Best Backpacker Travel Insurance in 2026 – After 15 Real Claims

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The right policy depends on your trip, here’s the short version of our top picks:

• Most backpackers: SafetyWing Essential
• Backpackers who want flexibility with a higher medical ceiling: Genki Traveler
• Trips with non-refundable travel costs: World Nomads Standard
• Adventure-heavy trips: World Nomads Explorer / Epic
• US travelers needing a cancel-for-any-reason option: Faye
• Travelers wanting the highest medical ceiling: HeyMondo
• Long-term expats needing real health coverage: SafetyWing Complete or Genki Native

Here’s a whole lot more detail on each to make your pick!

Here’s how the main plans compare across the specs that will matter most:

 Best for Most Backpackers: SafetyWing Essential

At a Glance:

• Good fit for: Long term travelers and digital nomads on a budget
• Starting Price: From $62.72 per 28 days for ages 10-39. Rates vary by age and increase if travels include the USA.
• Medical cover: Up to $250,000
• Emergency evacuation: Up to $100,000 lifetime maximum. Up to $25,000 if evacuation is caused by acute onset of a pre-existing condition.
• Trip cancellation: Not covered
• Baggage: Lost checked luggage only, up to $3,000 total, $500 per item maximum. Stolen luggage not covered by default.
• Electronics: Not covered by default. Electronics theft add-on is available separately.
• Adventure activities: Not covered but can be added on
• Can you buy while traveling: Yes! If you’re already outside your home country, your coverage will be effective immediately with no waiting period.
• Flexibility: Renews automatically every 28 days until you choose an end date or reach 364 days, but you can cancel anytime. A $25 cancellation fee applies if cancelled after the start of an active period.
• Best feature: The flexibility and depth of coverage is pretty hard to beat
• Biggest drawback: They often require quite a bit of specific paperwork

7 of 12 TBB team members have used SafetyWing Essential, the most common provider on the team by a significant margin with roughly 10 policies between them. Three claims have been filed, and all were paid!

It is easy to set up, affordable and they may cover you in most medical situations as well as offering a certain amount of private health insurance for when you’re back home. However, they offer less coverage for trip cancellation, interruption and trip delay. They are a firm fave of digital nomads who need medical coverage while spending prolonged periods away from their home countries.

SafetyWing uses a convenient monthly payment scheme that is subscription-based. This means that you can start, stop, and pause your enrollment at any time and don’t have to pay for something that you don’t use.

What makes it stand out most though is the claims structure. A lot of cheaper travel insurance comes with a $50–$100 deductible per claim, which makes the little stuff small not even possible to file on. SafetyWing generally doesn’t work that way. Aside from a $50 urgent care copay in the US, you’re usually claiming the actual amount which can add up!

TBB Editor Nic filed two claims in Bali in the same month:

• Claim 1: Rabies vaccination boosters after a street dog licked an open cut (~£130). They were reimbursed in full within one week.
• Claim 2: A clinic visit for Bali belly. Getting reimbursed involved handwritten receipts from a cash payment. SafetyWing requested additional documents but communicated clearly about what was needed and then paid in full within two weeks.
  
  Both claims were under amounts that a standard $100+ deductible would have entirely swallowed, but SafetyWing’s model made both worth filing.

Who should choose it:

• Digital nomads on a budget
• Long term travelers
• Travelers who want to start, stop, or extend coverage easily

Who should look elsewhere:

• Backpackers who want CFAR, look into World Nomads or Faye
• Anyone carrying electronics worth protecting should pair it with an electronics policy instead
• Anyone who wants a higher medical ceiling on a similar flexible model, Genki Traveler is better

Best for Backpackers Who Want a Higher Medical Ceiling: Genki Traveler

At a Glance:

