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As a digital nomad, you must make important decisions about your health insurance. Should you purchase a policy? If so, what kind of insurance do you need? Why is health insurance important for digital nomads?
This guide details these and other important questions, as well as explores the difference between travel health insurance and international health insurance tailored specifically for digital nomads, what we recommend, and how to pick the best insurance option for you.
Travel Insurance VS International Health Insurance: Which Is the Best Option for Digital Nomds?
International health insurance is ideal for long-term stays, offering extended coverage and numerous benefits. On the other hand, travel insurance suits quick trips, prioritizing emergency coverage, so it fits digital nomads who are traveling only temporarily.
Redditor: Travel Insurance doesn’t mean Nomad Insurance. It is vitally important to read the insurance policy and ensure that it covers the situation you want it to cover.
Beyond coverage duration, they differ in cost, coverage scope, limitations, and extra perks, which we’ve detailed for you in the following comparative table:
Differences Between Travel Insurance and International Health Insurance
| Travel Insurance | International Health Insurance | |
| Cost | Travel insurance is cheaper, starting from $40 per month. | International travel insurance is more expensive, ranging from $200 to over $400 per month. |
| Benefits | Travel insurance offers more limited benefits focused mostly on medical emergencies. | International health insurance offers more comprehensive coverage and medical services. |
| Deductibles | It usually has lower deductibles since it’s designed for short-term coverage. | It has higher deductibles due to the fact that it offers comprehensive coverage for longer periods. |
| Pre-existing conditions coverage | Pre-existing conditions are not covered by travel insurance | International insurance covers you for pre-existing conditions, although its overall cost may increase. |
| Emergency medical treatment | All emergency medical treatments due to unexpected events are covered. | All emergency medical treatments due to unexpected events are covered. |
| Routine check-ups | It’s not included with travel insurance. | It offers coverage for regular check-ups and outpatient services. |
| Emergency evacuation | It’s included in most travel insurance plans, including accidental death coverage. | It’s included in most travel insurance plans, including accidental death coverage. |
| Mental health care | Travel insurance does not offer coverage or options for mental health care. | International health insurance provides mental health care benefits according to your needs. |
| Dental care | Only if it’s emergency care. | Routine check-ups are provided, but you may be required to purchase them separately. |
| Vision care | Only if it’s emergency care. | Routine check-ups are provided, but you may be required to purchase them separately. |
| Prescription medication | Only if it’s emergency care. | Covered, including routine prescriptions based on the plan. |
| Maternity care | Only if it’s emergency care. | International insurance offers benefits related to maternity and newborn care. |
| Rehabilitation | Rehabilitation services are not covered under travel insurance plans. | International health insurance covers rehabilitation services. |
| Trip Cancellation | Trip cancellation coverage is a common feature of travel insurance plans. | Trip cancellation is not typically covered under international health insurance. |
| Lost Luggage Coverage | Lost luggage coverage is a standard feature in many travel insurance policies. | Lost luggage coverage is not typically included in international health insurance plans. |
| Flight Delay Compensation | Flight delay compensation is often included in travel insurance plans. | Flight delay compensation is not typically covered under international health insurance. |
| Renewability | The validity period is for short trips, and once it is over, it must be purchased again. | Long-term coverage, some companies offer continuous coverage without renewals, similar to a subscription. |
| Geographical Coverage | Worldwide, customizable | Worldwide, customizable |
Which One Do We Recommend?
We recommend an international health insurance plan for digital nomads for the following reasons:
- Long-term coverage. International health insurance provides you with long-term coverage, which is ideal if you are planning to live as a digital nomad anywhere over six months up to a year or more.
- Integrated care. International health insurance lets you combine health coverage with travel benefits in a single policy. This gives you complete protection for medical needs and travel incidents like trip interruptions or lost luggage. On the other hand, travel health insurance typically doesn’t package these benefits together in one policy.
- Comprehensive coverage. International health insurance offers more comprehensive coverage for someone who is planning on living abroad— even if it’s for a short while. At some point, you will need to visit a doctor or receive some preventive care, which is where international health insurance will not fail you.
- Customization. With international health insurance, you have more options to customize your plan and include additional benefits.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions. International health insurance offers you coverage for pre-existing conditions or, at the very least, coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
- Cost-effectiveness. International health insurance long-term is the better financial choice for digital nomads. It offers a broader range of services for the same amount as some travel health insurance plans, and more often than not, you can set your deductible yourself.
- Stability and continuity. With international health insurance, you have stability and continuity in your healthcare coverage, even if you’re living and working in different countries over an extended period.
Besart Bajrami, founder of VisaGuide.World – on the importance of selecting the right type of insurance as a digital nomad:
“Selecting the appropriate insurance is essential for every digital nomad, as neglecting proper insurance exposes them to financial risks and inadequate medical care. Therefore, thorough evaluation of insurance options ensures adequate protection and peace of mind throughout their nomadic adventures.
This may seem like a messy and consuming task for many, but once a nomad understands what he or she needs to consider before purchasing the right insurance, they will look at the activities they engage in with a whole other eye and understanding.”
Do Digital Nomads Need Health Insurance?
