This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Stevo and I have been traveling the world as Digital Nomads since 2018. We feel that having travel insurance or more comprehensive medical insurance is essential and we never travel without it.
Over the past six years, we’ve shared about different insurance options for travelers and what we’ve personally done for insurance on this blog and our YouTube channel.
This year, we decided to switch from SafetyWing insurance to Genki Explorer insurance. The main reason we switched was because we had planned a one month trip to the US to visit family, and Genki’s Explorer plan covers US passport holders in the US for 42 days, so that made more sense for us.
We also started looking more into Genki’s comprehensive medical insurance options called Genki Native both the Basic and Premium plans.
Since we’re doing all this research for ourselves, we thought we’d write this article to share the information with you too. We also made a video with this information if you’d prefer to watch rather than read: Travel Insurance vs. Health Insurance: Comparing Genki Explorer and Genki Native
We know insurance can be confusing and Stevo has done a ton of reading and distilling this information down to put this article together.
Please note that this article is for educational purposes only. You should always read the fine print of any insurance policy yourself before signing up.
Here are links to the official documentation for the insurance options we’re talking about:
Genki Native Insurance
Genki Explorer Insurance
Genki is based in Germany and has been offering travel insurance since 2021. Fun fact: Genki is a Japanese word that means healthy, energetic, or full of spirit!
Genki offers two different kinds of insurance policies: Genki Explorer and Genki Native (Basic and Premium).
The Genki Explorer plan is geared toward people who want coverage for accidents and emergency medical care only.
To open the kimono a bit, this is the plan we currently use. We always have travel insurance when we’re on the road and are willing to pay for preventive care like annual check ups and dental work out of pocket because it is just so much more affordable abroad than it is in the USA.
The Genki Native plans (formerly called Genki Resident) offer more extensive health coverage for people who spend most of their time living outside of their country of residence.
This could be full-time travelers, long-term immigrants or ex-pats, people who work in foreign countries, or people who want more preventive care to be covered by their insurance plan. We’ll get more into that later.
It is important to note that Genki is only international health insurance. That means there is no coverage for travel-related issues like lost luggage, theft, trip cancellation, etc. None of that is covered with either the Genki Explorer or Genki Native plans.
However, you may already have these coverages if you have a travel credit card.
Genki Native
Genki Native has two tiers: Basic and Premium. Both offer comprehensive coverage ranging from minor injuries and common illnesses to medical emergencies, accidents, and chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes.
The biggest difference between the two is that the Premium plan includes more specialized care for certain things.
We’ll go into the specific differences between Genki Native Basic and Premium later in the article.
Who Can Be Covered with Genki Native?
- 55 is the oldest they’ll cover
- Covers anyone from anywhere
- Medical questionnaire required
Genki Native coverage covers people from any country! That’s the good news!
The less good news is that the age limit is 55 years old, meaning you can be at most 55 at the time your coverage begins.
But, if you sign up before you turn 55, you can continue to be covered indefinitely, as long as you keep paying your premiums.
How to Apply for Genki Native
To apply for a Genki Native policy, you have to provide basic information about yourself and submit a medical questionnaire and list your height and weight, medications, disabilities, things like that.
You will also need to disclose any long-term illnesses or pre-existing conditions. Those may not necessarily disqualify you from getting the insurance, but they may affect your premiums.
Do not lie on your application! The company holds the right to cancel any policy that is issued under false pretense. Be honest!
Where is and isn’t Covered?
- Worldwide coverage (limited coverage in USA and Canada)
Genki Native plans allow you to visit any country in the world, even the ones with travel restrictions.
However, coverage in the US and Canada is limited to 30 days per insurance year. And you’re only covered for accidents and emergencies up to €250,000.
That limit is for every policyholder across the board, even if the USA or Canada is your country of citizenship and even if you have a Genki Native Premium plan.
Medical transport out of the USA and Canada to another country for treatment can be covered in certain cases with prior approval.
Length of Coverage
- Minimum one year of coverage
- Can renew indefinitely
Genki’s Native plan has a 12-month minimum that is charged monthly and can be paid by credit or debit card. When you sign up, you are locked into that plan for a year and can only cancel under extreme circumstances.
After the first 12 months, you can request to cancel your plan on a month-to-month basis.
You can renew your coverage after the first 12 months. However, your premiums will increase over time as you age, which is the case with all insurance.
Price
- Depends on age, basic/premium, deductible
There are many variables to consider when it comes to the price for Genki’s Native coverage. Things like your age, whether you want the Basic or Premium plan, and how much you want your deductible to be.
To get a Genki Native quote, you’ll need to provide Genki with your basic information directly on their website and then they’ll contact you to schedule a consultation call with them. You’ll have to answer a few questions about your lifestyle, travel plans, and things of that nature.
After the call, you’ll get a link where you can review your customized plan and sign up online. Contact Genki to get a quote.