• Good fit for: Adventurous backpackers who want a high medical ceiling and an easy claims process
• Medical limit: €1,000,000 overall, with a €50 deductible per outpatient insurance case. No deductible for inpatient stays – those are paid directly to the hospital
• Trip cancellation: Not covered
• Baggage and electronics: Not covered. Genki is a strictly medical-focused policy only.
• Adventure sports: Many are included by default like hiking at altitude (as long as no special equipment is required), skiing and snowboarding on marked trails, surfing (not big wave), sailing (recreational), cycling, and most recreational sports
• Buy after departure: Yes, but you’ll only be covered for emergencies for the first two weeks, UNLESS you already had active insurance in the country you were in the day before your Genki policy start date
• Flexibility: Renews automatically every month but you can cancel at any time after the first month. It’s available to all nationalities and covers every single country in the world for travelers up to age 69. Coverage runs for up to 12 months from your chosen start date.
• Price: Starting around €52.50/month, though this will increase with age; full US/Canada coverage available from ~€98/month)
• Best feature: The flexibility and depth of coverage is pretty hard to beat. You are covered when driving a light motorcycle (up to 125cc) without a license while wearing a helmet – key for our SE Asia travelers!
• Biggest drawback: It’s strictly medical so you won’t get any baggage coverage or other extras

I’ve personally used and successfully claimed with Genki Traveler three times and I cannot recommend it enough. Over multiple incidents in Southeast Asia, from emergencies to outpatient issues, they stuck to their refund policy of a 3-4 week turn around time and didn’t ask for any weird documents.

Genki’s Traveler plan is the closest thing you’ll get to a direct SafetyWing Essential alternative, and like I said, I deff recommend it!

But there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing to go with Genki. While the subscription is super flexible and you can buy it at any time (with a two-week emergency-coverage-only waiting period) there’s no trip cancellation or any coverage for valuables or electronics.

The key difference that hooked me is the medical ceiling: €1,000,000 versus SafetyWing’s $250,000, so you’re looking at roughly four times the coverage on a similar flexible plan. That’s also backed by something most people overlook: Genki is regulated under German insurance law, one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the world. That means the coverage you’re promised is the coverage you actually get.

One thing that’s easy to miss is that their cheaper “worldwide limited” plan only covers medical emergencies in the US and Canada if the emergency started within 7 days of arrival which is obviously not flexible. So if you’re planning to stay in either for more than a week, the full “Worldwide” plan is what you want to get, which is a bit more expensive. Worth noting: home country coverage is also limited regardless of which plan you choose, so Traveler is designed for time spent abroad.

Who should choose it:

• Backpackers who want the flexibility of SafetyWing with a higher medical ceiling
• Travelers who actually want their claims paid out quickly
• Anyone planning adventure activities who doesn’t want to pay extra for add-ons
• Riders who use scooters or motorbikes up to 125cc (no license required, helmet on)
• Budget-conscious travelers who do not need trip cancellation

Who should look elsewhere:

• Backpackers who need Cancel For Any Reason insurance,
• Anyone who needs mental health coverage
• Travelers planning extended time in the US or Canada on a budget (the worldwide upgrade costs significantly more)
• People needing seamless coverage beyond 12 months. You can take out a new Traveler policy, but any conditions that developed during the previous period will be treated as pre-existing. For uninterrupted long-term coverage, check out Genki Native.

Best All-Rounder with Trip Protection: World Nomads

At a Glance:

• Good fit for: Backpackers and adventure travelers who want flexible travel insurance with strong adventure sports coverage, trip protection, and flexibility
• Medical limit: Explorer plans commonly offer around $150,000 USD emergency medical coverage for U.S. residents, while some international versions advertise up to $5M in unlimited emergency medical benefits. Emergency evacuation commonly goes up to $500,000. Though do keep in mind this varies heavily by state so make sure you check your quote closely.
• Trip cancellation: Covered overall, higher-tier plans add missed connections, and optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrades in some countries.
• Baggage and electronics: Yup, plans typically include baggage, personal effects, and tech/equipment protection with higher limits on more expensive plans
• Adventure sports: The HUGE benefit of World Nomads is the 150–300+ activities covered depending on the plan and country, with higher level add ons available
• Buy after departure: Yes, though do check if your plan has a waiting period
• Flexibility: Very! You can extend coverage online while traveling and buy for long multi-country trips without needing to return home first.
• Price: More expensive than SafetyWing and Genki, and supe variable too. Most travelers get a quote somewhere between $85-$100
• Best feature: World Nomads is no doubt the best-known backpacker/adventure travel insurance with in-depth activity coverage and mid-trip purchase flexibility
• Biggest drawback: It’s definitely not the cheapest option on the market

World Nomads has been in the travel insurance game since 2002, and multiple TBB team members have used the company for years now and founder Will has filed two claims:

• Dengue fever in Laos: All hospital bills were covered without issue
• Stolen backpack containing all electronics in Bangkok: They paid in full quickly, no pushback

It is important to know that unlike companies like Genki, World Nomads’ rates can be MASSIVELY different depending on your nationality and country of residence.

