Based on our research and comprehensive travel insurance rating methodology, we at the MarketWatch Guides team found that World Nomads, Travelex, Seven Corners, IMG and AIG Travel Guard offer the best travel insurance options for digital nomads.
Remote work can afford some people the opportunity to travel while working abroad. In this article, we’ll closely examine our picks for the best travel insurance plans for digital nomads or remote employees who travel and work in various locations.
The Best Travel Insurance Plans for Nomads
After conducting extensive research on travel insurance policies for digital nomads, we’ve chosen the following plans as our top picks.
- World Nomads: Explorer Plan
- Travelex: Travel Select
- Seven Corners: Backpacker
- International Medical Group (IMG): Patriot International Platinum
- AIG Travel Guard: Annual Plan
World Nomads
Best for adventure travelers
3.9
Our Review
Recommended policyExplorer PlanAverage annual cost$669
Why We Picked World Nomads
Based on our review, World Nomads travel insurance may be worth considering if you’re an adventurous digital nomad. The provider covers over 150 adventure activities and sports through its Explorer Plan, such as skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping and more. This type of coverage is rarely included as standard through travel insurance policies.
Policies through World Nomads last up to 180 days and will require purchasing an extension every six months if you plan to travel beyond that timeframe. However, you can buy your insurance post-departure, meaning if you’re already a digital nomad abroad, you can decide on coverage anytime. The Explorer Plan offers $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 for emergency evacuations. It also provides $3,000 in coverage for the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech or sports gear.
Pros and Cons
Pros Covers over 150 adventure activities and sports Protects tech and sports gear with $3,000 in coverage Covers rental car damage through the Explorer Plan Cons Pricier than other providers we gathered quotes for in our review Plans do not last more than 180 days No cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage
Coverage and Costs
Coverage
The World Nomads Explorer Plan offers the following coverages:
- Medical emergency
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
- Trip interruption and cancellation
- Baggage and personal effects
- Trip and baggage delay
- Rental car damage
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- 24-hour emergency assistance services
Exclusions include but are not limited to:
- Medical bills related to a pre-existing condition
- Non-emergency medical treatments
- Items with no record of purchase
- Accidents that occur while intoxicated
Cost
To better understand the cost of a World Nomads policy, we gathered quotes for a 30-year-old digital nomad traveling to multiple countries, including Germany, Italy and Spain, over 180 days. Based on our quote, the traveler could pay $548 for the Standard Plan and $788 for the Explorer Plan.
Both the Standard and Explorer plans are more expensive than other providers we quoted using the same traveler profile. However, some may find the cost worth it due to the extensive sports and activity coverage.
Travelex
Best for budget travelers
4.7
Our Review
Recommended policyTravel SelectAverage annual cost$441
Why We Picked Travelex
Travelex offers long-term insurance coverage suitable for digital nomads with its Travel Select plan. This policy lasts up to a year and offers various add-ons such as additional medical expense coverage, an adventure sports rider, car rental collision coverage, CFAR coverage and more.
The Travel Select plan also provides coverage to all children under 17 traveling with you, a potential benefit for digital nomads with kids. Travelex provides $50,000 in emergency medical expense coverage and $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, but you can increase limits for an additional cost. You can also qualify for a pre-existing medical condition waiver if you purchase this plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
Pros and Cons
Pros Offers an adventure sports waiver Includes children in plan pricing Coverage lasts for up to a year Cons Travel Select plan caps medical expense coverage at $50,000 Having a pre-existing condition waiver drops your trip interruption coverage from 150% to 100%
Coverage and Costs
Coverage
Travelex’s Travel Select plan offers the following coverages and more:
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Baggage and travel delay
- Emergency medical
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Baggage and personal effects
- Sporting equipment delay
- 24/7 travel assistance
Exclusions with this plan include but are not limited to:
- War or acts of war
- Adventure sports (unless a waiver is purchased)
- Intentionally self-inflicted injuries
- Normal pregnancy and childbirth
Cost
Our research team gathered a quote from Travelex for a 30-year-old digital nomad spending a year in Spain. The company also asked how much the traveler spent on non-refundable expenses, which we estimated around $10,000. Based on this quote, we found our sample traveler could pay around $441 for a Travel Select Plan.
