The Best Travel Medical Insurance in 2023
Ranked By Expert Medical Insurance Brokers
After a worldwide pandemic and the increase of remote workers, having the best travel medical insurance has never been more important (and more popular). It can be confusing to know where to start and that’s exactly what I’m here to help you with. I want to explain to you the best travel medical insurance options in 2023, because that’s my job right? 😆
With over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, I’ve seen and heard it all when it comes to travel insurance.
If you search on Google for travel insurance, hundreds of results pop up immediately. How do you know what company you can trust? And of course, is going to cover you if you find yourself sick while abroad or injured or anything else.
That’s where my expertise comes in handy. I’ll be sharing the best travel medical insurance options in 2023 based on my own research and my own expertise.
Well it’s a good job you’ve landed on this blog as I will be going through this as I would a consultation with a customer who is asking me for the best travel insurance.
Why do you need travel medical insurance?
Simply put, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you need medical care and are unable to cover the cost without insurance. Even if you’re healthy and fit, you never know what could happen.
It’s like that one saying, “Better to be safe than sorry”.
Picture this: You’ve just landed on a remote island. You’re excited to be in a new destination and can’t wait to try all the local food. Only you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, violently ill over the toilet. We’ve all been there.
Or worse, I’ve dealt with so many clients who have got injuries from bikes, boats, hikes and many other things.
Imagine if you had to go to the hospital and have to pay thousands of dollars just because you didn’t have travel insurance. When the situation has happened, everyone wishes they were insured, or thankful they have insurance.
Why not cover yourself so you can prevent having to dish out all that money that you could be putting towards travel instead?
How we rank the best travel medical insurance
So, there are a few things to consider when choosing the best travel medical insurance.
It will ultimately be based on your individual needs but based on my experience in the industry, here are my top three criteria when searching for travel insurance. This is how I have ranked the below best travel insurance for you.
1. Cost
Cost is a critical factor to consider when selecting travel medical insurance. Based on my research, the cost of travel medical insurance plans can vary significantly from one company to another.
While some plans may have a low premium, they may have a higher deductible or lower coverage limits.
It’s important to compare plans carefully, considering all the associated costs and pick a plan that won’t break your budget.
Let’s be honest as well, none of us want to be paying through the roof for a similar plan offering the same coverage, just at a much lower price.
2. Coverage options
Secondly, the coverage offered by each travel medical insurance company was another factor I considered.
Being covered worldwide while travelling abroad means you don’t have to worry, regardless of where your adventures take you.
The best plans should include coverage for emergency medical expenses such as hospitalisations and medical treatments.
It’s also important to consider the plan’s coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, adventure sports, and terrorism-related issues.
Other things to consider are if you want coverage for lost baggage or documents and any travel-related incidents.
Again, when you are considering travel medical insurance, you want to get the best deal for your money. This means getting the highest level of coverage for the most affordable price.
3. Customer service
Good customer service can make a significant difference if you have to file a claim or need assistance while travelling.
There’s nothing worse than having to talk to a robot on the phone when you need help (from a real human). Customer service is extremely important for the time it takes for you to make a claim, how quickly they respond and how effortless your claim process is.
I think for a lot of people this is quite a large factor. No one wants to be injured and out of pocket, with their insurance company jumping through hoops trying to prevent paying you out the money you are owed.
I’d read reviews about the customer service of each travel medical insurance company to check if they have 24/7 assistance available.
The Best Travel Medical Insurance in 2023
Alright, here’s my list of the best travel medical insurance options in 2023/2024:
1. Allianz Global Assistance
2. Medical for Nomads
3. World Nomads
4. Gengki
5. True Traveller
6. Travel Guard
7. Travelex Insurance Services
8. IMG Global
A basic breakdown of the pros and cons of each travel medical insurance company
| Insurance Provider | Plan Name | Pros | Cons |
| Allianz Global Assistance | Basic |
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| Medical for Nomads | Standard |
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| World Nomads | Standard |
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| Gengki | Explorer |
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| True Traveller | True Value |
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| Travel Guard | Basic |
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| Travelex Insurance Services | Travel Basic |
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| IMG Global | Patriot |
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Now, let’s take a closer look at each option
First up, is Allianz Global Assistance. I like this one because it’s a great option for travellers on a budget who still want the peace of mind of reliable travel insurance. These guys also have a really good customer service sector of their insurance. They offer 24/7 support and I’ve heard it’s easy to make a claim.
Another perk is that they have different plan options, which means you can customise it to meet your individual needs. This is going to be important for travellers, because it means you can tailor it towards your activities and what your plans are going to be.
If you need more coverage in one area, you can add that. If you don’t need coverage in another area, then you can remove that as well.
Overall, I really like these guys. They are useful and good. Make sure that you are taking a look at other insurance companies first though to find the best deals. I’d always suggest using a calculator as well.
This is my personal favourite choice when it comes to medical travel insurance 😉. It’s created specifically for business entrepreneurs & frequent travellers, full-time digital nomads, expats, and remote workers.
We have 4 different options, of which we are able to tailor around you and your requirements (just have a quick chat with us): Major Medical, Standard, Comprehensive and Fully Comprehensive.
