{"id":9824,"date":"2026-06-18T12:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=9824"},"modified":"2026-06-18T12:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:08:13","slug":"a-new-social-safety-net-for-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=9824","title":{"rendered":"A New Social Safety Net for Entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/A-New-Social-Safety-Net-for-Entrepreneurs.jpeg\" alt=\"Nomadic Matt in Madagascar looking out over the mountains and forests\" width=\"675\" height=\"395\"\/><br \/>If you\u2019re a digital nomad or a location-independent business owner, you\u2019re either overpaying for fragmented insurance coverage (travel, medical, etc.) or just badly underinsured. You have a health plan, travel insurance, and maybe some medical evacuation coverage. But, when you work for yourself, you lack the kind of safety net protections you get with a corporate job. And you cannot use a country\u2019s social safety net because, well, you\u2019re not a citizen, right? You\u2019re just roaming the world!<\/p>\n<p>So what do you do?<\/p>\n<p>The travel insurance company Safety Wing is looking to change that. They have always wanted to create this all-in-one package for digital nomads that includes insurance, employee benefits, and a social safety net.<\/p>\n<p>I use their travel insurance all the time and they have just launched what they call Nomad Citizen that seeks to address the gaps in coverage.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"what-is-nomad-citizen\">What is Nomad Citizen?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nomad Citizen is an annual membership that bundles health coverage, travel protection, income protection, and life insurance benefits into a single plan. It\u2019s for location-independent entrepreneurs and business owners who spend more than half the year outside their home country and whose lives and income cross borders as a default.<\/p>\n<p>Nomad Citizen covers you globally with no residency restrictions (except for Puerto Rico).<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"who-can-sign-up\">Who can sign up?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nomad Citizen covers people under 56 and earning at least $4,000 USD per month. You sign up online, choose your start date, declare that you\u2019re in good health, and confirm you\u2019ll be outside your passport country for more than half the year. You can also add your partner and any children under 18.<\/p>\n<p>But <em>who<\/em> should sign-up? This is an interesting product. I definitely think there\u2019s a niche for it. After all, let\u2019s say you\u2019re an entrepreneur in Bali and don\u2019t have access to any social safety net. What happens if you get sick or really hurt and you\u2019re out of work? A friend of mine in Mexico was hit by a car and severely hospitalized and ate into his travel insurance limits really quickly. Afterwards, he couldn\u2019t work for months while he was in rehab and started a GoFundMe for help. A product like Nomadic Citizen would have helped him. Or helped any of the other digital nomads who get injured on the road and have to raise funds.<\/p>\n<p>I think this product is good for someone who is living in a country outside their own without access to social services and a robust social safety net. For example, if you live in Sweden and have access to all the benefits of the State, this product probably isn\u2019t for you because they have tons of services but if you live in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, or France but don\u2019t have access to benefits, or are just roaming the world, have a high income, work on your own, or have a family, then this product would be something to consider.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"how-much-does-it-cost\">How much does it cost?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For those signing up on or after July 1, 2026, the Nomad Citizen membership costs $443 per month for those 18 to 39. If you\u2019re 40 \u2013 49, it\u2019s $665 per month, and $875 per month for 50-55. Children cost $143 per month (couples on the plan can add their first child under 10 at no cost). You can pay monthly or annually.<\/p>\n<p>A note about US coverage: Nomad Citizen is truly worldwide, including the US, although it should be noted that coverage limits were not designed for extensive use there\u2026because well, the US health care system is just a mess.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"whats-included\">What\u2019s Included?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Income protection:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The income protection benefit is probably the single most compelling reason Nomad Citizen exists. Traditional income protection or disability insurance requires a fixed employer, a permanent address, and residency in a specific country. Freelancers and sole traders working across borders are essentially uninsurable for income loss through conventional schemes, such as government assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a freelancer or remote worker and you lose your income (you\u2019re laid off, your contracts dry up, or you can\u2019t work due to a medical condition), Nomad Citizen pays you up to $4,000 per month for up to 4 or 6 months while you get back on your feet. That benefit doesn\u2019t exist anywhere else!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Health insurance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Up to $1.5 million in annual coverage for inpatient, outpatient, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, maternity, preventive care, wellness therapies, and more. This is just like health insurance where you live and covers everything you need. It is far more robust than regular travel insurance, which is only there for emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Travel coverage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Trip delays, cancellations, stolen electronics, lost luggage, evacuation, robbery, family visits during hospitalisation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Parental leave:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you have a baby or become a legal guardian of a child, they pay US$4,000\/month so you can take time off work without worrying about money. There is a waiting period of 3 years to access this benefit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Long-term disability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If something really serious happens to you and you are permanently forced to stop working because, for instance,\u00a0 you lose your eyesight, you\u2019re diagnosed with cancer, you have a major stroke, or you can no longer do basic things like walk, dress yourself, or eat on your own, they pay you US$4,000\/month up to age 75.