Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete Insurance for Digital Nomads

Choosing international health insurance as a digital nomad is a MAJOR decision. Let’s face it: choosing your next destination is much easier! So, to help you decide between two of our favorite options, we’re doing a deep dive comparison of Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance for digital nomads. 

Why Digital Nomads Need International Health Insurance

We get it; you’re a digital nomad who lives life day by day! You’re on the hunt for adventure and creating long-lasting memories. You don’t have time to think about what will happen if you get sick or get food poisoning while trying different street foods during your travels. 

But, I’m here to tell you just how important having a reliable and comprehensive international health insurance policy is for digital nomads – especially if you plan to spend more of your time abroad than in your home country.

Routine and Emergency Medical Care

Getting sick is just part of life. Whether it’s the flu, an infection, or a common cold. But accidents are also a part of life. Having international health insurance to support you when you need to visit a doctor or hospital is a game-changer. 

The last thing you want to think about is how you’re going to cover an expensive ambulance bill or emergency surgery (I’m looking at you, time-ticking appendix!). Knowing that you can see a doctor when you really need them with confidence that your insurance will take care of things surely makes an already unpleasant experience just a little better. 

Plus, having international insurance helps you stay healthy! Most policies will cover routine and preventative care, such as vaccinations or annual exams. Just in case there is something more serious going on, you can catch it early!

Peace of Mind

You’ve got a lot to worry about already with planning your travels and figuring out where to stay on top of working remotely. Don’t let the fact that you don’t have international health insurance be another burden on your shoulders. 

Knowing that you have a backup plan, just in case something happens, can give you the peace of mind you need while gallivanting across the globe. 

Digital Nomad Visa Applications

If you’re considering applying for a digital nomad visa, then you will most likely need to show proof that you have international health insurance. This is a very common requirement. 

Some countries even require you to have a certain amount of coverage to be eligible! When applying for a digital nomad visa, you’ll want to make sure you fully understand the eligibility requirements before submitting your application to avoid wasting time and money. 

Nomads Embassy can help with that! Request our free digital nomad visa eligibility assessment to see if you qualify for a digital nomad visa. 

What is Genki Native Insurance?

Genki is an international health and travel insurance provider based in Germany. They offer products specifically for digital nomads and remote workers who enjoy traveling. 

In 2024, they introduced their comprehensive international health insurance product, Genki Native. There are two options: Basic and Premium. This allows digital nomads to choose the right coverage for their travels and their wallets. 

What is Safetywing Complete?

Safetywing has been the go-to insurance company for digital nomads for years. At first, they offered normal travel insurance, but have recently added a new comprehensive international insurance policy known as Safetywing Complete.

Safetywing Complete combines health and travel insurance to offer coverage for both, making it one of the true comprehensive insurances for digital nomads. 

Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete Insurance for Digital Nomads

Researching different international insurance options can take a lot of time and feel overwhelming. With so many unique industry terms and trying to decipher exactly what is covered, you may end up closing out of your browser and putting on your favorite Netflix show instead of signing up for a policy. 

We’re here to make it a little easier for you. As we explain Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance in simple terms, you can start to make your decision about which (if either!) international health insurance is right for your digital nomad lifestyle.

Monthly Premium

	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium	Safetywing Complete
Starting Price	180€ per month	260€ per month	$150.50 per month

Your monthly premium, or the amount you pay each month to have insurance, may play a huge role in which insurance you decide to go with. But remember, this should not be the sole deciding factor! There are so many other things (deductible, coverage options, etc.) that you need to consider. 

That being said, your monthly premium depends on your age, medical history, and coverage. 

We mentioned earlier that Genki Native offers two levels of service, Basic and Premium. As you can imagine, the Basic has a lower monthly payment, but there is not as much coverage. 

Safetywing Complete offers just one service level but does include some add-ons depending on your needs and travel plans. 

One of the benefits Safetywing Complete offers is a 10% discount on the premium if you pay annually instead of monthly. This option is unavailable from Genki due to EU law. 

Deductible

	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium	Safetywing Complete
Starting Price	0€, 500€, or 1,000€	0€, 500€, or 1,000€	$0

A deductible is the amount you must pay before your insurance starts paying for certain services and care. 

Having a higher deductible can decrease your monthly premium in some cases. But, in our experience, you’ll probably want to pay the higher premium and have a lower deductible to get the most out of your insurance. 

