVE

    The most likely and costliest mishaps during travel are likely to fall into a few areas (some of which I’ve already mentioned).  To ensure you’re getting enough of the right coverage for your trip, ensure your travel insurance policy has the following:

    • Emergency medical coverage
    • Medical emergency evacuation and life flights
    • Evacuation due to civil or political unrest (if you feel its needed)
    • Covers your choice of adventure sports
    • Lasts for the entire duration of your travels (some are limited to 40 or 60 days)
    • Covers motorbike crashes, dog/animal bites
    • Applies in all of the countries & destinations on your itinerary (some exclude North Korea, Iran, and Cuba)

    WHAT’S COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE

    Straight from SafetyWing, “This means that if you get ill or injured, we [SafetyWing] will cover eligible medical expenses.”

    SafetyWing Travel Insurance Coverages

    SafetyWing Insurance covers both medical and travel mishaps, both are destined to happen at some point during anyone’s travels

    • Unexpected illness or injury, including eligible expenses for hospital, doctor or prescription drugs
    • Emergency travel-related benefits such as emergency medical evacuation
    • Travel delay and lost checked luggage 
    • Covers you everywhere in the world except Iran, North Korea, and Cuba
    • Covers you at home for 30 days of every 90 (15 days of every 90 if you’re from the US)
    • Covers most of the adventure sports you’ll want to take on

    (Find more in Safetywing’s description of coverages in this SafetyWing Policy PDF)

    WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS DOES SAFETYWING COVER?

    • Surfing: Yes
    • SCUBA Diving: Yes (As long as you are PADI certified)
    • Freediving and Snorkeling: Yes (check fine print at SafetyWing for exclusions)
    • Trekking, Camping, and Mountaineering (Up to 4500 Meters): Yes
    • Trekking, Camping, and Mountaineering (Above 4500 Meters): No
    • Motorbiking (On Road): Yes (with proper safety equipment
    • Dirtbiking: No
    • Bungee Jumping: Yes
    • Mountain Biking: Yes
    • Canyoning: Yes
    • Rock Climbing and Ice Climbing: Yes
    • Running with Bulls: No (It was worth a shot to ask…)

    Click here for a full list of covered sports

    Note that SafetyWing will not cover you during train courses, like the PADI Open Water Diver course (for SCUBA), the SSI Level 1 Course (for Freediving), or rock climbing/mountaineering courses.  However, for these, your instructor and school of choice should provide insurance that covers you during all training at their school.  Email your school prior to the course to confirm that they do have the necessary insurance – and if they don’t opt for another school.

    Also note that if done for competition or organized sport, these activities are not covered by SafetyWing – so keep that in mind.  For more details on SafetyWing coverage, and confirmation that your adventure sport of choice is covered, I recommend contacting SafetyWing directly via chat, via email at [email protected], or by phone at +1-(800) 605-2282.

    Fine Print Notes on Adventure Sports Coverage Straight from SafetyWing:

    “You are not covered if the activity is organized athletics involving regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or the activity is performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.

    You must ensure the activity is adequately supervised and that appropriate safety equipment (such as protective headwear, life jackets, etc.) are worn at all times.”

    HIGHLIGHT OF SAFETYWING COVERAGES

    (Some coverages may be subject to deductibles, all coverages subject to coverage limits)

    • Overall Maximum Limit: $250,000
    • Hospital Room and Board
    • Intensive Care Unit: Up to maximum limit ($250,000)
    • Emergency Room Services (subject to $100 deductible)
    • Outpatient Physical Therapy: Up to $50 per day
    • Emergency Dental: Up to $1000 (no deductible)
    • Political Evacuation: $10,000
    • Terrorism: $50,000 lifetime benefit
    • Emergency Medical Evacuation: $100,000 lifetime maximum
    • Trip Interruption: $5,000 (no deductible)
    • Lost Luggage: $3,000
    • Lost or Stolen Passport/Visa: $100
    • Natural Disaster Coverage: $100 per day for 5 days
    • Personal Liability: $25,000

    Coverage applies everywhere except North Korea, Iran, and Cuba

    Click here for a full PDF list of SafetyWing Policy Coverages or

    Click here for a quick SafetyWing Travel Insurance Quote

    OTHER GREAT BENEFITS OF SAFETYWING

    • 24/7 support
    • “In-Network” hospital finder, to find hospitals where payment is handled directly with SafetyWing
    • Ability to go to any hospital
    • Family coverage

