Choosing Medical Insurance for Long-Term Travel

Our tips for how to decide on medical coverage abroad, and specifically what to look for in international medical insurance for long-term travellers. We go through our entire decision-making process for our own health insurance for travel, plus what's included in our package and the total amount we pay.
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ABOUT US
Ready to get your finances in shape, leave your job behind and see the world? We're Stephanie and Gillian, a couple who retired early from our corporate careers after many years of saving and investing. We've been traveling the world full time ever since. Every Sunday, we share the inspiration and motivation you need for getting to early retirement and a life of travel.
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○ Travel gear & services bit.ly/33ghWhk
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MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO
from Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicsound.com
Times Square by Onda Norte
This Is What She Told Me by Tomas Skyldeberg
Rays of Hope by Tomas Skyldeberg
Broken Trust by Hallman
#MedicalCoverageAbroad #InternationalMedicalInsurance #HealthInsuranceForTravellers #Cigna #SafetyWing

[@OurFreedomYears]

What type of insurance do you use for covering your travel? Whether it’s for short trips or full-time travel, let everyone know in the comments below...

[@ActNormalKid]

Thank you so much for being so *detailed*! I really love the transparency on this channel. A lot of similar channels love to give estimations and not exact numbers. I get that salaries and things like that don’t need to be shared, but the specifics you both give actually make it possible for someone else to develop their own plan! Thanks, S and G!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks Amber! We've received so many questions about insurance that we thought it would be most helpful to give all the details and how we made our decisions. Great to hear it's appreciated! 😊

[@VegasNegus]

Great video here. I had just finished doing my own search, and found Cigna had the best policy overall for my slow world travel. There were cheaper premiums I found but those also came with exclusions as to countries and benefit caps. For those living / traveling primarily in Asia a good choice also is Pacific Cross. Happy Landings.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Nice to know that your research turned up the same result! We're still with Cigna but fortunately haven't had to make any claims as yet.

[@glauciod2444]

As always the video was detailed, informative and fun to watch. I really enjoy your channel and look forward to watching your future travels. Cheers!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Glaucio - Thanks very much! That's great to hear. 😊

[@lursf9316]

@3:57 thx a lot for mentioning what you actually ended up getting. most other videos are too general to be useful for someone trying to pick a plan or a company. i applaud you for giving specifics. i ended up getting allianz for my trip.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you found the video helpful! Choosing insurance is not an easy task with so many variables to think about.

[@moneybee]

Very detailed and thorough breakdown! As someone on a FIRE journey myself that is motivated by travel, this was an area I was always curious about. Insurance really adds up, and I appreciate the thoughtful analysis! Great video as always, I'm excited to see more!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks -- that's great to hear. We've found that many people interested in FIRE are also very keen on travel and particularly in how much it costs. Glad you found it helpful!

[@nomadnumbers]

Hi Moneybee. If you are looking for an additional blog for people on the other side of the FIRE journey that also love travel and that disclose their spending numbers, you might want to check out our own. We recently shared the detailed breakdown of our 2nd full year of nomadic travel that is a great starting point: www.nomadnumbers.com/year-two-nomadic-travel-spending-report/. We also have detailed destinations reports linked to this post. We recently interviewed Stephanie and Gillian on our blog, so hopefully they will be cool with us to share this relevant link here :-)

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@nomadnumbers Thanks for sharing here! This is a very detailed report that we found to be quite helpful as we reflect on our own travel costs.

[@bradOne]

It's so fantastic and refreshing that your videos are spot on. In that they are detailed, to the point, very informative and most importantly for me, they are not too lengthy. Keep up the great work and all the best for the future 😁

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great to hear that you find our videos helpful! We do try to keep them short and useful. 😊 We've just arrived in Serbia so lots of new content on our latest adventures will be coming out in the next couple weeks.

[@PoolCarol]

Love ya'll and the hard core information you give me. I have dreamed of doing what you are doing my whole life. I guess there are two kinds of people: some are trees and some are tumbleweeds. Clearly ya'll are tumbleweeds and I want to join your ranks. Keep up the great videos. I am learning a lot.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Happy to be a tumbleweed! Welcome to the channel - glad you found us. 😊

[@Val-T.]

