My Global Shield Insurance – HONEST Review For 2024.

Travelling is indeed an enriching experience that broadens one’s horizons. But it comes with its fair share of associated risks. From unexpected medical emergencies to trip cancellations, a lot can go wrong when you’re far from home and this is where travel insurance comes into play.

Travel insurance is (in my view) a critical component of any travel plan and without it, travelers risk finding themselves facing significant out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an emergency. The right insurance policy will ensure that you are protected from these potential pitfalls, allowing you to enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

Selecting a travel insurance provider can be tough though. With so many companies offering similar services (and some of them pretty bad…), it can be challenging to determine which one best suits your needs.

With that in mind, we have put together this review of My Global Shield and their Nomad Cover.

My Global Shield (MGS) is a renowned travel insurance company that has been developing coverage options for travellers worldwide for over 60 years now. My Global Shield products are underwritten by Lloyds of London and administered by WorldTrips to ensure the highest level of certainty and support.

My Global Shield offers a variety of travel and medical insurance policies tailored to meet the diverse needs of a range of different travelers. These include single-trip insurance, multi-trip insurance, and specialized policies for students, families and business travelers.

Among their offerings, the Nomad policy stands out as it is designed specifically for long-term, open-ended travelers and digital nomads, this is their NomadShield^TM product.

Let’s delve deeper into what MGS’s NomadShield’s policy entails.

The NomadShield^TM Insurance is a medical and travel insurance policy aimed at long-term travelers and digital nomads. It offers coverage for those who are constantly on the move, ensuring they are protected no matter where they are in the world and includes a number of important benefits like trip interruption, terrorism, natural disasters and even ransom as well as medical expense cover.

Who Is It Aimed At?

NomadShield^TM covers digital nomads, freelancers, remote workers, expatriates, and other long-term travelers who spend extended periods abroad.  It is also ideal for bloggers, vloggers, journalists and others who travel abroad. It’s great backpacker insurance suitable for a wide variety of people.

It caters to those who require flexible and comprehensive coverage that can adapt to their unique lifestyle and travel patterns.

In fact, their comprehensive coverage and flexibility maybe its best features. For example, you can:

1. You can get covered before or even during your trip, 
2. You can travel from or to more than 180 countries worldwide, and
3. Even change countries after your journey starts!

What Does It Cover?

The policy covers most of the eventualities that a “classic” travel insurance product covers including medical emergencies, travel issues such as trip interruption and more.  NomadShield^TM also covers a category of Special Risks, which I’m really excited about because you won’t find some of these coverages in products from most other companies.

NomadShield^TM also includes some coverage for a number of adventure activities, making it ideal for thrill-seekers who engage in sports like skiing, diving, and hiking.

You should always be sure to check what your travel insurance policy covers specifically.

Below I will cover in more detail the precise coverage amounts included in the policy;

Medical Coverage

Here is a summary of coverages for illness and injuries while outside your home country.

• Max Limit: $250,000.
• Deductible: $0
• Hospital Room & Board: Average semi-private room rate including nursing services.
• Intensive Care Unit: Up to overall policy limit.
• Urgent Care Center Copayment: Inside the U.S. $50 is not subject deductible. Outside the U.S. $0 – no copayment.
• Emergency Room Co-Payment: Inside the U.S. $100 copayment for each use of the emergency room for an illness unless you are admitted to the hospital. There will be no co-payment for emergency room treatment of an injury. Outside the U.S. no co-payment.
• Local Ambulance: Usual, reasonable and customary charges only when covered illness or injury results in hospital inpatient admission.
• Emergency Dental: Up to $1,000 – not subject to deductible.

One interesting feature is that while NomadShield^TM primarily covers you while traveling outside of your home country, they will cover you within your home country for up to 15 days every several months. It’s good to know that you can return home periodically and still have medical insurance coverage!

So not only is it one of the best international travel insurance providers, but it works for time at home too.

Travel Coverage

Here are the extensive travel and trip coverages.

• Trip Interruption: Up to $5,000 – not subject to deductible.
• Travel Delay: Up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay requiring an unplanned overnight stay. Subject to a maximum of 2 days. Not subject to deductible.
• Lost Checked Luggage: Up to $3,000 – not subject to deductible.
• Natural Disaster Replacement Accommodations: Up to $100 per day for 5 days (not subject to deductible).
• Repatriation of Remains: Up to the overall Maximum Limit. Not subject to deductible or coinsurance.
• Accidental Death Benefit: Up to $25,000. In case of fatality due to external, violent, and visible bodily injury, we offer a cash payout to your beneficiary.

