Get a ballpark monthly cost for travel medical insurance before requesting an actual quote. For U.S. expats and nomads who need short- or long-term coverage abroad.
Estimate Your Monthly Premium
Three inputs, instant planning estimate. Get an actual quote from a real provider before relying on the number.
1Your age
Travel medical premiums scale heavily with age. Under 40 is the cheapest band; 65+ pricing jumps significantly.
2Coverage region
U.S. coverage roughly doubles the premium because U.S. healthcare costs are 2–4× the global average. Schengen visa applications usually require Europe coverage with €30,000+ minimum.
3Coverage level / deductible
Basic: lower premium, higher out-of-pocket. Standard: most common nomad choice. Premium: best for those with chronic conditions or low risk tolerance.
4Trip length
Short-stay travel insurance and long-stay/expat insurance have different products and pricing structures.
Travel medical vs expat health insurance — what you actually need
Two distinct product categories for Americans abroad:
Travel medical insurance (SafetyWing, IMG, GeoBlue Trekker, World Nomads): short-term, designed for trips up to 12 months. Premium is low because coverage is genuinely for emergencies. Doesn’t include routine care, preventive visits, dental, vision.
Expat (international) health insurance (Cigna Global, Allianz Care, Aetna International, William Russell): designed for permanent expat life. Higher premium but actual healthcare — includes routine care, preventive, often dental and vision. Most plans renew annually.
Why U.S. expats need international coverage
Standard U.S. health insurance plans (employer, ACA marketplace, Medicare) provide limited or no coverage outside the U.S. Medicare specifically does not cover care delivered outside the U.S., even in emergencies, with very narrow exceptions. ACA marketplace plans typically only cover emergencies abroad with high deductibles and out-of-network rates.
Going uninsured abroad creates two failure modes:
Acute emergency (accident, sudden illness): a hospital stay in many countries runs $5K–$20K. Medical evacuation back to the U.S. can run $50K–$250K.
Chronic care: managing a chronic condition without insurance in a foreign country is expensive and complicated. Some countries require proof of insurance for residency or visa renewal.
What our estimate is based on
The cost ranges in the tool reflect SafetyWing’s published Nomad Insurance pricing as of 2026, plus comparable data points from other nomad/expat carriers (IMG Global, Cigna Global, Allianz Care). The math:
Base premium by age band (SafetyWing’s public structure): 18–39: ~$56/4-wk; 40–49: ~$95/4-wk; 50–59: ~$148/4-wk; 60–69: ~$226/4-wk.
U.S. coverage: roughly +75–100% premium (SafetyWing’s “Including U.S.” option).
Coverage level: basic / standard / premium adjusts ±25%.
Long-stay expat plans: typically 1.5–2.5× the nomad-insurance rate; we apply ~1.8× for the 12+ months option.
Important caveats
Pre-existing conditions: most travel medical plans exclude them. Some carriers offer optional pre-existing rider at materially higher premium.
Schengen visa requirements: most Schengen countries require minimum €30,000 medical coverage with no deductible for visa applications. Verify the plan you pick meets the requirement before purchasing the visa application.
Pregnancy and childbirth: usually excluded from travel medical; covered under most expat plans after a waiting period.
Mental health: varies widely by carrier. Read the policy summary before buying.
This is a planning estimate. Real premiums depend on medical history, exact destination, exact dates, and underwriting adjustments. Always get an actual quote from a real provider before relying on the number. We are not insurance brokers. This is general information, not insurance advice.