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Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

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Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#51

Post by BugsJustFindMe »

Hi. I've traveled worldwide for many months/years at a time, so I'm directly in your target market.

What makes your service better than this policy that I've used before? https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-insurance-providers/inte...

[edit] Or this policy, which looks like it might be the same policy that you're providing? https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-insurance-providers/hcc-...

The price looks about the same (~$500/yr) for similar coverage options, and I've used them before so I know that they did things like automatically email me a copy of the letter declaring coverage terms needed for stay in the Schengen Area (Btw, if you don't do that, you definitely should). Their maximum policy length is a year but I know from experience that you can easily renew for another year after expiry if you need longer.

[edit] I found your policy links, but I completely missed them at first because of the tiny buried text. Can you make them bigger and not buried so far down?

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#52

Post by pcmaffey »

SeanJM wrote: post #9
gupir wrote: post #8

Why is it targeting digital nomads? I know they are underserved in this area (and many others), but I would trust more a normal insurance, with a strong foot in my country, but offers an extended plan to digital nomad. Off-topic: Would you mind to share who made the illustrations of your website? I really love it!

It was meeeeee (the guy who illustrated it)

Inspired by animated Robin Hood?

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#53

Post by arcticbull »

In the past, I've used Cigna Global to provide full medical insurance to me anywhere on earth. This isn't travel insurance, it's actually full expat health cover. If I'm in Hong Kong and I need a checkup, they'll cover that. If I'm in France and I need to get my teeth cleaned, that's covered too. They even have direct billing relationships with many providers because they're Cigna. Preventative is fully covered. https://www.cignaglobal.com

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#54

Post by nnd »

gupir wrote: post #8

Why is it targeting digital nomads? I know they are underserved in this area (and many others), but I would trust more a normal insurance, with a strong foot in my country, but offers an extended plan to digital nomad. Off-topic: Would you mind to share who made the illustrations of your website? I really love it!

What are the other areas digital nomads are underserved?

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#56

Post by ibeckermayer »

aloukissas wrote: post #55

Sadly, this seems to suffer from the main thing that domestic US health insurance does: if you have pre-existing conditions, you're screwed.

That's just how insurance stays solvent. Imagine if car companies sold you car insurance after you'd gotten in a car crash. It wouldn't really be insurance then, would it? You'd just be paying them to pay your bills, which isn't exactly a sustainable business model.

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#58

Post by baybal2 »

How it works for people who are residing abroad for extended period of time.

From your exceptions list:

16. Routine medical examinations,

This surely can't compare to a full service mid-tier insurance of equal price. Other expat insurance do cover 2-3 checkups a year with conditions on checkup venue and price.

36. products that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription.

When a necessary off the counter drug is being prescribed by a doctor, will it not be covered? How this works in countries where you can buy pretty much anything off the counter, sans opiates?

41. Charges exceeding usual, reasonable and customary.

Specific limits? Especially want to know it for countries like China where where the difference in between public hospital - basic private clinic - and in a hospital that is up to international standards is like 8-10 times

More specific language for hospital stay and follow-up is needed. Say you broke a leg. You got released from hospital, but have to come for follow ups, remove the cast and sutures. Both did cost like $100 to me in Shanghai with 150 for the price of visit itself, which is more than I would've paid in Canada. Will follow ups be subject to outpatient visit limits?

My feel is that this more of an extended travel insurance, rather than a dedicated expat insurance that will allow for: a. you to remain in the country if you get in a moderately serious medical situation (on a level of appendectomy, complicated fracture treatment) and cover follow up care, b. cover your regular medical expenses

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#59

Post by mostlystatic »

LOLTITTIES wrote: post #37
mahesh_rm wrote: post #33

Great to see alternatives in the space. What is considered as "your home country"? I am a European, resident in a South American country. This implies that my Health Insurance System in my European Country does not cover me. Will SafetyWing still cover me in the South American Country I am currently residing in?

I'm Sarah, co-founder/CTO: Your principal residence, a place where you receive regular mail. If it's ambiguous to you between two locations then both are probably valid. Note that home country is where you won't have coverage other than health for 30 days every 90 days.

Hi Sarah, thanks for answering questions. It's great to see pricing upfront!

Could help me clarify my principal residence? I was actually looking to buy insurance a few weeks back, but not knowing the answer to this questions stopped me and I didn't hear back from the insurance company when I asked them.

"Your principal residence where you receive regular mail"

I used to live in country A, where I have a forwarding address for most of my mail. But I don't live or have health insurance there.

I'm currently in country B but will leave soon and travel to various other countries. I want to buy health insurance for after leaving country B.

What should be my principal residence?

Re: Launch HN: SafetyWing (YC W18) – A Global Safety Net for Digital Nomads

#60

Post by [deleted] »

ibeckermayer wrote: post #56
aloukissas wrote: post #55

Sadly, this seems to suffer from the main thing that domestic US health insurance does: if you have pre-existing conditions, you're screwed.

That's just how insurance stays solvent. Imagine if car companies sold you car insurance after you'd gotten in a car crash. It wouldn't really be insurance then, would it? You'd just be paying them to pay your bills, which isn't exactly a sustainable business model.

[deleted]
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