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Anyone who travels frequently or long-term should definitely consider international health insurance. Especially digital nomads (without a permanent residence) definitely need health insurance that provides worldwide coverage in the event of illness or an accident.
Below is an overview of the best health insurance policies for globally traveling expats, nomads, and perpetual travelers. We also discuss the most important aspects when choosing insurance.
Criteria
Below is an overview of the most important criteria to consider when choosing the right travel health insurance. After all, there is no single best insurance for everyone; rather, everyone must find the insurance that suits them best.
Accordingly, the criteria must also be weighed individually.
Geographical reach
One of the most important points to consider first is the geographical coverage of the insurance. Different insurance providers have various models for this. Passport Card divides the insurance into different zones, whereas Genki offers a worldwide model.
Depending on how extensive you want the coverage to be in terms of geographic scope, you should choose the appropriate zones or, for worldwide travelers, a worldwide insurance policy. Especially for nomads who do not yet have concrete travel plans and often decide spontaneously, the latter is recommended.
Medical scope
The second important point is, of course, the scope of the medical insurance. For this, you have to look at each insurance policy in detail and truly weigh what you really need. On the one hand, regarding the coverage amount (e.g., max €1,000,000 per year), but also regarding the scope of benefits.
Cancer treatments, or areas of treatment that are typically not covered by budget packages or insurance benefits, include the following:
- Dentistry
- Physical therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Pregnancy
The latter is of course irrelevant for men, which is why, as mentioned, one should always look closely at what one actually needs.
Prevention vs. Emergency
One aspect linked to insurance benefits is, of course, insurance coverage in the areas of provisions and emergencies. In general, all insurance policies are primarily designed for emergencies, or that is where the packages begin. That is also the most important reason in favor of insurance—that one is protected in an unforeseen emergency.
For some, however, preventive care is just as important, or rather the coverage thereof. Accordingly, various insurance companies also offer different preventive care packages. Whether this is necessary is something one has to decide for oneself. Classic preventive medical checkups include, for example:
- Oral hygiene
- blood count
- Ultrasound of various organs
- Colonoscopy
Price
Ultimately, the price also determines which insurance you choose. Naturally, there are differences here as well, depending on which geographic region and medical coverage you want.
In addition, there are insurance policies that work with a deductible, meaning you have to pay for the service yourself up to amount X (e.g., €500) and everything above that is covered by the insurance.
The most expensive insurance doesn't always have to be the best one, and you should always get individual quotes for every insurance policy.
The best international health insurance plans without a place of residence
Based on years of experience and objective comparison, here are the best international health insurance providers compared, which are ideally suited for frequent travelers and digital nomads without a permanent residence.
Fine
A young provider that has nevertheless developed a strong offering primarily for digital nomads is Genki. The company from Germany was developed by digital nomads for digital nomads and is enjoying ever-increasing popularity.
The main reason for this lies in the simplicity of the services and packages. Basically, Genki offers two service packages: travel insurance (Traveler) and health insurance (Native). The latter was developed for digital nomads who are perpetual travelers. Both insurance packages are subject to the 1-zone model, which means worldwide coverage.
Those who choose Genki Native can then in turn choose between emergency and prevention + emergency. The latter is logically more expensive.
The cost for Genki can be determined within a few minutes using a simple online questionnaire.
Suitable for: The simplicity and fair pricing clearly speak for Genki. Definitely an insurance policy that makes the most sense for frequent travelers and digital nomads.
Passport Card
Another popular insurance originating from Germany is Passport Card. The insurance company, based in Hamburg, works in cooperation with Allianz Insurance and offers comprehensive travel and health insurance for expats and digital nomads.
The range of services offered by Passport Card is slightly more subdivided than that of Genki and requires more analysis when choosing the right package. Basically, Passport Card operates on the multi-zone principle, meaning there are different regions in which you are primarily insured.
Depending on which zone(s) you choose, you are geographically covered accordingly. This is particularly interesting and suitable for those who stay primarily in a certain zone (e.g., Middle East) and spend most of their time there. However, there are also worldwide coverages.
The range of services regarding medical coverage is also somewhat more split up here. Basically, there are 3 different service packages here. Basic, Comprehensive, and Executive cover different areas. Below is a brief overview.
The unique selling proposition here lies in the credit card you receive. Once approved, this can be pre-loaded and used to pay for various medical services.
In practice, Passport Card is usually a bit more expensive than Genki, but it is still an excellent insurance for expats and frequent travelers.
Suitable for: All those who only need certain zones and also want a larger division of the plans.
April
Another provider in the field of international health insurance that has been popular for many years is April International. The French insurance company is known for various plans for both individuals and businesses. However, the latter is of interest to very few.
April has been on the market for a very long time and offers affordable insurance for expats, travelers, and students. The product range is large, and the scope of benefits is split up even further into 4 packages. Here, you have to look at the details again and weigh what makes sense for you.
April, just like Passport Card, also offers an app that allows you to easily photograph and upload certain invoices.
Foyer
Another popular, but expensive, provider is Foyer Insurance from Luxembourg. The insurance service provider also offers services here for private individuals and companies. The plans are divided into 4 basic plans, which can be expanded with additional packages.
Across
A new, but increasingly popular insurance is Across Global Cover. This is not an insurance company, but rather a special tariff from the previously presented company April. This insurance tariff was developed by the German consulting firm Grenzenlos Sicher and is tailored to international expats and nomads.
The range of services was developed primarily for frequent travelers and digital nomads. Here you can choose between 3 different plans, determine a deductible, and also choose between 2 zones. In general, you are insured worldwide, but in certain countries, depending on the zone, only in certain cases.
Using a simple online form, you can calculate the insurance premium and also take out the insurance.
The only potential drawback: The insurance only applies if you have been insured continuously for the last 3 years.
Experiences
In our experience, worldwide health insurance is an absolute must for frequent travelers and digital nomads. Above all, Genki and Passport Card have convinced us in practice. In the meantime, however, Across is also a strong product that is becoming increasingly popular among German-speaking nomads.
Recommendation: Professional consulting
However, insurance should always be chosen individually, and professional advice is often recommended to find the right insurance.
Summary
The topic of insurance is unpleasant for many, but nevertheless important. In the field of international health insurance for travelers or people without a residence, there are a handful of providers that specialize and can also be recommended based on experience.
There is no single best provider for everyone; you should definitely compare and choose the plan that best suits your own needs.
