Do I really need insurance for traveling as a digital nomad?
Yes, even if you’re young and healthy, having insurance as a digital nomad is essential. Living abroad comes with more variables than a short holiday: accidents, food poisoning, infections, or even routine check-ups can quickly turn into high, unpredictable costs when you’re far from home.
Budget-friendly nomad insurance makes sure you’re protected for emergencies, hospital stays, and evacuations, but also for the small, common things like doctor’s visits or prescription medications. Without it, a single scooter accident, infected reef cut or food poisoning could wipe out months of savings.
Unlike local health insurance, nomad plans are designed for people who move between countries, don’t have residency, and need flexible monthly coverage. That means you’re covered across borders and can usually pause or cancel when you’re not traveling.
💡 Bottom line: If you plan to live and work abroad for more than a few weeks, travel health insurance isn’t optional. It’s your financial safety net.
How do I choose the best cheap digital nomad insurance?
The right cheap digital nomad insurance depends on your monthly budget, deductible tolerance, and how often you’ll use healthcare abroad. When you’re choosing a budget-friendly insurance plan, the monthly price is only part of the story. Two policies might look similar at first, but the deductible, coverage limits, and how you actually use healthcare abroad can make one far more affordable in practice.
- Monthly price: What you’ll pay upfront each month. SafetyWing has the lowest entry cost, while Genki is slightly higher.
- Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance takes over. SafetyWing has no deductible, while Genki charges €50 per case (none for inpatient).
- Coverage limits: Look at the maximum payout for medical care, emergency evacuation, and hospital stays. For long-term travelers, higher limits mean fewer financial risks.
- Flexibility: Can you pause or cancel the plan easily? Both Genki and SafetyWing allow monthly payments, making them more flexible than traditional long-term travel insurance.
The cheapest option on paper isn’t always the cheapest in practice. If you expect to need a doctor even once or twice during your trip, it’s worth looking beyond the monthly price. Genki’s €50 deductible means you pay a little out of pocket, while SafetyWing covers eligible costs right away.
Key takeaway: Compare insurance by total cost of care, not just the cheaper price,especially if you’re a long-term traveler or plan activities with higher injury risk like surfing, hiking or diving.
Overview
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (Essential) is one of the most affordable ways for digital nomads to get global coverage. At around $56 per 4 weeks (roughly $60/month) for travelers aged 18–39, it keeps monthly costs low and lets you sign up, cancel, or pause entirely online, perfect for flexible travel schedules.
What’s included in SafetyWing
- Medical emergencies: Hospitalization, surgeries, doctor visits, diagnostics, prescriptions (up to 60 days per script), and outpatient treatment.
- Emergency evacuation & transport: Up to $100,000 lifetime for evacuation, or $25,000 if linked to a pre-existing emergency. Includes air ambulance when necessary.
- Return ticket home: One-way flight home covered up to $5,000 if medically required.
- Repatriation: Return of mortal remains included.
- Additional benefits:
- $100 per night hospital cash allowance.
- Emergency dental care (up to $1,000 if treated within 72 hours).
- Physical therapy/chiropractic (up to 3 visits per injury).
- Lost luggage coverage (up to $3,000 per policy period, max $500 per item, $6,000 lifetime).
- Natural disaster lodging and civil unrest evacuation.
- Child return, pet return, death benefits, and personal liability coverage (up to $25,000 lifetime).
Key numbers to know
- Monthly cost: ~$56 per 4 weeks (~$60/month)
- Deductible: None
- Medical coverage limit: $250,000 per period
- Hospital cash allowance: $100 per night (after the first 30 hours of hospitalization)
- US coverage: Available only with add-on; includes $100 ER / $50 urgent care copays
Pros of SafetyWing
✅ Lowest monthly premium among digital nomad insurance options
✅ Month-to-month flexibility (pause or cancel anytime)
✅ Covers COVID-19 treatment and limited quarantine allowance ($50/day, up to 10 days, once per year)
✅ Includes some travel protections beyond health (lost luggage, civil unrest evacuation, etc.)
✅ Easy digital sign-up and claims process
Cons of SafetyWing
❌ Lower medical coverage limit ($250,000) and lifetime caps on certain benefits
❌ Many exclusions: pre-existing conditions (except acute emergencies), mental health, maternity past 26 weeks, preventive care, elective/cosmetic treatments
❌ Sports coverage limited, need add-on for adventure sports and high-risk activities
❌ US coverage requires an add-on and comes with extra copays
❌ Add-ons (electronics theft, sports, US coverage) can push the price up
When SafetyWing makes sense
- You want the lowest monthly premium possible
- You value flexibility to pause coverage when not traveling
- You need a global plan that includes many regions but don’t mind exclusions for niche cases
Overview
Genki Traveler is built for digital nomads who want more predictable costs. At around €52.50 / $58 per month for ages 18–39, it’s slightly more than SafetyWing on paper, but the key difference is its low €50 deductible per case (and none for inpatient stays). With an overall medical coverage limit of €1,000,000, it offers more protection for serious situations and better value if you expect to use healthcare at least occasionally.
What’s included
- Medical care: Doctor consultations (including telemedicine), examinations (MRI, X-ray, etc.), prescribed procedures, medications, and hospital stays in public or private hospitals (shared room).
- Emergency transport & evacuation: Full medically necessary transport to better-equipped hospitals or back to your home country, including air ambulance.
- Repatriation: Full return transport home in case of serious illness, accident, or death.
- Support services:
- Direct hospital payments for inpatient stays (no need to pay upfront).
- 24/7 emergency assistance and quality control during hospital treatment.