    BENEFITS OF SAFETYWING OVER OTHER TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTIONS

    SafetyWing offers two very solid benefits over any other travel insurance I’ve tried, making it perfect for budget travelers and long term nomads:

    • Great Price: Cheaper than most at ~$1
    • Convenient Subscription model: Renews every month until canceled, skipping the process of searching and signing up for coverage every few months

    GREAT PRICE: CHEAPER THAN MOST TRAVEL INSURANCE AT ~$1

    World Nomads is a pretty great travel insurance provider, highly recommended by the travelers I know that have used them.  However, World Nomads runs ~$100 per month on average.  For the budget traveler, living off of $50 per day, that $100 per month can be a huge hit (literally costing two days per travel each month)

    For roughly $1 per day (or ~$35 per month) we travelers can maintain all of the essential coverages (emergency medical, evacuation, baggage coverage during travel).

    CONVENIENT SUBSCRIPTION MODEL: RENEWS EVERY MONTH UNTIL CANCELLED

    Signing up for SafetyWing works on a convenient subscription basis.  Though you can signup for a week or two, I find the auto-billed subscription to be the most convenient way to handle my travel insurance needs.  I simply let  SafetyWing travel insurance automatically renew each month with my card on file that I’m traveling, and place it on pause during the very brief periods I’m in the US.

    Before I’d have to renew every few months for World Nomads, comparing quotes for 30, 60, and 90 day periods, and deciding between the standard vs. explorer option, and also dealing with the break-in coverage.  With SafetyWing, I never have to worry about that lapse, those decisions, or the hassle of sitting down and signing up again.  I just start my subscription when needed, pause it when I don’t, and restart it when I’m ready to wander again.

    Click here to check SafetyWing Rates for Your Upcoming Trip

    WHAT’S NOT COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE

    • Routine Checkups
    • Preexisting Conditions
    • Organized athletics and professional sports, regular or scheduled practices, and games (read more here -)
    • Find out more in Safetywing’s coverage description PDF
    • Theft of electronics and valuables

    Click here for More Details of What SafetyWIng Doesn’t Cover

    PRICE OF SAFETYWING

    SafteyWing covered can be provided for a set period of days or weeks, but can also be requested on a monthly basis for a set rate, billed monthly on a recurring basis until canceled.

    MONTHLY COVERAGE

    • 10-39 Years Old: $37/mo.     | Including US coverage $68/mo.
    • 40-49 Years Old: $60 /mo.    | Including US coverage $112/mo.
    • 50-59 Years Old: $94/mo.     | Including US coverage $184/mo.
    • 60-69 Years old: $128/mo.    | Including US coverage $250 mo.
    • Children (Under 9): $0

    DAILY COVERAGE

    • 10-39 Years Old: $1.25/day | Including US coverage $2.25/day
    • 40-49 Years Old: $2 /day       | Including US coverage $3.75/day
    • 50-59 Years Old: $3.15/day | Including US coverage $6.15/day
    • 60-69 Years old: $4.25/day   | Including US coverage $8.35/ day
    • Children (Under 9): $0

    Click here to check SafetyWing Rates for Your Specific Trip

    WHO IS SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR?

    Nomads, Backpackers, and Budget Travelers

    If you’re traveling outside of your home country for more than 30 days and you’re budget conscious, SafetyWing is likely right for you.

    If your Trip is Longer than 30 Days…

    Many credit cards, like Revolut** or Chase Sapphire offer travel insurance benefits that provide all of the coverages we need, however, they usually top out if your trip is longer than 30 days.  SafetyWing is good indefinitely

    If You’re Not an “Expat”, Staying in One Place and in need of routine care

    SafetyWing is great for travelers wandering, but if you’re an ex-pat living outside of your home country for over a year, consider “ex-pat insurance”.  Expat insurance, like with IMG Global, covers emergencies and mishaps, but also provides routine medical coverage, for things like annual physicals, checkups, routine dental, and more.  Just because we’re wandering doesn’t mean we can ignore the routine stuff, so if you’re abroad long term and need more than “emergency medical”, look into expat insurance

    If You’re Adventuring Well but not too hard

    SafetyWing offers some great coverage that will likely cover you 99% of the time, but there are some adventurous occasions wherein you might need a more robust policy, if you’re adventuring hard.  For instance, high altitude trekking (above 4500 meters), like what you’d do for the Everest Base Camp hike (at 5,380 meters) or Kilimanjaro (at 5,895), would not be covered under SafetyWing.

