Sailing Travel Insurance: The Complete Guide to International Health and Travel Insurance for Sailors, Cruisers and Liveaboards

Choosing the right sailing travel insurance is a little bit like choosing a good anchorage; it has to work for the current and forecasted conditions. This article aims to tease apart the surprisingly difficult challenge of choosing the best sailing travel insurance. That is, health and travel insurance covering medical expenses, personal belongings, and trip disruption when you are sailing outside your home country on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

For a long time, liveaboards and cruisers that are sailing outside their home countries have had to make do with traditional travel insurance to cover them for emergency medical and travel costs. However, this style of insurance, specifically designed for holidays and short to medium-term trips, has some serious limitations when it comes to insuring the specific needs of sailors.

But that is no longer the case. With the rise of nomadism, remote workers, van life, sail life, and other ‘untethered’ lifestyles, a variety of solutions are coming to market that may better serve the needs of the international liveaboard community.

We have been living a nomadic lifestyle since 2018, backpacking and traveling by van and by sailboat.

During that time we have had to rely on our travel medical insurance twice. We were glad both times that we were properly insured. Now, we are fairly conscientious about ensuring we have the right insurance for whatever we do.

If you are looking for a travel and health insurance solution that meets your specific needs for long-term sailing adventures, then this article might be helpful.

* This article is focused only on health and medical insurance and travel insurance for personal items. It excludes boat and liability insurance, which is a separate (yet equally important) issue.

What Should International Health and Travel Insurance for Sailors Cover?

To identify the health and travel insurance needs specific to you as a sailor, it’s helpful first to identify the unique risks associated with living and traveling on a sailboat, such as maritime-specific emergencies, weather-related incidents, and, of course, extended if not indefinite periods away from home. As a sailor, some of the inclusions or restrictions you might need to think about are

• Medical Emergencies and Evacuation: Coverage for medical emergencies is vital, particularly for issues requiring airlifts or transportation to a medical facility. This is crucial when sailing in remote areas where local medical services may be inadequate.
• Global Health Insurance: Global health insurance is recommended for those spending extended periods at sea, especially in international waters. This insurance should cover all medical expenses, including long-term and emergency treatment, dental, eye health, maternity, and chronic conditions​​.
• Personal Belongings: Insurance can also cover loss or damage to personal belongings whilst traveling.
• Specific Exclusions and Conditions: It’s important to be aware of exclusions, such as sailing beyond a certain distance from shore, racing, professional sailing, boat rental damage, and search-and-rescue missions.
• Additional Coverage Options: Insurance should include coverage for any activities outside the scope of regular sailing or travel, including diving, kiteboarding, surfing, racing, offshore sailing, etc.

Whatever insurance policy you take out, it’s essential to read the fine print and ensure that your specific needs, based on your sailing route and lifestyle, are covered.

Why Do I Need Sail Life Health Insurance or Travel Insurance?

For sailors living abroad, having health and travel insurance is critical for several reasons.

• Medical Emergencies at Sea: The possibility of medical emergencies at sea, often far from shore, necessitates coverage that includes evacuation and treatment in remote locations.
• International Regulations: Sailing often involves crossing international borders, where local healthcare systems might not provide coverage without insurance. Moreover, insurance is a requirement of entry for many countries.
• Protection Against Weather and Maritime Risks: Unpredictable weather and the other hazards and risks that come with living at sea can lead to emergencies requiring insurance coverage.
• Financial Security: Given the high costs associated with maritime emergencies and healthcare in foreign countries, insurance can ensure financial security.

Can I Use Traditional Travel and Health Insurance for Sail Life?

Yes! Traditional travel insurance can sometimes serve as a suitable safety net; in fact, we have used it for years.

However, in many situations, the specific issues facing sailors fall outside the scope of traditional health insurance. The reality is that travel insurance has been designed for short-term trips with a fixed itinerary and an end date in mind, and often isn’t well suited for any long-form, semi-permanent permanent travel or nomadism like sail life.

The Problem With Standard Travel Insurance for Liveaboards

There are lots of examples of when the nature of a liveaboard lifestyle doesn’t meet the requirements of traditional insurance products.

For example,

• Policies may not adequately cover incidents that occur far from shore or in international waters.
• Many standard policies exclude coverage for activities deemed high-risk, such as long-distance or open-water sailing.
• Insurance companies often require travelers to provide specific journey start and end dates and evidence such as flight or transportation reservations to validate these dates. However, this can pose a challenge for those leading a nomadic lifestyle at sea, as their schedules tend to be more open-ended and less defined, and their travel is typically self-guided rather than reliant on pre-booked transportation.
• Likewise, numerous insurance providers won’t process claims until after the journey has concluded. The indefinite nature of many sail life adventures makes this type of policy ineffective.
• Many insurance companies rely on a home and mailing address, which, once more, is not something liveaboards have access to.
• Frequently, insurers require applicants to be in their home country to obtain insurance coverage, adding an extra layer of complexity for sailors living abroad who seldom find themselves back in their home country.
• Sail life often involves extended periods at sea, while standard travel insurance is typically designed for shorter trips and often has a maximum trip duration they will insure.
• The majority of traditional insurance policies are sold with a predetermined duration, and if you opt to prolong your trip, you might encounter challenges with some insurers. They may be unable to extend or modify existing policies or issue new ones while you are outside the country.
• Insurers may have rigid rules about the specific countries or regions you can visit and whether you can make changes to your travel route after you’ve already embarked on your journey.
• Insurers can be overly stringent when it comes to the types of activities in which you can engage.

