Travel health insurance is essential for frequent travelers like digital nomads.
Before purchasing, it's important to understand key factors that apply to most travel health insurance plans. Below, we provide general insights using Genki Traveler as an example.
1. Coverage Limits
✅ Travel health insurance typically covers hospitalization, emergency care, doctor visits, medications, and medical evacuation
✅ Some policies have coverage limits, while others offer higher or unlimited coverage
✅ Genki Traveler: covers both outpatient and inpatient medical costs for unexpected illnesses and injuries, including repatriation, up to €1,000,000 in total
✅ Includes: prescribed medication, tests, examinations, medical aids, and materials
✅ Deductible: you pay the first €50 per insurance case. Hospital stays have no deductible.
2. Pre-Existing Conditions
🚫 Most travel insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions
🚫 Policies typically do not cover ongoing treatments or treatments planned before purchase
✅ Genki Traveler: does not cover pre-existing conditions, including:
Conditions for which you had symptoms, medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment within one year before your start date
Chronic or congenital conditions you were aware of before your start date
Injuries likely caused by an accident within one month before your start date
✅ Advice: purchase insurance before starting your travels, to ensure emergencies that occur later are covered
3. Travel Destination
🌍 Some travel health insurance plans have regional restrictions
🏥 Certain countries may have higher healthcare costs, affecting coverage availability
✅ Genki Traveler: offers worldwide coverage with no country exclusions. You can choose between two region options:
Worldwide: covered in all countries, including the USA and Canada
Worldwide (limited in Canada & USA): covered in all countries, but in the USA and Canada only for medical emergencies that start within 7 days of arrival
✅ Home country coverage is limited: Genki Traveler covers medical emergencies that start within 6 weeks of your arrival, provided you were outside your home country for at least 4 weeks beforehand
4. Duration of Coverage
📅 Travel insurance plans may have trip duration limits (e.g., 30 days, 6 months, or 1 year per trip)
✅ Genki Traveler: allows up to 1 year of coverage per contract
✅ Flexibility: no need to specify your trip duration at sign-up. After a 1-month minimum, you can cancel at any time.
⏳ Waiting period: during the first 14 days, only medical emergencies are covered. This doesn't apply if you were in your home country, or in a country where you had health coverage, on the day before your start date.
✅ Starting a new contract: you can sign up for a new Genki Traveler contract before or after your current one ends. Each contract is separate, so conditions treated under a previous contract count as pre-existing.
5. Emergency Assistance Services
📞 24/7 emergency helplines are standard in most travel insurance plans
🏥 Some insurers offer direct billing for hospitalizations
✅ Genki Traveler: provides a 24/7 Emergency Assistance and direct billing for inpatient care worldwide
6. Policy Exclusions
❗ Travel health insurance policies often exclude certain treatments and conditions
🔗 Always review policy exclusions before purchasing
✅ Genki Traveler: not covered are, for example:
Elective procedures: procedures that can safely wait without meaningful risk of complications or deterioration, such as planned procedures that could be done after you return home. This applies even if the treatment is medically necessary or recommended by your doctor.
Preventive care
Dental care (except up to €1,000 after an accident)
Eye & ear care
Alternative treatments
Mental health care
Maternity care (except severe complications)
Learn more: What is covered by Genki Traveler?
7. Repatriation Coverage
✈️ Some policies offer medical repatriation back to the home country if medically justified
⚠️ Insurance coverage typically ends upon arrival in the home country
✅ Genki Traveler: covers medically necessary repatriation to your home country, managed by the Emergency Assistance or the insurer
✅ You're not forced to return. You can choose to stay abroad and continue treatment there.
⚠️ If you are repatriated, your insurance ends on arrival, and follow-up care must be covered by local insurance or a national healthcare system
8. Adventure Activities Coverage
🏄 Many insurers exclude extreme sports
✅ Genki Traveler: covers most sports and activities, with conditions for some, such as:
Diving down to 30 meters
Hiking and climbing up to 4,000 meters
A helmet for motorcycle drivers
Skiing on marked trails only
❌ Excluded: alligator wrestling, BASE jumping, bull riding, hunting, running of the bulls, train surfing, wingsuit flying, and professional sports
✅ Check whether your planned activities are covered before purchasing any policy. Learn more: Sports with Genki Traveler
9. Policy Cost
💰 Price varies depending on coverage, deductibles, and additional benefits
✅ Genki Traveler: your price depends on your age and your region option
✅ Compare plans carefully to ensure adequate coverage rather than focusing solely on cost
10. Claim Process
📝 Most insurers require medical invoices, diagnosis, and cost breakdowns for claims
✅ Genki Traveler: claims are submitted via an online form in the Member Center
11. Provider Network
🏥 Some travel insurers require you to use specific healthcare providers
✅ Genki Traveler: no restricted network, so you can choose any doctor, clinic, or hospital worldwide
12. Policy Renewal and Cancellation
🔄 Some insurers allow policy extensions and renewals, while others require new applications
✅ Genki Traveler: contracts last up to 1 year and do not renew automatically. You can cancel any time after the first month and start a new contract whenever you need one.
✅ If long-term health insurance is needed, consider Genki Native (international health insurance)
13. Customer Reviews and Reputation
🌟 Before purchasing, check customer reviews and insurance provider reputation
✅ Genki Traveler: verified reviews available on Trustpilot
14. Travel Alerts and Advisories
🚀 Some insurers restrict coverage based on government travel advisories
✅ Genki Traveler: provides worldwide coverage with no exclusions due to travel warnings
By understanding these key factors, you can choose the right travel health insurance for your needs. Genki Traveler is one example of a flexible, comprehensive option for frequent travelers.
Have any questions? Check out more articles in our help center or drop our support a message!