Just like your packing essentials, your nomad insurance is something you must not board a plane without. It’s something we often overlook or think we won’t need until push comes to shove! So, whether you’re a digital nomad or you’re just going on vacation, you definitely need travel insurance, and here’s why.

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6 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance

#1 Loss of Checked Luggage

You might think this is not something that is likely to happen to you, but believe it or not, loss of checked luggage is a very common incident. And if it doesn’t happen to you, then that’s great news, but what if it ever does? What if you get unlucky that one time?

Be it losing valuables or your clothes when you’re off on a trip, losing anything is one hell of a bummer, let alone your own luggage! That’s why it’s better to be safe than sorry and get baggage insurance. I personally thought it would never happen to me and that it was rare, but I almost lost my luggage twice and let me tell you, it’s incredibly nerve-wracking!

#2 Loss of Passport or Visa

Of course, it goes without saying that losing your passport or visa would be a disaster. Of course, you’d file a report and go to the consulate, but still, the process is a hassle and something like that would surely wreck your trip. So, at least, the travel insurance would cover the extra costs you’re not including in your budget.

#3 Delay or Cancelation of Flights

Another common thing in the world of travel, and I bet either of those (if not both) has happened to you before, is either getting your flight delayed or canceled. And aside from the precious time wasted, if that’s the case for a connection flight, you might miss another.

It happened to me once when I was flying back from Bali to Cairo. I had two layovers – one in Jakarta and the other in Abu Dhabi, and the first one was delayed TWICE. I managed to get myself a seat on an earlier flight in order not to miss the other two, but that’s only because I was well-prepared and went to the airport early enough. What if I wasn’t lucky? My nomad insurance would’ve still saved the day. So, my advice to you: don’t gamble on your luck.

#4 Getting Sick in a Foreign Country

If you get sick at home, then you could also get sick while traveling. In fact, changing weather conditions and new cuisines that are too foreign for your stomach to handle make it even more likely to fall ill on a trip. Bedrest will already ruin the trip enough, so why worry about the extra expenses too when you can have your back covered with travel insurance?

Also, medicine and healthcare can be more expensive in other countries. Not to mention that the severity of illness is broad – it could be as minimal as catching the flu, or a bit more extreme such as testing positive for COVID-19 and having to quarantine abroad. Not to mention that in other cases, God forbid, one could wind up in the hospital.

#5 Accidents

Speaking of hospitals, accidents may occur as well. From broken limbs to car accidents, think of travel insurance as an extra layer of protection that would at least prevent you from worrying about the horrendous expenses. Some travel insurance companies even cover cases of accidental death!

#6 Emergency Evacuations

There are different kinds of emergency evacuations such as medical evacuation; if you need to be transported to a different location for treatment, political evacuation, or even having to change accommodation as a result of natural disasters. Luckily, travel insurance normally covers that sort of stuff.

Nomad Insurance

My personal favorite is the Nomad Insurance offered by SafetyWing. Aside from covering so many things, I like that you can purchase it AFTER your departure. So, if you just realized that you need insurance, it’s never too late – you don’t have to get it in advance.

Payments are charged automatically on a monthly basis – you can end your subscription anytime – and home visits up to 30 days in between trips are also covered (15 days if you’re a US citizen). That’s why SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is perfect for digital nomads that are on the road all the time as well as frequent travelers.

Another great thing about it is that anyone from any country can get it – some travel insurance companies have their services limited to certain nationalities, but not SafetyWing.

What’s Covered?

Nomad Insurance includes both medical and travel insurance benefits.

Medical

• Maximum limit: USD 250,000
• Deductible: USD 250
• Hospital room and nursing services
• Stay in ICU up to the maximum limit
• Ambulance customary charges when covered cause requires hospitalization
• USD 50 co-payment for urgent charges (not subject to deductible)
• Physical therapy for up to USD 50 per day
• Emergency dental care for up to USD 1,000 (not subject to deductible)
• Other eligible medical expenses (check SafetyWing’s website for more details)
• Exclusions: Pre-existing diseases/injuries, cancer treatment, and injuries caused by high-risk sports and activities

Travel

• Lost luggage: up to USD 3,000 per certificate period, USD 500 per item, and up to USD 6,000 per lifetime limit (no deductible)
• Travel delay: up to USD 100 a day after a 12-hour delay period that requires an unplanned overnight stay (maximum 2 days) (no deductible)
• Trip interruption: up to USD 5,000 (no deductible)
• Occurrence of a natural disaster that requires a new place to stay: up to USD 100 per day for 5 days (no deductible)
• Occurrence of political evacuation: up to USD 100,000 lifetime maximum (no deductible)
• The need for an emergency medical evacuation: up to USD 100,000 lifetime maximum (not subject to deductible or overall maximum limit)
• Personal liability (check SafetyWing’s website for more details)
• Accidental death & dismemberment (check SafetyWing’s website for more details)

Does SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance cover COVID-19?

If deemed medically necessary by a physician or a doctor, your Nomad Insurance will cover your COVID-19 test. It’s important to note that antibody tests aren’t covered as they aren’t deemed medically necessary.

In case you require quarantine outside your home country, as mandated by a physician or governmental authority if you’ve either tested positive or you’re waiting for test results, Nomad Insurance will cover that. The coverage includes USD 50 per day for up to 10 days, with the limitation of occurring only once within a 364-day period.

How much does it cost?

On average, Nomad Insurance costs USD 42 per 4 weeks – that’s for travelers between the ages of 10 and 39. To check the price for different age ranges or specific travel dates, you can check out the price calculator below.

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• Living in Egypt as a Digital Nomad: All You Need to Know
• 10+ Tested Safety Tips for Female Solo Travel Newbies

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