Genki Native offers three tiers for your deductible: 0€, 500€, or 1,000€. So, you can have some wiggle room with your monthly payment. 

Safetywing Complete does not have a deductible. However, they do have a 10% co-insurance or copay for all outpatient services. 

Genki Native does not have a copay requirement.

What’s Covered?

	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium	Safetywing Complete
	1€ million coverage	Unlimited Coverage	$1.5 million coverage
Medical Treatment and Hospitalizations	✅	✅	✅
Outpatient Care	✅	✅	✅
Evacuation to a Better Hospital	✅	✅	✅
Motor Accidents	✅	✅	✅
Sports Injuries	✅	✅	✅
Preventative Checkups and Vaccines	❌	✅	✅
Wellness Therapies	❌	✅	✅
Mental Health	✅ (in-patient only)	✅	✅
Cancer Tests and Treatments	✅	✅	✅
Maternity Care	❌	✅	✅
Dental Care	❌	✅	❌
Organ Transplants	✅	✅	❌
Vision Care	❌	✅	❌
Alternative Care	❌	✅	✅
Chronic Conditions	✅	✅	✅
Pre-Existing Conditions	✅	✅	❌
Repatriation	✅	✅	✅
Travel Delays or Cancellation	❌	❌	✅
Lost Checked Luggage	❌	❌	✅
Stolen Belongings	❌	❌	✅

Above is a general list of what Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance covers. For more information about exactly how much the insurance covers for each procedure and service, check out their table of benefits below. 

Pre-Existing Condition Coverage

	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium	Safetywing Complete
Pre-Existing Condition Coverage	✅	✅	❌

If you have a pre-existing condition, such as cancer, diabetes, or chronic illness, it’s important that your health insurance covers the treatment and tests you need to help manage it. 

Genki Native Basic and Premium both cover pre-existing conditions. 

Safetywing Complete does not cover pre-existing conditions. 

Country Limitations

	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium	Safetywing Complete
Country Limitations	Up to 250,000€ in Canada 🇨🇦 and USA 🇺🇸up to 30 days per insurance year	Up to 250,000€ in Canada 🇨🇦 and USA 🇺🇸up to 30 days per insurance year	Up to $50,000 for illnesses and $5,000 for outpatient care in USA 🇺🇸, Singapore 🇸🇬, and Hong Kong 🇭🇰up to 30 days per insurance year OR Up to 6 months per insurance year if you include the add-on service

You probably are aware that the United States has some of the most expensive medical costs in the world. So, international health insurance companies like Genki and Safetywing put limitations on their coverage there. 

For Genki Native members, there is limited coverage in the US and Canada of up to 250,000€ for 30 days out of the year. 

For Safetywing Complete members, there is limited coverage in the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore of up to $50,000 for illnesses and $5,000 for outpatient care for 30 days out of the year. 

However, there is an add-on option for those members who either reside in Singapore and Hong Kong or plan to spend up to six months in one of these three countries. This does not increase the coverage amount, only the time spent there. This add on is an additional cost, which can almost double your monthly premium. 

Claims and Reimbursements

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Claims Process	Online 3-day reimbursement period Direct billing to hospitals available	Online 21-day reimbursement period Direct billing to hospitals available

Since Genki Native and Safetywing Complete do not have a specific network of doctors and hospitals you can go to, you will often have to request a reimbursement for medical expenses by submitting a claim. 

Both Genki Native and Safetywing Complete have online forms where you can submit your claims. 

However, the processing time varies greatly. 

Genki has a quick 3-day reimbursement period after reviewing your claim. 

Safetywing requires 21 days to reimburse claims made. 

Now, there are options to have direct billing between your doctor and insurance company. However, Genki and Safetywing require notice (for Safetywing it’s 72 hours’ notice) to guarantee direct billing before the tests or procedures take place. 

Customer Support

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Customer Support	24/7 support	24/7 support

Both Genki Native and Safetwying Complete offer 24/7 support to their members through online chats or WhatsApp chats. 

So, if you have a question about your policy or how to submit a claim, there is always someone there to answer your question—no matter where you are in the world. 

Age Limitations

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Age Limitations	Up to 55 Years Old to Sign Up / No Age Limit After Signing Up	Up to 65 Years Old

Remember, health insurance is a business, so they have to make wise decisions that make sense for them. And let’s face it, the older you get, the more medical expenses you’ll probably have. 

So, there are some age restrictions for those who want to sign up. Here’s the different for Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance when it comes to age limitations. 

