Best Travel Insurance for Long-Term Travel (From a Full-Time Traveler)
Hi, I’m Jackie, the full-time travel blogger behind Jou Jou Travels! I quit my job 2.5 years ago to work as a content creator, and 6 months ago, I gave up my flat to travel full-time. As someone who is constantly on the move, I need to make sure my health is the number one priority. Accidents can happen, and regular check-ups shouldn’t be forgotten just because you’re long-term traveling.
After countless hours of research, I think I found the best travel insurance for long-term travel. And that’s SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Complete. The great thing about it is you can purchase it abroad, and there’s no time limit on your travels and return to your home country. It also works in your home country! Trust me, a lot of the insurance providers have strict rules about that!
Just a heads-up! This post is in collaboration with SafetyWing, but all opinions are my own. It contains affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me keep doing what I love—thank you! ♡. Thank you! Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.
Best Insurance for Long Term Travel
Below are the most popular travel insurance options, with a comparison of costs, pros, and cons. If you’re looking for an insurance that covers routine checkups and not just emergencies, then my top choice is SafetyWing Complete. World Nomads has long-term insurance, for example, but it’s more designed for emergencies than preventive care.
With this in mind, I’ll spend the rest of this post explaining the benefits of SafetyWing Complete and why it’s the top choice for digital nomads and full-time travelers.
| Insurance Provider | Monthly Cost (Approx.) | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafetyWing Complete | ~$150–$160 | Digital nomads & long-term travelers | Covers routine care, mental health, emergencies, travel issues, a monthly subscription, and home-country coverage | Lower medical max than premium expat plans |
| World Nomads | ~$80–$200 | Backpackers & adventure travelers | Strong adventure sports coverage, flexible trips | Emergency-focused, not true long-term health insurance |
| IMG Global | ~$150–$350 | Expats & families | Very high medical limits, customizable plans | Expensive, complex, less travel-lifestyle focused |
| Cigna Global | ~$100–$300+ | Full-time expats | Hospital networks, long-term healthcare | High cost, overkill for many nomads |
Note: If you are primarily looking for an insurance plan that will cover emergencies and basic travel protection, you can opt for SafetyWing’s Essential Plan. It’s a lot cheaper and still provides solid emergency coverage for shorter or simpler trips. If you’re looking for a comparison of the Essential Plan vs. Complete, check out my full blog post on that.
Who is SafetyWing Complete Travel Insurance For?
This insurance is designed for long-term travelers who need more than basic emergency cover.
It’s ideal if:
- You are traveling for months at a time, not just a short trip.
- Live abroad, travel between multiple countries, or don’t have a permanent base.
- Work remotely or consider yourself a digital nomad.
- Want coverage that feels closer to real health insurance, not just in case something goes wrong.
- Prefer to have routine care, doctor visits, and mental health support included.
If you’re just doing a one-week or two-week trip, I’d instead recommend SafetyWing’s Essential plan. But if you’re traveling long-term and want peace of mind without constantly worrying about what isn’t covered, SafetyWing Complete is the kind of insurance that actually makes sense.
What’s Covered?
When I’m traveling abroad, whether I’m in Italy or Egypt, I can have peace of mind that if something goes wrong, I’m taken care of. Since I’m a solo traveler, it’s important to me. That’s because I don’t have a friend or partner around to help care for me if something goes wrong.
I once got really ill in Morocco with the most dire stomach pains, and at the time, I didn’t have travel insurance. In fact, I used to think it was important to purchase as a seasoned traveler myself! Boy, was I wrong! Thankfully, there was a doctor on my group trip but if there hadn’t been, I could have benefited deeply from visiting a local doctor. I would not have to worry about the cost of healthcare in a different country. Another example was when my flight was canceled; now that I had the insurance, it helped me get compensation for my troubles.
That being said, below is what you will typically find covered when you use SafetyWing Complete. It’s not just medical coverage, it’s also travel coverage if your flight is delayed or your valuables are stolen.
Medical
- Medical treatment and hospital stays
- Ambulance transport to hospitals
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency dental and routine dental for an additional cost
- Specialist visits to dermatologists, gynecologists, and gastroenterologists.
