Moving abroad sounds like the start of your main-character era. New country, new apartment, new food, new people, maybe even a new version of yourself.
But then reality happens.
You get sick in a country where you barely know how the healthcare system works. Your flight gets canceled. Your luggage disappears. Or, worst of all, you end up in a hospital wondering, “Who is paying for this?”
That is where travel and expat insurance comes in.
But there is an important difference between travel insurance and international health insurance. If you’re only spending a few months abroad, a travel medical plan may be enough. If you’ve actually moved overseas and plan to stay for years, you’ll probably want something closer to full international health insurance.
Think of it like this: travel insurance is your emergency sidekick. Expat health insurance is more like having an entire Avengers team on call.
Below, we’ve compared some of the best options for expats, digital nomads, and long-term travelers so you can find the one that fits your life abroad.
| Insurance | Best For | Main Coverage | Length / Duration | Routine Healthcare | Emergency Evacuation | Medical Repatriation | Home-Country Coverage | Best For Expats? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Essential | Digital nomads and frequent travelers | Emergency medical care, hospital stays, medication, emergency evacuation, travel delays, and lost luggage | Designed for flexible travel coverage | Mainly emergency care | Included | Not specified in the article | Not specified in the article | Best for people who travel frequently rather than permanently relocate |
| SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Complete | Digital nomads and people living abroad | Routine and emergency medical care, specialist visits, cancer treatment, mental health support, preventive care, maternity benefits, and travel protections | Designed for people living abroad long term | Included | Included | Not specified in the article | Not specified in the article | Strong option for long-term expats |
| World Nomads | Adventure travelers and expats who travel frequently | Emergency medical care, accidents and injuries, trip cancellation, trip interruption, technology protection, and coverage for 150+ activities and sports | Primarily designed for travel | Primarily emergency care | Included | Not specified in the article | Not specified in the article | Better for traveling expats than permanent residents |
| Allianz Care | Expats who want comprehensive international health insurance | Hospital care, surgery, medical evacuation, with optional outpatient and dental coverage | Designed for long-term international health coverage | Available through outpatient coverage | Included | Not specified in the article | Depends on the selected area of coverage | Excellent for full-time expats |
| Genki Native | Long-term travelers and digital nomads living abroad | Medical treatment, hospital care, emergency treatment, medication, examinations, and medical repatriation | Designed for long-term international coverage | Not specified in the article | Not specifically stated | Included | Policy-dependent | Strong option for long-term travelers and expats |
| Genki Traveler | Short-term travelers and digital nomads | Medical treatment for new illnesses and accidents while abroad | Up to one year with monthly subscriptions | Primarily travel medical coverage | Not specified in the article | Not specified in the article | Limited to medical emergencies | Better for temporary stays abroad |
| IMG Global Medical | Expats looking for customizable long-term coverage | Hospital care, emergency evacuation, preventive care, maternity benefits, telehealth, dental care, and worldwide medical coverage | Designed for long-term international health insurance | Included | Included | Not specified in the article | Depends on the selected coverage area | Excellent for expats who want customizable coverage |
| Cigna International Health Insurance | Expats, families, retirees, and professionals | Hospital stays, medical treatment, global healthcare access, and 24/7 multilingual support | Designed for long-term international health coverage | Not specifically detailed in the article | Not specifically stated | Not specifically stated | Depends on the specific plan | Excellent for full-time expats |
How We Chose These Travel Insurance Providers
Choosing insurance is not exactly the most exciting part of moving abroad. Nobody watches Brooklyn 99 and thinks, “You know what would make this episode better? Reading an insurance policy.”
But it matters.
We looked at providers based on:
- Medical and emergency coverage
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- How long you can stay covered
- Coverage while living abroad
- Coverage when visiting your home country
- Adventure and sports coverage
- Routine healthcare
- Maternity and preventive care
- Ease of making claims
- Whether the plan is better suited for short-term travel or actually living abroad
We also looked at real-world discussions from expats and digital nomads to see what people actually care about when choosing coverage.
Top Expat Insurance Providers
Best Overall for Digital Nomads: SafetyWing
Best for: Digital nomads, freelancers, and expats who want simple global coverage
Key coverage: Emergency medical care, hospital stays, medication, emergency evacuation, travel delays, lost luggage, and more.
Why we like it: SafetyWing is one of the easier options to understand if you’re constantly moving between countries. Its Nomad Insurance Essential plan is designed mainly for unexpected medical problems while traveling, while Nomad Insurance Complete is a much more complete health plan for people actually living abroad.
