Best Travel Insurance in 2027: 4 Providers I Actually Tested as a Full-Time Traveler

I’ve had to use my travel insurance a concerning number of times over the years, but I guess that’s something that’s pretty hard to avoid when you’ve been traveling full-time for more than 7 years.

When I first started traveling, I was definitely a lot more relaxed about having travel insurance. It was one of those things I knew I should have, but I didn’t always take it that seriously.

Well, after snowboarding accidents in Canada, scooter accidents in Thailand, and multiple cases of pretty severe food poisoning, I’ve completely changed my mind. Having travel insurance is now a non-negotiable for me.

And it’s not even just about accidents or getting sick.

I’ve had missed flights, lost luggage, and plenty of other travel disasters happen to me over the years.

The problem is that there are now so many travel insurance providers out there that figuring out which one is actually worth your money can be pretty damn overwhelming.

Obviously, I haven’t personally tested every single travel insurance company out there, but after more than 7 years of full-time travel, I’ve tried quite a few of them myself.So, I decided to put together this guide on the best travel insurance providers I’ve actually used and would recommend, including what I liked, what I didn’t, and who I think each one is best for.

Why Will I Use Travel Insurance in 2027? My Experience

Over the past 7 years of traveling full-time, and for most of that time having travel insurance from different providers, I’ve had all sorts of crap happen to me.

I had a pretty shitty snowboarding accident in Canada. Luckily, I didn’t break anything, but I still had to see a doctor because I was covered in bruises and definitely wasn’t feeling great.

Then, years ago, I got into a pretty bad scooter accident in Thailand, which was a whole other story.

And more recently, I’ve had to deal with some pretty serious food poisoning while traveling, including what I believe was a parasite I picked up in Vietnam. Definitely not my favorite travel memory!

And that’s not even everything.

I’ve had luggage lost, my backpack stolen, and flights delayed badly enough that I had to spend the night in a hotel. So after 7 years of full-time travel, I feel like I’ve pretty much experienced a little bit of everything that can go wrong when you’re traveling.

Now, I do want to point out that I’ve lived a pretty adventurous travel life. I’ve spent years traveling around, riding scooters, snowboarding, hiking, and generally doing things where, yes, there’s probably a slightly higher chance of something going wrong.

A lot of these things might never happen to you, and I completely understand why some people look at travel insurance and think it’s just another unnecessary expense.

Personally, though, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

For me, having travel insurance is also about the peace of mind that comes with knowing there’s someone there to help if something does go wrong.

If I get sick, have an accident, lose my luggage or end up dealing with some other completely unexpected travel disaster, I don’t want to also be sitting there wondering how much this is going to cost me or how I’m supposed to sort everything out myself.

What Should a Travel Insurance Policy in 2027 Include?

When I’m choosing travel insurance, there are a few things I always look for.

Obviously, everyone’s situation is different, and you might care more about some things than I do. But after traveling full-time for more than 7 years and actually having to use my insurance multiple times, these are the things I personally wouldn’t want to travel without.

Emergency Medical Expenses

This is by far the most important one for me.

And when I say emergency medical expenses, I don’t just mean some huge dramatic emergency where you end up in the hospital. It can be something as simple as me having really bad stomach pain and needing to see a doctor, all the way up to breaking a leg and needing serious medical treatment.

Travel insurance will generally cover medically necessary treatment for new illnesses or injuries that happen while you’re traveling, although exactly what’s covered can vary quite a bit between providers and policies.

For me, having that medical coverage is an absolute must. I just don’t want to be traveling somewhere like the USA and have to sit there wondering how much a trip to the hospital is going to cost me.

Emergency Medical Transportation

This is another one that I personally consider really important, especially because of the kind of travel I do.

I love skiing and snowboarding, I go hiking, and I’ve spent plenty of time exploring pretty remote islands, beaches and other places where you’re not exactly five minutes away from the nearest hospital.

So if something serious happens and I need to be transported somewhere for medical treatment, I want my insurance to cover that too.

Depending on where you are, emergency transportation can get ridiculously expensive. If you’re somewhere remote and a helicopter is needed to get you to medical care, that’s not exactly a bill I want to be paying out of pocket.

Trip Cancellation

Another thing I always look for is trip cancellation coverage.

If I’ve booked a hotel, flights, tours, rental cars or other transportation and then something happens that means I can’t go anymore, I want the option to get some of that money back.

That could be something like getting seriously sick before the trip or having a family emergency. Obviously, the exact reasons covered vary between policies, so I always recommend checking the fine print before assuming any cancellation is covered.

Trip Delay

This is one I’ve actually had to use myself. A few years ago, I had a layover in Atlanta, Georgia, and my connecting flight ended up being delayed by more than 10 hours because of an issue with the airline.

I contacted my travel insurance, and they covered things like my hotel and meals while I was stuck waiting for the next flight.