For example, the US and UK products are massively different. Case in point: UK Standard covers up to £5,000,000, but US Standard for Washington state residents covers $25,000. Kind of a crazy difference, and it varies significantly by state within the US too.

Rather than give specific numbers that may not apply to you, here is what is consistent across markets and why we recommend them:

• They assist with trip cancellation included as standard, which is lowkey a main reason to choose World Nomads over SafetyWing or Genki for a trip with a ton of pre-booked costs
• You get trip interruption covered at 150% of the cancellation limit
• There are multiple tiers to choose from: Standard and a higher option (Explorer in the UK, Explorer/Epic in the US). The more you pay, the more you get, and the price difference isn’t as big as you’d think, so make sure you pick the best one!
• Adventure activities: World Nomads cover an unmatched 150+ activities, with higher-risk escapades like free soloing and cliff diving available as upgrades
• 24/7 emergency assistance on all plans worldwide
• You can buy after leaving home, though be sure to check on specifics when you get your quote

They’ll help you plan your trip with free downloadable guides, travel tips, responsible travel insights and recommendations from their global community which sets them apart from other backpacker insurances.

Who should choose it:

• Anyone with non-refundable bookings they CANNOT afford to lose
• Backpackers planning to do a ton of adventure activities
• Travelers who value an insurer whose been at it for awhile with a history of actually paying out claims

Who should look elsewhere:

• Backpackers on an open-ended trip without anything booked. SafetyWing Essential is the better value pick
• Anyone whose quote shows a low medical limit based on residence etc. Choose Genki or HeyMondo paired with a private personal article policy for any valuables/electronics

Best for US-Based Backpackers with Pre-Booked Trips: Faye

At a Glance:

• Best for: US-based backpackers with non-refundable bookings
• Medical limit (international plan): Up to $250,000 of primary coverage
• Trip cancellation: Up to 100% of non-refundable trip cost, 75% with CFAR
• Trip interruption/delays: Up to 150% of non-refundable trip costs for interruptions, $300 per day up to $2,100 for delays
• Baggage and electronics: Up to $2,000, but with a super low $150 per-item limit.
• CFAR add-on: 75% of non-refundable costs. But this MUST be added at purchase!
• App Based Claims: Their app and website are stunning, and you’ll have approved claims paid instantly to your app’s e-wallet.
• Adventure activities: Excluded by default, but with an add-on available. Definitely not on the same level as the others here.
• Buy after departure: No, which can be a big downside
• Flexibility: Probably one of the least flexible on this list. Not ideal for a type B trip. The product may be differnt for residents of states like Washington, New York and Missouri so read everything!
• Price: Since Faye prices per trip, you can expect to pay 4-8% of your trip costs
• Best feature: The ability to truly cancel for any reason and get 75% of non-refundable costs back with NO hassle! Oh and the app, it’s elite.
• Biggest drawback: It’s only available to residents of the 50 US states (and DC) unfortunately

Faye provides whole-trip travel coverage with a fantastic app that makes the entire experience easy, which trust me, is RARE in the travel insurance industry. Though I’ll be up front: it’s only for US residents (all 50 states and DC only), so if that’s not you keep on reading!

I’ve personally been refunded 75% of my trip costs as promised when I had to unfortunately reschedule a Thailand trip in 2023. This was through their ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ (CFAR) Insurance that allows you to quite literally cancel for ANY reason.

Their app (which is amazing from a user experience perspective) shares bits about your health, your trip and your gear all with quick reimbursements and 24/7 customer support.

If you ever do need to make a claim, then you simply log in to the app and the claim will be assessed super quickly from anywhere in the world!

Best of all, if the claim is successful then the funds will be immediately credited to the smart wallet on your phone or device and ready for you to spend (though you can easily transfer it out).I have tried and tested a lot of different insurance policies and have never seen anything quite like this.

A full Faye Travel Insurance review will give you even more details on this legendary company, which no doubt has the best UX in the game.

Who should choose it:

• US-based backpackers with non-refundable bookings
• Anyone truly in need of CFAR coverage
• Travelers who want a high quality app experience

Who should look elsewhere:

• Non-US readers, unfortunately it’s not available
• If you’re traveling indefinitely and have no bookings to lose out on. SafetyWing Essential or Genki Traveler are going to be better value
• Anyone who may need to claim on expensive baggage. The per-item limit is super low at just $150 which wouldn’t cover any major electronic.

