SafetyWing travel Insurance honest Review Pricing, Pros, Cons & Which Plan Is Right for You

Most traditional travel insurance just isn’t built for long-term travellers or digital nomads. It’s rigid, outdated, and hasn’t caught up with how people actually travel today. If you’re living the nomadic lifestyle, chances are you’ve already heard of SafetyWing’s Travel Insurance — but is it actually worth it?

I’ve been using it since 2021, so here’s my honest, deep-dive breakdown of both plans: the good, the not-so-good, and who each one is actually for.

Who are SafetyWing?

SafetyWing launched in 2018 with a bold mission: to become your “home country on the internet.” Their philosophy is all about removing borders and building a global safety net — health care, pensions, and eventually, the idea of a digital passport.

They describe Nomad Insurance as global health and travel coverage that moves with you, designed specifically for digital nomads, frequent travelers, and remote workers.

There are two plans:

• Essential Plan — travel medical emergency coverage
• Complete Plan — full global health insurance for long-term needs

What I appreciate is how forward-thinking this is. The way we live and work has changed, and SafetyWing built something for people who don’t fit the traditional lifestyle of staying in your home country.

My experience With SafetyWing

I left the UK in 2021 looking for the best travel insurance that could keep up with my travels. Most travel insurance providers that I found had a lot of limitations. Such as only covered certain, destinations, dates and even big excces deductibles.

That’s when I found SafetyWing. I’ve been a paying customer since July 2021, and have since partnered with them as an ambassador — which will make more sense once you see the details below.

The way I live — always moving, often working in different countries meant I needed something flexible, affordable, and covered me wherever I was on the road. With Safetywings Nomad Insurance, I don’t have to constantly worry about renewing or switching policies. It’s been the one consistent thing running in the background while I travel.

Insurance tip: Get 8 weeks of free Electronics cover with SafetyWing — just use my code. Head to their site, click on the pink camera icon, and enter the code below before you create your account.

For what it’s worth: I’ve never actually had to make a claim. But I’ve always had peace of mind knowing I’m covered if something does go wrong. Which as a traveller it often does.

The Essential Plan

This is the plan I use and have paid for since 2021.

Cost: $62.72 per 4 weeks ($2.24/day, $817.60/year)

What’s included:

• Treatment for new, unexpected medical issues while traveling
• Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000
• Evacuations covered up to $100,000
• Up to 30 days of medical coverage in your home country
• Up to $5,000 to cover a flight home after a family death
• Total coverage limit $250,000

There’s more in the fine print, but those are the pieces most people travellers about when considering where to buy their travel insurance from.

I see this plan as ideal for long-term travellers, remote workers, or backpackers doing open-ended travel. I’m in good health and often based in Australia, so it gives me peace of mind without paying for extras I don’t need right now.

The Essential Plans Benefits

• You can purchase it while already traveling — no need to be in your home country
• You can set up a free account ahead of time and activate coverage whenever you’re ready
• $0 deductible, which is rare for travel insurance
• Monthly, flexible, and easy to cancel
• Covers you across 180+ countries
• Simple online claims process
• Optional add-on for electronics theft protection

The Essential Plan Disadvantages:

• Coverage in the US nearly doubles the price, from $62.72 to $116.20 per 4 weeks
• Price increases significantly once you’re 40+
• Doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions

Overall, the Essential Plan is solid if you want reliable, flexible coverage without overcomplicating things. It’s not perfect, but for me it’s been a no-brainer and the most accessible travel insurance for any long term traveller.

Not ready to get insured yet? Click here to open a free SafetyWing account — you can activate your insurance whenever you’re ready to hit the road.

The Complete Plan

This is SafetyWing’s most comprehensive product, classified as full health insurance for people really living the nomad life long-term, not just bouncing around for a few months.

Cost: $177.50/month ($2313.83/year, $6.33/day). Minimum 12-month contract.

What’s included:

• Everything in the Essential Plan
• Wellness therapies: chiropractors, dietitian’s, acupuncture
• Up to 10 psychologist visits per year
• Cancer screening and treatment
• Maternity care
• Full coverage in your home country

Like the Essential Plan, it won’t cover pre-existing conditions — but it will cover anything you develop after the plan starts.

This one’s a better fit for long-term digital nomads, expats, or anyone planning to stay abroad for a while rather than hop around every few weeks.

Complete Plan Benefits:

• Extremely comprehensive coverage
• After 4 years abroad, I’ve paid out of pocket for things like therapy and acupuncture which is a big part of why I’m personally considering switching
• All sports and activities are included as standard
• Wellness therapies, mental health support and cancer treatment covered
• Covers routine and emergency care worldwide

Complete Plan disadvantages

• About three times the price of the Essential Plan
• No pre-existing condition coverage
• 12-month minimum contract
• Adding the US and Singapore bumps the cost to $308.50/month

If you’ve been living abroad a while and want more security and flexibility around healthcare, the Complete Plan is worth a serious look.

SafetyWing nomad insurance reviews

I always check reviews before recommending anything, and SafetyWing holds a solid 4.3 star rating on Trustpilot with over 3900 reviews. As with any insurance company, there are a handful of negative reviews — mostly around the claims process, but 74% of their reviews are 5 stars, which is reassuring. From working with the brand directly, I also know they’re actively investing in streamlining claims and improving transparency.

Which SafetyWing plan is right for you?

The tricky thing about long-term travel is that it becomes hard to define. Are you actually still “travelling,” or are you living in a new country? I’ve asked myself this exact question — I’ll spend long stretches on the road, then set up home in Australia for a while, and it’s never quite clear which box I fit into.

That’s exactly why travel insurance can feel so confusing. So I’ve broken down clearly which plan suits which type of traveller, based on how you actually move through the world:

Final Thoughts

If you’re after simple, flexible, pay-as-you-go coverage: Safetywings Essential Plan is the easy starting point.

If you’re settled into long-term nomad life and want fuller healthcare, including mental health and wellness coverage: the Complete Plan is worth the upgrade.

Either way, having insurance that’s actually built for how we live and work today makes a real difference for peace of mind on the road.

FAQ

Can I purchase SafetyWing travel insurance after leaving home?

Yes — one of the best things about SafetyWing’s travel insurance is that you can activate coverage while you’re already on the road. This is a real standout compared to most insurers, who require you to buy a policy before you leave home.

What happens if I need to make a claim?

Generally, you’ll pay the expense upfront yourself, then submit a reimbursement claim through SafetyWing’s website.

What if I want to cancel my insurance?

SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance works like a subscription, so you can cancel whenever you like — most people simply cancel once they’re back home. The one exception is the Complete Plan, which requires a 12-month commitment.

How old do you have to be to get covered?

SafetyWing covers travellers of most ages, with the main exceptions being anyone over 70, or babies under 14 days old.

Does SafetyWing cover pre-existing conditions?

No — neither plan covers pre-existing conditions, though the Complete Plan will cover anything you develop after your policy starts.

Which countries does SafetyWing cover me in?

Both plans cover you across 180+ countries, though note that adding coverage for the US (and Singapore, on the Complete Plan) increases the price.

Do I need to be a certain nationality to sign up?

No — SafetyWing is built specifically for nomads and travellers regardless of where you’re originally from, which is part of what makes it different from traditional country-specific insurers.