    If you’re adventuring especially hard, I’d instead recommend World Nomad’s Explorer plan for those periods.  This is exactly what I did for my Everest Base Camp Trek to ensure I had coverage for a helicopter out in the event that altitude sickness hit.

    If your adventures won’t be too heavy, then SafetyWing will provide sufficient coverage for your travels

    If you’re budget conscious

    Let’s be honest, most backpackers and digital nomads are trying to save as much money as they can, because more money saved equals more time on the road, doing what we love.  Travel insurance is an odd expense in that we need it, but we feel like we never use it.

    With SafetyWing being nearly 1/3 the cost of other big travel insurance providers while delivering the same coverage in the areas that matter, we balance being responsible with being budget-conscious.

    HOW TO SIGNUP FOR SAFETYWING

    1. Head over to SafetyWing
    2. Click the “signup” button
    3. Follow the prompts to register, selecting (or unselecting) US coverage

    That’s it.  You’ll be covered within minutes

    If you’re traveling for a few months, I highly recommend leaving the autopay on so that you’re automatically re-upped each month.  I’ve had a couple of times (with World Nomads) when my coverage lapse while I was away from wifi or too busy to get to a coffee shop and in places where I genuinely needed coverage.  Signing up for the autopay and subscription feature helps you stay covered throughout your whole trip.

    HOW TO FILE A CLAIM WITH SAFETYWINGS

    The Claims Process and Tips to Keep Things Smooth
    • Step 1: Determine If its an emergency.  If it is an emergency: Make sure you have your ID card on hand and go to the nearest, legally operating hospital
    • Step 2: If it is not an emergency: Attempt to find an “In-Network” hospital – when logged into your account, click on the menu in the top left and click “My Profile >> Find a Hospital” to find an in-network hospital with direct payment
    • Step 3: Prepare your insurance ID card: ID card has the policy number and phone number so that the hospital can contact SafetyWing directly to check that insurance is valid and arrange for direct payment at “in-network” hospitals
    • Step 4: Ask the provider about payment: If direct billing is possible (between insurer and provider) opt for that
    • Step 5: Collect Itemized Receipts: Keep copies of itemized receipts for all expenses, and snap pictures as backups (with your smartphone) as soon as you receive them – you’ll need them for the claims process later
    • Step 6: Start Claims process: Email screenshots of original, itemized receipts and a filled out claimant statement (https://safetywing.com/static/media/hccmis_claimants_statement_safety_wing.c2f4318d.pdf) to [email protected] and contact via phone to start the claims process

    Note that there are no Coverage restrictions, the hospital network suggested simply makes it so that you don’t have to pay upfront for treatment, but you are covered for treatment at any hospital

    HOW TO CONTACT SAFETYWING SUPPORT BY PHONE OR EMAIL FOR QUESTIONS

    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone Outside the USA: +1 317-262-2132
    • Phone Inside the USA: (800) 605-2282        
    • Worlwide Phone Numbers List: Available inthis PDF

    Notes: The in-site chat is meant for asking technical questions and providing information before purchasing a policy and is not intended for emergencies or handling claims

    Click here for More Details on the SafetyWing Claims Process

    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SAFETYWING FINE PRINT

    For coverage to be active and cover the insured individual, sports activities must be adequately supervised and appropriate safety gear is used at all times. 

    Keep in mind that you’re covered in your home country for a maximum of 15 days of every 90, but consult your policy to confirm the exact number of days based on your home country

    SAFETYWING REVIEWS FROM OTHER TRAVELERS

    WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SAFETYWING

    Though SafetyWing’s coverage and pricepoint is perfect for most travelers, and the coverages are great, not all of the SafetyWing reviews (at this point) are 100% positive…yet, simply because the customer service and claims relations process and SafetyWing’s communications (website copy mostly) are still having the bugs worked out. 

    SafetyWing Reviews of Travel Insurance for $1 per day by Other Travelers

    Despite some negative SafetyWing reviews, I still believe SafetyWing is a great, budget friendly travel tool  – as long as you remember to keep your itemized receipts and contact SafetyWing claims and support through the correct channels.

    SafetyWing is a new travel insurance company (which is why their approach and view is more aligned with modern, budget travelers) and their customer services and claims processes are adapting in a positive way as they grow.  If being a new company concerns you, I highly recommend this SafetyWing thread on Reddit in which the founder discusses how he took action to adapt the company’s claims processes to make it more intuitive for travelers as well as this other SafetyWing thread on Reddit.

