Definitions in the world of insurance policies can be overwhelming. When signing up for travel health insurance, many insurance providers ask you about your home country. But what is the home country for long-term traveling nomads? Or for nomads who don't have residence anymore? Let's find out.
🏡 What is your home country?
Your home country is the country where you have access to
- friends and/or family
- national health care
- long stays due to residence status, or citizenship
Your home country does not need to be necessarily
- the country where you were born
- the country you are staying in at this moment
- the country of your citizenship/passport (check this with your insurance provider)
Make sure to check what the insurance provider means when asking for your home country.
🧸 Considerations before choosing a home country
- The cover period of your travel health insurance plan in your home country will be most likely limited. This home country cover is called an incidental home country cover and varies from insurance provider to insurance provider. In many cases, the incidental home country cover is 14 or 30 days.
- If recovery abroad (in any country but your home country) is going to take a long time, you might consider being transported back to your home country for the extended time you need for the full treatment. The home country should be the country covering long-stay recovery and one's disease.
With that in mind, our advice for you is to keep health cover in your home country apart from your travel health insurance which is designed to cover you for accidents and illness outside of your home country.
The important takeaway is that your travel health insurance does not replace the insurance cover of your home country (apart from the length of the incidental home country cover).
📎 Checklist
- How often will you visit your home country? Keep in mind that you are only covered for a short period (e.g. 42 days per 180 consecutive days).
- How long will you stay in your home country per visit?
- How long are you allowed to stay in your home country? Keep in mind that chronic illness or severe accidents might require a long stay to cover the recovery period.
- How easy do you have access to your home country's national health insurance scheme?
- How will you be affected by your travel health insurance when you are a non-resident of your home country?
- How will you be affected by your home country's national health insurance scheme when you are a non-resident?
You must estimate realistically how much time you plan to spend in your home country per year. You want to choose a country where you can stay an indefinite amount of time, have friends and family, and have easy access to the national health care system.
☂️ Home country explained for Genki Explorer
Genki defines the home country as the country where you have friends and family, a place to stay without visa requirements, and access to local healthcare. You can choose what your home country is.
- Incidental home country cover: 42 days per 180 consecutive days.
- Only accidents and life-threatening emergencies are covered during these 42 days.
- The insurance cover in your home country will only start after you come back to your home country after being abroad.
For example, Genki offers home country cover for up to 42 days per 180 days. Several home country holidays are possible as long as the overall duration does not exceed 42 days within 180 days. Please note that Genki covers accidents and emergencies only.
When you are covered with Genki Explorer, you don't need to be registered in your home country. But you need to ensure that you have access to your home country's health care system if you need medical treatments that exceed 42 days.
🛟 Travel health insurance with Genki
Genki Explorer
- Who is this for: Short-term travelers and digital nomads with long-term health coverage at home.
- Region of cover: Worldwide. Every single country. Depending on your travel plans, you can choose to have full or limited cover in the USA & Canada.
- Home country: Your chosen home country should be a country where you have no visa restriction and access to long-term health coverage, like local health insurance or the public health system. However, visiting friends and family is covered for up to 42 consecutive days within 180 days.
- Inclusions & exclusions: Medical emergencies and medically necessary treatments (ear infection, flu), initial mental health issues, and sports injuries are covered. Pre-existing conditions and pre-existing pregnancies are not covered. See all benefits.
- Monthly costs: Genki Explorer starts from €48.30 a month (prices for ages 0-29). The monthly costs depend on the chosen deductible, and if you want to include or exclude the USA & Canada.
Have a look at what Genki Native offers.
☂️ International health insurance with Genki
Genki Native
- Who is this for: Digital nomads, expats, and other long-term travelers who want complete health cover.
- Region of cover: Worldwide (limited in Canada & USA).
- Period of cover: As long as you want. Life-long if you wish. The minimum contract is 1 year with a monthly payment plan.
- Home country: Genki Native is available for people from every country (even nomads without any legal residence). You can choose to have limited or full cover in your country of citizenship.
- Genki Native Basic: Genki Native Basic covers necessary medical treatment (inpatient and outpatient treatments) at any licensed doctor or hospital up to €1,000,000 per year. That includes accidents and emergencies, as well as common illnesses and injuries.
- Genki Native Premium: Genki Native Premium also covers preventive care/check-ups, plus dental, vision, maternity, mental health, and more. Genki Native Premium has no overall limit for medical costs and also includes full cover in your country of citizenship.
- Monthly costs: Genki Native starts from €180 a month (prices for ages 20-34). The monthly costs depend on the result of a medical questionnaire, your age, the chosen deductible, and the region of cover (incl. or excl. USA and Canada).
Sarah