Great video, very informative as usual! You guys are still young, and this will not affect you for some time, but I would add a couple of other areas to be researched by anyone over 50: - Premium inflation as you age; some companies raise their prices by a huge margin when you reach 60, 70, etc., and it will be difficult to switch to another provider at those ages, especially if you have preexisting conditions. It would be wise to read the premium table by age before committing. - Right not to renew: will the provider have the right to terminate your contract after the year is up, which they might do if an expensive medical issue like cancer makes you an "unprofitable" client in the future? From my own early research, it looks like some companies (mostly European it seems) guarantee that they will keep you on as a customer, but a lot will either jack up premium prices to drive you out or refuse to renew.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Val, thanks for raising these really important points! It is easy to be a become a bit complacent while youngish and still healthy but it's better to choose wisely upfront and avoid potential hassles and costs later on. I will plan to look at these more closely going forward.

[@ChrisAndEmilie]

Very helpful! As we start our nomad life, not having a permanent address always seems to be problematic for things like insurance, drivers licenses etc.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you found it helpful! It's true that everything becomes more complicated when you don't have an address. We're happy to be using a mail forwarding service from our last home in Singapore as it's helpful for many administrative items.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Thank you Stephanie & Gillian!! Very helpful! Happy New Year to you both! Safe travels!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Same to you! Good luck with all your travel planning in 2024!

[@virnsky]

Another very informative video. Thanks so much Jillian and Stephanie!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Virna - Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@leonardtangty]

Hi I am from Singapore.Nice to hear that you mention my Country.Glad to hear you once work here.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So nice to hear from you! We loved living in Singapore. It's a beautiful, safe country with so much to offer. Many good memories from our time in Tiong Bahru.

[@leonardtangty]

@@OurFreedomYears ok.i follow you in instagram and youtube.I am a realtor.But i may want to work remotely and travel round the world.Safety wings was on my first insurance.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@leonardtangty Seeing the world while you work is a great option! Good luck with your plans.

[@FIREWeGo]

Thanks for sharing your experience. This will help us immensely in our budget plans!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! Glad to hear that it's helpful!

[@Telluwide]

NIce video ladies) Thank you) As a long term Expat living in the Republic of Georgia at the moment, I found it extremely helpful. Good luck on your travels)))

[@OurFreedomYears]

Our pleasure! It's great to hear that this video was helpful. Wishing you all the best in Georgia!

[@OurFreedomYears]

@Azar Awan We haven't visited Georgia yet however our current insurance package is good for travel in any country.

[@locustmighty]

Thanks for the videos. I'll be covering much of the same ground as you two starting in May 2023. I'm late to the party but have an insurance question. With no home base (from U.S. to start), the suggestion was to use the first county you are going to, or the one you'll be staying the most to get the final quote. I'll be hopping around every 30 days so could pick almost any country. It could be Mexico, Thailand, or Germany. Is there a way to find out which country to "claim" as resident on the initial application that would result in an overall lower premium? Thx.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We happened to choose Cigna global which provides instant online quotes. I tried it for various countries that we would be travelling to during the year and that helped us to choose. Be sure to read your policy closely since different insurers may have different interpretations when it comes to country of residence. Happy travels!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Also, have you tried to speaking to a represenative at Cigna and asking this question? I have the same question and I think I'll reach out them and hope for a concrete answer. Happy Travels!

[@BenjieBiyahengPilipinas]

Thanks for this informative video!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulnewsom8525]

We are so glad to find you. You fill a niche, and you do it concisely with excellent detail. We looked for guides that could help us itemize details for our plan to retire and live abroad in BNBs. Perhaps such guides exist. We couldn't find them. If all goes well we will spend a year planning carefully, settling matters like home sale, run some test trips in U.S. and Canada, and begin a retired life abroad late in 2021. We're not far from you in upstate NY. One quick question which I hope you'll cover(maybe you did and I missed it): How did you decide what to carry and how, or better, which came first, the quantity of your essentials or the luggage you chose. The choice of luggage seems critical. Thanks again. Love what you're doing and how you're doing it.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Paul, thanks so much for your comment - we're glad you find our videos helpful! We haven't talked much about travel gear yet but might do so in the future. Before retiring we would only ever take carry-on which is easier to handle and saves on checked baggage fees. Now we each have a medium sized suitcase plus backpack which feels like the right amount for us to have clothing for different climates, extras related to our dogs, plus other misc such as kitchen items that are commonly missing from AirBnBs. In general I would recommend travelling with as little as you can be comfortable with, especially if you change locations once or more each month. If your luggage is heavy the wheels wear out quickly so I recommend getting a brand name suitcase so that the wheels can be replaced as needed. We learned that one the hard way! 😂

