Many nomads think the cheap “good‑enough” policies you see at airport kiosks or on credit‑card perks are fine. That belief is risky for three reasons:
1. Myth 1 – “Standard travel insurance covers everything I need.”
Reality: Most baseline policies cap medical refunds at $100 k and leave out evacuation, which alone can cost **$100 k+**.
2. Myth 2 – “I only need insurance on a vacation.”
Reality: Digital nomads live months in one country. That blurs vacation and residence. Short‑term plans drop after 30 days, creating big gaps.
3. Myth 3 – “Cheapest policies are fine for high‑risk stuff.”
Reality: Sports like surfing, kite‑boarding or mountain trekking are normally excluded unless you buy a rider. The “cheapest” option can end up costing you more later.
Bottom line: A single serious injury abroad can cost $50 k+. An emergency air‑lift can go past $100 k. Compared to a $40/month plan with $1 M coverage, the math is clear: robust, nomad‑centric insurance is non‑negotiable.
- Price: $40 USD/month (annual discount possible).
- Coverage Highlights:
- Up to $1 M global medical reimbursement.
- Emergency evacuation up to $250 k.
- Unlimited tele‑health sessions.
- Optional “extreme‑sport” add‑on (+$10/month) for surfing, climbing, kite‑boarding.
- Best‑for: Solo freelancers and solo‑traveling creators who want an affordable, renewable policy that follows them anywhere.
- Price: $399 USD/year (about $33 month).
- Coverage Highlights:
- $2 M worldwide medical limit.
- Evacuation & repatriation up to $500 k.
- 24/7 multilingual support line.
- Family rider for extra $100/year, covering spouses and kids.
- Best‑for: Couples or tiny families seeking a low annual rate with generous medical and evacuation caps.
- Price: Starts at $150 USD for 12 months (varies by country).
- Coverage Highlights:
- Medical expense limit $5 M.
- Full “adventure sports” cover (scuba, snow‑boarding, paragliding) with no extra rider.
- Trip cancellation & interruption up to $25 k.
- Best‑for: Adventurers who do high‑risk sports often and need broad sport protection.
- Price: $250 USD per year for “Premium Plus”.
- Coverage Highlights:
- Medical limit $10 M.
- Evacuation up to $1 M.
- Wellness $500 yearly for mental‑health or preventive care.
- Gear‑loss guard up to $3 k for laptops, cameras, etc.
- Best‑for: Remote executives with high earnings who want top medical limits and extra perks like wellness credits.
- Price: $199 USD/year (Patriot Lite) or $349 USD/year (Global Medical).
- Coverage Highlights:
- Patriot Lite: $1 M medical, evacuation $250 k.
- Global Medical: $5 M medical, unlimited evacuation.
- Both include tele‑health and a 24‑hour multilingual hotline.
- Best‑for: US expats and long‑term travelers needing a plan that meets visa‑related health‑insurance rules.
- Price: $400 USD/year for “Select” (individual); family add‑on $150 USD each.
- Coverage Highlights:
- Unlimited worldwide medical (no caps).
- Direct‑pay hospital network in >190 countries.
- Mental‑health allowance $1 k per year.
- Optional “premium wellness” +$200 for fitness‑class stipend.
- Best‑for: Families and nomads who want unlimited medical access and solid mental‑health support.
- Price: Starts at $1,200 USD/year for a single person; families from $2,400 USD/year.
- Coverage Highlights:
- Unlimited medical coverage; no deductible.
- Evacuation & repatriation up to $3 M.
- Annual wellness $1,000 for gym, nutrition, tele‑psychiatry.
- Dedicated case manager for each member.
- Best‑for: High‑earning remote execs and expats who demand a concierge‑level health experience.
- Price: $1,500 USD/year (single); $3,000 USD/year (family).
- **Coverage Highlights:
- Medical limit $10 M.
- Unlimited emergency evacuation.
- “Digital‑Nomad Add‑On” covering equipment loss up to $5 k and liability for remote‑work.
- 24/7 multilingual tele‑health with AI triage.
- **Best‑for:** Freelancers and consultants who jet across continents and need both health and business‑continuity protection.
- Price: $1,750 USD/year for an individual; family adds $2,500 USD.
- Coverage Highlights:
- Medical reimbursement $8 M.
- Evacuation & repatriation $2 M.
- Mental‑health sessions $1,500 per year.
- Optional “extreme‑sport” module +$200 yearly.
- Best‑for: Nomads with a modest appetite for adventure (occasional mountain trekking) but who still want high medical limits.
- Price: $2,000 USD/year for single coverage; families from $3,500 USD/year.
- Coverage Highlights:
- Unlimited worldwide medical.
- Evacuation & repatriation with no caps.
- Integrated wellness portal – nutrition coaching, fitness‑tracker sync, unlimited tele‑health.
- “Peace‑of‑mind” guarantee: if a claim is denied, Aetna pays for a comparable policy the rest of the year.
- Best‑for: Senior executives and senior‑level remote workers who expect a seamless, premium health service without hidden limits.
Match yourself to one of three typical nomad profiles:
1. The Solo Freelancer – works from cafés, short‑term rentals, or co‑living spaces. Travels alone and prefers flexibility over long contracts.
2. The Adventure Seeker – does high‑adrenaline sports (surfing, climbing, ski touring). Changes destinations often; needs sport‑riders.
3. The Family/Expat – moves for months or years with a partner or kids. Wants unlimited medical caps, family riders, visa‑compliant policies.
Write down a quick checklist that reflects your daily reality and your hopes:
- Global medical coverage (minimum $1 M).
- Emergency evacuation ($250 k‑$1 M).
- Unlimited tele‑health.
- Mental‑health allowance (yearly credit).
- Extreme‑sport rider (if you surf or climb).
- Gear‑loss or equipment protection (laptop, camera).
- Family rider (spouse/children).
- Wellness allowance (gym, nutrition).
Build a simple table or spreadsheet that lines each plan up on three axes: price, medical/evacuation limits, and key extras.
| Plan | Cost (monthly/annual) | Medical Limit | Evacuation Limit | Key Extras |
| SafetyWing | $40 USD/month | $1 M | $250 k | Tele‑health, optional sport rider |
| Insured Nomads | $399 USD/year | $2 M | $500 k | Family rider, 24/7 multilingual help |
| World Nomads | $150 USD/12 months | $5 M | $500 k | Full adventure sports cover |
Seeing the data side‑by‑side makes the trade‑offs obvious. Pick the plan that gives you the right mix of price, protection, and extra perks for your own situation.
Living as a digital nomad means staying agile, staying curious, and staying safe. The confidence to keep moving only comes when you have the right insurance backing you. Book a free consult today and travel with confidence. Your health, your gear, and your peace of mind are worth the modest spend – because when the unexpected hits, the proper coverage turns a possible disaster into a manageable event, letting you keep exploring the world on your own terms.