    Also, the handful of SafetyWing reviews that haven’t been positive revolved around the claims process and support being confusing and travelers not knowing who to contact, when, and with what information and receipts – this is actually good for us. 

    As long as you understand the claims process, remember to keep receipts, and keep the right emails and phone numbers handy (to contact at SafetyWing) the insurance becomes a lot easier to use.

    To make for the best experience possible using SaeftyWing, follow these steps and keep these tips in mind (which are exactly what I do):

    • Keep your SafetyWing insurance card with you, bearing the your policy number and SafetyWing contact info to verify coverage
    • Use the “find a hospital” feature, when logged into SafetyWing, to find an in-network hospital that does direct billing

    To find an In-Network hospital or file a claim with SafetyWing, just sign in and go to your dashboard to find everything you need.

    • …but understand that you are still covered at any hospital and should go to the nearest hospital if you’re having an emergency, you may just have to pay out-of-pocket and claim later
    • Maintain itemized receipts for all treatment taking pictures immediately and forwarding to [email protected]with policy number ASAP
    • Do not use the chat feature in SafetyWing for filing claims or for support in emergency situations – this chat feature is only for technical questions and info before you purchase your policy.
    • For support during claims and finding hospitals keep the email address [email protected] handy or call +1 317-262-2132 outside the USA or (800) 605-2282 inside the USA

    SAFETYWING VS. WORLD NOMADS

    The major differences between SafetyWing and World Nomads

    • Safety Wing is cheaper at ~$37/mo vs ~$100 per month for World Nomads
    • World Nomads provides more robust coverage for adventures, like trekking above 4500 meters (Himilayas, Kilimanjaro, and Aconcagua)

    Bottom Line: For “routine travels” SafetyWing suffices.  When I adventure hard and outside of SafetWing’s coverage I get World Nomads insurance for the period, then restart SafetyWing to save money.  If money is no issue, get World Nomads.  If money is an issue, balance SafetyWing with World Nomads for adventurous periods

    SafetyWing is a great traveler emergency medical insurance option that is cheap. Relative to the bigger, more well-known option, SafetyWing vs. World Nomads delivers emergency medical for much cheaper (~$40 per month vs. roughly ~$100 per month for World Nomads).

    Keep in mind that World Nomads offers many benefits beyond emergency medical, concierge, trip planning services, and a full list of other benefits (click here to see the full list of World Nomads benefits), in addition to a trusted brand name (whereas SafetyWing is fairly new and still collecting reviews about its coverages and claims processes, but I’ve had a great experience with them so far).

    If you’re just interested in emergency medical coverage and concerned with saving your hard-earned dollars (or Euros), consider SafetyWing over World Nomads to save ~$70 a month.

    OTHER GREAT TRAVEL INSURANCE ALTERNATIVES

    There are plenty of travel insurance options out there that suit different travelers (short term travelers, long term backpackers, ex-pats), offer different coverages (trip insurance, personal property), and have different perks (concierge, trip planning).  Be sure to only get the insurance that offers the coverage you need, and don’t waste any money on coverage you don’t need.

    I recommend getting quotes and reviewing coverages for all of these insurance options that fit your travel needs:

    Click here to read our Ultimate Guide to Travel Insurance with recommendations and tips for choosing the right insurance option for you

    BOTTOM LINE ON SAFETYWINGS INSURANCE FOR TRAVEL

    For travelers looking for a cheap, easy to manage emergency medical coverage option for their travels, SafetyWing hits the spot.  Remember to keep your insurance card (with policy number and SafetyWing contact info) handy for emergencies just in case.  SafetyWing is my coverage of choice at the moment and will be for a while to come.  I highly recommend it.

    For personal belongings or expat coverage (including routine medical) check out other options (IMG Global, Remote Health by SafetyWing)

    Click here to check SafetyWing Rates for Your Upcoming Trip

    More Good Info on Insurance for Travelers

    SAFETYWING FAQ

    HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN TRUST SAFETYWING?

    Though SafetyWing is new it has some very legitimate backing as a Silicon Valley startup that was developed out of the Y-Combinator incubator that produced AirBnB and several other travel revolutionizing tech startups.

    In addition to its success, travel, and customer-focused management and investment team, SafetyWing is partnered with global insurance giant Tokio Marine and underwritten by underwriters at Lloyds for reliable insurance coverage

    The short answer is you can definitely trust SafetyWing.

