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.
One of the questions I get most from people starting out as digital nomads is simple: do I need travel insurance or proper health insurance? The honest answer is that they do different jobs. Picking the wrong one is how people end up paying for treatment they thought was covered.
The short answer
Travel health insurance covers unexpected illness and injury while you are travelling. Think broken wrists, infections and food poisoning.
International health insurance, sometimes called expat health insurance, covers your healthcare while you live abroad. That can include checkups, ongoing conditions, dental care and mental health, depending on the plan.
If you are on a trip, you probably need the first. If you are building a life abroad, you probably need the second.
What travel health insurance is for
Travel health insurance is built for the unexpected. It usually covers emergencies, urgent treatment, hospital stays and getting you home if it is medically necessary. It usually does not cover conditions you already had, routine care or treatment that can safely wait until you are home.
Genki Traveler is a good example. According to its current conditions, it covers unexpected injuries and illnesses worldwide for up to 12 months, up to €1 million, and it is open to people up to the age of 69. It excludes mental health care, maternity, preventive care and dental care except after accidents. It is designed as cover abroad, not as a replacement for healthcare in your home country.
What international health insurance is for
International health insurance is closer to the health insurance you would have at home. It is designed for people who live abroad for years, not weeks. Plans are usually more expensive, but they cover much more of your everyday healthcare.
Genki Native is Genki’s long term option for nomads, expats and families. Its basic plan covers doctor visits, hospital stays, procedures and medication, including chronic conditions. The premium plan adds dental care, maternity care after a 12 month waiting period, mental health care, vision and €500 a year for checkups and vaccinations. Genki lists it from €189 a month for someone aged 20 to 24 on the basic plan with no deductible. You can join up to the age of 55, and cover in the USA is limited.
Side by side
| Travel health insurance | International health insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Trips, gap years, a season abroad | Living abroad for years |
| Main job | Unexpected illness and injury | Your ongoing healthcare |
| Existing conditions | Usually excluded | Often considered case by case |
| Checkups and dental | Usually not covered | Often included on higher plans |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Genki example | Genki Traveler: up to 12 months, up to age 69 | Genki Native: no end date, join up to age 55 |
Which one fits you?
You are travelling for a few weeks or months
Travel health insurance is usually enough, as long as you still have healthcare at home to go back to.
You move every few months with no fixed base
This is the grey area most digital nomads live in. If you are healthy and still have access to care at home, travel health insurance can work, renewed year by year. If you no longer have that safety net, look at an international plan.
You have settled in one country
International health insurance, local health insurance or both. Some countries require residents to have specific local cover, and Genki points out that Genki Native is not a replacement for that. Check the rules where you live.
Questions to ask before you buy
- How long will I be away, and do I still have healthcare at home?
- Do I have a condition that needs regular treatment?
- Do I want checkups, dental and mental health care included?
- Will I spend time in the USA or Canada?
- Which sports and activities do I do?
If you want a wider overview, read my comprehensive guide to insurance for digital nomads. New to this lifestyle? Start with what a digital nomad actually is.
Start with the life you actually live
Buy insurance for the way you really travel, not the way you plan to on paper. I am rarely in my home country, so I need cover that moves with me. If you are in the same position, you can compare Genki Traveler and Genki Native on their website. Already abroad without cover? Read whether you can buy travel insurance when you are already abroad.
Photo by Daniel Hobiera on Unsplash.
travelling soon?
Genki Traveler: Health Insurance for Nomads
Worldwide cover for unexpected illness and injury for up to 12 months. Sign up in minutes, even if you are already travelling.
P.S. I use Genki myself. This is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
