Last Updated on August 22, 2026 by Nadia Halfway

📜 Introduction.

Finding the right travel insurance can feel overwhelming. There are hundreds of providers out there, all promising comprehensive cover and claiming to be the top in the market, but when you dig into the fine print, the differences are significant.

The right policy for a digital nomad is very different from the right policy for a family on a two-week holiday, and what works for a UK resident won’t necessarily be available to someone living in Italy or the United States.

I’ve been travelling for years managing not one but two autoimmune diseases, and I’ve learned this the hard way. In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the best travel insurance providers currently available. For each one, I’ll cover who can buy it, where it’s valid, how long it lasts, and what it actually covers. This way, you can make an informed decision and travel with real peace of mind.

⚠️Disclaimer: Some of the websites below are affiliate links or require a promo code for receiving a discount. If you book through them or use my personal promo code at the time of subscription or reservation, I’ll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and you’ll get a discount or a special promotion too. It’s a win–win!

Please be aware that affiliate links may expire and promo codes may reach their usage limit. If you find that a link or code no longer works, kindly let me know. I’ll be happy to share an updated one (if available) directly with you.

📍 True Traveller.

True Traveller is one of my personal favourites, and a provider I’ve used first-hand during my journey in Thailand. The policy is thoughtfully structured, with real flexibility for backpackers, long-term travellers, and those who want to add sports and adventurous activities.

True Traveller offers three main tiers: True Value, Traveller, and Traveller Plus. Each one has progressively higher cover limits, lower excesses, and additional benefits. The Backpacker policy is their standout product for long-term travel, covering single continuous trips of up to 18 months, with the option to extend whilst already abroad.

Pre-existing medical conditions can be added via a medical screening process for an additional premium. Emergency medical cover goes up to €10,000,000 across all tiers. Optional add-ons include winter sports, extreme activities, baggage, collision damage waiver, and travel disruption cover.

However, keep in mind that the True Value tier is only available to travellers aged 40 or under, and no tier covers travellers aged 66 or over.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. UK and any country within the European Economic Area (EEA). It includes also Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, and Switzerland.
• Destinations. Worldwide with region selected at quote stage that include Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Or worldwide excluding North America, and Worldwide including USA and Canada.
• Maximum trip duration. Up to 18 months on a single Backpacker policy. Or up to 70 days per trip on Annual Multi-Trip (Traveller Plus tier).

🔽 Ready to travel? Click the button below to get your free quote from True Traveller! 🔽

📍 HeyMondo.

HeyMondo is one of the most flexible and well-regarded travel insurance providers currently on the European market. Originally founded in Spain and backed by the Hiscox Group, it has quickly become a go-to option for travellers of all types, from weekend city-breakers to long-term backpackers. I used it for my month-long trip to China.

What makes HeyMondo stand out is its variety of plan types and its intuitive mobile app, which allows you to manage your policy, access medical advice, and file claims entirely from your phone. Plans include Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip, Long Stay, and a Medical-Only option if you just need health cover.

The Top plan offers solid medical and travel protection at a competitive price, while the Premium plan doubles the coverage limits and adds optional extras such as adventure sports and rental car excess. For extended trips, the Long Stay plan is available for up to 90 days (renewable), making it a strong option for slow travellers and digital nomads.

One important note: pre-existing conditions are not covered under any HeyMondo plan. This makes it less suitable for travellers with chronic illnesses, but an excellent choice for healthy travellers looking for comprehensive, hassle-free cover.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. Available to travellers from all countries worldwide, outside their country of residence. The Annual Multi-Trip plan has an age limit of 49 years.
• Destinations. Worldwide, including USA and Canada. Region selected at quote stage.
• Maximum trip duration. Up to 90 days (Long Stay, renewable); up to 60 days per trip (Annual Multi-Trip); unlimited duration with single-trip policies for the period purchased.

🔽 Ready to travel? Click the button below to get your free quote from HeyMondo! 🔽

📍 SafetyWing.

SafetyWing was built from the ground up for a very specific type of travellers: the digital nomads. Founded in 2017 by a team of nomads who couldn’t find insurance that worked for their lifestyle, SafetyWing offers a subscription-based model that automatically renews every 28 days with no fixed end date required.

Their Nomad Insurance Essential plan covers emergency medical expenses, hospital stays, emergency dental care, evacuation, and some travel inconveniences such as lost checked luggage and travel delays. Coverage is valid in 180+ countries, and you can buy or renew it whilst already abroad, with no waiting period required on renewal. After 90 days abroad, you also get up to 30 days of home country cover included (15 days for US residents).