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    WHAT IS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

    The short answer straight from SafetyWing, “This means that if you get ill or injured, we [SafetyWing] will cover eligible medical expenses.”

    I trust SafetyWing because their coverage extends to all of the adventures I regularly take on (except trekking above 4500 meters) while also covering emergency medical, medical evacuation, and political evacuation.

    For a more thorough answer read our “What does SafetyWing cover?” section.

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    WHAT IS NOT COVERED WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

    SafetyWing doesn’t cover unsupervised adventure sports, activities without proper safety equipment, and accidents (such as motorbiking) while intoxicated. Those are the major highlights that catch my eye, but be sure to read SafetyWing’s terms and conditions to understand fully what isn’t covered.

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    IS THERE A DEDUCTIBLE WITH SAFETYWING TRAVEL INSURANCE?

    Yes.  The deductible is $250 up to a maximum $250,000 limit.

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    ARE ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING?

    Adventure sports coverage depends on which sport you’ll be participating in but likely is, as long as it is properly supervised, the right safety equipment is used, and it is not for a professional league, organized league, or competition (please read SafetyWing’s terms and conditions to understand the fine print before purchase)

    All of the Adventure 8 activites are covered, with the exception of trekking and camping above 4500 meters (so the Everest Base Camp trek and Kilimanjaro wouldn’t be covered – for those I recommend World Nomad’s Explorer Travel Insurance plan)

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS ARE COVERED UNDER SAFETYWING
    • Angling
    • Archery
    • Badminton
    • Ballooning
    • Baseball
    • Biking – includes touring and organized tours
    • Bowling
    • Bungee jumping
    • Bushwalking up to 4,500 meters
    • Camel riding/trekking
    • Camping under 4,500 meters
    • Canoeing
    • Canyon swing
    • Canyoning
    • Capoeira dancing
    • Clay pigeon shooting
    • Cricket
    • Cycling under 4,500 meters
    • Deep-sea fishing
    • Dirt boarding
    • Dog sledding (not racing or competing)
    • Fell running/walking
    • Fencing
    • Fishing
    • Flying as a passenger
    • Football (Soccer)
    • Glacier walking up to 4,500 meters
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics (only as exercise or for fun; not competitive or organized)
    • Hiking up to 4,500 meters
    • Horse riding
    • Hot air ballooning as a passenger
    • Hunting (excluding big game)
    • Ice skating (indoor or outdoor)
    • Ice climbing up to 4,500 meters
    • Jet boating
    • Jet skiing
    • Kayaking
    • Land surfing
    • Moped biking except as excluded below
    • Motorbiking except as excluded below
    • Mountain biking up to 4,500 meters
    • Netball
    • Orienteering
    • Outdoor endurance except as excluded below
    • Paintballing
    • Rambling
    • Rap jumping
    • Rifle range shooting
    • Rollerblading
    • Roller skating
    • Rowing / sculling
    • Safari tours
    • Sailing
    • Sandboarding
    • Sand skiing
    • Scuba diving (sub-Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus) as long as you are PADI/NAUI certified, or if you are not certified you are covered for up to 10 meters when accompanied by a certified instructor.
    • Sea canoeing
    • Sea kayaking
    • Skateboarding
    • Skiing (only covered for recreational skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off-piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
    • Sleigh rides
    • Sledding
    • Snorkeling except as excluded below
    • Snow rafting
    • Snowboarding (only covered for recreational snowboarding skiing. No cover provided while skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories (off-piste) and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body)
    • Soccer (Football)
    • Speed boating
    • Squash
    • Stand up paddle surfing
    • Stilt walking
    • Surfing except as excluded below
    • Swimming
    • Table tennis
    • Ten-pin bowling
    • Tennis
    • Trail bike riding
    • Trekking up to 4,500 meters
    • Tubing
    • Tubing on snow
    • Ultimate frisbee
    • Via Ferrata up to 4,500 meters
    • Volleyball
    • Wakeskating
    • Wakeboarding
    • Walking
    • Water skiing
    • Weightlifting, cardio and classes at the gym (note that training for or attending a powerlifting competition is excluded.)
    • Windsurfing
    • Yachting (coastal waters only)
    • Yachting (outside coastal waters)
    • Yoga (in class or alone)
    • Zipline
    • Zorbing

    *You are not covered if the activity is organized athletics involving regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or the activity is performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.

    You must ensure the activity is adequately supervised and that appropriate safety equipment (such as protective headwear, life jackets etc.) are worn at all times.