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Paul, I forgot to mention one other video you might find helpful - it is our tips for finding the perfect airbnb.😊 bit.ly/2udSwCG

[@alisonwalker2881]

We have 3 budget categories around insurance: premiums, 'out of pocket' not covered by insurance and covered but deductible. We have IMG and we are 47 and 56 so we did end up with "pre-existing conditions". We added US coverage and IMG is NOT covering COVID if you move from the country you were in when the pandemic became a pandemic. That's why we are seriously considering getting back on the ACA in the US in our official state of residence. Question: how much do you budget for out of pocket medical expenses like wellness visits, dental and vision?

[@OurFreedomYears]

It sounds like you have a very comprehensive approach to your insurance -- no surprise there! 😊 For out-of-pocket medical, we budgeted $2,500 USD this year and so far that's seemed adequate for routine check ups. Of course, it's just our first year of travel so we'll need to reassess for next year and as and when our medical needs become more complex.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Does IMG cover pre-existing conditions then? Thanks!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@OurFreedomYears Does that seem to be enough for dental and vision as well? Thank you!

[@angelicaponce4763]

I traveled last year for 5 months but this year I must get health insurance as I will studying at Italy - good video

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad to hear it was helpful for you 😊

[@mmacrini]

Excellent information. I've heard good things about Cigna.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful. Fortunately we haven't needed to make a claim yet!

[@sylviadiamant6169]

Because of your video, we decided to get a quote from Cigna Global! We will also be full time baseless international travelers starting in 2022 and began our research. I would love to hear what your experience has been like so far!

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's so great to hear that you found our video to be helpful! We've had a neutral experience with Cigna to date...we keep paying the premiums and fortunately haven't needed to make a claim. 😊 Good luck with your travel planning...we started the year in Istanbul bit.ly/3cd7Y5t and are most recently in Malta bit.ly/2ZPJiZL

[@boston1977boston]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DoingLifeWithYou]

Thanks for sharing, this was really helpful.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful! We get a lot of questions about insurance so wanted to share what we've decided on.

[@Praxiszooms]

very helpful. THANKS!!! subscribed.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great to hear you found it helpful! 😊

[@jameszhang1127]

Your premium prices shocked me. I was thinking budgeting $1,000 a month for my family of 3 while living longterm in Vietnam.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Of course, the premium price all depends on your personal circumstances and the amount of deductible that you're willing to assume. We've been comfortable with our plan to date, although fortunately we haven't needed to make a claim.

[@brianstarr6837]

Thanks for the video great information

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad to hear it was helpful!

[@nomadnumbers]

I might have missed this in your video, but what about COVID19 coverage as part of your current plan? It looks like most companies aren't really willing to cover for the pandemic.

[@OurFreedomYears]

This was one of our decision factors for discontinuing Safety Wing. Cigna confirmed that COVID is not excluded. So if one of us was hospitalised due to COVID, it would be covered if our care exceeds the deductible (like any other medical situation).

[@DG-kr4jk]

Just a quick update from the Ssfetywing website.....As of August 1st, Nomad Insurance covers Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)! Coverage works the same as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date, and does not fall under any other policy exclusion or limitation

[@MH-eu9tq]

Thanks 😊 very helpful 🙏🏽

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful!

[@orangecloud2721]

super helpful video! thank you!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful!

[@orangecloud2721]

@@OurFreedomYears just curious have you ever had to make a claim with Cigna? If so how was the process like? I’m looking into them currently. Thanks!

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@orangecloud2721 Fortunately we haven't had to make a claim yet.

[@FulanodeTal-wh8ub]

very useful information!!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@Jaeasana1]

Thank you for sharing 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hope it was helpful! 😊

[@ferdyodin]

hey need information, Cigna is covering for cancer treatment. But if it's pre-existing cancer before starting the plan, would it still cover it?

[@OurFreedomYears]

I would recommend taking a look at Cigna's website.

