The Best Travel Insurance for South African Digital Nomads

Are you about to go on your first no-return date, fully remote world adventure, but overwhelmed with all the admin, like finding the right travel insurance?

Then you’re in the right place, my friend.

For the last eight years, I’ve been splitting my time between Cape Town and the world, and it’s been quite the journey finding long-term global travel insurance that doesn’t require a sacrificial kidney to afford.

Here’s a deep dive into what you need to look for in policies and why I’m smitten with my go-to provider, Safety Wing.

What to Look for in Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads

The tricky thing with travel insurance for digital nomads is that we need a plan that does more than provide cover for emergencies.

When you’re on the road for six months or a couple of years, you need coverage that offers additional perks like home country coverage and the ability to purchase before or during your trip.

Here are a few crucial boxes you’ll want to tick off when comparing insurance plans:

• Global coverage (who knows where you might end up?)
• The ability to visit any doctor and submit a claim.
• Home country coverage (so you don’t need to pay for two policies).
• The ability to include extras like adventure sports and electronic theft coverage.
• A policy with at least $100,000 USD in medical coverage.
• Travel coverage like travel delay, lost luggage, and trip interruption.
• Evacuation, personal liability and repatriation of your remains.

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Why I Think SafetyWing is The Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads

When I first stumbled across SafetyWing a few years ago, the heavens opened, and angels descended.

It was exactly what I was looking for. I hadn’t seen any other travel insurance providers cater to long-term travellers like myself.

(Fun fact: SafetyWing was built by fellow digital nomads, which explains why they created such an incredible product.)

I had cancelled my Discovery Health medical insurance when I went to teach English in Thailand and had stopped buying travel insurance because it was too expensive.

…Not the greatest idea I’ve had, and luckily, sh*t didn’t hit the fan too much while I was galavanting around the world… I only lost my passport in Thailand and Georgia.

Here’s what made SafetyWing stand out to me and made signing up for a policy a no-brainer.

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It’s Hella Affordable for South African Travellers

At the time of writing, a 4-week SafetyWing policy costs $56.23.

That’s only R1,052.00 per month!

A similar one-month policy with TIC (who undersigns FNB’s global travel insurance policy) would cost R1,915.00.

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You’re Not Locked Into a Contract

You can cancel your SafetyWing policy anytime.

As someone who values flexibility and hates contracts, that speaks to me on a deep soul level.

Also, sh*t happens when you travel.

You may think you’re going away for a year of remote work, but some family K-drama goes down back home, and your well-curated plans go up in the air.

…Or something happens with your remote job, and your company switches to a hybrid module.

Whatever it is, not being locked into anything is always a green flag, and it means you’ll never end up paying for something you no longer need.

P.S. You do have the option to pay for your entire policy upfront.

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You Can Get Health Insurance Too!

When you have no fixed home base, it’s not enough to only have your luggage and emergency hospital visit covered.

SafetyWing also offers digital nomads a comprehensive global health plan.

It covers your country of residence and 175+ destinations around the world for only $125 (R2,500) per month.

That’s still cheaper than a lot of the medical insurance plans in South Africa.

Psst…This is a separate product from SafetyWing’s travel insurance.

Read More: Digital Nomad Visas: 15+ Destinations That Let You Work Remotely

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It Comes With These Perks That I Really Love

Get ready for a rapid-fire list of perks in 3…2…1!

• You get 30 days of coverage for your home country for every three months abroad.
• You can buy your policy at any time before or during your trip.
• You’re covered for medical and travel emergencies.
• You get coverage for 180+ countries.
• You can visit any doctor and submit a claim.
• You can add electronics theft and adventure sports to your policy.

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SafetyWing vs. World Nomads

As someone who has used both SafetyWing and World Nomads, I can tell you that there are slight differences between these policies that make all the difference.

SafetyWing is more affordable. Plans with World Nomads start at $120 for four weeks, while SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance comes in at the low cost of $56.28.

When you’re travelling on a currency like South African Rands, every single dollar you can save is a big deal.

Next, World Nomads requires a one-time lump payment, whereas SafetyWing works on a subscription model. This is great if you’re a digital nomad like me who doesn’t like to plan things too far in advance and would rather split the payments up monthly.

While World Nomads has extensive adventure sports coverage, SafetyWing offers this as an additional add-on if you plan on scuba diving in Bali or rock climbing in Thailand. 

Lastly, World Nomads doesn’t offer home-country coverage like SafetyWing. 

In my humble opinion, World Nomads is an excellent option if you’re a traveller going on holiday. But for digital nomads with long-term travel plans, Safety Wing’s policy makes more sense.

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Digital Nomad Travel Insurance FAQ

Got questions? I’ve got the answers.

Does the Nomad Insurance Cover Medical Expenses Only, or Does It Include Evacuation and Repatriation as Well? Yes, it does include evacuation and repatriation. You’ll get evacuation from local political unrest for up to $10,000-lifetime max and Up to $20,000 for repatriation.

Does Nomad Insurance Provide Coverage for Trip Interruptions? Yes, it does! You can get up to $5,000 for a trip interruption and up to $100 per day for up to 2 days for an unplanned overnight stay.

Is SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Health Insurance? No, it’s only a travel medical insurance policy. It’s there to cover any emergency accidents and illnesses that happen while you’re abroad. If you want health insurance, check out their other product, Nomad Health.

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So, there you have it, my mini-thesis on why SafetyWing offers the best travel insurance for South African digital nomads.

Got any questions about travelling long-term or anything else? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below!

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