Best App-Based Insurance: HeyMondo

At a Glance:

• Best for: Travelers who want strong medical coverage plus actual human support through a well-designed app
• Medical limit Anywhere from $200,000 up to $10,000,000 depending on your nationality and country of residence
• Trip cancellation: Some plans include it, or it will be available as an add-on. Typically, you’ll see coverage into the low thousands
• Baggage and electronics: Included for luggage theft, loss, damage, and delays. Electronics (camera, laptop, phone, drone gear) can be added separately, which is ideal for digital nomads
• Adventure activities: You’ll find all the standard activities covered, with more high-risk adventures available as an add-on
• Buy after departure: Yes, but you’ll have to wait about 72 hours for it to kick in.
• Flexibility: You have lots of it, though it’s not as nomad-friendly as SafetyWing or Genki
• Price: Roughly $2–4/day for many trips, depending on destination, age, and add-ons
• Best feature: The 24/7 in app support is incredible!
• Biggest drawback: There are some mixed experiences out there, but we haven’t personally claimed with HeyMondo so we’d recommend reading recent reviews before committing

A comparison of Heymondo insurance will prove it has some seriously solid features when it comes to combining travel insurance with technology, but to be completely honest with you, we don’t have direct experience claiming with them ourselves.

What stands out:

• No deductible on shorter-term policies
• Available to all nationalities
• 5% discount for TBB readers

Unlike Faye, they actually cover travelers from anywhere, not just from the USA. The Heymondo app comes with a 24-hour medical chat, free emergency assistance calls and incident management.

Specifics to keep in mind:

• The standard HeyMondo policy excludes two-wheeled vehicles with engine capacity over 75cc
• That means almost ALL motorbikes and MOST larger scooters in Southeast Asia are not covered under the standard plan
• Their adventure sports add-on required to extend this coverage
• This particularly relevant for Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. so if you plan to rent a motorbike, check this before buying!

They also have a complication-free way to make a claim straight from your phone. I found this incredibly helpful as I’m used to having to deal with frustrating phone calls and emails when dealing with backpacker insurance companies, so don’t underestimate this.

Response time is also fast, the 24/7 chat feature is a game changer in the world of travel insurance.

Best for Long-Term Expats (Full Health Coverage): SafetyWing Complete

At a Glance:

• Best for: Another fab option for digital nomads and expats looking for a real health insurance plan abroad
• Medical limit: Up to $1.5M per year, which includes mental health treatment!
• Trip cancellation: Typically around $300 per trip / $600 per year, so it won’t meaningfully protect expensive prepaid flights or luxury bookings.
• Baggage and electronics: Baggage is included, but only around $500 per item / $3,000 total, which will not cover a lot of electrionics
• Adventure activities: Broad coverage for typical adventure activities though extreme sports still have exclusions.
• Buy after departure: Yes, but coverage typically begins on the next billing cycle date, not immediately
• Flexibility: It’s an annual contract with monthly payments, making it less flexible than SafetyWing Essential.
• Price: Around $150–$180/month for ages 18–39, increasing with age and optional add ons
• Best feature: It covers SO much more than regular insurance and can actually replace your home country’s insurance
• Biggest drawback: It’s completely unavailable to USA, Canada and UAE residents unfortunately!

First off, you need to know that SafetyWing Complete is not a direct competitor of SafetyWing Essential. While Essential is emergency travel insurance, Complete is much closer to a legit expat health plan.

If you’re backpacking for just a few months or less, Essential is realistically the better (and cheaper) option. Complete is for travelers who are committed to living/gallivanting abroad long term and need the kind of comprehensive coverage they’d have at home.

The plan is much more like regular health insurance. It covers things like ongoing prescriptions, outpatient appointments, mental health care, and treatment for conditions that pop up on the road.

One key thing to think about: the $5,000/year outpatient limit is not remotely impressive for a plan marketed as full health coverage. A specialist outpatient appointment can easily run you $500 in Bangkok for example, so things really can add up.

Another ehh for me is that trip cancellation is included, but only for specific named reasons. So while yes, it’s good to have, it’s deff not the same as full trip protection or CFAR, so don’t let that surprise ya.