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Visa assistance:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members can browse and apply for different governments\u2019 versions of long-term visas designed for nomads (i.e. they can work on those visas) directly through our app interface without having to apply through the government websites. They handle all the direct communication with the government and quality check your application before submission to maximize the chances of approval.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Nomad Care Map:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Find the best providers through our member-powered database of more than 4000 healthcare providers all over the world, with ratings for service and English level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Payment cards:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Use your SafetyWing card to pay for covered services up to $500. This auto-generates a claim that has already been paid so you do not have to wait for reimbursement. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SafetyWing card is a worldwide prepaid debit card that is sent to every Nomad Citizen member, which they can use to pay for doctor\u2019s appointments or prescriptions without using their own money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>24\/7 human support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: You\u2019ll have access to 24\/7 live chat so you can get an answer from a real person within a few minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Everything in one app:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Claims, coverage details, customer care, provider search with Nomad Care Map, and visa assistance are all managed through a single app. There is no need to switch between a health insurer, a travel insurer, and a separate income protection provider (if one existed).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"making-claims\">Making claims<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For health coverage, you either pay out of pocket and file for reimbursement or contact the 24\/7 team to arrange direct payment with the provider. For travel claims, you collect documentation (police reports, carrier delay notices, receipts) and submit a claim. For income protection, you work with SafetyWing to verify the loss and provide evidence that you\u2019re actively seeking new income. Everything is managed through one app and they make it really simple and easy to do.<\/p>\n<p><center>***<\/center><\/p>\n<p>I love SafetyWing\u2019s mission and use their travel insurance on all my trips. This new Nomad Citizen product is perfect for people who are full-time digital nomads and want some sort of income protection as well as more robust health and travel coverage and the kind of social safety programs you would get if you lived in one place. After all, when you are a solopreneur, you do worry about what happens if you get injured, can\u2019t work, or have a kid. It\u2019s all on you, right? Nomad Citizen is the program that ensures that you won\u2019t have to worry about this kind of stuff anymore.<\/p>\n<div class=\"guide-post-box\">\n<h3><span id=\"how-to-travel-the-world-on-75-a-day\"><span>How to Travel the World on $75 a Day<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-box-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"col-1\"><img width=\"220\" height=\"330\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"How to Travel the World on $75 a Day\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Im-Releasing-a-New-Book.jpg\"\/><img width=\"220\" height=\"330\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Im-Releasing-a-New-Book.jpg\" alt=\"How to Travel the World on $75 a Day\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-2\">\n<p>My <em>New York Times<\/em> best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you\u2019ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It\u2019s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the \u201cbible for budget travelers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Click here to learn more and start reading it today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"single-booking\">\n<h4>Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Book Your Flight<\/strong><br \/>Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It\u2019s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Book Your Accommodation<\/strong><br \/>You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong><br \/>Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It\u2019s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I\u2019ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong><br \/>Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Need a Rental Car?<\/strong><br \/>Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you\u2019re headed, they\u2019ll be able to find the best \u2014 and cheapest \u2014 rental for your trip!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?<\/strong><br \/>Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Ready to Book Your Trip?<\/strong><br \/>Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can\u2019t go wrong using them on your trip.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Source: https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/nomad-citizen-review\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a digital nomad or a location-independent business owner, you\u2019re either overpaying for fragmented insurance coverage (travel, medical, etc.) or just badly underinsured. You have a health plan, travel insurance, and maybe some medical evacuation coverage. But, when you work for yourself, you lack the kind of safety net protections you get with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9824\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}