The perfect insurance for digital nomads

This article contains affiliate links to Genki. If you sign up through them, Start Loaded may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend cover I use myself.

The doctors there insisted that I needed an epidural, which I knew was unnecessary. I argued with them, but they were adamant. I was in a lot of pain and the conditions in the hospital weren’t what I was used to. The room was dirty and the equipment was old. I was in a foreign country, in severe pain and alone. It was a scary and stressful experience. And I knew that the doctors were just trying to get as much money out of me as possible. Unfortunately, my insurance had just run out and I had to pay for medical treatment out of my own pocket and couldn’t really afford transport to a better hospital on another island.

A few months later, I was on a six week cycling tour of Spain and France with my brothers. We cycled through tough mountains and difficult terrain. But when we arrived in Barcelona, I injured myself in the most stupid way. I fell off my bike when it wasn’t moving at all. I was trying to avoid falling down a flight of stairs. Before I knew it, my leg was bleeding badly. I had cut it with the crankset.

Since the incident with the urchin, I had learned my lesson and taken out insurance. I called my insurance company and they assured me that my insurance would cover the cost of stitches.

I went to a hospital with a good reputation, the staff were friendly and the equipment was modern. The experience was much better than the urchin incident. I recovered quickly and was able to resume my normal activities quickly.

It was difficult to find insurance that worked, as I am rarely in my home country. Insurance usually expires after a certain time or is super expensive.

That is why I partnered with Genki. They offer insurance specifically for digital nomads like me. They really understand how my lifestyle works and make the whole process super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to sign up and be insured. This was great because my other insurance had expired and I wanted to go surfing that day.

If you are a digital nomad or interested in this lifestyle, I highly recommend finding insurance that adapts to the constant traveller. After suffering from a few injuries whilst on the road, I never want to be unprotected again.

Genki today

The plan I first signed up for, Genki Explorer, is no longer sold. Genki’s travel health insurance is now called Genki Traveler. Under its current insurance conditions:

• It covers unexpected illness and injury worldwide for up to 12 months, up to €1 million.
• You pay monthly and can cancel online any time after the first month.
• You can sign up while you are already travelling. If you have no previous cover, only emergencies are covered for the first 14 days.
• Surfing and recreational cycling are covered, with a few exclusions such as big wave surfing and extreme downhill riding.
• You pay the first €50 of each case, and hospital stays are paid directly.

The price depends on your age, start date and region. You can check your price on Genki.

Want to be ready before anything happens? Read what to do if you get sick or injured abroad, my guides to travel insurance for surfers and travel insurance for cycling tours, and my full guide to insurance for digital nomads.