Lost or Stolen Baggage

And then there’s the classic travel disaster: someone loses your stuff.

I feel like airlines are practically notorious for losing luggage, but I’ve also been in plenty of sketchy situations from my backpacking days where having your bag disappear was a very real possibility.

I remember traveling through Colombia years ago, where I was in some pretty questionable situations on long-distance bus rides and it wasn’t exactly unheard of for bags to get stolen.

So I always like having some kind of baggage coverage.

And if the insurance provider offers an electronics add-on, I’ll usually take it. I don’t care that much if someone steals my socks. My phone, laptop or camera, on the things I’m actually worried about.

3. World Nomads

World Nomads is actually the travel insurance I used for years and years before eventually switching over to SafetyWing.

There wasn’t actually some big reason why I stopped using them.

I came home after a longer trip where I’d been using World Nomads, and when I was planning my next trip, I just decided to try something different. I ended up really liking SafetyWing, so I stuck with it.

So if you’re wondering whether something went wrong with World Nomads and that’s why I switched, nope. There really isn’t anything wrong with World Nomads from my experience.

One of the biggest things I loved about them was that I could sign up for a policy while I was already traveling.

That might sound like a small thing, but if you’re a long-term traveler, it’s actually a pretty big deal.

On one of my very first trips, I had local travel insurance that wouldn’t let me extend my policy or buy a new policy once I was already overseas which was super annoying.

Luckily, providers like World Nomads, and SafetyWing too, make it possible to get coverage while you’re already traveling, which is something I really appreciate.

If you’re a long-term traveler, backpacker, or someone who doesn’t necessarily know exactly how long they’re going to be abroad, that flexibility can be incredibly useful.

► Click Here for Prices & Plans: World Nomads

4. Heymondo

I used Heymondo a few years ago during a trip to Thailand, and overall, I was really happy with my experience.

I’ll be honest, though: I didn’t have to make any claims during the relatively short period that I used them, so I can’t give you the same kind of first-hand claims experience I can with some of the other providers on this list.

But everything else about the experience was good, and one thing that really stood out to me was the price.

Heymondo is definitely on the more affordable side, so I think it could be a particularly good option for backpackers or people traveling around Southeast Asia who want decent coverage without spending a ton of money on insurance.

But the thing I liked most about Heymondo was actually how they handle medical payments.

With a lot of travel insurance policies, you might have to pay the doctor or hospital yourself first and then submit everything to the insurance company afterward to get reimbursed.

That’s pretty common with travel insurance, but obviously, it’s not ideal.

Depending on the situation, medical bills can get expensive very quickly, and the last thing I want to do when I’m sick or injured is figure out how I’m going to put a huge medical bill on my credit card and wait for the insurance company to reimburse me later.

With Heymondo, they can pay the doctor or hospital directly in many situations, so you don’t necessarily have to pay the whole thing out of your own pocket first.

► Click Here for Prices & Plans: Heymondo

FAQs About What Travel Insurance Should I Get in 2027

What Is the Best Cheap Travel Insurance?

From all the travel insurance providers I’ve tested, Heymondo was the most affordable.

That being said, cheapest doesn’t automatically mean best. I’d definitely compare a few different providers before making a decision and look at what’s actually included in the policy rather than just picking the cheapest option.

What Travel Insurance Can I Get While Already Traveling?

This is one of my favorite things about certain travel insurance providers, and I think it’s really important for long-term travelers. Both SafetyWing and World Nomads allow you to sign up while you’re already traveling, which is something I’ve personally used and really appreciate.

What Is the Best Travel Health Insurance?

From my own experience, I’d go with SafetyWing. I’ve been using them for more than two years now and have had multiple claims with them, including my recent food poisoning claim, and I’ve never had any major issues.

Do I Always Need Travel Insurance?

Yes. And I really mean that. I know some people look at travel insurance as an unnecessary expense, especially if they’re going on a short trip and nothing has ever gone wrong for them before. But you really never know what’s going to happen.

Final Thoughts on the Best Travel Insurance for Backpackers

All in all, I’m a huge advocate for having travel insurance, and I genuinely think not having it is a pretty bad idea.

I’m not saying you need to buy the most expensive policy available or that every traveler needs exactly the same coverage. But at the very least, I’d make sure you have proper medical coverage when you’re traveling internationally.

That’s the part that matters most to me.

I’ve been traveling full-time for more than 7 years now, and after all the accidents, illnesses, lost luggage and other random crap I’ve had to deal with, I’m very happy to keep paying for travel insurance even during the years when I barely use it.

I would personally recommend SafetyWing to pretty much all of you, mainly because that’s the provider I’ve been using for more than two years now and I’ve had nothing but good experiences with them.

I hope this guide gave you a good idea of what travel insurance to consider for your upcoming travels in 2027 and, more importantly, why I personally think it’s worth having.