The Complete plan includes routine and emergency medical care, specialist visits, cancer treatment, mental health support, preventive care, maternity benefits, and travel protections. It also offers coverage in 180+ countries, with U.S. coverage available as an extra.
In other words, SafetyWing can work whether you’re spending six months in Thailand or living your full-on Eat, Pray, Love era somewhere on the other side of the planet.
Watch out for: The Essential plan is still mainly travel medical insurance. If you’re actually relocating abroad, look closely at whether you need the more comprehensive Complete plan. Pre-existing conditions are also excluded from the Complete plan.
Best for Adventure Travelers: World Nomads
Best for: Expats who travel frequently and want coverage for activities and adventures
Key coverage: Emergency medical care, accidents and injuries, trip cancellation, trip interruption, tech protection, and coverage for 150+ activities and sports.
Why we like it: World Nomads is a strong choice if your version of “living abroad” involves spending your weekends doing things your mother would probably describe as “unnecessary risks.”
Its expat travel insurance can cover medical emergencies, accidents, damaged or stolen technology, cancellations, interruptions, and a large list of activities and sports.
So if your life abroad looks less like The Holiday and more like Indiana Jones, World Nomads is worth a look.
Watch out for: World Nomads is primarily designed around travel insurance, not replacing a full local or international health plan for someone who has permanently moved abroad.
Best for Comprehensive Expat Health Coverage: Allianz Care
Best for: Expats who want full international health insurance
Key coverage: Hospital care, surgery, medical evacuation, optional outpatient and dental coverage, and multi-country coverage.
Why we like it: Allianz Care is built more like a proper international health insurance provider than a simple travel insurance policy. You can choose your area of cover, including worldwide coverage or worldwide coverage excluding the USA, and add options such as outpatient and dental care.
It also has a MyHealth app and online portal where members can view their coverage, submit and track claims, and find healthcare providers.
Basically, it is the “I live here now” option.
You aren’t just passing through. You’re paying rent, figuring out local grocery stores, and slowly becoming the person who says, “Back home, we don’t do it like that.”
Watch out for: Comprehensive international health insurance can cost more than basic travel insurance, especially once you add extras such as outpatient or dental coverage.
Best for Flexible Health Coverage: Genki
Best for: Long-term travelers and digital nomads who want flexible international medical coverage
Key coverage: Medical treatment, hospital care, emergency treatment, medication, examinations, and medical repatriation.
Why we like it: Genki offers Genki Native, designed for people who need flexible, long-term international health coverage while living or traveling abroad. For shorter-term travelers, Genki also offers Genki Traveler, which provides travel health insurance for up to one year and can be paid for through monthly subscriptions.
Genki is especially interesting for people who don’t want to commit to a traditional local health insurance plan right away. Whether you’re looking for longer-term coverage with Genki Native or temporary protection through Genki Traveler, the flexibility makes it appealing for digital nomads and long-term travelers.
Think of it as the insurance equivalent of “I’ll see where life takes me.”
Watch out for: Genki Native and Genki Traveler are different types of coverage, so travelers should choose based on how long they plan to be abroad and how comprehensive they need their health coverage to be.
Best for Budget-Friendly Long-Term Coverage: IMG
Best for: Expats looking for customizable long-term international health insurance
Key coverage: Hospital care, emergency evacuation, preventive care, maternity benefits, telehealth, dental care, and worldwide medical coverage.
Why we like it: IMG offers international health insurance specifically designed for people living and working outside their home country. Its plans can be customized by coverage area, deductible, and plan level.
Its Global Medical plans include options with medical limits of up to $8 million, depending on the plan, as well as emergency evacuation, dental care, urgent care, and telehealth.
IMG is a good option if you want something more serious than basic travel insurance but still want control over how your policy is built.
It’s basically the build-your-own-character approach to insurance.
Watch out for: Because IMG offers many different plans, coverage can vary significantly. Don’t choose based on the headline medical limit alone. Check deductibles, exclusions, evacuation rules, and coverage in your country.
Best for Families and Full-Time Expats: Cigna
Best for: Expats, families, retirees, and professionals who want comprehensive international health insurance
Key coverage: Hospital stays, medical treatment, global healthcare access, 24/7 multilingual support, and customizable plans.
Why we like it: Cigna‘s international health plans are specifically designed for people living, working, retiring, or studying abroad. Its network covers more than 200 markets and territories, with access to millions of healthcare professionals and 24/7 customer service.