The plan is budget-friendly, particularly for younger travellers, with pricing starting at around $60 per 4 weeks for ages 18-39. Coverage is valid up to age 69, and pre-existing conditions are not covered under the Essential plan.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. Available to citizens and residents of most countries worldwide. However, a few nationalities are restricted, so always check at quote stage.
• Destinations. 180+ countries worldwide. US coverage is available as a paid add-on.
• Maximum trip duration. Renewable every 28 days with no fixed end date, up to a maximum of 364 days per subscription cycle.

🔽 Ready to travel? Click the button below to get your free quote from SafetyWing! 🔽

📍 EKTA

EKTA is a travel medical insurance platform registered in the Comoros Islands and aimed at travellers of any nationality, any age (from 2 months to 100 years old), and covering virtually any destination worldwide. It’s one of the few providers with genuinely no residency restrictions, making it an interesting option for travellers who fall outside the eligibility criteria of more regionally-focused insurers.

Plans come in three tiers: Start, Gold, and Max+, with increasing coverage limits of $50,000, $150,000, and $500,000 respectively. They cover emergency medical care, hospitalisation, COVID-19, repatriation, and (on higher tiers) dental emergencies, pregnancy complications, and evacuation from civil unrest.

However, there are some important things to be aware of. The insurer (IC “EIG” LLC) is registered in the Comoros Islands, an offshore jurisdiction not regulated by the FCA, IVASS, or comparable European bodies. There is a per-occurrence sub-limit of $3,000 on every claim regardless of your chosen plan, and all expenses over $1,000 require written pre-approval before treatment. Coverage limits also drop significantly for travellers over 60.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. All nationalities and countries of residence, with very few exceptions.
• Destinations. Worldwide (excluding Belarus, Russia, and Level 4 “Do Not Travel” zones).
• Maximum trip duration. Up to 365 days per policy.

🔽 Ready to travel? Click below to find out more about EKTA! 🔽

📍 Imaway.

Imaway is the travel insurance product by IMA Italia Assistance, one of Italy’s leading assistance and insurance groups. If you are an Italian resident looking for a reliable, well-established insurer with a strong track record, Imaway is worth serious consideration.

Imaway covers medical expenses, hospitalisation, emergency repatriation, travel cancellation, baggage, legal protection, and accident cover. One of its most practical advantages is direct billing. IMA Italia has a network of over 12,700 accredited medical centres worldwide, meaning you won’t need to pay out of pocket and claim back in many cases. Assistance is available 24 hours a day for the entire duration of your trip.

Plans are available as single trip or annual multi-trip, and cover is valid from the moment you leave home. It’s worth noting that Imaway is distributed primarily through the Italian market, so the purchasing interface and policy documentation are mainly in Italian.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. Primarily designed for residents in Italy, distributed through IMA Italia Assistance.
• Destinations. Worldwide, including USA and Canada.
• Maximum trip duration. It varies by plan. Single trip policies cover the duration purchased; annual multi-trip policies typically cover trips up to 60-90 days per journey. Always check at quote stage.

🔽 Ready to travel? Click the button below to get your free quote from Imaway! 🔽

📍 World Nomads.

World Nomads has been a household name in adventure travel insurance since 2002. Founded in Australia, it is now one of the most widely recognised providers worldwide, particularly popular among backpackers, and anyone who plans to get active on their holidays.

Their biggest selling point is adventure sports coverage. All current plans now include over 250 activities as standard — from hiking and scuba diving to skiing and mountain biking. Plans come in three single-trip tiers: Standard, Explorer, and Epic, with increasing coverage limits, higher trip cancellation allowances, and broader activity lists. A “Cancel for Any Reason” upgrade is available on Explorer and Epic plans.

The Annual Plan is available to US residents and covers unlimited trips of up to 45 days each within a 12-month period. Single-trip policies cover trips of up to 180 days.

There are two limitations to note: World Nomads does not cover pre-existing medical conditions, and its plans are not available to EU residents.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. Available to residents of many countries worldwide, but not available to EU residents. Particularly strong for US, Australian, and UK residents. Always verify at quote stage.
• Destinations. Worldwide, including USA and Canada.
• Maximum trip duration. Up to 180 days (single trip); up to 45 days per trip (Annual Plan, US residents only).

🔽 Ready to travel? Click the button below to get your free quote from World Nomads! 🔽

📍 VisitorsCoverage

VisitorsCoverage is not a single insurer but a comparison marketplace, founded in Silicon Valley in 2006. It aggregates plans from multiple reputable providers, making it easy to compare coverage, deductibles, and prices in one place. It is trusted by millions of travellers from over 175 countries.

