Question 1

Can I buy Nomad insurance and where am I covered?

Accepted Answer

Whether you can buy this insurance and your area of coverage is different between Essential and Complete plans. Generally, SafetyWing complies with US, UK, EU and UN sanctions. Essential Most people, from anywhere in the world, can get this insurance. The exceptions are: If you are younger than 14 days or older than 69 years. If your home country is sanctioned (North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran). If you, as an individual, are sanctioned under any of the sanctioned regimes. Your destinations cannot be: Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Puerto Rico, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, and your home country (where you principally reside and receive mail). Complete To sign up for the Complete plan, you must be between the ages of 18 and 64. You can be covered past this age as long as you signed up before you turned 64 and continue renewing your plan without any gaps. You are covered in your country of residence and anywhere you travel, with the exception of any country or area that is sanctioned. We cannot cover residents (those living there for 6+ months out of the year) of Belarus, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Republic of Ireland, North Korea, North Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Palau, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, and the USA and its territories.

Question 2

How do I cancel my Nomad Insurance plan?

Accepted Answer

Essential You can cancel your Essential plan subscription any time for any reason by stopping your subscription payments from your dashboard. Then your coverage will be cancelled at the end of your current period. If you wish to cancel on a particular date or want to cancel a plan with fixed travel dates, contact us via live chat or by emailing support@safetywing.com.

Please note your premiums will be refunded in full if we receive the cancellation request before the start date of your active insurance period. If we receive the cancellation request after the start date of your active insurance period, the unused portion of your premiums will be refunded only if you haven’t filed a claim.  Complete Complete plans are a 12-month commitment. You can request cancellation within the first 15 days of your coverage starting or when it renews.  If you cancel midway through your contract, you may only be refunded up to 65% of any coverage you paid for but didn’t use, unless you have a qualifying life event (i.e., you get married and get added to your spouse’s health insurance), in which case you will be refunded in full.

Question 3

What do I need to submit a claim?

Accepted Answer

When submitting a claim we will need documents that support your claim, and they will vary depending on what it is. For all claims we need: Original receipt(s) for proof of payment Original invoices outlining what each service or item cost, not just the total spent For medical claims: Medical reports outlining your symptoms, when they started, diagnosis, treatment plan Any relevant prescriptions or test results Any other relevant medical reports such as lab work, scans, and x-rays Accident report from police, ambulance, tour guide if applicable For travel-related claims: Original and updated itineraries Proof of any transportation delays or disruptions (e.g., airline confirmations or official notices) Proof of ownership for lost or stolen belongings Relevant supporting documents (like police reports or incident reports) Remember to include your full name and the relevant dates on all documents. Depending on your specific situation, we may request additional information. You can make a claim in your dashboard. Typically, claims are reimbursed in 10 days or less via bank transfer. If we need more information to process your claim, we will reach out through email. Please note that you are not required to provide claim documents translated into English.

Question 4

Which procedures need pre-approval on the Complete plan and why?

Accepted Answer

Nomad Insurance Essential doesn’t require any pre-approval process since it’s only meant to be used for unexpected issues. For the Nomad Insurance Complete plan Pre approval is required only if procedure is one of the below listed and its cost is above $500, if it is not listed below or its value, is below $500, pre approval is not required: - All Hospital Admissions
- All hospital or outpatient surgeries
- Any major procedures, such as MRI’s, CT Scans, PET Scans, gastroscopies, colonoscopies, biopsies, etc. 
- Physical and rehabilitative therapy, home health care or Private Nurse or Therapist 
- Nasal or reconstructive procedures
- Emergency Transportation by Air Ambulance
- Durable Medical Equipment or any special medical device
- Repatriation or cremation of mortal remains
- Outpatient mental health
- Complementary therapies

We need to know about procedures costing more than US$500 in advance to assess medical necessity, manage healthcare costs, and confirm that the procedure is covered under your plan so that you are not stuck with a large bill if it isn’t. You will also have the option to request that we pay the healthcare provider directly. Visit your dashboard to request pre-approval if you suspect an upcoming treatment will cost more than $500. If you do not get pre-approval first and pay and claim as normal for something that costs more than this, you may get back 30% less on your reimbursement. Important note for emergencies If you pay and claim for an emergency that ended up costing more than US$500, please let us know by clicking "I have an emergency" in your dashboard within 72 hours of the emergency, otherwise you may get back 30% less than what you paid even if everything was fully covered.