The Travel Select plan is Travelex’s only plan available to nomads looking to spend up to a year abroad. While coverage costs less than Seven Corners and World Nomads, Travelex provides a lower base medical coverage limit of $50,000.
Seven Corners Travel Insurance
Best for visitors to the USA
4.5
Our Review
Recommended policyBackpackerAverage annual cost$574
Why We Picked Seven Corners
Seven Corners offers a Backpacker plan that can cover digital nomads traveling through multiple countries for up to a year. This plan focuses more on medical coverage while abroad, offering coverage for emergency medical events and physician visits. The Backpacker plan allows you to choose a variety of deductibles that can lower your total plan costs. In addition, it offers $25,000 in coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
If you plan on participating in adventure activities during your travels, Seven Corners offers an optional rider that covers scuba diving, zip lining, sky diving and more. Note that if you’re traveling to an area where motorcycles, scooters or other similar transportation methods are considered standard and for hire, you must purchase this optional coverage.
Pros and Cons
Pros Includes physician office visits under medical coverage Allows you to choose your deductible Provides various evacuation coverages Cons Only covers up to $25,000 for acute onset of pre-existing conditions No trip cancellation coverage
Coverage and Costs
Coverage
Seven Corners offers the following coverage and more with its Backpacker plan:
- COVID-19 coverage
- Medical coverage
- Evacuation coverage due to a medical, political or natural disaster
- Burial or cremation
- Trip interruption
Exclusions from coverage include but are not limited to:
- Medical tourism
- Quarantine expenses
- Medical bills resulting from self-harm
- Terrorist activity and war
Cost
To better understand the cost of a travel insurance policy from Seven Corners, we gathered a quote for a 30-year-old digital nomad traveling to multiple countries over a year. Based on this quote, our sample traveler could pay $573 for a Backpacker plan.
A Seven Corners Backpacker plan costs more than Travelex’s Travel Select plan but less than World Nomads’ Explorer plan. However, note coverage varies between the plans. With World Nomads, you’re paying for extensive adventure activity coverage. Travelex costs less but comes with less medical coverage than Seven Corners.
International Medical Group
Best for medical coverage
4.4
Our Review
Recommended policyPatriot International PlatinumAverage annual cost$684
Why We Picked IMG
International Medical Group (IMG) offers travel medical and international health insurance plans. Long-term digital nomads looking for annually renewable medical coverage may benefit from IMG’s Patriot International Platinum plan. With protection extending up to $8 million in coverage, this plan provides renewable travel medical benefits for up to 36 months.
Optional coverage under the Patriot International Platinum policy includes enhanced accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), device protection and adventure sports riders. IMG also offers acute onset of pre-existing condition coverage, but maximum coverage limits vary by age.
Pros and Cons
Pros Medical coverage extends up to $8 million Renewable plans of up to 36 months Offers adventure sports coverage Cons Limited standard travel insurance benefits, such as trip cancellation and delay coverage Only covers acute onset pre-existing conditions
Coverage and Costs
Coverage
IMG’s Patriot International Platinum plan covers the following and more:
- Medical coverage
- Emergency dental
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Political and natural disaster evacuation
- Return travel benefits
- Lost luggage
- Small pet common air carrier accidental death
Exclusions from this plan include but are not limited to:
- War or military action
- Terrorism
- Pre-existing conditions
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental or nervous disorders
- Preventative care
Cost
To find out how much IMG’s Patriot International Platinum plan could cost, we obtained a quote for a 30-year-old digital nomad living abroad in Spain for a year. Based on this quote, our team found that this traveler could pay $684 for this plan.
When comparing quotes across providers, we found that IMG is more expensive than Seven Corners and Travelex but provides higher policy maximums for medical expenses. However, if you choose a higher deductible than we did, your costs may end up being less.