For Genki Native, you cannot be older than 55 years old to sign up for a policy. However, after signing up, there is no age limit as long as you keep your policy active.

For Safetywing Complete, only members who are between the ages of 18 and 65 will receive coverage. 

Doctors and Hospitals

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Doctors and Hospitals	Free Choice of Doctors and Hospitals	Free Choice of Doctors and Hospitals

When you sign up for Genki Native or Safetywing Complete, you will have a free choice of whatever doctor or hospital you choose to go to. There are no “in network providers” that you are limited to. 

This means you can visit an English-speaking doctor wherever you are in the world without limitation! 

Treatment Preapproval

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Preapproval for Treatments	Medical Expenses over 2,000€ and certain services	Medical Expenses Over $500

When it comes to making sure your international health insurance will cover certain treatments or services, you may have to ask for preapproval. 

For Genki Native, any medical expense over 2,000€ must be preapproved. Additionally, wellness services, medical transport to another country, outpatient psychological care, and home nursing care. 

Failure to obtain preapproval can result in a 50% penalty for the member. This is not the case for inpatient emergency services. 

For Safetywing Complete, any medical expense over $500 requires preapproval. Failure to obtain preapproval can result in a 30% penalty for the member. 

Travel Insurance Benefits

	Genki Native	Safetywing Complete
Travel Insurance Benefits	✅	❌

When searching for a digital nomad insurance, you might get confused between travel insurance vs. international health insurance. 

Well, when comparing Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance, you’ll see which offers a combination of health and travel insurance. 

Genki Native is a comprehensive international health insurance that covers medical expenses. They do not offer coverage for travel-related mishaps or expenses. (That’s their other plan, Genki Explorer!)

Safetywing Complete is a combination of international health and travel insurance. If you have a trip disruption, lost baggage, or stolen items like your wallet or passport, they will cover some of your expenses along with medical care. 

Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete Insurance: Which is the Best?

Choosing the right digital nomad insurance is a very personal decision. However, after examining Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance… we know which one we would choose. 

Genki Native Premium! 

Genki Native premium insurance offers more comprehensive coverage and the unlimited coverage truly offers peace of mind for those “just in case” moments. Plus, the coverage limit when traveling the United States or Canada is much higher, even if it is for just 30 days per year. 

Genki Native Premium also offers more coverage for services such as dental, vision, and mental health. 

We also love that the claims and reimbursement process takes just a few days compared to weeks. 

While Genki Native does not offer travel insurance benefits, if your health is one of your top priorities while living abroad, this is the digital nomad insurance we would choose. 

How to Choose the Right Digital Nomad Insurance

You were just thrown a ton of information about Genki Native vs. Safetywing Complete insurance. You might be feeling just a bit overwhelmed. 

Let’s take it back to the basics and see what you should consider before signing up for digital nomad insurance. 

Consider Your Travel Plans

Firstly, how long do you plan to be outside of your home country? If it’s more than six months, then a digital nomad health insurance is definitely a good choice for you. 

If you plan to spend more than 30 days in the US or Canada and still want to have some basic health insurance coverage, this can factor into your decision. (Safetywing Complete offers up to six months of coverage in the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore!) 

Remember, there are usually country limitations when it comes to international health insurance, so assess your travel plans before signing up.

Review Your Medical History and Needs

Do you have pre-existing conditions that need further medical attention? Then you’ll want to choose an international health insurance that accepts pre-existing conditions (like Genki Native!)

Are you someone who gets ill often or are you a young spring chicken that hardly sees the doctor? 

Do you want to have the ultimate medical coverage or are you okay taking some risks and leaving some medical bills on your own plate?

These are all things to consider when choosing international health insurance as a digital nomad. 

Weigh Your Options

Research is your best friend when it comes to choosing a digital nomad insurance. Read about the policies, coverage, claims process, and reviews of the company. 

Reading articles like this is a great first step! Talk to other digital nomads about what insurance they chose, why, and if they would recommend it. You can join Nomads Embassy’s online community to connect with fellow digital nomads! 

Get Your Personal Quote for Digital Nomad Insurance

Are you ready to protect your travels and find the right digital nomad insurance for your lifestyle? 

Start by requesting your personal quotes for coverage from our two top picks for international health insurance today! 

👉 Get your quote for Genki Native now. 👈

👉 Get your quote for Safetywing Complete here. 👈

Don’t forget to research, compare, and protect your health!