Last updated on August 27th, 2026 at 01:47 pm
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Having travelled for close to 13 years now, I have sort of done it all when it comes to travel insurance, and I have jumped around different providers a lot.
On my first round-the-world adventure, back when I was very green, I just picked the cheapest travel insurance I could find on a comparison website and ran with it.
Early on in the trip, my boyfriend of the time broke his jaw in Thailand, and the dodgy insurance provider did everything they could to avoid paying, to the point where we got jailed in the hospital with a massive bill with no means of settling it.
It took my mum threatening to go around to the insurance provider’s office in the UK and break the door down for them to finally cave and pay our hospital bill.
After a horrific accident that was already scary enough, having that extra stress on top was just not worth it. Lesson learned.
How I discovered SafetyWing
SafetyWing first came to my attention because I needed to buy travel insurance midway through my travels, and not many companies offer this service. You ordinarily have to be in your home country when you purchase the insurance. I had also seen it recommended by multiple other travel bloggers I follow, so I gave it a shot. That was two years ago now, and I continue to use SafetyWing whenever I travel.
SafetyWing was started by a team of Norwegians back in 2017 to bring the social safety net they grew up with in Norway to people living borderless. Travel insurance was their first product, but they now offer income protection, visa assistance, parental leave and more.
Why I keep using SafetyWing
I have continued using SafetyWing since then for multiple reasons. Firstly, it is really straightforward to use, especially with their 4-week rolling policy. I just stop and start the plan as and when I need to, and the process only takes a couple of minutes.
Secondly, making a claim is completely stress-free. All you need to do is log into your dashboard, explain the incident in simple terms and upload a few photos. I have claimed with SafetyWing twice in the last two years, and my money was reimbursed within one day (when I was in Poland) and a few weeks (whilst travelling in Tonga).
Comparing that to a claim I am currently in the process of with a car insurance provider I used for my recent trip to Portugal… It has now been six weeks since the accident, and after multiple phone calls and several extremely complicated and tedious forms, I still have not been reimbursed. There is nothing to compare really – I wish SafetyWing offered car insurance!
I think it is worth mentioning that I do not get any type of discount or free insurance for talking about SafetyWing; I pay full price like everyone else – because I genuinely value the service.
Types of insurance on offer with SafetyWing
SafetyWing has two solid plans: Essential and Complete, starting from $2 per day, so depending on your travel style and time on the road, they have insurance to suit you.
The Essential plan covers unexpected medical and travel emergencies while you’re abroad; it is an affordable option designed to give you peace of mind if you get sick or injured while travelling. See the details of what is covered in the Essential plan here.
The Complete plan is a full global health insurance plan with added travel protections, favoured by longer-term travellers and digital nomads. It is designed to replace traditional health insurance and includes everything on the Essential plan, plus extended travel protection, routine check-ups, preventive medicine, wellness therapies, maternity care and cancer testing and treatment, only for about $6 per day. Find out more details of what’s covered in the Complete plan here.
Currently, I am using the Essential plan, and for my age, that is about $2 per day. I always opt for the Adventure Sports add-on for an extra $10 every four weeks, as it covers scuba diving up to 30 metres and so saves me from buying extra dive insurance.
I am heading to South America in a few weeks, so for that trip I will purchase the electronics theft coverage add-on, due to the different risks when travelling that continent compared to much of Asia. This is normally only an extra $10 every four weeks, but if you use my code, you will get your first 8 weeks for free!
How to redeem 8 weeks of free electronics coverage with my code:
- Only people who have never had a SafetyWing account before can use the reward
- Head to the Nomad Insurance landing page, and click on the pink camera between the two birds
- Insert my code: IDREAMOFMANGOES into the little pop-up window
- Sign up for a policy, and benefit from 8 weeks of electronics theft coverage for free!
Important things to know about SafetyWing’s Nomad Travel Insurance
If you opt for the 4-week rolling policy, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance primarily operates on a “pay and claim” basis for outpatient and minor care, meaning you are expected to pay the bill and seek reimbursement afterwards (if you choose a yearly plan and pay upfront, however, you will get a pre-loaded debit card to cover minor expenses as well as other perks).
It is different for major medical emergencies or inpatient hospital stays, where you must call their 24/7 assistance team asap to request a Guarantee of Payment (GOP) or set up direct billing.
It is important to know that for the former, you need to be organised or you won’t be reimbursed. You’ll need official-headed or stamped receipts, booking confirmations, proof of ownership of items and official reports (whether it is from the airline or police).
I missed out on a part of my reimbursement when my flight was majorly delayed in Tonga because the handwritten receipt for my accommodation wasn’t stamped – so it pays to be very diligent.
The caveats of using SafetyWing
Like most travel insurance providers, SafetyWing does not cover every country (170+ out of 195), so if you want to travel to every country in the world (like me), including high-risk countries (like Iraq), or you’re planning a trip to a sanctioned country (like Cuba) – you’ll need to make other plans for travel insurance with specialist providers.
It is also good to mention that SafetyWing is not really designed for super-luxury travellers; for example, with their electronics theft cover, the maximum payout is $1000 per item. For someone like me, a backpacker with just a laptop and a camera, that is more than enough. But if you have specialist equipment, this amount may not be adequate.
It is definitely worth reading through the limitations on all the payouts to see if they meet your expectations.
Overall though, I do honestly think that SafetyWing is the best travel insurance available right now. They offer competitive pricing, stellar communication, and an incredibly simple claims process. Considering the negative experiences I have had with travel insurance in the past, I can’t see myself steering away from using SafetyWing any time soon.
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance FAQs
I’ve seen so many travel bloggers promoting SafetyWing, is it legit?
Yes, I only ever recommend products and services I use and love, but if you’re still having doubts, check out their Trustpilot.
How fast does SafetyWing pay claims?
I have claimed with them twice. In Poland, when I had all my documents in order, I was reimbursed just one day later. In Tonga, when I needed to gather more evidence, the total time until reimbursement was two weeks. (SafetyWing always got back to me within 24 hours; the delay was caused by me trying to gather a missed receipt.)
Do I need to know my destinations in advance?
You don’t need to know your destinations in advance to purchase Nomad Insurance with SafetyWing. Both Essential and Complete plans provide coverage in most countries worldwide, with a few exceptions. Your coverage travels with you, so there’s no need to buy a new plan or notify them when you move to a new destination.
Does SafetyWing ever pay claims upfront?
Yes, the Essential plan bought 1 year upfront comes with a $150 preloaded debit card to pay for smaller claims; the Complete plan includes a $500 preloaded virtual card. For major medical emergencies or inpatient hospital stays, you must call their 24/7 assistance team asap to request a Guarantee of Payment (GOP) or set up direct billing.
Thank you for reading my honest review of SafetyWing.
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Happy Travels! xx