This makes Cigna a particularly good fit if you’re not just traveling abroad but actually building a life there.
It’s giving “new country, new chapter, but please make sure my healthcare is sorted” energy.
Watch out for: Cigna’s plans can be highly customizable, so the exact benefits depend on the policy you choose. Always check the specific plan terms instead of assuming every Cigna policy includes the same benefits.
Travel Insurance vs. Expat Health Insurance
This is probably the most important thing to understand before buying anything.
Travel insurance is generally designed to protect you from unexpected problems during a trip.
Think:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Accidents
- Lost luggage
- Flight delays
- Trip cancellation
- Emergency evacuation
- Travel interruptions
Expat health insurance is designed for people who actually live abroad.
Think:
- Regular doctor appointments
- Hospital treatment
- Specialist care
- Preventive checkups
- Prescription medication
- Maternity care
- Long-term medical treatment
- Emergency evacuation
- Healthcare in multiple countries
So if you’re spending three months backpacking around Europe, travel insurance may make sense.
If you’ve signed a one-year lease in Spain and already have a favorite bakery down the street, you’re probably looking at international health insurance.
Basically:
Traveling abroad = travel insurance.
Living abroad = international health insurance.
And if you’re somewhere in between, compare both.
What Should Expat Insurance Cover?
Choosing insurance isn’t just about finding the biggest number on the policy page.
A $5 million medical limit sounds great, but what happens when you actually need help?
Here are some of the features worth checking.
Medical Evacuation
If the hospital near you cannot provide the treatment you need, can your insurer arrange transportation to a better-equipped facility?
This could mean an air ambulance or another form of emergency medical transport.
Because “I guess I’ll just take a taxi to a better hospital” isn’t exactly a solid emergency plan.
Repatriation
What happens if you need to return to your home country for medical care?
And, as uncomfortable as it is to think about, what happens if you die abroad?
Repatriation coverage can help with the cost of transporting you or your remains home.
It’s not exactly the fun part of your Emily in Paris fantasy, but it is something worth checking.
Direct Billing
Does the insurer pay the hospital directly, or do you have to pay the bill yourself and wait for reimbursement?
This can make a huge difference.
Imagine getting a $20,000 hospital bill and having to put it on your credit card.
That’s not a plot twist. That’s a horror movie.
Home-Country Coverage
If you move abroad, don’t automatically assume your insurance will cover you when you go home.
Some policies provide limited home-country coverage, while others may exclude it completely.
Check the rules before booking that flight home.
Insurance “Hacks” That Could Save You Money
1. Consider Worldwide Coverage Excluding the USA
Healthcare in the United States can be extremely expensive, which is one reason worldwide insurance that includes the U.S. can cost significantly more.
If you live abroad and only return to the U.S. occasionally, compare the cost of:
Worldwide excluding USA + short-term U.S. travel insurance
instead of paying for worldwide coverage with the USA all year.
It’s basically the insurance version of Netflix password sharing: find the option that actually makes sense for how you use it.
Just make sure the separate U.S. policy covers the dates and situations you need.
2. Check Your Host Country’s Healthcare System First
If you have a resident visa, your host country may already provide access to public or national healthcare.
That doesn’t automatically mean you’re fully protected, though.
Many expats choose to combine:
Local/national healthcare + private local insurance + travel insurance for trips home or elsewhere.
It’s like having a backup save file in a video game.
You hope you never need it, but you’re going to be very glad it exists when something goes wrong.
Final Thoughts
Choosing expat insurance is not about finding the policy with the biggest number or the fanciest website.
It’s about figuring out what kind of life you’re actually living abroad.
Are you a digital nomad moving every few months?
A student spending a year overseas?
A family settling into a new country?
A retiree enjoying your Mamma Mia! era?
Or have you officially become the friend who says, “I’m actually thinking about moving here permanently”?
Your answer changes what kind of insurance makes sense.
For simple travel medical coverage, SafetyWing and World Nomads are worth considering. For more complete international health coverage, Allianz Care, IMG, and Cigna are stronger options. Genki can be a flexible choice for travelers and digital nomads who want a simpler setup.
The most important thing is to read the actual policy before buying. Check the exclusions, deductibles, home-country rules, pre-existing condition rules, evacuation benefits, and claim process.
Because living abroad should feel like the start of your next chapter.
Not the beginning of your financial villain origin story.
