When researching for the best possible travel health insurance, you might feel overwhelmed by the variety of insurance types.
There are many insurance companies out there offering all sorts of services with terms and conditions that are hard to compare or are written in a language complex to get your head around. In this article, we aim to clarify some common ambiguities.
🍿 Differences in regional cover
Look at your travel behavior. How much do you travel, or how nomadic are you? The frequency of changing countries and the number of countries you travel to will help determine which type of insurance is needed, considering regional coverage.
🏡 Local insurance
Local insurance is the health insurance someone wants to have while they are in the current country they are staying in. This type of insurance is great for expats who live in one country for most of the time. At least six months or one year.
Pros for local insurance
- Local health insurance can be cheaper in many countries, for example, for an expat living in Vietnam.
Cons for local insurance
- Benefits, cover, and exclusions must be checked carefully.
- Local laws and regulations can vary from country to country or even state to state.
- Some countries do not allow you to apply for local health insurance when traveling on a tourist visa.
- Local insurance policies may be written in the local language only.
- When traveling frequently and visiting new countries, you need to apply for local health insurance at each new destination.
🏖️ Single-trip insurance
This type of insurance, also known as standard travel insurance, makes sense for someone based in one country who wants to take a vacation in another. This type of insurance is helpful for locally health-insured residents or expats based in one country who don't travel frequently.
Pros for single-trip insurance
- It's a cheap option because it covers only a short period and only one country.
- Single-trip insurance, like travel insurance, often covers travel-related cases, such as flight cancellations, losses, and more.
Cons for single-trip insurance
- In the case of repatriation to the home country, the standard travel insurance coverage typically ends when you arrive in your home country.
- Additional health insurance in the home country or country of residency is needed.
- The cover is limited to one country.
- The cover is limited to emergency cases only.
✈️ Multi-trip insurance
This insurance type is an extended version of standard travel insurance and is helpful for individuals based in one country who want to travel to or vacation in multiple countries. The multi-trip insurance is suitable for someone who is already locally health-insured, either in the country of residence or the home country.
Pros for multi-trip insurance
- It's a cheap option as it covers only a short period.
- Applicants can choose between having a cover in the USA, and Canada included or excluded, which significantly impacts the fees.
- Multi-trip insurance is often adequate as travel insurance, covering travel-related cases such as flight cancellations, losses, and more.
Cons for multi-trip insurance
- In the case of repatriation to the home country, the standard travel insurance coverage typically ends when you arrive in your home country.
- Additional health insurance in the home country or country of residency is needed.
- The coverage is limited to emergency cases only.
🗺️ Worldwide insurance
When living the lifestyle of a full-time digital nomad, remote worker, or global citizen, it's worth considering worldwide insurance. It should cover emergencies around the world and come with an extended period of cover.
This insurance type is suitable for you if traveling and being a digital nomad is your lifestyle.
Pros for worldwide insurance
- Long-term: If you sign up for international health insurance, the plan is primarily designed to cover you in the long term. If you sign up for travel health insurance, the coverage is limited to 1 year.
- Subscription: Find an insurance plan that offers a monthly subscription. Please review the cancellation terms before purchasing a policy.
- Signup: Find an insurance company where you can sign up from anywhere in the world and not be limited to signing up before traveling or being in your home country.
- Home country coverage: You want to find an insurance plan that covers you when you visit your home country.
- Claim filing: Read through the process of how you can file a claim. It should be easy.
- Risk carrier: You want to find a health insurance plan provided by an internationally renowned risk carrier.
Cons for worldwide insurance
- Travel-related issues are not covered. For example, flight cancellations or losses. Tip: check with your credit card company or bank. Oftentimes, your credit card comes with travel insurance anyway.
- Typical international health insurance is different from travel insurance.
🛟 Travel health insurance with Genki
Genki Traveler
A flexible, worldwide travel health insurance subscription for up to 1 year.
- Who is this for: Frequent and long-term international travelers (like digital nomads) who want the freedom to go anywhere and to change plans on a moment's notice.
- Region of cover: Worldwide cover, outside of your home country.
- What’s covered: Up to €1,000,000 of medical care for unexpected injuries and illnesses. That includes doctor’s visits, treatment at public and private hospitals, emergency medical transport, and medically necessary return transport to your home country. It doesn’t cover prior health conditions, preventive care, dental, vision, or maternity care.
- Length of cover: From one month up to one year. Monthly billing. Cancel anytime. You should have other long-term health cover in your home country.
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
Sarah
Sarah
