We have reached the pre-production stage of the Younis Project, where we need to choose travel insurance for our journey to the Middle East, a long and almost indefinite trip, given the rollercoaster of events in the region at the moment.
As you know, we are initially working with the perspective of filming three seasons, all of them involving trips to several countries, with a time frame of more than 90 days for the filming of each season. It is an unusual trip, bordering on nomadism.
We always had in mind the need to hire a robust service, but one that would be flexible enough to meet a demand like ours, that would guarantee our freedom of movement without bureaucracy in contracting or activating insurance, if necessary, and, above all, that would fit within our budget. And, honestly, it took me a while to find something that really made sense for our mission!
This is where SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance comes in. It is a truly innovative and flexible solution that allows us to purchase health insurance on a monthly basis, without having to specify our next destination or have a return ticket purchased. In this post, I want to introduce you to Nomad Insurance, which we purchased as soon as we said goodbye to Brazil, now in August 2024, and SafetyWing, an incredible company for which we are now ambassadors.
Nomad Insurance is digital, flexible and monthly (and we value that!)
One of the main advantages of Nomad Insurance is its monthly contracting format. This means that we will pay for the insurance every 4 weeks (28 days), without being tied to a contract with a longer term. This feature is great for us, because although we have a term for each country, guided by the visa limit, there are countries where, in the current situation, we can stay for less time (in the first season, we may be forced to evacuate Lebanon if the conflict there really escalates) and countries where we already know that we will request an extension of the visa (in the first season, this country will be Egypt and, depending on the situation and the possibility of access, the West Bank).
In addition, the monthly subscription model eliminates the need to specify the next destination or have a return ticket purchased, favoring our transit and exploration of the regions and their people, insured by a large company like SafetyWing and without worrying about insurance bureaucracy. This flexible model makes Nomad Insurance an ideal choice for the Younis Project.
Nomad Insurance, da SafetyWing, é digital, flexível e mensal (e nós valorizamos isso!)
Uma das principais vantagens do Nomad Insurance é seu formato de contratação mensal. Isso significa que vamos pagar pelo seguro a cada 4 semanas (28 dias), sem estar preso a um contrato com prazo superior. Essa característica é ótima para nós, pois, embora tenhamos um prazo cada país, orientado pelo limite de dias dos vistos, existem países que, na atual situação, podemos ficar menos tempo (na primeira temporada, talvez sejamos obrigados a evacuar do Líbano caso o conflito por lá realmente se acentue) e países que já sabemos que vamos solicitar uma expansão do visto (na primeira temporada, esse país será o Egito e, dependendo da situação e da possibilidade de acesso, a Cisjordânia).
Além disso, o modelo de assinatura mensal elimina a necessidade de especificar o próximo destino ou ter uma passagem de volta comprada, favorecendo nosso trânsito e exploração das regiões e seus povos, assegurados por uma grande empresa como a SafetyWing e sem nos preocuparmos com burocracias de seguros. Esse modelo flexível torna o Nomad Insurance uma escolha ideal para o Younis Project.
Why did we choose Nomad Insurance from SafetyWing?
There are several reasons why we chose SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance as our insurance, but I think it’s important to highlight the four main reasons that will also make you choose them:
- Global Coverage: Nomad Insurance offers coverage for almost every country in the world, except for seven countries, two of which The Younis Project will film in, Syria and Iran. Iran is expected to be included in the third season, but Syria will probably be part of the first season. The fact that we are not covered in these countries is worrying, but we know that this is an area where there is resistance from governments to external service providers; it’s not just SafetyWing that doesn’t operate in these countries, it’s all insurance companies (or all that I could find).
- Flexibility: the monthly contract allows us to adjust the duration of our insurance according to our needs (remember that there is an adjustment in the amount in case of a change in age group, additional coverage that you contract and if you go to the USA), without long-term commitments. Simplicity: I simulated the contracting process to understand how the contracting process works and, in fact, it is very simple. I had some questions and also contacted support, which was quick and gave me clear answers about how to request the policy redemption if necessary (I will talk about this point in a specific article). Friends who already use Nomad Insurance also gave me great references about the simplicity of managing and activating the insurance.
- Price: with conventional insurance, in addition to all the bureaucracy I have already mentioned, the insurance values increase according to the length of your trip. It seems crazy, but that is what I noticed. This does not happen with Nomad Insurance, where the prices are similar to the conventional market prices for conventional trips lasting a few weeks, but the value will be the same each month that you keep the insurance active, in addition to offering important improvements, mainly regarding the fee for activating the insurance (deductible), which is no longer charged after six months. This makes Nomad Insurance extremely competitive.
In addition to these points, there are many others that are quite interesting and I intend to talk about them in future articles.
What is the coverage of Nomad Insurance? Complete, including dental coverage!
Obviously, we will leave Brazil with a complete checkup already done and health issues already resolved, we know that unforeseen events can happen and, for that, we will have the best insurance in the world! Nomad Insurance, from SafetyWing, offers comprehensive coverage that includes:
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for emergency medical treatment, doctor’s appointments, hospitalization, exams and surgeries.
- Travel emergencies: Coverage for emergency medical evacuation, repatriation and care in case of natural disasters.
- Emergency dentistry: Emergency dental care to relieve acute pain.
- Treatment of chronic diseases: Coverage for the treatment of chronic conditions in case of emergency.
- Exclusions: Some common exclusions include cosmetic treatments, high-risk sports (but you can purchase an extra service for this case) and pre-existing conditions that are not emergencies.
This comprehensive coverage ensures that we are protected in a variety of situations, from accidents and sudden illnesses to complex medical emergencies. In the image below, you can find more information about Nomad Insurance coverage.
How to hire Nomad Insurance?
Signing up for SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is a simple and straightforward process, and anyone from any country (even if you’re not in your home country) over the age of 18 can sign up in just a few minutes. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Go to the SafetyWing website by clicking here;
Select Nomad Insurance, the insurance option for atypical travelers;
Fill in your personal details, including name, date of birth and contact information;
Choose the date from which you want the coverage to begin.
Review the plan details and finalize the contract with an online payment.
The insurance is automatically renewed, with the monthly charge being made to your credit card or chosen payment method. If you wish to cancel or adjust the plan, you can do so at any time through SafetyWing’s online platform.
Yes, Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing is a perfect fit for the Younis Project!
SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is, without a doubt, the ideal solution for us (and for digital nomads, freelancers and remote workers) who are embarking on a journey to explore the Middle East and don’t want to worry about travel insurance.
If you are excited to discover all the natural, historical, architectural and human beauty of the Middle East, like us, explore all the security of SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance first.
Brazilian journalist, specialist in identity and culture and creator of the Younis Project.