For travellers with medical conditions or heading to expensive destinations like the USA, VisitorsCoverage is particularly useful because it allows side-by-side comparisons of how different plans handle pre-existing conditions. Some plans offer acute onset coverage (sudden, unexpected flare-ups), while others offer full pre-existing condition coverage.

Most plans allow coverage for up to 364 days, and some are renewable for up to 24 months. Plans are available both for international visitors travelling to the USA and for travellers going anywhere in the world outside their home country.

⭐ Features.

• Residents. Primarily non-US residents travelling internationally, and US citizens travelling abroad. Eligibility varies by plan, thus always check at quote stage.
• Destinations. Worldwide, with dedicated plans for USA visits, international travel, and Schengen zone requirements.
• Maximum trip duration. Up to 364 days (renewable on selected plans, up to 24 months total).

🔽 Ready to travel? Click below to compare plans on VisitorsCoverage! 🔽

💡 Travel Tips.

A few things worth knowing before you buy any travel insurance policy.

• Buy before your departure, not at the airport. Most policies will not cover incidents that occurred before the purchase date, and some insurers apply a short waiting period after activation. Getting covered in advance is not just cheaper but also safer.
• Keep every receipt, bill, and medical document. If you ever need to make a claim, the insurer will ask for proof of every expense. A photo on your phone is enough as a backup, but always ask for official documentation at hospitals and pharmacies.
• Save your emergency assistance number before you fly. Every insurance provider has a 24/7 emergency line. Store it in your phone contacts before you board, not when you are already in a hospital waiting room abroad. In case you will not be able to make phone calls, have at least their email address at hand.
• Declare your pre-existing conditions honestly. A rejected claim because of an undeclared condition will always cost you more than the additional premium. If you have a chronic illness, look for policies that offer a medical screening process so you know exactly what is and is not covered.
• For the USA or Canada, check the medical coverage limit carefully. Healthcare costs in North America can be staggering. A minimum of $100,000 in medical coverage is generally recommended for US travel but some experts suggest even more for extended stays.

🤔 Which policy you should choose?

The choice depends mainly on where you live, your destination and what sort of traveller you are. Here’s a quick summary:

• Backpackers based in the UK or EEA: True Traveller or HeyMondo
• Digital nomads and long-term travellers: SafetyWing or HeyMondo Long Stay
• Italian residents: Imaway by IMA Italia Assistance
• Adventure travellers: World Nomads (not for EU residents)
• Travellers with no residency restrictions: EKTA
• Travellers who head to USA: VisitorsCoverage

Whatever you choose, always read the policy wording before you buy not just the marketing summary. Pay attention to what is and isn’t covered, whether pre-existing conditions require declaration, and whether you need written pre-approval before seeking treatment abroad.

❓ FAQ.

1. Do I really need travel insurance, or is it optional?
It depends on your destination. Being from an European country, if you are travelling within the Schengen Area for short periods, you are entitled to the same medical care as citizens of the country you are visiting. For most other trips, it is not required by law, but given the cost of medical treatment abroad (particularly in the US and Canada), it is strongly recommended for everyone.

2. Which travel insurance is best for long-term travel or digital nomads?
SafetyWing and True Traveller’s Backpacker policy are the strongest options for long-term travel, as both allow extended coverage of several months to over a year, with the flexibility to renew or extend whilst already abroad.

3. Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
It depends on the provider. Most do not offer medical cover for pre-existing conditions, although they do allow you to declare your condition in advance.

4. Can I buy travel insurance after I’ve already left home?
Yes, with some providers. SafetyWing allows this with no waiting period, whilst others like HeyMondo and True Traveller may apply a short waiting period (typically 48-72 hours) before cover becomes active.

5. What’s the maximum trip duration most policies allow?
It varies widely: single-trip policies often cap out around 90–365 days, whilst dedicated backpacker or nomad insurance (such as True Traveller’s Backpacker policy or SafetyWing) can cover trips of 18 months or more, renewed periodically.

🎈 Conclusion.

There is no single best travel insurance for everyone. The right policy is the one that matches your nationality, your destination, your travel style, and your health needs. What matters most is that you actually have cover before you leave home and that you’ve read what it does and doesn’t include.

However, if you’re travelling with a pre-existing condition like me, I’d recommend checking out my dedicated article 5 Insurance Policies for Travelling with Type 1 Diabetes.

💬 And you? Which travel insurance do you usually use? Share it in the comments: let’s build an even more complete resource together!

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