Region Of Cover

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, which are hard to compare or are written in a language hard to get your head around. In this article, we aim to demystify some of the 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 traveling to will tell you, which type of insurance is needed, considering the regional cover.

🏡 Local insurance

Local insurance is the health insurance someone wants to have in the current country he or she is staying in. This type of insurance is great for expats, who live in one country more or less permanently. 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 applying 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 changing countries, local health insurances need to be applied at every new destination.

🏖️ Single-trip insurance

This insurance type, also known as standard travel insurance, makes sense for someone who is based in one country and wants to take a vacation in another country. This type of insurance is useful for locally health-insured residents or expats based in one country who do not travel much.

Pros for single-trip insurance

• It's a cheap option as it covers only a short period with only one country to cover.
• Single-trip insurance as travel insurance often covers travel-related cases, for example, flight cancels, losses, and more.

Cons for single-trip insurance

• In case of repatriation to the home country, the cover of the standard travel insurance ends normally, when arriving in the 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 form of standard travel insurance and is useful for someone who is based in one country and wants to take a multi-country trip or multi-country vacation. 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 & Canada included or excluded which impacts the fees greatly.
• Multi-trip insurance in effect as travel insurance often covers travel-related cases, for example, flight cancels, losses, and more.

Cons for multi-trip insurance

• In case of repatriation to the home country, the cover of the standard travel insurance ends normally, when arriving in the 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, a full-time remote worker, or a global citizen, it is 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 mostly designed to cover you long-term. If you sign up for travel health insurance, the cover is mostly limited to 1 or 2 years.
• Subscription: Find an insurance plan that offers a monthly subscription. Please check the terms of cancellation before you sign up for a policy.
• Signup: Find an insurance company where you can sign up from being anywhere in the world and not be limited to signing up before traveling or being in your home country.
• Home country cover: You want to find an insurance plan that covers you when you are visiting 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, that is 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 not equal to travel insurance.

🛟 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.

☂️ 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).