SafetyWing Review (2025): Pros and Cons of Travel Health Insurance

SafetyWing is one of the leading names in the global medical coverage space. Over the last few years, the brand has become practically synonymous with digital nomad health insurance. But does the company actually live up to the social media hype?

On internet forums such as Reddit, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. That’s why we performed our own deep dive into SafetyWing. Our review includes a careful examination of the company’s terms and conditions, pricing, and coverage. We also gathered opinions and experiences from a variety of real users. 

Continue reading so you can make an informed decision on SafetyWing.

📋Summary

💰Base price	Starts at $56 a month for basic travel medical insurance.
🏥Full coverage	Starts at $161 for full health insurance coverage.
⚕️Base plan	$250K maximum payout, no deductible, accidents & illnesses, hospital stays, surgeries, travel disruption.
➕Add-ons	Adventure sports, preventative care, cancer treatment, mental health, canceled accommodation.

💰Pricing & plans

One advantage of SafetyWing is that its plans are straightforward and easy to understand, especially compared to other travel insurance companies. 

SafetyWing’s entry-level Essential travel medical insurance policy mainly covers accidents and emergencies. The recently-introduced Complete plan is far more comprehensive, with coverage for routine medical care and travel disruption. The chart below provides an overview of how these two plans compare with each other:

1️⃣Essential plan

The Essential plan is SafetyWing’s budget offering. When it comes to price, SafetyWing’s travel health insurance plan beats most competitors, especially when you consider that there is no deductible. 

Payment is made every four weeks, and you can cancel at any time. Pricing does not vary based on location, but it does vary based on your age. Here is a breakdown of the monthly cost:

Age Range	Monthly Cost (USD)
Under 10	No extra cost (up to 2 kids per adult)
10–39	$56
40–49	$92
50–59	$145
60–69	$197

✅What it covers

Like most other travel health insurance policies, the Essential plan is mainly designed to cover unexpected accidents and medical emergencies:

• Maximum payout of $250,000
• Hospital stays, surgeries, medications
• Medical evacuation (up to $100,000)
• Evacuation from local unrest (up to $10,000)
• Car accidents
• Lost luggage (up to $500)
• Trip interruption (up to $5,000 for ticket home)
• Travel delay ($100/day for two days)
• Home country up to 30 days a year 

A limited number of sports activities are covered by the Essential plan, including baseball, cycling and hiking under 4,500 meters, soccer, rock climbing, surfing, horse riding, and moped riding. 

❌What it doesn’t cover

SafetyWing’s base plan contains a large number of exclusions:

• Preventative care and pre-existing conditions 
• Cancer treatments and chronic illnesses
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Mental health care
• Maternity care
• Dental treatment (except for emergencies)
• Injuries caused by drug/alcohol use. 
• High-risk activities such as motorbiking, kite-surfing, parachuting, paragliding, skydiving, scuba diving, American football, mountaineering, and others.
• Canceled accommodations and theft
• Anyone over age 70

Note that U.S. citizens and residents are excluded from SafetyWing’s 30 days of home country coverage, and they are not eligible to purchase supplemental U.S. coverage. 

2️⃣Complete plan

The Complete plan, introduced in 2025, provides more comprehensive health insurance and travel protections. Like the Essential plan, monthly prices vary based on age:

Age Range	Monthly Cost (USD)
Under 18	$107
18 – 39	$162
40 – 49	$233
50 – 59	$352
60 – 69	$633

✅What it covers

The Complete plan is a global health insurance policy. Although it costs more than basic travel health insurance, you’re covered for a much broader range of scenarios. The Complete plan includes everything in the Essential plan, plus coverage for the following:

• Maximum payout of $1.5 million
• Fully covered in home country (U.S. excluded)
• Screenings and vaccines (up to $350)
• Mental health care (up to $5,000)
• Wellness therapies (up to $5,000)
• All sports activities
• Maternity care (up to $2,500, subject to 10-month waiting period)
• Newborn coverage (up to $50,000)
• Cancer (up to limit); HIV/AIDS (up to $50,000)
• $60 for travel delays up to 3 hours; $150 per night
• Delayed luggage (up to $150 per trip)
• Burglary (up to $500 per item)
• Canceled accommodation (up to $150)

❌What it doesn’t cover

A number of exclusions apply to the Complete plan, including the following scenarios:

• Pre-existing conditions (discretion of the company)
• Dental treatment (except for emergencies)
• Routine eye and ear exams
• Weight loss treatments
• Anyone over age 70

➕Add-ons & extras

SafetyWing offers a number of add-on insurance policies for an additional monthly fee. 

Adventure sports ($10/mo.)

This supplemental policy covers high-risk activities such as motorbiking, kite-surfing, parachuting, paragliding, skydiving, scuba diving, American football, mountaineering, and others. Note that adventure sports are fully covered in the Complete plan.

U.S. coverage ($48/mo.)

SafetyWing normally offers just 30 days a year of medical coverage while traveling in the U.S. and its territories. However, this add-on expands coverage for the full year. Note that U.S. citizens and residents are not eligible to apply for this add-on. 

U.S. coverage ($10/mo.)

This add-on covers electronics like laptops, tablets and cameras for up to $1000 per stolen item and an annual limit of $3000 per policy. Note that you must retain proof of ownership, such as a sales receipt, for the items you wish you cover.

📝Filing a claim with SafetyWing

Like all insurance companies, customers have encountered problems with SafetyWing when it comes time to make a claim. Oftentimes, this is due to not following the company’s highly specific procedures and paperwork requirements. 

