When you are close to a heart attack – international private insurance review 2023

Being a digital nomad isn’t an easy lifestyle. It’s not that it’s especially difficult but it’s a much more complex lifestyle than most people enjoy. Living on one continent and working on another plays havoc with your quality of life. It makes it next to impossible to hold down a local insurance plan and that can get very expensive, very fast. Paying for medical care and prescriptions can easily cost the average person thousands of dollars and it doesn’t matter where you happen to live.

That’s why it’s so important to find a company that understands your lifestyle and can give you quality insurance that will keep you safe and healthy for your entire career. Getting private insurance for 2023 should be at the top of your priority list and it makes sense to use the best possible company.
SafetyWing consistently proves itself to be the top international private insurance company and this review will make it obvious why. On top of that, you can become a SafetyWing Ambassador and get a $100 bonus for signing up with this referral link and making the first qualifying referral. Here’s an honest review to show you the facts you need to know!

What is a Digital Nomad?

The first step is to define what a digital nomad is and why insurance is such a big deal to them. You might be surprised that you’re one of them and it will suddenly make sense as to why staying healthy can be such a challenge. A digital nomad is a person who works remotely so they can travel to different locations without having to worry about making money. Their job is with them wherever they go, as long as they have a computer and internet access.

This is where insurance immediately becomes a problem. Digital nomads will often find themselves living in one country while working in another. Most countries they call home will be unable to provide them with insurance because they don’t work within that country’s borders. It’s the same problem with the countries where they work. Since digital nomads don’t live in those countries, it’s impossible for them to get insurance. That’s when a private insurance company that provides international coverage comes into play. It can mean the difference between massive medical bills that bankrupt you and having the health you need to be able to enjoy the travel you love.

Introduction to SafetyWing

SafetyWing got its start in 2018 and quickly emerged as one of the most popular insurance providers in the world. They’re a Norwegian start up but they’re based in California. That means they’re run by nomads, so they know exactly what other nomads need in their insurance. There are few instances when a nomad needs insurance that one of the SafetyWing crew hasn’t been through on their own and that makes all the difference. It’s a nomad insurance company that covers other nomads. It works as the best overall insurance provider, and you don’t have to be a nomad in order to get it. It’s open to anyone who needs an insurance option that they can afford, no matter where they live or what they do for work. That makes SafetyWing a great option for the person with conventional insurance options that just don’t work for them. It’s as affordable as it can get and you’ll have the insurance you need, whether it’s for emergency care or your regular prescriptions that are prohibitively expensive to refill monthly.

Standard Coverage Costs

SafetyWing breaks down their insurance costs by age to make it easy to find out what you’d have to pay. Each option is billed in four-week increments. All amounts are in USD, unless otherwise specified. Four weeks are equal to 28 days, at which point your insurance will automatically renew until you decide to cancel it. Basic coverage for people between the ages of 10 and 39 can expect to pay $45.08 for four weeks with a $250 deductible. The next tier is for people between the ages of 40 and 49. That age group can expect to pay $73.92 for each four-week cycle. After that is the 50-59 year old age bracket. That one is a little more expensive at $115.92 for 28 days of coverage. After that is a smaller age bracket for men and women between the ages of 60 and 64. This group can expect to pay a premium of $157.36 with a $250 deductible and maximum limit of $250,000. The final age bracket is another range of five years for people between the ages of 65 and 69. That final bracket is going to come with the same premium of $157.36 and has the same range of deductibles.

What SafetyWing Includes

The basic Nomad plan offered by SafetyWing includes plenty of coverage for most of the things you’d need on your travels. They make sure that you’re not just covered for medical expenses, but also travel interruption expenses. You’ll be entitled to up to $250,000 in emergency medical care coverage. You also get up to $1,000 in emergency dental care for your journey. They also give you up to $1,000 for medical evaluations. If the worst happens, you’ll be entitled to a maximum range of between $12,500 and $25,000 for death or dismemberment. Then your family can claim up to $20,000 for repatriation of your remains. The coverage you’re getting through SafetyWing is also explained in practical terms. Any hospital stay you incur will come with both room and nursing services while you’re there. You also get intensive care coverage, ambulance coverage, and urgent care charges. Physical therapy and chiropractic care is also covered up to $50 per day, if it’s ordered by a physician. All other eligible medical expenses will be covered up the maximum amount of $250,000.

