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One of your main concerns must be what happens if you get sick so far from home – and you should. You are not sure which risks wait for you, and it can get really expensive. One emergency treatment for an infection in Bali would cost me more than 500 usd. That’s because we are not talking about hospitalization yet. Believe me, it is more common than you might think.
So, how to deal with that? In this post, I compare Genki vs SafetyWing travel insurance based on coverage, pricing, deductibles, and my real experience using both while traveling long-term.
If you are doing a trip within a limited time, you can buy a traditional travel insurance from your country. But, if you plan to stay long-term, it might be an issue. Most travel insurances are not valid if you purchase them once you have already left your country. That is why the new nomad insurance options make so much sense.
Quick answer if you wondering which one to hire:
- Choose Genki Traveler if you want higher coverage, including adventure sports and no upfront payment in case of hospitalization;
- Choose SafetyWing if you are more cost-conscious, and also want luggage protection and other travel perks.
Genki vs SafetyWing Comparison Table
| Feature | SafetyWing Nomad Essential | Genki Genki Traveler |
| Billing Frequency | every 4 weeks (28 days) | Monthly (billed on the the day of the month) |
| Deductible | 0 | €50 |
| Coverage | $250,000 per policy period | €1,000,000 per policy year |
| Adventure Sports | +$10 | 0 |
| Luggage protection | included | not included |
| Dental care | emergency only, up to $1000 | emergency only, up to €1000 |
Plan Overview: What Are They?
Genki Traveler
Genki Traveler is a global travel health insurance plan designed for long-term travelers and digital nomads who want medical coverage abroad. It’s medically focused, and emphasizes emergency and hospital coverage.
Key features:
- Worldwide medical coverage, excluding your home country.
- Covers new illnesses and accident-related care, including hospital visits, surgeries, ambulance transport, and some dental emergency care up to €1,000 per case.
- Offers physiotherapy sessions after injury, and covers many common recreational sports.
- Has a €50 deductible per claim (waived for inpatient care).
- Coverage periods range up to 12 months, with a 14-day waiting period before full benefits begin for non-emergencies.
- Excludes routine care, preventive visits, maternity care, and most pre-existing conditions.
This plan is good for travelers who primarily want strong medical protection and are comfortable adding other travel protections (like baggage or cancellation) separately.
SafetyWing (Nomad Insurance)
SafetyWing offers a more hybrid travel + medical insurance model, popular with digital nomads because it blends medical protection with travel benefits under a flexible subscription.
Key features:
- Includes medical and travel-related benefits such as lost luggage, travel delays, trip interruption, and emergency transportation.
- Covers both inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostics, surgery, and emergency treatment up to stated limits.
- No standard deductible on its basic Essential plan, though some costs (like U.S. emergency care) may involve co-pays.
- A subscription model that can be paid every four weeks, with the option to cancel anytime.
- Travel perks like reimbursement for lost backpacks or stolen passports are included.
SafetyWing is often chosen for its flexibility and travel protections, making it attractive for nomads who want more than just emergency medical coverage.
Coverage Breakdown: What Does Genki Cover vs SafetyWing?
Here’s how Genki and SafetyWing stack up across core coverage categories your readers care about:
Medical Emergency Coverage
- Genki: Medical care for sudden illnesses or injuries, hospitalization, medication, ambulance transport, emergency dental (up to €1,000).
- SafetyWing: Medical treatment up to a fixed maximum limit, including hospital stays, diagnostics, and outpatient care.
Winner: Genki tends to offer higher overall medical limits by default and includes more defined care options.
Coverage Limits
- Genki: Up to €1,000,000 per year, providing a good cushion for serious emergencies.
- SafetyWing: Typically up to $250,000 per policy period.
Higher limits mean more security in the rare worst-case scenario (e.g., major surgery or evacuation).
Deductibles & Costs at Claim Time
- Genki: A €50 deductible per claim (hospital stays often bypass this).
- SafetyWing: No standard deductible on the Essential plan, though specific services like U.S. emergency visits may have co-pays.
SafetyWing’s structure can be easier for small incidents because there’s no upfront out-of-pocket cost for many claims.
Travel Benefits Beyond Health
- Genki: Primarily medical — it does not include baggage loss, flight delay, or trip interruption protections in the base plan.
- SafetyWing: Includes travel perks such as lost luggage reimbursement, travel delays, and trip interruption benefits.
For travelers who want both health and travel incident coverage in one policy, SafetyWing covers more dimensions out of the box.
Sports & Activities
- Genki: Covers many recreational sports like cycling and skiing as part of the standard policy, though extreme activities may need additional (example: hikes above 4000 feet).
- SafetyWing: Covers basic leisure activities and has add-ons for more extreme sports coverage.