    Click here to get your SafetyWing Quote

    (Information copied from SafetyWing Website: Source: SafetyWing FAQ, 20200218)

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    WHAT ADVENTURE SPORTS ARE NOT COVERED WITH SAFETYWING:
    • All-Terrain Vehicles
    • American Football
    • Aussie Rules Football
    • Aviation (except when traveling solely as a passenger in a commercial aircraft)
    • Base Jumping
    • Big Game Hunting
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing
    • Cave Diving
    • Heli-Skiing
    • Heli-gliding
    • Hot Air Ballooning as a Pilot
    • Ice Hockey
    • Kite-Surfing
    • Martial Arts
    • Luge
    • Motorized Dirt Bikes
    • Mountaineering at elevations of 4,500 meters or higher
    • Outdoor Endurance Events
    • Parachuting
    • Parasailing
    • Powerlifting (lifting at max weight with the intention of attending a competition)
    • Quad Biking
    • Racing by any Animal, Motorized Vehicle, or BMX, and Speed Trials and Speedway
    • Rugby
    • Running with the Bulls
    • Skeleton
    • Skiing off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories) and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
    • Snowboarding off piste (outside prepared and marked in-bound territories)and/or against or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body
    • Sky Surfing
    • Snow Mobile
    • Spelunking
    • Sub Aqua Pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus (unless accompanied by a certified instructor at depths less than 10m, or PADI/NAUI certified)
    • Tractors
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Wrestling

    Click here to get your SafetyWing Quote

    (Information copied from SafetyWing Website: Source: SafetyWing FAQ, 20200218)

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    CAN I BUY A SAFETYWING POLICY AFTER I’VE STARTED MY TRIP?

    Yes, you can purchase and start SafetyWing covered after your trip has started and whether or not you’re in your home country

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    HOW DO I KNOW WHAT HOSPITAL TO GO TO?

    You are covered to go to any hospital that is operating legally, so if you are having an emergency go to the nearest hospital.  To find an “in-network” hospital that handles payment directly with SafetyWing, click to follow these instructions and find the “find a hospital” tool in your dashboard, or click here to see SafetyWing contact info and contact SafetyWing directly

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    ARE MOTORBIKE AND SCOOTER ACCIDENTS COVERED WITH SAFETYWING?

    Yes, as long as you are wearing a helmet, aren’t intoxicated, and are behaving responsibly

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    CAN CHILDREN BE COVERED?

    Yes.  As part of an adult’s qualifying plan, children between the ages of 0-9 are covered free, and children ages 10 to 18 can purchase a policy at normal rates

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    HOW DO I MAKE A CLAIM WITH SAFETYWING?

    Step 1: Collect Itemized Receipts: Keep copies of itemized receipts for all expenses, and snap pictures as backups (with your smartphone) as soon as you receive them – you’ll need them for the claims process later

    Step 2: Start Claims process: Email screenshots of original, itemized receipts and a filled out claimant statement (https://safetywing.com/static/media/hccmis_claimants_statement_safety_wing.c2f4318d.pdf) to [email protected] and contact via phone to start claims process

    Click here for full details on the claims process

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    HOW DO I SIGNUP FOR SAFETYWING?

    Head over to SafetyWing, start a quote and follow the prompts to create a login, enter your personal data, and start coverage and billing.

    Click here to jump to full details on signing up for SafetyWing

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    IS SAFETYWING THE RIGHT INSURANCE FOR ME?

    If you are between the ages of 18 and 49, traveling for more than 30 days, and don’t plan on trekking above 4500 meters, SafetyWing is likely right for your emergency medical coverage needs. (Click here to start your quote)

    If you are an expat looking for medical that covers routine issues, like exams, dental, vision, and more, you likely need expat insurance such as IMG Global instead.  Read our full Guide to Travel and Expat Insurance to learn more or read our writeup on IMG Global as the best insurance for expats.

    If you are trying to insure valuables and electronics, SafetyWing is not the policy for you, as it focuses on emergency medical care.  Instead, we recommend personal property insurance such as Lemonade for travels of less than 30 days and Clements Effects Insurance for travels longer than 30 days.

    For all others in search of emergency medical coverage for travel, Safety Wing is likely a very good option for you

    (Return to SafetyWing FAQ)

    WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAFETYWING AND WORLD NOMADS

    If you are adventuring hard, I recommend World Nomads for those stints.

    If you are on a tight budget but don’t plan on climbing any mountains, opt for SafetyWing.

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      About A Brother Abroad

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.