How Digital Nomads Can Benefit From Travel Protection

Becoming a digital nomad is something many office workers dream of, especially at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. However, it’s not a decision to be made lightly or to be undertaken without some safety nets.

Not only do you want to make sure you have an ample nest egg so you’re not constantly scrimping when you’re abroad, but you want to make sure you’re protected against the unexpected.

Medical emergencies, for instance. In countries with universal healthcare, visitors are usually not given care for free. They’re expected to often pay up-front.

In a scenario like that, how do you make sure you can pay?

Answer: travel insurance.

Digital nomads are really just tourists on a very long trip. And travel protection can cover American tourists on very long trips.

Also read: Travel Insurance for Longer Trips

What to understand

The two big things you have to understand with travel protection for digital nomads are: “What does the travel protection cover?” and “How long can I stay abroad and be covered?”

What the plan covers

What digital nomads need out of travel protection is a little different than what other travelers need.

For instance, Baggage coverage may not be as crucial because once you settle in to a new location, you might not be lugging your valuables around constantly with you like you might as a normal tourist.

Because the nomad lifestyle means you’re likely traveling in a more relaxed mode, Travel Delay coverage isn’t quite as important, though you’ll want Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage for your journeys there and back.

On the other hand, Medical and Dental coverage is vital for travel insurance for digital nomads because domestic health insurance may offer little or no coverage for medical expenses incurred abroad.

Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage is similarly important. Look for a plan that includes coverage for transportation back to the United States.

You should also ensure your provider includes an often-overlooked feature that can be extremely useful – 24/7 Travel Assistance. Travel protection from Generali Global Assistance includes these valuable services as a cornerstone of our plans.

Also read: The 10 Best Destinations for Digital Nomads Ranked

How long you can stay abroad and be covered

In terms of how long you can be covered, each provider has different rules, but the travel insurance and assistance services from Generali Global Assistance will cover you abroad for up to 365 days under one plan. And getting a quote is easy.

So how about this question: Is the medical coverage available with travel insurance adequate for countries that require digital nomads to have private health insurance?

The answer is generally yes, but you’ll want to check with a variety of sources – a travel professional, the travel insurance company, and perhaps the embassy or consulate of the country where you’ll be spending most of your time.

Ultimately, travel protection is a worthwhile purchase for digital nomads. It doesn’t have to be extremely expensive, and when you choose Generali Global Assistance, plans can provide needed coverage for up to a year.

It may not be the stuff you daydream about at 2 p.m. on a Friday, but it’s important nonetheless.