AIG Travel Guard
Best for families
4.6
Our Review
Recommended policyAnnual PlanAverage annual cost$259
Why We Picked AIG
AIG Travel Guard offers its Annual Plan to cover year-round travel to multiple destinations, which could benefit a digital nomad. This policy provides both medical coverage and travel benefits such as trip interruption, trip delay and missed connection coverage. You can purchase this policy up to 24 hours before departing for your trip, making it worth consideration for nomads looking for last-minute coverage.
The Annual Plan covers $50,000 in travel medical expenses, $500,000 in emergency evacuation and up to $2,500 in baggage coverage. AIG offers up to 100% in trip interruption coverage, but note there is a maximum of $2,500 for this benefit. With rates of around $260 based on our quote process, a digital nomad looking for coverage on a budget may find AIG’s plan worth purchasing.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cheaper than other providers, based on our research Offers both medical and security evacuation coverage Provides trip delay and missed connection protection Cons No additional add-on coverages available No pre-existing condition coverage
Coverage and Costs
Coverage:
AIG Travel Guard’s Annual Plan provides the following coverage:
- Trip interruption and delay
- Travel medical
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
- Non-flight AD&D
- Baggage coverage and delay
- Missed connection
- Security evacuation
General exclusions from an Annual Plan include:
- War and acts of war
- Participation in a riot
- Intoxication above the legal limit at time of loss
Cost:
AIG Travel Guard only asked for our state of residence, plan start date and number of travelers when gathering a quote for the Annual Plan. After providing this information, we found that this plan could cost our sample traveler $259.
Our team found that AIG Travel Guard offered the cheapest plan of all the providers we gathered quotes for in this review. However, the cheapest may not necessarily mean the best coverage for your needs. We encourage you to compare not only the costs of plans suited for digital nomads but also the coverage.
Travel Insurance vs. Health Insurance for Digital Nomads
Digital nomads may have different insurance needs based on their travel styles. A comprehensive annual travel insurance policy may work for some, while a travel medical policy would better suit others. Your ideal plan depends on your circ*mstances and what you want to protect while traveling.
Annual travel insurance covers multiple trips within a year and can provide travel and medical benefits. An annual, multi-trip policy may work for digital nomads who travel to multiple countries for short periods while returning to a home base between trips.
Travel medical policies could benefit digital nomads residing overseas long-term under a digital nomad-specific visa. Iceland, Croatia, Costa Rica, Spain and more offer visas that allow digital nomads to reside within the country for a specified amount of time. However, these countries may ask you to provide proof of medical insurance that covers you while abroad. Note that U.S.-based health insurance does not always extend abroad. Because travel medical insurance can act as a primary healthcare plan during your travels, it may satisfy the health insurance requirements of various countries welcoming digital nomads.
Compare Digital Nomad Travel Insurance Plans
See the table below for a direct comparison between providers and our recommended plans. The best way to determine how much these plans may cost you is to obtain a free quote from each company.
| Provider | Recommended Plan | Cost | Medical and Evacuation Coverage | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Plan | $788 | $100,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Travel Select | $441 | $50,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Backpacker | $573 | $100,000/$50,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Patriot International Platinum | $684 | $2 million | EXPLORE PLANS | |
| Annual Plan | $259 | $50,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Provider | Recommended Plan | Cost | Medical and Evacuation Coverage | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Plan | $788 | $100,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Travel Select | $441 | $50,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Backpacker | $573 | $100,000/$50,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Patriot International Platinum | $684 | $2 million | EXPLORE PLANS | |
| Annual Plan | $259 | $50,000/$500,000 | EXPLORE PLANS |
How Much Is Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads?
Based on the quotes gathered by our research team, we found the average cost of a travel insurance plan for a digital nomad is $549. We based our data on quotes gathered for a 30-year-old digital nomad traveling to multiple countries or staying in Spain for a year, depending on the plan.
Travel insurance for digital nomads may cost more than a travel insurance plan for a single vacation or short-term trip, according to our research. After gathering quotes from 20 providers using seven different sample traveler profiles, we found the average cost of a single-trip travel insurance policy is $221. This makes a travel insurance plan for digital nomads more than double the cost of a standard policy for single trips. Note that the exact cost of your plan will depend on factors such as your age, travel duration, destination and more. We recommend obtaining a quote from each company in this review to determine how much coverage could cost you.