- Family member visit included in life-threatening emergencies (up to €5,000).
- Sports & activities:
- Covered: diving up to 30m (with certification), surfing, skiing/snowboarding (on-piste), paragliding, martial arts training, hiking/trekking up to 4,000m, and regular driving/motorcycling (with safety rules).
- Not covered: glacier travel, off-piste skiing, heli-skiing, big wave surfing, extreme adventure sports, and professional sports.
Key numbers to know
- Monthly cost: ~€52.50 / $58
- Deductible: €50 per case (none for inpatient stays)
- Medical coverage limit: €1,000,000
- Family member visit: €5,000 allowance in emergencies
- Home-country coverage: Emergencies only, within 6 weeks of return, after at least 4 weeks abroad
- Waiting period: 14 days (only emergencies covered in that time unless you were in your home country or insured the day before)
Pros of Genki
✅ Predictable costs with a low €50 deductible per case (none for inpatient stays)
✅ High overall medical coverage limit (€1,000,000)
✅ Direct billing for inpatient care (no need to advance payment)
✅ Broad coverage for sports and activities without add-ons
✅ Transparent, plain-English policy terms
✅ Family support built in (emergency visit allowance)
Cons of Genki
❌ Slightly higher monthly premium than SafetyWing
❌ Excludes preventive care, chronic/pre-existing conditions, and most dental (except accident-related, up to €1,000)
❌ No coverage for mental health or maternity
❌ Eye/ear care, alternative medicine, and cosmetic/elective procedures excluded
❌ Not a replacement for long-term residency or visa insurance in some countries (you may need Genki Native instead)
❌ No travel protections like lost luggage included
When Genki makes sense
- You want peace of mind that smaller claims won’t drain your budget
- You plan to stay abroad long term and want stronger coverage caps
- You’re active outdoors (surfing, skiing, diving, trekking) and want built-in sports coverage
Which is better for cheap digital nomad insurance: SafetyWing or Genki?
When it comes to cheap nomad insurance, the choice often comes down to monthly price, deductible, and coverage limits. Here’s how SafetyWing vs Genki stack up:
- Monthly Price: SafetyWing ≈ $56 per 4 weeks (~$60/month) / Genki ≈ €52.50 ($58) per month
- Deductible: SafetyWing none / Genki €50 per case (none for inpatient)
- Coverage Limit: SafetyWing $250,000 per policy period / Genki €1,000,000 total coverage
- Evacuation & Repatriation: SafetyWing up to $100,000 lifetime (+ $5,000 return ticket) / Genki full medically necessary transport (air ambulance included, no separate cap)
- Hospital Care: SafetyWing semi-private room + $100/night cash allowance / Genki private or public hospitals, direct billing (no upfront payment)
- Sports & Activities: SafetyWing basic sports included, Adventure Sports add-on required for riskier activities / Genki covers surfing, skiing, diving up to 30m, trekking up to 4,000m (extreme/pro sports excluded)
- Extras & Add-Ons: SafetyWing offers electronics, adventure sports, and US coverage add-ons / Genki includes sports but no electronics or liability cover
- Exclusions: Both exclude pre-existing conditions, mental health, preventive & cosmetic care / SafetyWing also excludes most dental & maternity past 26 weeks / Genki excludes dental except accidents (€1,000 cap), maternity, alternative therapies
Choose SafetyWing: if you want the lowest monthly cost and only need coverage for serious emergencies.
Choose Genki: if you’d rather pay a little more each month but save on deductibles, coverage limits, and sports inclusions.
How can I save money on cheap digital nomad insurance?
Even the cheapest nomad insurance adds up over months of travel, so it’s worth knowing how to cut costs without losing essential coverage. Here are a few practical ways to save:
- Match coverage to your trip length: If you’re only abroad for a few months, a monthly rolling plan like SafetyWing may be cheaper. For a year or more, Genki’s flat monthly pricing can save money in the long run.
- Don’t over-insure: Add-ons like adventure sports or electronics are tempting, but only pay for them if you’ll really use them. Otherwise, stick to the essentials.
- **Use your home-country coverage smartly:**Some travelers keep basic insurance at home for preventive care or chronic conditions, and use nomad insurance only for emergencies abroad.
- Take advantage of pause/cancel features: Both Genki and SafetyWing let you stop coverage when you’re not traveling. Pausing during longer stays at home can cut annual costs significantly.
- Consider your deductible tolerance: Genki has a €50 deductible per case, while SafetyWing has none. If you expect to claim even once or twice, factor this into your total yearly cost.
Think in terms of total yearly spend (monthly fee + likely deductibles) not just the sticker price. That’s where the real savings show up.
💡 If you’re traveling in Europe, see our guide to cheap eSIMs in Europe.
Which cheap digital nomad insurance is best for me?
There isn’t one “best” cheap digital nomad insurance, the right choice depends on how you travel and how much medical care you expect to need.
- Choose SafetyWing if you want the absolute lowest monthly cost and mostly need coverage for emergencies. It’s flexible, easy to pause, and simple to use if you’re young, healthy, and don’t expect to see doctors often.
- Choose Genki if you’d rather pay a little more each month to keep out-of-pocket costs low and enjoy broader sports and activity coverage. It’s especially useful if you plan to stay abroad long term, are more active, or just want peace of mind with higher coverage limits.
For many nomads, the difference comes down to budget vs. predictability: SafetyWing keeps your monthly payments minimal, while Genki helps avoid surprise bills later.
If you’re planning to stay abroad for 6+ months, see our full guide to the Best Long-Term Travel Insurance in Southeast Asia, where we compare Genki vs SafetyWing from a long-term perspective.
