When you live and work around the world, travel and medical insurance isn’t just a checkbox on your to-do list. It’s your lifeline. In this episode of The Nomad Summit Podcast, hosts Palle Bo and Christoph Huebner explore the ins and outs of finding the right insurance as a digital nomad – what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make sure you’re covered wherever your journey takes you.
Christoph isn’t just a co-host this time. He’s also an experienced insurance broker with NOMADS.insure, specializing in helping remote workers and long-term travelers find the best possible protection for their lifestyle. In this episode he shares insights and common misconceptions from years of experience in the field.
Travel Insurance vs. International Health Insurance
One of the biggest misconceptions among digital nomads is thinking that travel insurance and international health insurance are the same. They’re not. Travel insurance typically covers short-term trips, emergencies, or cancellations. But when you’re living abroad for months or years, you need international health insurance that protects you wherever you go – not just while you’re “on holiday.”
Christoph breaks down how these two types of coverage differ in purpose and structure. He explains that while travel insurance might be cheaper upfront, it’s often not built for the realities of long-term travel – especially not if you don’t have an underlying comprehensive health insurance back home anymore.
Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Your Home-Country Policy
Many travelers assume their home-country health insurance will keep them safe abroad. Unfortunately, that’s rarely true. Most policies are designed for domestic coverage and often exclude long-term stays outside the country. Even if they include emergency travel coverage, it usually only applies for a limited time – often 30 or 60 days.
Christoph and Palle discuss real-world examples of nomads who found out the hard way that their home coverage didn’t extend overseas. From hospital stays to medical evacuations, these stories show why understanding your policy is crucial before you hit the road.
What to Look for in a Nomad Insurance Plan
Choosing the right insurance can feel overwhelming, especially with so many companies claiming to offer “nomad-friendly” plans. Christoph simplifies the process by pointing out key factors to look for:
- Global coverage, including your home country
- Flexibility to change destinations without losing protection
- Reliable claims process and customer service
- Coverage for both emergency and routine medical care
He also highlights that the cheapest plan isn’t always the smartest one. Many low-cost options have high deductibles, low coverage limits, or exclusions that can lead to expensive surprises later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Insurance
During the conversation, Palle and Christoph share common mistakes digital nomads make when buying insurance. These include failing to read the fine print, underestimating the importance of evacuation coverage, and assuming that “global” means “everywhere.”
Christoph also stresses the value of working with an independent broker who understands the nomad lifestyle. Instead of selling a one-size-fits-all policy, a broker can compare plans from multiple providers and tailor coverage to your specific needs and travel patterns. And more important: A broker can perform anonymized pre-approvals from medical underwriters in order to get pre-existing conditions checked without disclosing a customers identity.
Peace of Mind for the Modern Nomad
For digital nomads, having the right insurance isn’t just about financial protection – it’s about freedom. It allows you to explore new countries, try new experiences, and take professional risks without worrying about what might happen if things go wrong.
We travel for the joy of discovery, not the fear of uncertainty. With the right coverage, you can focus on what really matters – the adventure.
Listen to the Full Conversation
Tune in to Episode 24 of The Nomad Summit Podcast to hear the full discussion between Palle Bo and Christoph Huebner. They share personal stories, expert advice, and practical tips for finding insurance that truly fits the nomadic lifestyle.
Great episode! This topic is so crucial for our community. Christoph’s point about not relying on home-country policies really hit home. It brings up a question I’ve been wrestling with, especially as someone managing a chronic condition while living this lifestyle.
You mentioned the importance of comprehensive international health insurance over travel insurance for long-term care. I was recently reading a detailed guide on managing chronic conditions as a nomad that echoed this exact sentiment. Sorry for dropping a link here, but it really helps illustrate my question: [LINK REMOVED]
My question is: For those of us with pre-existing conditions, how does the pre-approval process with an independent broker (like you mentioned with NOMADS.insure) actually work in practice? Does having that broker intermediary help navigate the complexities of getting conditions covered across different international providers, or are we still likely to face significant limitations and higher premiums? Would love to hear more about the real-world success rates of getting things like diabetes or mental health care properly covered through this anonymized pre-approval process. Thanks for the incredibly valuable content!
Hey Derek! Happy to answer. Unfortunately chronic pre-existing conditions aren’t anything a private insurance would cover in an individual contract (large group contracts like through big remote employers are a different game). As I said in the podcast: Insurance is there to cover uncertain risk. A chronic condition is a certain risks that can’t be covered – at least not at standard rates. If it’s a minor thing then insurance providers add a risk surcharge that’s adequate to the elevated risk of future consequences.
The anonymized pre-approval makes sense for pre-existing conditions that are in a process of treatment and healing. Or where once would be willing to accept a surcharge (e.g. for high blood pressure or obesity) or an exclusion (e.g. for mental disorders or a missing limb). Diabetes can be something where an insurance providers is willing to cover all other future medical risks but will always exclude the treatment and consequences of the diabetes. But to be honest: If it’s well regulated and you are living with it for a long time already then buying your insulin yourself might be something that in most regions of the world is affordable.
I hope that helped to clarify!