Generally, SafetyWing will reimburse the medical provider directly. In order to make a claim, the company requires the following information:

• Completed claim form
• Itemized bills from the medical provider
• A recent medical history 
• Copy of medical prescription for pharmacy expenses
• All information related to accidents, including police reports
• Primary or secondary insurance information

Claims for the Essential plan must be submitted within 60 days, while claims for the Essential plan can be submitted within 180 days. 

🗣️Customer reviews

SatetyWing receives mixed reviews from customers. The company’s 4.0 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot is fairly average compared with other travel health insurance providers. 73% of customers award the company 5 stars, while 18% of reviewers leave a 1-star review. While most customers have positive experiences with the company, a sizable minority encounter issues with claims and coverage. 

✅Fast Process: In cases where SafetyWing claims go smoothly, customers generally report fast response and payout times. 

 “The website is very user-friendly, and the process of opening claims is straightforward and hassle-free.” – Trustpilot reviewer

✅User Friendly: Many users praise the easy signup process and user-friendly mobile app. 

“The product is really designed for nomads, from the coverage, mobile app and resources.” – Trustpilot reviewer

❌Excessive Paperwork Requirements: One common complaint about SafetyWing is excessive documentation requirements for claims. 

“They demanded a complete copy of my passport—every single page, including the blank ones—and proof of a return trip to my home country just to process my cancellation.” – Trustpilot reviewer 

“They wouldn’t cover one claim because they wanted me to provide my entire medical history (wtf?)…” – Reddit user

❌Denied Claims: All insurance companies are in the business of making money, which means that they are incentivized to find ways to deny your claim. Although it’s hard to know if disgruntled reviewers have legitimate grievances (vs. simply not reading the fine print), it seems that SafetyWing receives more complaints about denied claims than other insurers. One common refrain involves classifying many medical claims as pre-existing conditions, which aren’t covered under any of SafetyWing’s plans. 

“They make you go around in circles to approve straightforward claims for stuff like delayed flights. After months, they just denied one of my claims (but approved my wife’s claims), and I just gave up.” – Reddit user

Little did I know it is considered a “pre-existing condition” and they denied my application so if you get UTI’s easily don’t expect SafetyWing to cover it.” – Reddit user

🚩Limitations to consider

⚠️Low Maximum Payout: Compared to most travel health insurance providers, SafetyWing’s $250,000 cap on payouts for the Essential plan is on the lower end. 

⚠️Limited Sports Coverage: Other travel health insurance providers, such as Genki and World Nomads, cover more sports activities on their base plans. 

⚠️No Pre-existing Conditions: Neither of SafetyWing’s plans cover pre-existing conditions. 

⚠️Limited U.S. Coverage: SafetyWing’s supplemental U.S. coverage is not available to U.S. citizens or residents. 

🆚Alternatives to SafetyWing

In the crowded travel health insurance market, a few companies are frequently recommended on digital nomad forums. The leading providers all differ somewhat in terms of coverage, price, and extra perks.

➡️FYI: Read more in our full article on the best travel health insurance providers for digital nomads. 

Genki Explorer
With a strong reputation for reliability and customer service, Genki’s plans start at around $71/month and offer high coverage limits (up to $1.1 million) with flexible deductible options. Their Essential plan covers emergencies, while the Comprehensive plan includes outpatient and preventative care. U.S. coverage is included for up to 42 days per year.

IMG Patriot Lite
IMG’s Patriot Lite plan is a trusted, budget-friendly option for digital nomads and international travelers seeking customizable coverage. Plans start at approximately $59/month, with various deductible and maximum coverage options. While basic, this plan includes essential benefits like emergency care, hospitalization, and limited U.S. coverage. It’s a strong fit for nomads who want control over premium costs and only need coverage for serious medical situations.

Insured Nomads
With monthly premiums starting around $115, InsuredNomads’ plans cover up to $3 million and include unique extras like access to mental health apps, VPN subscriptions, airport lounge access, and crisis response services. Coverage includes both emergency and elective care, and the provider offers short U.S. visit coverage.

GeoBlue Xplorer
GeoBlue Xplorer is a premium international health insurance plan backed by Blue Cross Blue Shield, offering exceptional global coverage with no cap on benefits. Plans start around $257/month and are ideal for U.S. citizens living abroad who want access to top-tier medical care worldwide, including in the U.S. This plan excels in provider choice and reliability, with comprehensive coverage including preventive care, chronic conditions, and maternity.

World Nomads
World Nomads is a go-to insurer for adventure travelers and short-term nomads, offering policies that cover over 200 activities, from scuba diving to hiking. Their Standard and Explorer plans include up to $100,000 in medical coverage and offer travel protection features like trip cancellation, baggage loss, and emergency evacuation. 

🏁Bottom line

While SafetyWing might not boast the best reputation when it comes to coverage and claims, it is the champion of low-price plans that are easy to understand. That makes it a good choice for nomads that only want medical insurance for digital nomad visa applications, or obtain coverage for accidents and unexpected emergencies. 

✅ Affordable: SafetyWing’s monthly premiums are lower than other travel insurance providers, and there is no deductible. 

✅ User Interface: Many users praise the easy signup process and sleek mobile app. 

✅ Travel Disruption: Unlike most travel health insurance providers, SafetyWing includes some compensation for travel delays and lost luggage on its base plan.

❌ Less Coverage: Although SafetyWing’s price point is lower, you get what you pay for in terms of coverage. 

❌ Lower Review Score: SafetyWing’s user reviews are mediocre, and commentators on travel forums frequently complain about the company.