Special Risk Coverage

Perhaps the most unique features of NomadShield^TM are the Special Risk benefits, many of which I’ve never seen in other products:

• Terrorism: Up to $50,000 for medical expenses related to Terrorism.
• Political Evacuation: Up to $10,000 if the U.S. State Department issues a level 3 or higher travel advisory after your arrival.
• Crisis Response: Up to $10,000 coverage for Kidnap, Ransom and personal belonging with a buy-up option to $100,000.
• Emergency Reunion/Bedside Visit: If you are hospitalized for a serious condition they will fly a family member to be with you while hospitalized.
• Personal Liability: Up to $25,000 if while traveling you become legally liable to another person for personal injury or their property.
• Return of Minor Child: If you are hospitalized and no other traveling adult is able to care for minor children the policy provides up to $50,000 coverage to return the children to your home country.
• Return of Pet: If you are hospitalized and no other traveling adult is able to care for your pet they will return the pet to your home country.

If you want to have a look for yourself, you can find a useful and easy-to-digest summary of all the NomadShield^TM benefits here.

What Doesn’t It Cover?

While the Nomad policy is extensive, like all insurance policies there are certain exclusions to be aware of. These typically include chronic or congenital conditions, non-emergency medical procedures and pregnancy (however emergency complications of pregnancy are covered)  You can read all exclusions and policy details here.

How Much Does it Cost?

The cost of travel Insurance varies depending on factors such as the traveler’s age, travel destination, duration of coverage, and any specific needs.

Now, the MGS website states that the NomadShield^TM plan starts at $25.20 per 4-week period (or $327.60 per annum).

However, when I had a play with the Instant Pricing generator it quoted me $43.12.

This was as a 39-year-old traveler taking a 4-week jolly to Mexico.

One of the things I really did appreciate about the My Global Shield website is how fast and easy it is to generate and amend a quote. You can get on their webpage in seconds by clicking the link below and entering some basic details.

Pros of MGS NomadShield^TM Cover

Cover Amount – The $250,000 coverage amount for medical emergencies, trip cancelations etc. meets the industry average and is sufficient for most eventualities.

Deductible: $0 – there is no deductible.

Price – Starting at $12.95 for a week cover period, the NomadShield^TM policy is very reasonably priced.

Can Buy at Any Time – Most travel insurers insist that cover is purchased before a trip begins. However, this is not the case with the Nomad Cover and travelers can purchase it at any time from on the road.

Multi-Country Options – If you are taking a multi-country trip, then My Global Shield can cover this. Moreover, their quote generator widget makes adding or removing countries to or from a quote very fast and very easy.

Open-Ended Cover – The NomadShield^TM policy offers two payment options.  You can either purchase for an open-ended period and pay every month; or, you can pay upfront for a specified trip duration.  This is ideal for Digital Nomad and long-term travelers who often do not know how long they will be away.

Special Risks Cover – I must again mention their Special Risks cover which is detailed above.  These are great benefits that you probably won’t find with most other companies and for me it’s what makes them stand out and one of the best travel insurance companies out there.

Cons of MGS Nomad Cover

Routine Medical Expenses Not Covered: While medical emergencies are covered, preventative medical expenses such as check-ups and tests are not. This is very normal for travel insurance and suits most travelers fine. However, remote workers and Digital Nomads might prefer a policy that offers this.

Extreme Sports Not Covered: NomadShield^TM covers numerous non-professional sports that most people engage in such as Skiing, Diving, Tennis and more.  However, if you engage in extreme sports such as SkyDiving, Spelunking, Cliff Jumping and other extreme sports you should probably consider another company. Having said that, this is pretty standard and this travel insurance is still worth it.

On balance, I feel that My Global Shield stands out as a reliable travel insurance provider and their NomadShield^TM cover is especially useful for long-term travelers and digital nomads.

With its fairly extensive coverage options, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service, it is a strong contender in the busy and competitive travel insurance market.

Whether you’re planning a short vacation or embarking on a long-term adventure, My Global Shield might just have a policy that can meet your needs and provide the peace of mind you deserve.