Safety Wing — Global health insurance for digital nomads

Hey guys. I'm one of the founders of SafetyWing. Would be grateful for any feedback or advice for how we can make this into a great product for digital nomads. Who are we: We’re Norwegian digital nomads ourselves, so designed it for our own needs. I was formerly also founder of freelance platform Konsus.com (YC W16). @sarahkindofcool is CTO, former lead engineer of ad-network Tapdaq & she’s also a musician. @hkjellby is lawyer and former head of legal at Auka, which is like white-label Venmo. Why are we making this? Discovered when we quit our jobs that if you’re not a full-time employee, you don’t qualify for many financial products or social safety nets. This is the first step in a plan to build a global safety net for online freelancers and entrepreneurs.

I'm having a very hard time and the most complicated process trying to do a claim. Nobody ever has a clarifying answer. They keep sending me in circles between their departments. it's been an exhausting 2.5 months and still no success. I recommend anyone to steer away from it if they want an insurance that actually works. as for myself, will begin to look into other avenues to recover that money as per promised by their policy

Pros:

Nothing at all.

Cons:

I'm having a very hard time and the most complicated process trying to do a claim. It's been over 2 months.

SafetyWing has got an amazing produkt, first of its kind. Easy to get, start and stop. You may choose just some days and it is the same prize per month also after 60 days, in all countries etc. Just simple and usefull when you are away from home in longer periods. :)

I was in need for something simple that was designed for my traveling! Safetywing offers me the security of a globally renowned Insurance company, with the service and product vision of a startup. It was a match made in heaven!

Pros:

Simple product and a no brainer for working professionals who travels a lot.

Cons:

Time. Their product is perfect, though time will allow for more product features. There is a lot of potential for growth!

use it for more than 5 months. Thanks that my claim was 500 USD to understand how bad the process and coverage is... I dont know what will have happened if I have a serious one

Pros:

price lesson learnt

Cons:

worst insurance sell other company insurance then loss the control of the process customer service claiming process coverage

this is exactly what I need! Thanks

Travel insurance is easy for short periods away from home. The problem and increase of price occurs when you stay longer and in countries at higher risks. SafetyWings has got the things you would need.

Pros:

Easy, handy, simple and very low price for long time use , specialy in countries that normaly have hight prices for insurances.

Cons:

Cannot see any.

Something like this was sorely needed back when I was nomading.

I currently have travel insurance with SafetyWing and am not at all happy with their cover. I'm due to fly home to the UK from the Philippines via Beijing shortly, however due to coronavirus the government has warned against all but essential travel to China. SafetyWing have flatly refused to give me any assistance with this, they say because I was not in China when the warning was issued. The airline have offered to refund me the original flight, but it was very cheap as I booked it so far in advance. Alternative flights now are way out of my budget and I will therefore be forced to take the original flight via China despite the government warnings. The media are reporting that in my circumstances I will be covered by travel insurance so it doesn't appear to me that SafetyWing are a reputable company. I wish I hadn't believed the good reviews written about them, probably all by bloggers being paid by them.

Love the idea- insurance made by nomads for nomads! Love the service, so convenient! Am a happy user, no complaints! Thanks!!

Pros:

Easy, good price!

Cons:

Subscription renews automatically, if want to finish have to cancel by yourself.

Genuinely think this will be huge and good luck to the team

Pros:

Such a great product evolving super fast

Cons:

Still young and lots more features I’m psyched for

My experience with SafetyWing was the same as with every other company: they simply disappeared as soon as something actually happened while I was abroad, and ended up having to spend more than 1000 euros from my own pocket. Don't trust them. Don't keep the slightest hope that they will be there when you need them. They won't.

On a Wing and a Prayer!!! It’s a marketing company and they won’t lift a finger for you if the insurer tokiomarine doesn’t perform.

Definitely would not recommend! SafetyWing it's self is fine but their insurance partner Tokio Marine HCC is an absolute nightmare. I have waisted so much time and energy while overseas trying to sort out my claims with them, it has caused so much extra stress. I submitted claims 3 months ago and still haven't been reimbursed for a single cent. Ontop of this, I just found out that they will not be reimbursing me for at least 3 of my claims. While I only paid a total of $147.84 for my insurance with them, I paid $774.79 USD in medical fees during the period of insurance. I now find out that the maximum they are willing to reimburse is $302 USD (Minus any currencey exchange rates and fees - I currently have no idea how much this will be). I honestly would have prefered to pay the medical expences out of my own pocket and save all the time and stress sitting in front of the computer trying to deal with their pre-historic system and terrible customer service. I thought it seemed to good to be true when I first found SafteyWing, so I tried to do my due diligance as consumer and looked for reviews. All I could find at the time were an overwhelming amount of positive reviews. Really false advertising, because I couldn't find anything about a second insurance partner until I had already signed up and tried to file my first claim - I was abruptly redirected from SafetyWings pretty userfriendly platform to Tokio Marine's overly complicated system, with terrible customer service and rediclous processing times.

I loved safety wings until I had to use them. I got a pain in my teeth, called to request a doctor. They did not had anyone to advice. I could grab a doctor just for 3 days later (as in... after the weekend has passed). And they denied to pay my bill because I consult only 3 days after I felt the pain. Like. SERIOUSLY? It was a canal root treatment. I was in severe pain. Paid for their services for over a year. And thats it, when I needed they were not there for me. I canceld the service and looking now for a replacement. Better pay more and know you will receive assistance when needed then pay almost nothing like safety wings, but get scrwed when you need the services

Seems really cool! Can't wait to try this out next time I go out nomading. Have you thought about partnering with travel businesses (e.g. Airbnb/hotels/airlines/etc.) to bundle this when folks are making travel plans to help get the word out?

Congratulations on the launch, @srasch. This is a badly needed product, and the website design is awesome!

The recurring subscription is genius!

Pros:

Great price, unparalleled flexibility

Cons:

Young product, so still waiting for some

Hey @srasch, This is a really cool idea and great design thus far! Just curious, what's your vision for the community side of the product? Do you imagine growing the benefits on that side of the business? Thanks, Ben

This is such a great product for avid travelers. thinking about including it in our membership for Outsite!