We previously wrote about the importance of travel insurance while traveling abroad and if you checked out that article, you know just how important choosing the right travel insurance provider can be. In this article, we’ll try to help you make that choice by providing a SafetyWing review that takes a detailed look at the features of SafetyWing and see how it ranks compared to other travel insurance providers on the market.
Let’s start from the beginning…
What Is SafetyWing?
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that focuses on digital nomads and other types of remote workers. It’s a great option for people who travel a lot and/or extensively or work remotely from different countries. The company is relatively young; it’s been around since 2018 and its mission states that it aims to make healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of where they are in the world. Since its inception, SafetyWing has gained a lot of popularity among digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers, including yours truly and in this article we will try to paint an honest picture of the company its services and its reviews online.
Coverage
Let’s start this SafetyWing review with the most basic thing; the coverage of their plans. SafetyWing offers comprehensive medical coverage for individuals who work remotely from different countries or pass extensive amounts of time abroad. The insurance covers most medical expenses related from illness or injury during traveling, including examinations, hospital stays, and medications. As far as emergencies go, their plans’ coverage covers costs of up to $250,000 per injury or illness, which is usually more than enough.
Moreover, SafetyWing also offers coverage for travel-related incidents, including delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and delayed flights. The cases of travel insurance are handled in collaboration with Tokio Marine, one of the largest insurance companies in the world.
Here is a detailed overview of the coverage provided by SafetyWing.
Medical Coverage
- Hospitalization and medical treatment expenses;
- Outpatient medical expenses such as visits to a doctor or specialist, diagnostic tests, and prescription drugs;
- Emergency medical evacuation to the nearest medical facility;
- Repatriation in case of death;
- Mental health coverage;
- Trip cancellation or interruption due to unforeseen circumstances;
- Baggage loss or delay.
Travel-related Coverage
- Flight delay or cancellation;
- Personal liability coverage;
- Political evacuation coverage (not available for all countries).
Remote Health Coverage
- Non-travel-related medical expenses in your home country;
- Coverage for chronic conditions;
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions after 1 year of uninterrupted coverage.
One thing to note is that they usually don’t provide coverage for high-risk activities such as extreme sports.
Do you like reading travel companies’ reviews? Then you may also want to check out some other reviews, like our Auto Europe review, our 12Go Asia review, or our Busbud review.
What About Pricing?
Of course, this SafetyWing review wouldn’t be complete without sharing a few words about their prices. The basic coverage plan starts at $45 per month and can be purchased on a month-to-month basis, you don’t have to buy it per year (because, again, they mainly focus on remote workers who spend 3-6 months in different countries and are often in different locations every few months). There is no limit on the number of months you can purchase the insurance, and you can cancel anytime without paying a penalty.
For an additional $30 per month, you can add coverage for one travel companion, which is a great option for couples or families who travel together.
SafetyWing also offers a “remote health” option, which provides coverage for non-travel-related medical expenses in your home country, an option that costs an additional $15 per month.
It is important to note that the pricing may vary depending on your age, destination, and other factors but you can check out their pricing calculator to get a personalized quote based on your circumstances.
Ease of Use
One of the best things about SafetyWing is how easy it is to use. You just need to fill a form with your personal info and you’re good to go in under 1 minute. In the next step, you can purchase the insurance online using a credit/debit card, and voila, you’re done.
If you need to make a claim, the process is also straightforward. You can submit a claim online through the SafetyWing website or mobile app, and expect to hear back from them within a few hours.
Customer Support
Customer support is available 24/7 through email or live chat, and they usually respond no later than a few hours based on my few personal interactions with them.
Overall, based on my experience and things I’ve read online, SafetyWing’s customer support is top-notch. At the moment of writing, I haven’t been able to find any serious complains about their customer support or people being left waiting extended periods of time for getting a response and resolving their issues.
How Does The Claims Process Work?
If you need to make a claim, you can do so online through the SafetyWing website or mobile app. All you need to do is provide your basic information alongside information and proof of your medical expense, upload all relevant documents such as receipts or medical records, and submit the claim.
SafetyWing’s claims team reviews the claim and process it within 10 business days. Once your claim is approved, SafetyWing sends the payment either directly to the healthcare provider or service provider, or to your own account if you paid for the expenses out of pocket.
SafetyWing vs Its Main Competitors
This SafetyWing Review couldn’t be complete without comparing it to some of its main competitors. In this section, we’ll briefly compare SafetyWing with SafetyWing, IMG Global, and Cigna Global.
World Nomads
Like SafetyWing, World Nomads offers flexible travel insurance policies that can be customized to fit your specific needs. However, World Nomads tends to be more expensive than SafetyWing, with coverage starting at around $70 per month but on the other hand, it also offers a wider range of coverage options, including coverage for adventure activities and high-risk sports.
IMG Global
IMG Global is another popular insurance provider for expatriates offering a wide range of coverage options. They might have more comprehensive plans but IMG Global tends to be more than twice as expensive as SafetyWing, with coverage starting at around $100 per month.
Cigna Global
Cigna Global is a well-known international health insurance provider. Like SafetyWing, Cigna Global offers comprehensive medical insurance coverage for travelers and expatriates. However, Cigna Global tends to be even more expensive than SafetyWing, with coverage starting at around $150 per month (and more comprehensive plans to be copletely honest but there’s that).
Remote Health by SafetyWing
Remote Health by SafetyWing is a separate insurance product that provides coverage for non-travel-related medical expenses in your home country. This product that is made for remote workers who work in their own countries but do not have access to traditional employer-sponsored health insurance. This product is not offered by most of SafetyWing’s competitors and that’s why I think it deserves a special mention.
SafetyWing Reputation
SafetyWing has a generally positive reputation in the travel insurance industry. Despite its young age, the company has quickly gained popularity and made a name through its simplicity, affordability, and fine customer support. SafetyWing is also known for its commitment to social responsibility. The company donates 10% of its profits to fund global health initiatives through its partner organization, Watsi.
Who Is It For, Who Is It Not For?
We’re nearing the end of this SafetyWing review and it’s about time to summarize who are their packages perfect for and who are they not for.
Overall, SafetyWing is a good choice for:
- Digital Nomads.
- Remote Workers based outside their home country.
- Expats living abroad and looking for a simple, affordable health insurance plan.
- Freelancers who don’t have standard employer-sponsored health insurance.
On the other hand, SafetyWing may not be the best choice for:
- Individuals who require coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.
- Individuals seeking coverage for specific procedures.
- Individuals looking for coverage in their home country.
Pros And Cons
And last but certainly not least, we round up this SafetyWing review with a list of pros and cons of using their services.
Pros
- Affordable– SafetyWing offers some of the most affordable health insurance policies for digital nomads and remote workers.
- Worldwide Coverage– SafetyWing provides coverage worldwide.
- Easy to Sign Up– Signing up and purchasing coverage can be done online in just 2 minutes.
- Flexible Plans– You can choose any duration that suits you.
- Emergency Medical Evacuation– which can be handy for travelers in remote locations.
Cons
- Limited Coverage– SafetyWing’s policies are designed to provide basic coverage.
- No Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions– a disadvantage for individuals with chronic health issues.
- No Dental or Vision Coverage– SafetyWing’s policies do not cover dental care or vision care.
Well, that sums it up. How did you like our SafetyWing review? Did you ever use their services? How do you compare it to other travel insurance providers? Feel free to share your questions and experiences in the comments below!
Like it? Save it for later!