As mentioned, it’s also NOT available to US, Canada, or UAE residents which is a HUGE negative and doesn’t make much sense, but it is what it is.

Who should choose it:

• Travelers spending 6+ months abroad continuously
• Digital nomads without active health insurance back home
• Anyone who needs to manage an ongoing condition while living overseas

Who should look elsewhere:

• Trips under 6 months (SafetyWing Essential or Genki is usually better value)
• Residents of the US, Canada, or UAE (unforunately we’re not eligible)
• Anyone who prefers unlimited medical coverage, like Genki

Best Long-Term Expat Alternative: Genki Native

At a Glance:

• Best for: Long-term travelers and digital nomads who want full health insurance abroad
• Medical limit: Up to €1M (Basic) or unlimited (Premium) for most treatments, with a key caveat that coverage in the US/Canada is capped separately
• Trip cancellation: Not covered. This is a strictly medical-only policy
• Baggage and electronics: Another downside of Genki is you’re also not going to find any valuables coverage either, so you’ll need another policy if you have any
• Adventure activities: Many common activities (hiking, diving, trekking, etc.) are included with fewer add on requirements.
• Buy after departure: Yes! You can join while already abroad, but coverage typically activates on the next 1st or 15th of the month after approval, not immediately.
• Flexibility: The monthly billing and global coverage make it easy to stay insured while moving countries. But there’s a 12-month minimum commitment, so it’s less flexible than most options
• Price: Roughly €120-€180/month for younger travelers (18–39), varying based on age, region, and underwriting.
• Best feature: How it combines routine healthcare + emergency care + long-term coverage in one plan, which even includes mental health support, preventative care, and ongoing treatment.
• Biggest drawback: Claims are kinda ehh when you look at reviews, plus the 12 month commitment is not flexible.

Just like with Safetywing, Genki Native is very different from Genki Traveler. Traveler (that I’ve used for three years in a row for 1-2 month trips) is flexible, budget friendly travel medical insurance that you can use for trips up to a year.

Native is long-term international health insurance, closer to what you’d get through an employer in the US, but made for nomads who work and live everywhere.

Genki Native’s biggest selling point for me is that it offers effectively unlimited medical coverage for most treatments, meaning there’s no true limit on major medical costs outside of specific regional caveats (notably the US/Canada restrictions).

It’s also notable that instead of automatically excluding pre-existing conditions, they assess each case individually which really should be industry standard tbh!

The only downside is that you NEED to sign up for at least 12 months, which isn’t ideal for type b travelers or for short-term trips.

If you plan to use it in the US and Canada, do know there is a serious cap at around €250,000 per year , so anyone spending a lot of time in these two may want to look for better options.

Who should choose it:

• Expats and digital nomads living abroad for 12+ months at a time
• People who have no other insurance plans
• Those with pre-existing conditions needing individual underwriting

Who should look elsewhere:

• Anyone planning to be traveling for less than a year
• Travelers in need of full coverage in the US/Canada
• Budget backpackers seeking emergency-only insurance

Do you really need travel insurance?

I get why people skip insurance. When you’re broke backpacking hard, travel insurance seems like a waste. But I am being dead serious when I tell you that one hospital visit can wipe out months, or years, of savings.

While traveling in Bangkok, I randomly found myself with a major case of eye pain and irritation one morning. Thanks to travel insurance, I was able to pop into a top eye hospital, be seen and treated all without losing a few hundred dollars.

Other TBB team members have saved literally thousands via their travel insurance plans, money they simply wouldn’t have had to spend otherwise. There is truly no downside to it, and I strongly believe that unless you’re a billionaire, you cannot afford to travel without it.

I’ve gone over the essentials but now it’s time to look at a good backpacker travel insurance in a bit more detail.

If any of the 10 points below are missing from your policy, then do consider looking for a different provider. Whenever I’m searching for backpacker insurance, I look for a policy that can offer the following;

1. It can cover most countries in the world.
2. Can provide cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage, possessions, documents etc.
3. Has an option to increase coverage of high-value items.
4. Cover for plenty of adventure activities with affordable add on prices
5. The company has a 24-hour emergency helpline.
6. Can offer at least $1 million personal liability insurance in case you injure a person or cause damage to their property.
7. Can offer a minimum of $1 million of medical coverage.
8. Repatriation to your home country in the case of serious illness or injury, check the small print, occasionally the repatriation will only take you so far.
9. Can cover emergency evacuation, though do note this typically has a separate limit from the medical maximum.
10. A minimum of $1000 trip cancellation/curtailment cover so that you can get home fast if there is an emergency such as a death in the family.
11. Some cover for any legal expenses you may need.
12. Extendability: If you decide to travel for longer than originally planned you want to be able to extend your policy easily.

