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Expat health insurance, compared.
The most common insurance mistake is buying a travel plan when your visa needs full health cover. Start with what your visa requires, then pick a provider.
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Two kinds of cover
Travel medical
Cheap, monthly, easy to buy while you travel. Covers emergencies and accidents. Built for trips, scouting visits and visa-free stays. Most residence visas won't accept it.
Full expat health insurance
Covers routine care, chronic conditions and hospital stays for a full year. Costs more. This is what most residence visas ask for.
What each visa asks for
| Visa | Insurance rule |
|---|---|
| Portugal D7 / D8 | Private health insurance valid in Portugal, at least €30,000 of cover |
| Spain Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad | Private health insurance with full cover in Spain. Consulates expect no co-payments. |
| France Long-Stay Visitor | Full-year private cover with no major exclusions. A Schengen travel policy isn't enough. |
| Italy Elective Residence / Digital Nomad | Health insurance that covers you in Italy for the whole stay |
| Georgia (visa-free) | Since 1 January 2026: travel health insurance for the whole stay, at least 30,000 GEL of cover. A travel plan like SafetyWing Nomad Insurance works here. |
| Costa Rica Pensionado / Rentista | You join the public system (the Caja). Many expats add private cover too. |
Rules checked Oct 2026. Always read your consulate's checklist. Ask the insurer for a letter that names the visa.
Providers compared
| Provider | Type | Best for | For visas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafetyWing Nomad Insurance | Travel medical, monthly subscription | Nomads, scouting trips, Georgia's visa-free stay | Usually not enough for a residence visa | Get a quote |
| SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Complete | Fuller plan: adds routine health care to travel medical cover | Long-term nomads who want more than emergency cover | Check your consulate's wording before you rely on it | Get a quote |
| Genki | Nomad and long-stay health plans | Remote workers based in Europe | Check each visa's rules before you rely on it | Get a quote |
Prices depend on age, country, deductible and medical history, so we don't print them. Get 2 or 3 quotes.
How to choose
Scouting trip or visa-free stay
Buy travel medical. It's cheap and you can start it after you've left home. That's also all Georgia asks for.
See SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
Long-term nomad, no residence visa yet
If you're moving between countries for a year or more, emergency-only cover leaves gaps. A fuller nomad plan adds routine care like doctor visits and checkups.
See SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Complete
Residence visa
Buy full expat cover, and get it before your consulate appointment. Ask for a certificate that states the cover amount, that there are no co-payments if your visa needs that, and the dates. Consulates reject vague letters.
Americans
Medicare doesn't cover you abroad. If you're 65 or older, think hard before you drop Part B: late-enrollment penalties apply if you come back and sign up later.
Brits
Your UK GHIC card covers state healthcare on short EU visits. It doesn't cover moving abroad. UK state pensioners moving to the EU may qualify for an S1 form, which gives access to local public healthcare. Ask the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services team.
Australians
Medicare stops when you're no longer an Australian resident. Australia has reciprocal healthcare deals with a few countries, including the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Ireland, but they cover visits, not moves.