Top-rated international health insurance for liveaboard sailors, cruisers and their sailing crew.
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Untying the dock lines on your vessel, be it a monohull, a catamaran or a motoryacht and heading off towards new horizons is a very glamorous and romantic idea. But living aboard your own vessel and joining the ranks of the cruising sailors and long term voyagers does not come without risks.
The decision as a seafaring live aboard sailor to get, or not get, cruisers health insurance is different for everyone, people have different levels of risk that they are willing to accept. Many long-term sailors decide that having something in case of a catastrophe is common sense. Here is what Keith and Renee from sailing Zatara had to say about getting expat insurance (WATCH VIDEO).
While I’ve had quite a few famous sailing and cruising youtubers as clients, the vast majority of them are people just like you, who want a little peace of mind when it comes to their cruisers health insurance.
Long Term Annually Renewable Health Insurance for Cruising Sailors.
These plans are similar to US style private insurance that many of you are familiar with. Policies are a year in duration, have a variable deductible that you choose and must be met each year. Most do not cover pre-existing conditions. Most require underwriting and alll can be purchased with or without coverage in different parts of the world, the most common countries to exclude include the USA; excluding the USA drops the price significantly.
Who’s it for?
Long term, annually renewable, international insurance is for sailors and cruisers living aboard their vessels outside of the US for at least 3 months of the year. These plans are designed for cruisers who are on voyages of more than one year, typically more than 2.
If you’re going sailing or cruising for a short time, see below.
GeoBlue Navigator for liveaboard sailors or mariners has some of the best customer service, fast claims turn around time, up to 9 months in the USA, any doctor outside the US and the blue cross/blue shield network inside the US. Excellent online tools for booking appointments or finding doctors in a foreign port. To find out more about navigator click the link below, check it out, get a quote or even enroll. Not available in WA, MD or NY. If you are NOT a US citizen or resident, you can still apply if you are on a boat and IN the USA.
While this plan isn't specifically designed for the liveaboard seafarer or cruiser, its flexible plans make it very popular. Outpatient, Inpatient, Evacuation, Dental/Vision, Wellness and US coverage are all separate modules, so you don’t need to pay for benefits that you don’t need.The Cigna plan then allows cruising sailors to add only the extra benefits they need. If you are in a country where medical care is cheap, don’t add outpatient coverage, if somewhere more expensive then you can add it. This helps you keep your costs down and allows you the flexibility to get only the coverage you need. US coverage of 180 days is a bargain for US citizens, but very expensive for Non- US citizens. Offers up to a 10,000 deductible and cost sharing options to bring down the price.
IMG’s plan is a great annually renewable plan that is well known all over the globe. They have been in business for a long time and many cruisers and sailors have had great luck with them. Their customer service is good and their coverage is good as well. Platinum plan will cover pre-existing conditions, if you’re approved for the plan. Their underwriting is not the easiest. There are four plan options available: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Expatriate is a high quality international insurance that can be used all over the world by any international cruiser. The company is based in the UK. It is very flexible and can be taken with Inpatient/Outpatient care or just Inpatient care. The deductible is per incident, this is different then most of the plans US consumers are used to and the customer service is top notch. There is no initial underwriting, but they do underwrite at the time of the claim. The "look back" period is only 2 years.
Nomad Health Insurance is a long-term international cruisers health insurance plan designed for those living the global lifestyle, not necessarily aboard their own vessel, but they do not exclude coverage for liveaboards. -No limit as to how long you can stay in your home country during the year. -Coverage is available by region with travel accident benefits when traveling outside your selected covered area. -Instantly issued, no waiting period, with an exclusion of pre-existing conditions from only the last 2 years. Select vision, dental, preventative, highest benefits possible, maternity after waiting period Primary Plus inpatient, outpatient, medevac, much more incl. annual wellness check-ups Primary Comprehensive inpatient cruisers health insurance, outpatient included only pre-post admission. Payable in Euro, US$ or GB Pound. 6% discount if paid annually vs monthly.
Global rescue specializes in remote extractions and transportation to the nearest, best care. They do not pay the medical bills abroad, but they will send in an evac and triage team if medically necessary and get you to a hospital. If the care you need is not available they will evacuate you back to your home country and will take you to any hospital of your choice, once stable. In addition, they will send in a triage team to get you to the nearest hospital. They will not evacuate you off of your sailboat.
Not everyone wants to liveaboard full time on their vessel. Some people are happy to be part time cruisers, sailing for the winter season in the Caribbean and returning home each summer. Many people have ties to home and want to sail part time, others have cruisers health insurance in their home country and some choose to get travel medical insurance because its more affordable.
Travel medical insurance that will pay for accidents and illnesses along the way. From a broken finger to a bout with Dengue fever, these plans will cover medical expenses in the far flung reaches of the globe. All of these plans include evacuation and repatriation, and some include benefits for missed connections, trip interruption and loss of luggage.
Who is it for?
These plans are designed for all trips of less than one year. Some people use these longer, but then it’s better to be on an annually renewable plan. These plans are also great if you are keeping insurance back in your home country. These are popular with seniors who keep their medicare, as well as citizens of countries that have great healthcare once they get home.
Cruiser health insurance is a must-have for anyone spending time at sea. Whether you’re planning a long boat travel journey or living on a boat, having the right cruiser health insurance can protect you from unexpected medical costs. It also works great as sailing health insurance or for cruise travelers going abroad. Don’t take risks to cruiser health insurance is what your ocean lifestyle truly needs.
GeoBlue Navigator has some of the best customer service, fast claims turn around time, up to 9 months in the USA, any doctor outside the US and the blue cross/blue shield network inside the US. Excellent online tools for booking appointments or finding doctors in a foreign port.To find out more about navigator click the link below, check it out, get a quote or even enroll.
There are two Patriot Travel Medical Insurance products available to meet your needs, providing up to US $2,000,000 of medical coverage. Coverage can be obtained from a minimum of five days up to a maximum of two years. Patriot products address the travel medical insurance needs of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who need temporary medical insurance while traveling for business or pleasure anywhere outside their home country. Coverage includes medical evacuation, repatriation, and your choice of deductibles and policy limits.
If you are planning to travel abroad for a certain length of time, our single trip Atlas Travel Insurance Plan is ideal to provide you with the coverage you need. The Atlas Travel series plan can be used anywhere outside of your home country – so your trip can include multiple destinations and you have the ability to easily extend coverage online or by phone if you need.
Insured Nomads short term plan is more expensive than the rest. But…It is the only plan that gives you unlimited time in your home country and the ONLY short term plan that will give you coverage in your home country. It provides access to any doctor and is portable all over the country, and then all over the world.
I’ve been in business since 2005, and helping liveaboard sailors and cruisers keep cruising is my specialty with over 75% of my long term clients as liveaboard sailors and cruisers. From being a 2 time sponsor of the Baja HaHa to insurance seminars at Downwind marine in San Diego and the Pacific Sail and Power boat show in Oakland. I’m always up for hearing about your upcoming adventures and helping you find an insurance plan for your adventure. I’m also a sponsor of the Salty Dawg Sailing association, Noonsite and the Seven Seas Cruising Associatinon.