Traveling is fun.
As long as you are healthy and happy.
But if you fall ill, or you are met with a medical problem then SafetyWing will help you.
Bills can pile up in some countries, especially when you decide to seek medical care in private facilities or when medical evacuation is needed from remote places to a more suitable medical facility.
Travel medical insurance with SafetyWing covers people in 185+ countries for medical emergencies.
A sprained ankle in Bangkok
Because accidents happen!
To give you an example: here’s my story!
Our nomadic travels landed us in Bangkok where we lived for 2 months, and there I had a little accident. I was walking on the sidewalk when I tripped over a loose tile and rolled my ankle. It didn’t hurt a lot at first, however the next day I could barely stand up. The hotel reception staff directed me to the nearest and best private hospital.
There the doctor told me that I had a sprained ankle and that I needed an X-ray. No fractures, but I had to wear a brace and use crutches for 2 weeks. He also prescribed me a bunch of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In the end I received excellent professional medical attention but I had racked up a bill of almost 14,000 bath (about 400 USD) including the consultation fee, the X-ray, brace, crutches and 2 weeks of medication.
That’s right!
SafetyWing
Medical care abroad can be very expensive, especially in private facilities.
There are public hospitals that are cheaper, but they are often overcrowded and understaffed. There are also clinics that are more affordable, but they may not have the equipment or expertise to handle serious cases.
My hospital bill of 400 USD might not sound like a huge amount of money, however that was more than half of our monthly budget. Fortunately I had travel medical coverage with SafetyWing and it didn’t cost me a penny.
So if you are planning on traveling or decide to become a digital nomad, we highly recommend getting travel medical coverage with SafetyWing.
SafetyWing offers Nomad Insurance that starts at just $42 per 4 weeks, and while I hope you never have to use it, it is there in case of emergencies that can rack up expenses so no need to worry about high hospital bills abroad.
This SafetyWing calculator allows you to immediately check what your travel medical insurance will cost, and purchase it straight away.
Try it out!
Tips before you travel
I learned a lot from this experience, and I want to share some tips with other travelers who might face similar situations:
- Always buy travel insurance that covers medical expenses and evacuation. Read the fine print and know what is included and excluded.
- Do some research on the health care system and facilities in your destination country before you go. Find out where you can get quality care and how much it costs.
- If you need medical attention, ask for recommendations from trustworthy sources, such as your embassy, hotel staff, or fellow travelers.
- If you need to be transferred to another facility or country for treatment, make sure you understand the risks and costs involved. Ask for written estimates and invoices, and keep all receipts.
- If you have any problems or disputes with your health care providers or insurance company, contact your embassy or a local lawyer for assistance.