That being said, If you are planning a brief sailing trip abroad, perhaps renting a boat, and you know your dates then maybe traditional travel insurance is for you. For this sort of travel insurance, World Nomads offers competitively priced single and multi-trip policies to citizens of over 140 countries. We have used them extensively, and as a traditional insurer, they are great!

Nomad Travel and Health Insurance Providers for Sail Life

When choosing a travel and health insurance provider for sail life, selecting a company that understands the unique challenges and risks of living at sea is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

• Global Reach: Choose a provider with a global reach and experience in handling claims and assistance around the world, as sailing often involves international travel.
• Flexible Plans: Providers should offer flexible plans that can be adjusted based on travel patterns, destinations, and the length of the journey.
• Customer Support: Opt for providers with strong customer support, especially offering 24/7 assistance, which is crucial in emergencies at sea.
• Reputation and Reviews: Research the provider’s reputation in the market, customer reviews, and feedback from fellow sailors to gauge reliability and service quality.
• Specialized Coverage: Look for providers that offer specialized nomad insurance plans catering to sailors. These plans should include coverage for medical emergencies, evacuations, and sailing-related activities.

Some well-known providers that offer nomad insurance suitable for full-time or part-time sailors include SafetyWing and IMG Global. Each of these companies has different plans and coverage options, so it’s important to compare and choose one that best fits your specific needs and sailing lifestyle.

For individuals living a sailing life and seeking nomad travel and health insurance, several providers stand out for their tailored coverage and services:

• SafetyWing: SafetyWing specializes in providing insurance to digital nomads and those living a travel-centric lifestyle. Their plans are designed to be flexible and affordable, making them suitable for long-term sailors and travelers​​.
• GeoBlue Navigator: This provider is noted for its excellent customer service and fast claims processing. GeoBlue Navigator offers coverage, including any doctor outside the US and the BlueCross/BlueShield network inside the US. They also provide helpful online tools for finding medical assistance in foreign ports, making it a suitable choice for sailors​​.
• Cigna: Cigna offers flexible plans where components like outpatient, inpatient, evacuation, and dental/vision coverage can be added as needed. This flexibility allows sailors to tailor their coverage according to their specific needs and sailing destinations​​.
• IMG Global Medical: Known for its annual renewable plans, IMG offers a range of options from basic to comprehensive coverage. They have a reputation for good customer service and broad coverage options, including plans that cover pre-existing conditions​​.
• Insured Nomad: Their Nomad Health Insurance plan is a long-term international health insurance plan, ideal for those living a global lifestyle. It offers coverage by region, with travel accident benefits and various health benefits, including vision, dental, and preventive care​​.
• Global Rescue: Specializing in evacuation, Global Rescue is the only plan that offers evacuation from a sailboat in a medical emergency. Once stable, they provide transport from any hospital to your choice of hospital and can send a triage team for immediate assistance​​.

These providers offer a range of options tailored to the unique needs of individuals living a sailing life, ensuring coverage for both health and travel-related risks. It’s important to carefully evaluate each provider’s plans to find the one that best suits your specific requirements and sailing itinerary.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance for Sail Life

We use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance when sailing. However, what’s right for us may not be right for you. Consider your own situation and the individual policies before making a decision.

SafetyWing offers nomad insurance that is particularly suitable for those embracing sail life. Here’s a detailed look at what SafetyWing offers, along with its pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Global Coverage: SafetyWing’s nomad insurance provides global coverage, making it ideal for sailors who travel internationally.
2. Flexibility: Their flexible policies allow you to start and stop coverage as needed, which suits our flexible lifestyle.
3. Affordability: SafetyWing is known for its affordability, offering competitive rates for comprehensive coverage. We found that coverage for both of us under the Safety Wing was cheaper than insuring one of us on a traditional policy over the long term.
4. Medical and Travel Insurance: Their plans can cover both medical emergencies and travel-related issues, such as trip interruption and lost luggage.

Cons:

1. Coverage Limits: While SafetyWing offers essential coverage, it might have limits in terms of maximum coverage amounts. It’s important to understand these limits and how they could impact claims.
2. Exclusions: As with any insurance policy, there are exclusions. It’s important to review these, especially for activities specific to sailing that might not be covered.
3. Pre-existing Conditions: SafetyWing has specific restrictions on coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Overall, SafetyWing’s nomad insurance is a popular choice for those living sail life due to its flexibility, affordability, and comprehensive coverage tailored to the needs of nomads and long-term travelers. However, like with all insurance, it has certain limitations that need to be adequately understood in relation to your own specific travel and sailing plans.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Sailing Travel Insurance

When selecting international health and travel insurance for sail life, it’s important to consider several key factors:

• Understand Your Needs: Assess the specific risks associated with your sailing lifestyle, including the regions you plan to sail in and the nature of your sailing activities.
• Look for Specialized Coverage: Choose a comprehensive policy for medical emergencies, evacuations, and sailing-related risks. Standard travel insurance might not provide adequate coverage for the unique challenges of life at sea.
• Consider Policy Flexibility: Opt for insurance that offers flexibility in terms of coverage areas and duration, especially if your sailing plans are not fixed.
• Evaluate Customer Support: Ensure that the insurance provider offers reliable 24/7 customer support, as emergencies at sea require immediate and effective assistance.
• Compare Providers: Research and compare different insurance providers to find the one that offers the best combination of coverage, cost, and customer service for your specific needs.
• Read the Fine Print: Carefully review the policy details, including exclusions and limitations, to ensure you fully understand the coverage.

Choosing the right international health and travel insurance is crucial in preparing for a safe and enjoyable sail life. It offers peace of mind and ensures that you are well-prepared to handle any unforeseen circumstances that might arise during your sailing adventures.

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Hopefully, we have been able to answer some of your questions on finding the best sailing travel insurance. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below!

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