The website is super easy to navigate and you don’t have to inquire before being able to compare their plan options and see what they cover. We also have a cool instant quote process, this literally takes around 30 seconds, so don’t hesitate to jump through and get one.
I would say the only downside is that we don’t offer coverage in the USA. With that being said, it’s still available for US citizens who are travelling abroad. So, don’t stress USA nomads, we’ve still got you covered!
Alright, next up is World Nomads. They’re a travel insurance provider that offers coverage for adventure sports and high-risk activities.
I found their website very user-friendly and easy to navigate, which makes it convenient to explore their options and understand the coverage provided.
I feel like they’re a great option for individuals who participate in adventure sports or engage in high-risk activities. So, those who want to do hiking, climbing, paragliding, swimming with sharks, all types of things can that risk your life 😆.
Their coverage is specifically tailored for these types of activities and gives you peace of mind knowing you’re protected in case of accidents or injuries. This is great but also might come at an extra cost.
So, if you enjoy adventure sports or high-risk activities, World Nomads could be a great fit for your travel insurance needs. Just remember you may be forking out a little bit more than others.
So, next up is Gengki. They provide travel insurance tailored specifically to the needs of digital nomads and offer two plan options to choose from. However they are partnered with Allianz meaning they could just be trying to sell you an inflated package from Allianz.
Another perk is that customers have access to 24/7 customer service, which is a plus when there are issues or concerns that need to be addressed. Additionally, if you’re already abroad you can still purchase it which can be super convenient.
However, one downside is that their policies do not offer coverage for travel in Canada or the USA. So, while Gengki provides affordable and comprehensive coverage for digital nomads, they may not be the best option if you’re travelling to Canada or the USA.
The first thing that caught my attention on their website is their emphasis on how they provide travel insurance created by travellers. Their policies are customisable, meaning you can tailor them to meet your specific needs.
However, just as observation this may mean that your package is created by people who aren’t experts in the industry and only focus on solely things you need for travelling. This might suit backpackers, frequent travellers and holiday makers more but might not suit business entrepreneurs on the move, expats and digital nomads.
Another huge perk is if you’re already abroad you can still purchase it. They provide Single Trip and Multi-Trip plans, as well as Extreme Packs for various high-risk activities like trekking to unlimited altitudes or playing a game of rugby.
However, with anything this good it’s going to come at a much higher price. Of course there will be terms and conditions that stop you from being able to claim if you buy the insurance a few weeks prior to having an accident as they might think you are buying it after your accident.
So, this could be a great option if you are a bit of an adventure enthusiast and prefer to engage in lots of activities where injury could occur. Or simply if you are already travelling and like to take a little bit more of a risk, at the cost of more money and less chance of making claims.
At first glance, the website seems a bit tricky to navigate. But they offer valuable information about their plans that can help you make informed decisions.
As far as their plans go, there are three options: Essential Plan, Preferred Plan, and Deluxe Plan. The Essential Plan is the more budget-friendly option. However, it is limited in what they offer and provide in terms of coverage.
It’s worth taking the time to explore their website to understand which plan is most suitable for your travel needs and budget. I noticed that they have multiple different add ons and packages for different things that are unrelated to travel and nomads, so maybe they don’t specialise in this.
One downside is that they only offer 24/7 customer service if you purchase their Deluxe Plan. If access to 24/7 customer service is important for peace of mind, you may need to consider other providers that offer this service regardless of the plan you purchase.
Moving along, I picked Travel Guard as another great option for travel medical insurance. They made themselves into my list of 8, which is pretty good.
They offer affordable plans with customisable coverage options, including coverage for accidental death and dismemberment (which hopefully won’t be needed).
Overall, this is a good option if you are looking for affordable travel medical insurance plans.
Their range of coverage options allows you to tailor their policy to meet your individual needs, ensuring you have the right level of protection.
The inclusion of coverage for accidental death and dismemberment adds an extra layer of security if you want additional financial support in the event of severe accidents or injuries.
Moving along, I picked Travel Guard as another great option for travel medical insurance. They made themselves into my list of 8, which is pretty good.
They offer affordable plans with customisable coverage options, including coverage for accidental death and dismemberment (which hopefully won’t be needed).
Overall, this is a good option if you are looking for affordable travel medical insurance plans.
Their range of coverage options allows you to tailor their policy to meet your individual needs, ensuring you have the right level of protection.
The inclusion of coverage for accidental death and dismemberment adds an extra layer of security if you want additional financial support in the event of severe accidents or injuries.
Picking medical travel insurance that’s right for you
So, based on all of the research above it’s safe to say that you might feel slightly more confident choosing a travel medical insurance that is right for you now. I do appreciate, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find the right plan that provides comprehensive coverage and value.
But, I’m going that you are feeling like you can choose one that suits your needs right now. Also, don’t hesitate to jump on our instant quote at the top of the page, since you are already here.
I’d love to help you further by getting the right insurance for you. Ultimately, you should pick something that fits your individual needs and leaves you feeling stress-free so you can focus on what you love; travel.
By taking the time to compare plans and read reviews, you can find a provider that offers the best coverage for your specific travel plans. With the right travel insurance, you can travel with confidence knowing that you are protected against unexpected expenses and health emergencies.