At the end of the day though, if a policy has weak medical cover, no evacuation cover, or excludes the activities I’m actually planning on doing, I don’t buy it… no matter how cheap it is. Value will always win over a cheap deal with travel insurance.

You don’t want to get caught up in missed details when a crisis hits!

Activity Exclusions

Many backpacker insurance policies will not cover you if you are injured whilst doing any kind of ‘high adrenaline’ activity so it is crucial you read your policy and understand it.

Sometimes even hill walking is classified as “high adrenaline.” For an extra price, you can usually add activities to your policy, do think about what you will be doing and add accordingly. If you are trekking make sure your policy will cover rescue at your elevation too.

Some insurance companies also have strict guidelines for trip cancellation too with a few loopholes! So watch out!

Here are some more activities companies often make you pay extra to cover:

• Scuba diving (you gotta check depth limits)
• Motorbikes (helmets, motorbike licenses, and International Driving Permits are often required)
• Skiing
• Climbing
• Volunteering
• Paid work

At the end of the day, if your travel insurance company DOES have an out then they will use it to avoid paying, so it is therefore really crucial you cover your ass and, if trekking at altitude, for example, you get the relevant add on to your policy.

Alcohol and Drugs

Most travel insurance policies will not cover you if you were under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of an accident. Try to avoid getting breathalysed if you get injured whilst drunk. Travelling safely will end up beneficial for you, especially when you need that medical coverage to kick in!

Motorbike and Scooter Rules

• SafetyWing Essential: Scooter and moped accidents excluded which is some very key fine print to be aware of. Adventure sports add-on extends coverage to motorcycles and scooters for non-US residents only.
• World Nomads: Motorbiking IS covered under adventure activities, but the policy requires compliance with local traffic laws, which includes wearing a helmet and holding whatever license local law requires, which typically means either a local motorbike license or one from your home country along with an IDP.
• HeyMondo Standard policy: Excludes two-wheeled vehicles with engine capacity over 75cc entirely which cancels out most bikes you’ll encounter. You’ll HAVE to get the Adventure sports add on.
• Genki Traveler and Native: Both covers recreational motorbiking, with the catch that you MUST hold a valid license if one is legally required in that country.

Valuables & Electronics insurance

Almost all cheap backpacker insurance policies will have very high excesses and fixed limits on the amount you can claim on personal belongings. Many policies other single item coverage up to $500 which isn’t going to get you very far. Ideally, you should pay a bit more to properly insure your valuables.

Before you leave:

• Photograph all your gear and save images to cloud storage
• Keep purchase receipts in the same cloud folder
• Most insurers require proof of ownership – find your receipts before you need them (even photograph them)

Most travel insurance companies will not cover the following mishaps:

• Pre-existing medical conditions: While many insurers don’t cover them, SafetyWing Complete and Genki Native CAN cover declared pre-existing conditions. For standard plans, SafetyWing Essential covers emergency treatment after a 28-day stability period. This includes travellers with diabetes, crohns disease, etc.
• Knowingly traveling to dangerous areas: Most travel insurance companies will not cover you if you decide to visit areas that are deemed hazardous. This includes armed conflicts, natural disaster zones, and radioactive areas. However, some companies take different views from one another on countries like Venezuela and Lebanon so make sure that you are covered for wherever you are traveling to before you leave.
• Pregnancy: Definitely look at more comprehensive plans for this one.
• Reckless driving: If you have no car insurance, they may try to get out of paying anything if you did anything remotely dangerous. Alternatively, you can purchase a RentalCover.com policy. It covers your car against any common damages.
• Flights bought with airline miles: …that’s like laundering money.
• Mental health: Most standard backpacker travel insurance policies do not cover mental health treatment abroad. However these days there are some new and exciting options! Faye covers hospitalization for mental health of 3+ days as a trip cancellation trigger. Genki Native Premium covers outpatient mental health after a 6-month waiting period, and SafetyWing Complete covers mental health outpatient visits within the $5,000/yr outpatient cap.
• Medical tourism: That’s a great new nose you got there dude, but no travel insurance company is going to pay for that.

