Comparing travel insurance plans really isn’t much fun.
I mean, who wants to go through all those policy pages with just endless terms and conditions?
And yet… getting a comprehensive travel insurance plan is essential to having peace of mind when you travel.
To save you time (and money!), I did some of the boring work by examining three of the most popular travel insurance providers. I carefully combed through all the fine print, including the all-important deductibles and exclusions.
Besides my research, I’ve also personally used World Nomads and Heymondo, which has given me some experience with their customer service and the way they work. (Safety Wing is more of a specialized insurance provider, but I’ll get to that.)
One thing to keep in mind is that the prices mentioned below are only examples. The exact price of a policy may depend on your home country, age, or where exactly you’re traveling. You can find out more by getting a personalized quote. I selected a trip of 30 days but travel insurance can be for any trip length.
Secondly, the prices exclude any travel in the US. Because healthcare costs in the US can be unusually high, pretty much all travel insurers charge extra for it. For an apples-to-apples comparison I left out any US coverage, but you can always add it in if your travel destination is the US.
Heymondo review
Example cost: €114 or $123 for 30 days (premium plan)
Underwriter: AXA
If you’re not sure which travel insurance to get, I recommend Heymondo. They offer good value for money, a streamlined app, and clear policies without any deductibles. I use them myself!
Heymondo’s policies include everything and lack any complicated gotchas, like deductibles or excess. I also like that Heymondo is more digitally savvy than other insurers I’ve used. Whenever I needed to know something from their customer service, I’ve received a response very quickly.
Not heard of Heymondo yet? They’ve been around since 2016 and they’re backed by AXA, the world’s second-largest insurance company.
Value for money |
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Easy to use app |
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No copayments, deductibles, or excess |
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Tailored policies |
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Covid-19 included |
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Could have more activities covered by default |
Useful Tip 1: Heymondo Premium offers the best value. It costs only 15-20% more than the Top and Medical policies but the coverage is way better.
Useful Tip: 2: If you travel a lot, consider the Heymondo Annual Multi-Trip package. It covers you for any number of trips that can be up to 60 days each, which may be cheaper than buying insurance for individual trips. For long multi-month trips, you can also choose Heymondo Long Stay Insurance.
World Nomads review
Example cost: $205 for 30 days (US resident)
€116 for 30 days (EU resident)
Underwriter: many different ones
World Nomads has long been recommended by big brands such as Lonely Planet and Intrepid Travel, but they’re facing more competition these days.
While World Nomads is a good insurer, you may find more advantages with Heymondo or SafetyWing — especially for longer trips.
Good coverage |
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Inconsistent offering |
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Best for sports & adventure |
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No annual multi-trip or digital nomad insurance |
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No covid-19 coverage |
All things considered, World Nomads may not be the strongest offering, though it depends on the type of trip. They can be a bit expensive too. The main reason I’ve included it here is that it’s such a big brand and has long been the favored insurer of many bloggers and travel sites.
If you want to compare for yourself, you can get a quote below.
SafetyWing review
Example cost: $43 for 30 days
(for ages under 40; cost rises with age)
Underwriter: Tokio Marine
SafetyWing’s is mainly targeted at digital nomads needing ongoing insurance, though they can also be an interesting option for backpackers and long-term travelers.
The policies by SafetyWing are cheaper (especially if you’re young) but they are also more limited in several respects.
Subscription-based insurance for nomads |
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Home country coverage |
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Cheaper if you’re young |
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Deductibles & lower maximums |
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Withdrew then re-added covid-19 coverage |
SafetyWing is a great insurer, though you’ll be accepting some lower coverage in return for lower costs.
If you’re looking for basic insurance on a budget, or for travel insurance that works well for those traveling continuously, then SafetyWing could be the best travel insurance for you.
Tips for using travel insurance
I’ve done my best to summarize the pros and cons of these travel insurers here, but you should always read the fine print and understand what your insurance does and doesn’t cover. The links in this post are affiliate links, though I’ve tried to give an objective review.
Keep in mind that travel insurance policies are intended for emergency medical coverage abroad, so they don’t cover preexisting conditions and they (normally) don’t cover medical issues at home. SafetyWing offers a rare exception on this.
When it comes to theft coverage, know that you’ll need proper documentation to make any claim, often including a police report. You can’t claim anything for petty theft (situations where you left your belongings unguarded). Check if your policy includes coverage for electronics, as this is sometimes a separate add-on.
All insurers reviewed here will let you buy insurance while you’re already traveling, or extend/renew a policy while you’re on the road.
Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn commission from products or services I recommend. For more, see site policies.
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