[@Music-ge8gk]

Wondering what the options will be if you do spend more than 60 days in US. Anyone has suggestions?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question! We recommend checking out GoWithLess as they cover a lot of topics related to health insurance in the US kzbin.info/door/_OyYOATliIj9xEx6bv2Z9Q

[@erinaustin9968]

Still very expensive but helpful for planning purposes.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Those insurance premiums do add up! We could keep them lower by tweaking the co-pay or deductible but decided to go with the approach that we shared.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

If you're from the US, it seems very cheap to me. I just got quick quote from Cigna for two of us and I was really pleased with the result (And, we aren't young!).

[@Jaeasana1]

Freedom and peaceful blessings for you all

[@OurFreedomYears]

Much appreciated - thank you! 😊

[@Misanti888]

Hi. Do you travel from country to country as tourists? Do you have any video on handling onward travel visa requirements? Many thanks for your info!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Michael - Yes, we travel as tourists. We do have a recent video about how we manage Visa requirements and other challenges related to picking our destinations bit.ly/3q683fA Hope that helps!

[@Misanti888]

@@OurFreedomYears thank you! Stay safe n blessed!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@OurFreedomYears I have the same question about onward ticket requirements. I'm assuming there are different requirements for each individual country. Is that correct?

[@shamisshiino7124]

For I don't know type of my insurance travel but my insurance only 3 months but now I want to change date the time but stil I'm not get to change date

[@OurFreedomYears]

Good luck!

[@audz820]

Hi! very informative video! Now Im torned between Cigna or Aetna. But I saw Aetna as well in your recos, so why not Aetna?

[@OurFreedomYears]

After looking at all the options, Cigna offered the best combination for us at the time. But we reassess our needs each year and might go with a different provider next time.

[@karenmcdaniel9331]

How do you keep all your medical records in one place when seeing Doctors around the world? For example when you had the MRI did they give you a file of the image incase you need it in the future?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question! We keep physical copies in our luggage and digital copies in the cloud.

[@BestYears2BestPlaces]

Very helpful 👍👍

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad you think so!

[@hergandbiskell1546]

Have you ever had to make any claims? How did it work out?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We've fortunately never had to make a claim for ourselves. However, we did need to make a claim for a family member who was visiting us in Mexico and our dealings with Blue Cross worked out quite well.

[@rubyabdalla9925]

Does the insurance covers birth delivery?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question but we've never looked into it.

[@gc64442]

So on your plan with Cigna, if you are in a foreign country and get diagnosed and need treatment, does cigna cover you while you're over there? Even though it isn't the country you listed when you signed up?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yes, we will be able to seek treatment where we are currently located. However our plan is intended more for emergency treatments vs long term illness.

[@classicstorm]

I pay for medical expenses out of pocket and I'm kind of annoyed that I have to get medical insurance just to visit another country for a few days or a week...I get it but still doesn't stop it from being annoying...

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yup, it's the way things work.

[@Alcom6]

Hello how can I review health plans in foreign countries without American company middlemen?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi James - If you're living in a specific country, it's good to explore insurance options available there. Global providers are suitable for us because we're nomadic.

[@pierreboulet1853]

Hello ladies, good work ! We are a couple about to start a similar lifestyle, also Canadians. Him 58, her 43. You talk about brokers in this video. I think I would prefer going that route better then doing all the research myself. Do you (or any of you followers) have a good recommendation for a reliable broker ? Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work !

[@OurFreedomYears]

Congratulations on being so close to starting your own adventure! Unfortunately we don't have a broker to recommend...primarily because Gillian loves to do all the research and comparison by herself! 😂 As an update on our insurance situation, since we have now become Canadian residents again, we have switched back to Safety Wing knowing that we would return to Canada to treat anything serious.

[@curtisheyamoto9101]

Can you provide a link or document to the health plan details stating the USA coverage as part of the Silver plan excl USA option? I’m trying to get this from Cigna Global but with no luck so far. Thanks.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Curtis, I found this in paragraph 10.6.1 of the Policy Rules which states that coverage is limited to a maximum period of three (3) weeks per trip and a maximum of sixty (60) days outside my area of coverage. Since our area of coverage is World excluding U.S., this means we should still be covered in U.S. up to 60 days (max 3 weeks per trip). I did speak with an agent to confirm this as well, but do please check this out for your own policy and circumstances first. www.cignaglobal.com/dvc-pdfs/CLICE-EP17/en/200014%20CGHO%20CLICE%20Expat%20Policy%20Rules%20Final.pdf

[@curtisheyamoto9101]

@@OurFreedomYears great thanks! I just heard back from their customer service and they confirmed it as “under the ‘Out of Area’ emergency coverage for 60 days per year (maximum 21 days per trip).” I’m planning to talk with them to clarify how the emergency coverage differs from the usual coverage.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@curtisheyamoto9101 Good luck!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@OurFreedomYears The topic of what's covered in the US would make a good video as well!

