The world of work is no longer dependent on the traditional 9 to 5 office culture, and a generation of digital nomads are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of balancing the need to earn a living against the desire to travel far and wide.

Just because working remotely is possible, that doesn’t mean you can afford to take unnecessary risks when running your business ventures from far-flung corners of the planet.

To that end, let’s talk about the role that insurance plays in the digital nomad lifestyle, and why it’s important.

Types of insurance you need

There are several examples of insurance policies which are useful for digital nomads, some of which are essential while others are appealing if not strictly necessary. The must-have types of cover include:

Health insurance

Healthcare costs and spending vary globally, and if you aren’t a citizen or resident in the country you’re working in, having adequate insurance to account for medical emergencies is advisable.

It’s also worth checking to see whether there’s a reciprocal healthcare agreement between your home nation and the one you’re visiting. For example, many EU member states have schemes in place to ensure citizens can get the care they need even if they are in a different country.

Rental car insurance

Whether you’re planning a self-driving tour of Iceland or you want to get off the beaten path in Italy, having access to a rental car is incredibly convenient.

It’s equally important not to skimp on insurance in this context, and you don’t just have to rely on the cover provided by the rental operator. Getting quotes from sites like https://www.cheapinsurance.com is sensible so that you won’t face steep costs if you’re involved in an accident while behind the wheel of a rental car.

Gadget insurance

In order to operate effectively as a digital nomad, you’ll have to lug a lot of tech around with you. Even if you’ve only got a laptop and a smartphone, these items will be vital to your professional endeavors as well as your leisure time activities when traveling overseas.

If a crucial gadget is damaged, stolen, or lost during your adventures, getting a replacement will leave you with a steep upfront cost to encompass.

Having gadget insurance, which also factors in overseas travel and includes cover for theft, loss and accidental damage as well as mechanical breakdown, is therefore advisable.

Just be sure to check what excess payment may be required if you make a claim. The higher the excess, the less suitable a policy might be, especially if it comes close to matching the value of the device in question.

Travel insurance

In the ongoing era of international uncertainty and the potential for disruption for all sorts of reasons, it’s important to cover all the bases in terms of your actual travel arrangements.

At the very least you will need a travel insurance policy that lets you get compensation if flights are delayed or canceled, or any other issue derails your plans.

Obviously, some travel insurance policies will also factor in things like healthcare costs, but there’s no harm in having multiple policies that slightly overlap with one another. There’s nothing wrong with being risk-averse and also embracing the freedom of digital nomadism.

Wrapping up

Insurance is a cost all of us have to bear, but using comparison tools and being savvy about the type of cover you get can allow you to make savings without sacrifices.

It’s far worse to leave everything up to fate, when for a small monthly payment or a one-off sum you can buy peace of mind.