Question 5

What are pre-existing conditions and why aren't they covered?

Accepted Answer

We have different definitions for pre-existing conditions based on the coverage level, so we recommend you carefully read and understand the definition for the plan you intend to sign up for.  Essential 4.0 Plan 
A pre-existing medical condition is any injury, illness, disease, or medical condition for which, in the 180 days before the start date of the insurance (“lookback period”), you:

1. Received or was recommended medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment; 
2. Had medication prescribed, changed, or its dosage altered; or 
3. Had signs or symptoms that would prompt a reasonable person to seek medical attention.

Note: We do not ask medical questions before you buy. Conditions meeting the definition above are not covered.

If you continue to be covered by Nomad Insurance Essential under a new plan after having reached 364 consecutive days of coverage under a single active insurance period: 
→ For new illnesses or injuries, the 180-day lookback period no longer applies to subsequent plans, except for illness or injury that is to become worse over time.

3.0 Plan A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury to which one of the following applies:

1. You received a prior diagnosis or treatment for the illness or injury within 2 years before of the start date
2. You experienced symptoms within 2 years before the start date*
3. There is reasonable medical certainty that the illness or injury existed within 2 years before the start date. This means that even without your knowledge it can be considered a pre-existing illness or injury*

*if you continue to be covered under a new policy after having reached 364 consecutive days of coverage, you won't be subject to conditions 2 and 3, except for illness or injury that is untreatable and expected to become worse over time.
 Complete A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury for which you received treatment or diagnosis in your life, and any illness or injury you have experienced symptoms in the last two (2) years. Why we don't cover them In general, covering pre-existing conditions would vastly increase the price of the insurance, as we would have to cover everyone’s existing health issues. By excluding pre-existing conditions, we can keep prices lower and focus on covering new, unexpected health issues that arise after the plan starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nomad Insurance?

Who is Nomad Insurance for?

Is Nomad Insurance a proper health insurance?

How much does it cost?

Can I buy Nomad insurance and where am I covered?

Can I get insurance for multiple people at once, including children?

How do I know which plan is right for me?

How do I cancel my Nomad Insurance plan?

How long can I keep my policy active?

What are the benefits of auto-extending my Nomad Insurance Essential policy every 28 days?

Can US citizens buy Nomad Insurance?

Can I buy Nomad Insurance if I’m already abroad or traveling?

Does Nomad Insurance meet visa requirements?

How do I get proof of insurance for visa applications?

Do I need to know my destinations in advance?

How do I switch from Essential to Complete?

Do you offer any special rates on Nomad Insurance?

Where can I find the full policy?

What is home country and country of residence?

Can I buy insurance just for a couple of days?

Is there an age limit to buy Nomad Insurance?

Does Nomad Insurance have a deductible?

What is covered?

Do you cover COVID-19?

Am I covered in my home country?

Am I covered for moped/scooter accidents?

Which sports or activities do you cover?

What coverage add-ons are available? Can I add them while on an active policy?

What is included in the health coverage?

What is included in the travel coverage?

Are there any waiting periods?

What is the coverage for evacuation and repatriation?

What is covered under wellness or complementary therapies?

Does Nomad Insurance cover routine check-ups and preventive care?

Does Nomad Insurance cover trip interruption or cancellation?

Is pregnancy and childbirth covered?

Is urgent care covered in the US?

Am I covered for an unplanned overnight stay or trip delay?

Does Nomad Insurance cover lost or delayed checked luggage?

What happens if my passport or travel visa are stolen?

What if I have to go back home due to an emergency?

Who should I contact in an emergency?

How do I file a claim?

What do I need to submit a claim?

To which medical providers can I go?

What happens if my claim is denied?

What if my claim is denied?

Which procedures need pre-approval on the Complete plan and why?

What is not covered by Nomad Insurance?

What are pre-existing conditions and why aren't they covered?

What is the evacuation from local unrest benefit and what countries are affected?

What is SafetyWing?

How does SafetyWing provide global coverage?

What does that structure look like?

Why is the insurer based in Puerto Rico?

What does underwriting mean?

What does your claim process look like?

How are claim disputes handled?

How does SafetyWing work with ambassadors and partners?