[@girlyretener1601]

Any idea how much health insurance will cost from Philippines going to USA ? Staying for 2 months max ?

[@OurFreedomYears]

No idea but certainly you can get a quote from an insurance provider. Good luck!

[@ilovefootball6975]

Can I get a link where I can buy a travel medical insurance please

[@jackbaldwin3649]

A specific link depends on which insurance company you want to purchase insurance from.

[@zoozolplexOne]

🙂

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@ilovefootball6975]

Where can I get a affordable Travel medical insurance for a short trip travel?

[@OurFreedomYears]

In the video, we share a list of providers that we researched for our insurance needs.You can start by looking at those ones.

[@Paul-yk7ds]

Helpful video, but ughhhh I'm dreading to read through the actual policies hahaha

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's just the worst, isn't it?! 😂

[@unknowninfinium4353]

Is the deductible per month?

[@OurFreedomYears]

It is cumulative over the course of the 12 month policy. But do note that it is calculated per person - not per couple.

[@ahsanrana6352]

Great ☹️🤗 to

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks! 😊

[@abbasikhan8941]

v nyc

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@ronwhiteleo3352]

What is your insurance agent contact information please?

[@OurFreedomYears]

We've changed insurance providers a couple times. Most recently we've switched back to Safety Wing. I would recommend getting quotes from a few providers to see what works best for your situation.

[@alittlenomad]

Well, you're in for a big surprise if you actually have an expensive accident or develop a chronic illness as Cigna can simply cancel the contract with you. And then you're basically screwed because with a pre-condition it will be either incredibly expensive to get a new health insurance (like thousands a month) or you will not get any private health insurance ever again (e.g. with cancer it's pretty much impossible). Cigna is the worst international health insurance provider on the market. They have so many loopholes etc. in their contract, the customer support agents flat-out lie to you etc. Read the actual fine-print, not just the marketing brochures and website. It's really not a provider you should feel okay with recommending to any of your followers.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for the great feedback -- it's good food for thought. We definitely aren't recommending Cigna to our viewers; we're sharing which insurance provider we chose and why and what other insurers we considered. Totally agree that reading the fine print is always essential! 😊

[@ultramimo]

Which plan would you recommed for a 1-year world trip?

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@ultramimo Hi Marcelo - We wouldn't be able to recommend a specific plan as it really depends on your personal circumstances and risk tolerance. I would suggest getting quotes from a few companies and see which one is most suitable. Good luck with your search!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Sorry, this is just silly. An even bigger surprise to you is that any insurance company can deny your claim and make life difficult including in your home country. Stephanie & Gillian were spot on when they said there are good and bad reviews of every insurance company.

[@tytraulich4987]

Your freedom years when you’re in the age of poorest health? Lol

[@OurFreedomYears]

That's why we travel now while we're healthy

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Where in the video did the say this?

[@mckongxiaxiang]

We are also planning to begin travel full time in a few months. Just got a quote of $3213.51 annually for me and my husband together from Cigna global silver international plan. It sounds like doubled what you guys have! Would you mind share the way you purchase the Cigna insurance from? Thru an agent? Google? Or maybe a promotion? Any help is appreciated!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hi Ayo, there are several factors that Cigna bases their quotes on.... coverage area, co-pay and deductible you select, your location, pre-existing conditions, payment terms etc. Since policies that include coverage in the U.S. are often double the price of those that exclude the U.S., that might explain the difference. We didn't purchase through a broker although I have used a broker for quotes before and the pricing was the same. For 2021, our premium has gone up a bit to $1835 USD. Hope this helps!

[@TravelWTravis]

This was super helpful - thanks!!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Glad to hear it! If you want to se how we netted out with insurance and all our other expenses for the year, here's our 2020 spending... bit.ly/3qSyxkN 😊 Btw, love your channel!