Both plans handle everyday adventure well, but SafetyWing may require add-ons for high-risk activities.
Pricing & Value: Is Genki or SafetyWing Cheaper in the Long Run?
Here’s a realistic look at cost differences, keeping in mind prices vary by age, country of residence, and plan tier:
Genki Traveler
- Typical starting price for younger travelers is €52.50 (under 30) or €63.90 (under 40) per month (or equivalent in USD).
- Older age brackets pay more, and upgraded plans (like Native Basic/Premium) with additional benefits can be significantly higher (often €180+ per month).
- You pay a monthly subscription that covers health emergencies but excludes most travel perks.
Value point: Strong medical protection and higher limits might make Genki a better fit if your priority is health security.
SafetyWing
- The Essential plan has a transparent starting rate of about $56.28 per 4 weeks for travelers under 40.
- Prices rise with age, and the more comprehensive Complete plan costs more but bundles travel protections.
- SafetyWing’s pricing structure allows you to cancel anytime and doesn’t require fixed durations.
Value point: SafetyWing often costs less upfront for combined medical and travel benefits, although the coverage is lower.
My Experience With SafetyWing
SafetyWing covered all of my expenses when it was necessary. I used it while in Indonesia and Thailand. You just need to make sure you collect the right documents with the doctor, and your reimbursement will be made with no problems.
One issue I had with it at the time was that SafetyWing required a $250 deductible, which made the plan much pricier. It has since ended that policy for non-US users, which makes its price more attractive now.
Although my experience was perfect, many people complain about the coverage of SafetyWing. If you plan to practice adventure sports and be covered, for example, you will need to pay an extra fee, and select it before your insurance is renewed on the month you want coverage..
My Experience With Genki
I changed to Genki because it had no deductible at the time, but it soon changed. Now, for each medical occurrence you need to pay a deductible of $50 usd – that means you pay it only once, even if you need multiple medical visits for one single occurrence. It’s coverage is also broader, with a higher limit expenses.
Another characteristic I find interesting is that, in case of hospitalization, you don’t need to pay upfront (but only in this case; in the others, you pay first and then get reimbursed). This is a good thing in case you don’t have enough funds or credit card limit to pay.
On the other hand, SafetyWing also includes protection for luggage loss and evacuation.
All above considered, their essential plans have about the same price (but different benefits, and deductibles). You can evaluate what makes sense for you!
Claim Process
In short: the claim process is bureaucratic but manageable if you collect the right documents from the start. The process to create a claim might feel stressful when you are already under tension with your health situation, but it is actually simple.
You need documents signed by a doctor describing your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It needs to be in English. That’s all.
Once I had an issue with a claim for SafetyWing because the doctor didn’t give me a document describing my diagnosis, only the treatment. I asked the hospital by e-mail, they sent me a document in Thai. SafetyWing still didn’t accepted it. I asked the hospital again, and this time they sent me the right document in English. I submitted it to SafetyWing and had my claim accepted. The whole process took around one month, but in part because I was not in a rush myself.
So, if you have a problem with a claim, keep your calm, ask for further orientation, and communicate with the hospital.
On that matter, international hospitals usually offer an easier proccess, as they are already used to the travel insurance models.
Frequently Asked Questions: Genki vs SafetyWing
Is Genki or SafetyWing better for digital nomads?
It depends on your priorities. Genki is better if you want higher medical coverage limits and do adventure sports frequently. SafetyWing is often preferred by digital nomads who are cost-conscious and want and travel benefits like luggage protection and trip interruption.
Which insurance has higher medical coverage, Genki or SafetyWing?
Genki offers up to €1,000,000 in medical coverage per policy year, while SafetyWing’s Essential plan typically covers up to $250,000 per policy period. For serious medical emergencies, Genki provides a higher safety margin.
Does SafetyWing cover travel issues like lost luggage?
Yes. SafetyWing includes travel-related benefits such as lost luggage, travel delays, and trip interruption. Genki focuses almost exclusively on medical coverage and does not include these benefits in its base plan.
Do Genki and SafetyWing have deductibles?
Genki has a €50 deductible per medical occurrence. SafetyWing’s Essential plan has no standard deductible for most users, though certain services may involve co-pays, especially in the U.S.
Can I buy Genki or SafetyWing after leaving my home country?
Yes. Both Genki and SafetyWing are designed for travelers who are already abroad, which makes them popular choices for long-term travelers and digital nomads.
Which insurance is cheaper?
Prices are similar for basic plans and vary by age. SafetyWing is often slightly cheaper upfront, while Genki may offer better value if medical coverage depth is your main concern.
Are adventure sports covered?
Both plans cover common recreational activities. SafetyWing may require add-ons for higher-risk sports, while Genki includes many activities by default but excludes extreme sports.