Generally speaking, digital nomads are not under any obligation to have travel insurance. However, many factors affect this decision.
For one, it’s always recommended to have insurance whenever you’re staying in another country, whether temporary or long-term, to cover your medical costs. Most importantly, if you’re applying for a digital nomad visa, you will most likely need to show proof of insurance during the visa application process.
In some countries, medical care can be costly, and without insurance, they have to pay for healthcare out of pocket. Especially if a worst-case scenario happens and someone requires emergency transportation to their home, they won’t have to pay for the service as long as they have health insurance.
Did you know that some digital nomads work and travel without any type of health insurance?
We do not recommend having no insurance at all for the following reasons:
- You have to shoulder the costs of any medical service you need by yourself, which in some countries can be very expensive.
- You are solely responsible for keeping track of all your medical records and examinations.
- If you ever need emergency treatment or evacuation to your country, you must pay the costs yourself, which start from $10,000 and up.
One Reddit user shared their experience: I had travel insurance for one year when I first started traveling and then thought, “what a waste of money, I never use it and health care is always cheap where I am”. Traveled without for a few years and then had an accident in Thailand and whelp, desperately wished I had freaking insurance.
Can Digital Nomads Use Travel Insurance Instead of Health Insurance?
Digital nomads can use a basic travel insurance plan if they plan on working abroad for a short period. Travel insurance mainly covers travel-related losses but offers additional medical coverage for emergencies.Using travel insurance for short periods is okay, but long term, it can be costly and very limited in terms of medical coverage.
Redditor: Health insurance is definitely what you need if you are traveling long-term or living in another country. Travel insurance is only meant to cover emergencies for shorter trips.
How Do I Choose My Insurance?
Although we recommend international health insurnace, most digital nomads opt for travel insurance instead, mostly because it’s cheaper and easier to purchase, but how to determine which option to go for?
We’ve prepared a comprehensive checklist to help you decide:
If you checked more questions than you left unchecked, then you should consider purchasing international health insurance instead of travel insurance meanwhile, if you left most of the questions unchecked then travel health insurance may be the better option for you.
If you have an equal number of checked and unchecked answers, both options could be beneficial. Your choice should depend on your travel plans, destinations, and health condition.
Another digital nomad on Reddit noted: I think I’m considering it (international health insurnace) more now that I’m mid 30s and developing gut issues and seeing friends blow their knees out playing padel tennis than I did when I was younger. I imagine it would be even more attractive in your 40s, 50s and above.
What Are the Best Health Insurance Plans for Digital Nomads?
Here’s a comparison between some of the most preferable insurance plans among digital nomads:
| World Nomad | Safety Wing | Axa | Genki |
| Plan type: Travel medical insurance | Plan type: Travel medical insurance | Plan type: International health insurance | Plan type: Both options |
| Cost: Starting from $400 and up. | Cost: Starting from $50 and up. | Cost: Starting from $200 and up. | Cost: Between $40 and $200 |
| Benefits: Includes the basic benefits of a standard travel insurance plan. | Benefits: Includes the basic benefits of a standard travel insurance plan. | Benefits: The comprehensive plan offers coverage for outpatient needs, chronic conditions, and a wide range of treatments (excludes dental). | Benefits: The travel basic plan offers the basic benefits of a standard travel insurance plan. The international plan offers complete health coverage, including dental. |
| Deductible: Low to no deductible. | Deductible: As high as $200. | Deductible: No to high as $3000 (you select the deductible). | Deductible: Starting from $50 and up, depending on the plan. |
| Why do digital nomads recommend it? It’s a leader in the industry designed by digital nomads for digital nomads. | Why do digital nomads recommend it? It’s one of the cheapest options for digital nomads. Its page is one of the easiest to navigate, and it can be purchased mid-travel. | Why do digital nomads recommend it? It offers detailed health insurance plans for the same price as some travel insurance policies. | Why do digital nomads recommend it? It offers affordable options and includes both travel and international insurance. |
| Why don’t digital nomads recommend it? It’s one of the most expensive travel insurance policies out there. It also has a difficult page to navigate while purchasing. | Why don’t digital nomads recommend it? It has one of the highest deductibles. | Why don’t digital nomads recommend it? It does not offer the option to include travel insurance in addition to the health insurance plan. | Why don’t digital nomads recommend it? It’s fairly new to the industry and some benefits are not included yet. |
Digital Nomad Health Insurance Cost
Health insurance plans for digital nomads range between $40 and over $500 per month, depending on whether you choose travel health insurance or international insurance.
Usually, the fewer benefits, the cheaper the plan. But keep in mind that expensive doesn’t mean better. It all depends on what you, as a digital nomad, need to have covered during your work.
How to Save Money on Insurance as a Digital Nomad?
Here are some tips to help you save on your health insurance as a digital nomad:
- Get insurance only for where you will be traveling.
- Buy extra benefits only if you need them, e.g., coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- Set a higher deductible if you can.
- See if you qualify for state-funded insurance in your current country and put those services to use. In turn, use your insurance only for benefits that are not offered to digital nomads.
- Opt for travel insurance instead of global health insurance if you will be traveling as a digital nomad short-term.
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