- Vaccines and preventive care
- Mental health support
- Wellness therapies such as visits to a chiropractor, acupuncture, or a dietitian.
- Maternity complications
Travel
- Lost or delayed luggage (per item and total policy limits)
- Trip interruption due to family death or other emergencies
- Travel delay compensation
- Stolen belongings
- Stolen passport
- Canceled accommodation coverage
Sports & Activity Coverage
- Coverage for injuries from leisure sports and typical travel activities
- Some high-risk or professional sports may still be excluded. Be sure to check the plan details if you plan heavy adventure activities.
Pros of SafetyWing Complete
- Designed for long-term travelers and digital nomads.
- Covers both emergency care and routine doctor visits.
- Includes preventative care such as checkups and screenings.
- Offers mental health coverage.
- Provides coverage in your home country, not just abroad.
- Monthly subscription model with no long-term commitment.
- Flexible coverage across multiple countries without needing to restart a policy.
- Includes some travel-related benefits like delays and lost luggage.
- More affordable than many full expat or global health insurance plans.
- For $20 extra a month, you can get electronic theft coverage.
Cons of SafetyWing Complete
- Does not cover pre-existing medical conditions
- There are annual limits for routine and preventative care.
- You have to add coverage for the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
- Most claims require paying upfront and requesting reimbursement later unless you use their virtual card valued up to $500.
- Dental and vision care are covered for emergencies, but you can add-on dental coverage for routine checkups.
- Coverage limits may feel low compared to premium global health insurance plans.
- Can be costly to use in high-expense healthcare countries.
- Limited coverage for extreme or high-risk adventure activities.
- The plan prices go up depending on your age bracket.
- The plan won’t cover you if you’re over 64 years old.
Mental Health Coverage for Long-Term Travelers
Mental health is important, especially when you’re traveling solo as I do and many other digital nomads do. Being away from your home country for long periods of time can be hard. That’s why the mental health coverage SafetyWing offers is a stellar bonus!
With your complete plan, you get up to 10 visits per policy year with a psychologist or psychiatrist. The outpatient limit is up to $5,000 per year.
Can it replace my regular health insurance?
It can act as your main health insurance if you’re abroad or living nomadically, as it includes routine care. But there are limitations for regular dental or eye care coverage. Dental can be added on.
How much does it cost?
The monthly cost for SafetyWing Complete depends on your age and the add-ons you get. The rough costs are below. You can add your spouse or children. Kids’ plans are 35% of the cost.
Prices as of January 2026:
| Age Group | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | $106.50 |
| 18–39 | $161.50 |
| 40–49 | $232.50 |
| 50–59 | $351.50 |
| 60–64 | $632.50 |
The Claims Process
You can freely choose whatever medical clinic you need and pay out of pocket or use SafetyWings virtual card. The virtual card gives you up to $500 to help you pay clinics or pharmacies upfront instead of using your own money. For more serious situations, such as hospitalization or emergency treatment, SafetyWing can arrange direct billing with certain hospitals. This means you don’t always have to pay out of pocket first.
To make the claim, you will need to show receipts and submit for online approval to be reimbursed. Simply log in to your SafetyWing account, click claim, upload all your receipts, and that’s it.
Once your documents are verified, you receive reimbursement directly to your bank or payment method.
The claims processing can take between 48 hours and reimbursement up to 10 days.
Why I chose it
After traveling full-time and living abroad, I’ve learned that flexibility is so important.
I don’t want to worry about restarting policies or losing coverage when I change countries. And I can still be insured when I go back home.
SafetyWing Complete fits my lifestyle. It works wherever I go, covers more than just emergencies, and lets me focus on traveling instead of worrying if I will actually be covered.
It’s truly the perfect solution if you’re looking for long-term travel insurance without breaking the bank. I highly recommend it to digital nomads or solo travelers looking to explore the world risk-free.
Hopefully, the post helps you better understand the benefits of SafetyWing Complete, the perfect travel insurance for long-term travel and digital nomads!