Non-Medical Coverage

What makes SafetyWing one of the best insurance options you can choose is the fact that they offer non-medical insurance side by side with medical. You’ll still pay just one rate but be covered for many travel problems that you can’t control. You’ll be entitled to a maximum of $10,000 for an evacuation due to political upheaval in the country you’re visiting. You’ll also be entitled to a maximum of $5,000 for any interruption to your travels abroad. Finally, you can get up to $200 for a travel delay that leaves you unable to make reservations or earn money.

There are some additional coverage points that can cover you through the most common travel interruptions. SafetyWing will cover you up to $3,000 per certificate period, up to $500 per item, and up to a $6,000 lifetime limit with no deductible for lost checked luggage. You’ll also get coverage up to $100 per day for up to five days if you need to find a new place to stay after a natural disaster strikes the original area you had reserved. Finally, you’ll be granted coverage up to $100,000 for a medical emergency evacuation, which is not subject to a deductible or the overall maximum limit.

What SafetyWing Doesn’t Cover

With so much coverage being offered to you, it’s difficult to imagine any scenario where you wouldn’t be able to depend on them. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that SafetyWing is the best overall coverage that you can get. But there will be some instances where your coverage won’t be sufficient. However, these situations are things that most people won’t have to deal with. If they’re a concern for you then it will be in your best interests to seek out additional insurance coverage for them while you travel.

These non-covered medical situations include alcohol or drug related emergencies while you’re on your trip. Extreme sports and adventure are also included on this list of non-covered expenses. That means that injuries due to rugby, boxing, parasailing, whitewater rafting, parachuting, bungee jumping, and other high-risk activities won’t be covered by SafetyWing. Pre-existing conditions and regular checkups will have to come out of your own pocket, as well as some other medical expenses. When it comes to general travel coverage, you can’t expect to be covered for any trip cancellation that comes from you. You’ll also be on the hook for any lost or stolen cash along the way.

Understanding Deductibles

The one thing that probably stands out to you is the fact that SafetyWing has a large deductible that you rarely see with travel insurance. While most companies offer $0 deductible plans, they also come at a higher monthly charge. That’s where SafetyWing becomes your best option while you travel. They’re there for the big expenses that the other companies won’t be there to cover. If you want a lower premium for your insurance while knowing that the biggest expenses will be covered, this is the company that you want to use.

The standard deductible is $250 and that’s pretty much the same across the board. Most of your expenses will come with the same deductable, so you can expect to pay that amount while SafetyWing takes care of the rest. That’s a huge benefit when your medical or travel expenses come to thousands of dollars that you’d otherwise have to pay. If, however, your expenses are low, you’ll be paying for most of it on top of your monthly premium. It depends on who you are and where you’re traveling, but it will work for most people out there.

Filing a Claim

One more thing to keep in mind is that it might take some time before you get the money you need to cover your expenses. If you’re used to using domestic insurance that automatically covers your medical costs, travel insurance is going to come as a surprise. You’ll have to file a claim with them before you get your coverage. That means that sometimes you’ll have to pay the initial amount and get reimbursed for it afterward. That can sometimes be a challenge but the process of filing a claim is very easy and there are few reviews that complain about it.

SafetyWing has an online portal that you can use 24 hours a day. They’ll let you know the steps required and all you must do is upload the documents they need. The types of documents will depend on the type of coverage you’re seeking and whether it’s medical or travel related. Once it’s all uploaded, all you have to do is wait. The customer service they have is above average and you’ll know what’s going on every step of the way. That’s why there are so few complaints that you can find in their reviews.

Use SafetyWing as an Inexpensive Insurance Option

If you’re looking for an inexpensive insurance option, then you can’t go wrong with SafetyWing. They have great general coverage, and the premium is lower than the majority of policies that you’ll come across. You’re getting both medical and travel insurance in the same package and that’s another reason that it can be the solution you’ve always needed. The only thing to keep in mind is the $250 USD deduction that you’ll have to cover. SafetyWing is there for the major expenses, and they do a great job of covering them for all of their clients.

The procedure of filing a claim is incredibly easy and you can use document scans, screenshots, or photos to upload your information. Once that’s done, you just have to wait for the coverage money to be disbursed. The customer service is great, and you’ll be covered in every county on the planet, excluding Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. If you’ll be traveling for a long period of time, then your coverage will automatically renew at the end of 28 days until you cancel it. If you plan on traveling, then SafetyWing is your best bet for great overall insurance coverage.