How Should Digital Nomads Choose a Travel Insurance Plan?
Choosing a travel insurance policy does not need to feel complicated. However, there are several things to consider as a digital nomad when selecting a travel insurance plan.
Compare Coverage and Costs
We do not recommend settling on the first plan you come across. Comparing coverage and costs across multiple providers can help you better gauge what fits your budget best. When researching, we also encourage you to consider a travel insurance company’s industry reputation and customer reviews. Look at reviews from sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot to understand how a company handles its claims process and treats policyholders.
Consider Your Travel Style
There are many different types of digital nomads. Some may travel for extended periods across multiple countries. Others may stay in one place for up to a year or take short trips while returning to a home base for a set period. How you travel will affect what kind of travel insurance policy is best to purchase, so being realistic and honest about your travel style can help you choose the right plan.
Address Your Unique Needs
Every digital nomad is different. Some may be more concerned with trip protection, while others deem medical and evacuation coverage most important. Take the time to think about what is most important for your needs. For example, if you’re a digital nomad dealing with a medical issue deemed a pre-existing condition, consider a travel insurance plan that provides a pre-existing medical condition waiver.
Does a Digital Nomad Need Travel Insurance?
Deciding if you need travel insurance coverage is a decision only you can make. However, our research has found there are benefits to investing in travel insurance as a digital nomad. If you plan on taking multiple trips within a year or working abroad for short periods, an annual travel insurance plan can offer financial protection if you need to cancel a trip or experience an interruption. A plan with emergency medical coverage can help cover medical bills related to accidents or unforeseen health issues.
Think about whether you’re willing to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare during your travels as a digital nomad. Also, consider if recouping any non-refundable travel expenses in the event of a cancellation or interruption is important to you. Asking these questions can help you decide whether you need a travel insurance policy.
Is Travel Insurance Worth It For Digital Nomads?
Travel insurance can be worth it for digital nomads spending any amount of time abroad. If you travel to multiple countries as a nomad, a travel insurance plan with trip protection can offer financial coverage if you lose your baggage, experience a delay or miss a flight connection. Plans with medical expense coverage can help offset potentially costly medical bills if you end up injured or sick while abroad.
While purchasing a travel insurance plan is a personal decision, we encourage you to gather free quotes from multiple providers when deciding on a policy. This way, you can find coverage that fits your unique needs as a digital nomad.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance for Nomads
The insurance needs of a digital nomad vary from person to person. If you take multiple trips abroad annually and want to protect non-refundable travel expenses, consider a plan with generous trip protection limits. Whereas a plan with high emergency medical coverage may be ideal if you’re more concerned about your health or accidents abroad.
The cost of a digital nomad health insurance policy will depend on factors such as age, travel destinations, time spent abroad, coverage amounts and more. We encourage you to gather free quotes from multiple providers to learn how much a policy will cost you.
Common exclusions found on travel insurance policies include reasonably foreseeable events such as named storms, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy and childbirth, acts of war, extreme sports or activities, and more. You can consult your travel insurance policy to learn more about specific exclusions and limitations.
Some travel insurance policies may cover digital nomads within their home country. However, coverage varies by both provider and plan. Note that travel insurance is not a substitute for a domestic health care plan —it instead offers emergency coverage while you are traveling. Carefully read through a provider’s coverage terms and conditions to learn if it will cover you in your home country and abroad.
Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies
Our team surveyed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company based on coverage, quality and service. We also collected sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating providers:
- Cost (10%): To determine a baseline average travel insurance cost, we gathered quotes from each travel insurance company based on different traveler profiles. Travel insurance companies at or below our calculated average cost of $221 earn full points in this category. Specifically, we obtained quotes for the following trips
- A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
- A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
- A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
- A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
- A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
- A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
- A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
- Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
- Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
- Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursem*nt amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursem*nt after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
- Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.
A.M. Best Disclaimer
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