Genki Insurance Review: The Best Health Insurance for Digital Nomads

As a digital nomad, finding the right health insurance that offers both flexibility and comprehensive coverage can be a challenge. Genki Health Insurance has emerged as an option designed specifically for nomads and long-term travellers, offering global coverage and tailored plans. I’ve been using them for a year and so far, they’ve been amazing.

In this Genki review, we’ll take a closer look at their offerings, coverage details, pricing, and overall benefits to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your nomadic lifestyle. For me, Genki is the best health insurance for digital nomads out there.

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Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using this link, but at no cost to you.

Overview of Genki Health Insurance

Genki Health Insurance is a relatively new player in the market, offering an international health insurance plan aimed at remote workers, digital nomads, and expatriates.

Operating since 2021, the company provides comprehensive coverage that includes emergency care, medical evacuation, and other key services, with flexibility to fit the unique needs of individuals who are constantly on the move.

Genki’s focus is on offering global health insurance that is easy to access and manage, making it ideal for people who live and work remotely across multiple countries. Unlike traditional insurers, Genki’s platform is built with flexibility and transparency in mind, giving digital nomads the option to adjust coverage as their travel plans change.

Is Genki Insurance Legit?

Genki is a start-up, but the insurance is backed by some of the oldest, largest, and most trusted health insurance companies, like Allianz, Squarelife, and DR-Walter. The company is registered and licensed in Germany, which has some of the world’s strongest insurance and consumer protection laws.

According to their website, Genki has insured over 30,000 nomads from more than 180 countries. Their coverage is worldwide, so matter where you travel, you’re covered. You can check out more than 500 Genki reviews on TrustPilot, which gives the company a rating of 4.4/5.

I was referred by many digital nomads who recommended Genki – no one I spoke to had a bad experience with them. One of he Co-Founders, Marc Knaup, had previously stayed at a Coliving I was at and some of my friends knew him personally.

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Genki Health Insurance Plans

The options were slightly different when I joined with Genki last year, but right now, Genki offers two types of insurance: Genki Native and Genki Explorer:

Genki Native

Genki Native is split into two options: Genki Native Basic and Genki Native Premium:

Genki Explorer

I’m currently on the Genki Explorer plan, which has a time limit of two years. After that, you can migrate to the Genki Native option. I pay EUR55 per month, which is calculated using my age, no medical conditions, an option to include a deductible of EUR50 and limited coverage in the US and Canada.

What is Included

• Treatment at any locally recognised healthcare provider around the world.
• Limited dental and mental treatment.
• Sports injuries, including surfing, kitesurfing, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, cycling, mountain biking, hiking and more.
• 24/7 hotline for emergencies and hospital stays.
• Hospital visits from friends and family (after 5 days).
• Medical transport and repatriation.
• Pregnancy.

What isn’t Included

• Pre-existing conditions.
• Dangerous activities (see the full list on their site).
• Professional sports.
• Medical tourism.
• Drugs and excessive alcohol.
• Non-medical travel-related costs e.g. flight delays, lost luggage etc.

Limitations

• EUR50 deductible.
• Cover in your home country is restricted to 6 weeks per 180 days and only includes accidents and life-threatening emergencies.
• Cover in Canada and the USA is restricted to 6 weeks per 180 days.

Some of the limitations are optional:

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My Experience with Genki

Genki have been a dream. I’ve had some problems with my skin this year, which resulted in trips to doctors, pharmacies and even dermatologists in Costa Rica, Albania, France and Montenegro. Making claims was super-easy, even when the receipts I had weren’t in English.

Simply upload receipts and other documents to DR-WALTER, then you’re paid in full, minus the EUR50 deductible I opted for with my plan. My claims were never queried nor rejected, which I have experienced in the past with other providers.

PROS: The insurance covers a two-year period. This is handy to be able to show at immigration checkpoints when asked to show proof of insurance. Some digital nomad visas also require proof of health insurance for the total visa period (the Malta Digital Nomads Visa requires this for many nationalities, though not British).

Second, it is wild to me what is covered: dental care, mental health, pregnancy and activities such as skiing?! I’ve never seen such coverage with traditional travel insurance. Coming from the UK, where I’m used to the NHS (love it and hate it), this is so crazy.

CON: The big downside for me is that the coverage is limited to two years. As you can see from above, the Genki Native plan is way more expensive and more comprehensive than I need. However, I will cross that hurdle in a year’s time when I know better what my future nomad-ing plans are and perhaps Genki will have a new offering.

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More Digital Nomad Health Insurance Providers

If Genki isn’t for you, here are a few other digital nomad health insurance options I’ve heard about:

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing is widely considered one of the best health insurance options for digital nomads due to its affordability and global coverage.

• Coverage: SafetyWing provides coverage for medical emergencies, hospitalization, doctor visits, and prescription medications. Additionally, the plan covers medical evacuation, travel delays, and lost luggage.
• Global Reach: Coverage is available worldwide, with the exception of your home country. You can access healthcare in most countries, making it perfect for those frequently on the move.
• Flexible Plans: The plans are highly flexible, allowing you to pay monthly with no long-term commitment, and you can extend your coverage as long as needed.
• Cost: Starting at around $40 per month, SafetyWing is highly affordable compared to traditional health insurance.

Disclaimer: We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

World Nomads

World Nomads is a well-known name in the travel insurance world, and their health coverage is ideal for digital nomads. It’s a great option for those looking for robust travel insurance in addition to medical coverage. I like that you can take out a policy with them even after you’ve left your home country and it’s easy to extend a policy if you decide to travel for longer.

I’ve used them for years, both as an expat and as a regular traveller, though I’ve never made a claim (I tried to for an adult acne issue, but was told this was aesthetic, not medical).

• Coverage: World Nomads offers health coverage, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, and even protection for lost or stolen gear. The company covers a wide range of activities that are often excluded from standard health plans.
• Global Coverage: Like SafetyWing, World Nomads offers worldwide coverage. You can be covered even in more remote locations, provided you’re not in your home country.
• Flexibility: World Nomads offers short-term plans, which can be extended, making it ideal for nomads who aren’t sure how long they’ll be traveling.
• Cost: Prices start around $40 to $60 per month depending on your destination, age, and coverage limits.

Check out this comparison of all three to see which might be right for you.

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Have You Used Genki?

I really can’t recommend Genki enough. If you’ve used Genki or any other digital nomad health insurance provider, please share your experience in the comments below – it’s so helpful to share resources.