Yup! SafetyWing Essential, Genki Traveler, World Nomads, HeyMondo, and Faye all allow purchase after departure. 

SafetyWing Essential is going to be your most straightforward option: if you’re already outside your home country when you buy, coverage is effective immediately on receipt of your proof of insurance email. No general illness waiting period. 

I found Genki Traveler to be similar, though it only covers emergencies for the first two weeks if you get started while already abroad.

HeyMondo and World Nomads also have a waiting period before anything kicks in (72 hours for HeyMondo, and it varies by market for World Nomads, check your quote). 

For the long-term policies: SafetyWing Complete can be purchased after departure but the application takes up to 10 days to process, and Genki Native, like Genki Traveler, has a 14 day waiting period (with emergencies covered immediately).

Do note that trip cancellation for a trip you are already on is never available regardless of your provider or when you buy. That ship has sailed! So always protect your trip (especially if it involves prepaid bookings) before you hit the road!

If you ever need to make a travel insurance claim, get all your documents in order early on. If you get robbed and want to claim for the lost belongings then you will need a police report and, probably receipts to prove that you did in fact own the item you are claiming for.

If you were hospitalized, you will need all of your Doctors’ notes and all of the medical bills.

You need to be patient when it comes to actually getting paid as even the best insurance for backpackers companies sometimes drag their feet. If the first offer that the travel insurance company makes you is ridiculously low then dispute it, the second offer is usually a lot better.

Before you travel:

• Save your policy number: You want it to be handy when you need it!
• Download offline copies: Connection isn’t always guaranteed
• Take photos of your gear and receipts: Insurers WILL ask for them
• Save emergency phone numbers for easy access
• Know your deductible policy
• Check the claim deadline, it may be sooner than you think

During the incident:

• Call the emergency assistance line if it’s serious
• Get a police report for theft. TBB Editor Taya had a phone, cash, and AirPods stolen in Sri Lanka. The process dragged on for months partly because her insurer required proof the phone had been blacklisted, a wild requirement she had not known about in advance.
• Keep every medical bill and take photos!
• TBB Editor Nic submitted handwritten receipts for a cash payment in Bali. SafetyWing asked for additional documents but communicated clearly and paid in full within two weeks once provided. 
• Ask for doctor notes in writing
• Never admit fault in liability situations

After the incident:

• Submit everything in one organized claim
• Keep copies of all communications
• Real example: TBB Editor Alex received £162 back on a £287 medical bill in Colombia after a £125 excess was deducted. Not too bad, but not a surprise if you knew the excess upfront. 
• Challenge low offers politely
• Don’t be afraid to follow up in writing

Every claim I’ve made has been easier when I had my paperwork locked in. Boring? Yes. Useful? 1000%!

Standard backpacker policies rarely cover electronics and other expensive gear well. Because of this, I decided to get a State Farm personal articles policy (USA) which is so much better than anything on this list as a photographer.

Rental vehicle incidents are also conveniently left off of most policies, and trust me you do not want to rent a car without having all that covered!

• Electronics and Gear Most policies in this guide either exclude electronics theft entirely or have a single-item limit that’s way too low to cover a phone, laptop, camera, or drone at true replacement value. If you travel with gear worth $1,000+, look at InsureMyEquipment (best for cameras and professional kit, ~$350-$500/year), State Farm (US residents) or Gadget Cover (UK residents, good for consumer electronics).
• Rental Vehicles Travel insurance covers you if you are injured in a rental vehicle BUT it does not cover damage to the vehicle itself. RentalCover.com is the best solution I’ve found: $7-$20/day, zero excess, covers cars, motorbikes, motorhomes, and campervans from any rental company worldwide.

I hope you found that helpful and hope you now feel a bit clearer about finding cheap backpacker insurance!

My personal choice is Genki Traveler, simply because I have seen them stay true to their polices not just once but three consecutive times. However, I will always encourage you to shop around, compare travel insurance providers and try to find the right policy for your trip.

And never, ever, ever forget to read the fine print! It will save you a TON of future stress.

Overall, the TBB team and the many of our readers have had the most experience (all positive!) with SafetyWing Essential, which has had our backs across all kinds of adventures for more than half a decade now. It’s at that price point to value sweet spot that has so many of us renewing our plans every time we hit the road.