Deductible
- €1000, €500, or 0 per calendar year
- Lower deductible, higher premium
Genki’s Native plan has different deductible options of €1000, €500, or 0 per year.
A deductible is the amount of money a policyholder pays before their insurance begins to pay for covered expenses. The lower your deductible, the higher your monthly premium.
The deductible is only applied to outpatient procedures. If you receive inpatient care, meaning if you are hospitalized, then you are covered without having to pay the deductible.
Waiting Period
Coverage with your Genki Native plan can begin as quickly as seven days after you complete your application. However, some benefits do require a waiting period, and we’ll get into those next.
What is Covered?
Both Genki Native Basic and Premium cover:
- All types of accidents, emergencies, and common medical ailments
- Sports injuries (all sports!)
- Free choice of doctors and hospitals (inpatient and outpatient)
- Chronic conditions for example cancer or diabetes (with prior approval during application)
- Inpatient and outpatient medical treatment
- Inpatient psychiatric care
On top of all of that, the Premium plan also includes coverage for:
- Preventive care (checkups, vaccines, etc. up to €250 per insurance year)
- Alternative Care (homeopathy, massages, etc. up to €500 per insurance year)
- Dental Care (with a 12-month waiting period for certain treatments, up to €2000 per insurance year)
- Maternity Care (after a 12-month waiting period)
- Vision Care (up to €250 per insurance year)
- Inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy (with prior approval)
What is NOT Covered?
Of course, no travel insurance policy covers everything.
Genki Native does not cover:
- Professional sports (if you get paid, it’s not covered)
- Active participation in war (but a journalist covering a warzone would be covered)
- Lifestyle products (hair growth, weight reduction, contraceptives, etc.)
It is possible to get coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only after you’ve gone through a review and approval process.
If you are traveling for the express purpose of medical care, also known as medical tourism, that procedure will most likely not be covered by your insurance policy. Medical tourism is not covered.
But if you’re in a place that cannot provide the treatment or care you need, then you may be approved to go get treated in another country. You can ask for authorization to travel for treatment in these cases.
Visiting your home country
There is a big difference between Genki’s Native basic and premium plans when it comes to visiting your country of citizenship.
With the Genki Native Basic plan, you are limited to 30 days and €250,000 in coverage for accidents and lifesaving emergencies only in your home country.
But with the Genki Native Premium plan, you are entitled to your full benefits with no limit to how long you can stay in your home country. Pretty sweet!
However, this does not apply if your home country is the USA or Canada. If that is the case, then you are again limited to 30 days and €250,000 in coverage for accidents and lifesaving emergencies only, even if you have Premium coverage.
Medical transport out of the USA or Canada to another country for treatment can be covered in certain cases with prior medical and insurance approval.
Again, it’s important to read the fine print of your policy and check everything for yourself, because things can change.
Learn more about Genki Native Basic and Premium plans.
Genki Explorer
Genki Explorer is geared toward travelers who are looking for shorter coverage periods, like digital nomads and backpackers.
Coverage can be as short as one month, or up to two years. Your coverage can begin as soon as the day after you sign up, with some stipulations that we’ll go over shortly.
Genki Explorer is billed month-to-month. You can cancel your plan a month in advance and you will still be covered until the beginning of the next billing cycle.
You can have the same Genki Explorer coverage for up to two years. After that, you will not be able to extend that policy and that insurance plan will be terminated.
If you want to sign up for a new Genki Explorer plan in the future, you’ll have to wait six months before you can sign up again. (Note: This only applies to contracts started AFTER May 1, 2024.)
It’s important to note that any medical condition for which you’ve received treatment in the six months leading up to the start of your coverage will not be covered, as that would be considered a preexisting condition. That exclusion also includes any regular medications you may take.
Who is Covered?
- Anyone, from anywhere, can be covered by Genki’s Explorer plan.
- The only restriction is the age cap of 69 (nice)
Waiting Period
The Explorer plan typically includes a 14-day waiting period where coverage during that time is limited to accidents and life-threatening emergencies.
However, if you are currently covered by another insurance policy that will cover you until the beginning of your Genki coverage, you may be able to skip the waiting period.
Another way to bypass the 14-day waiting period is to sign up for your coverage while you’re in your home country. But it is important to note that your coverage will not go into effect until you leave your home country.
Price
The price of Genki Explorer depends on two factors: your age and whether you want extra coverage in the USA and Canada.
There is a €50 deductible per case.
What is Covered?
Genki Explorer coverage is extensive and covers things like:
- All types of accidents, emergencies, and common medical ailments
- Outpatient medical consultations, treatments, and procedures
- Sports Injuries (with some exceptions)
- Free Choice of doctors and hospitals (for outpatient and inpatient care)
- Telemedicine
- Inpatient Hospital Stays
- Emergency Medical Transport
- (Limited) Emergency Dental Treatment (for pain relief or from an accident)
- (Limited) Mental Health Care
- (Limited) Maternity Care (after a 10 month waiting period)
There is no maximum coverage limit, meaning you’ll be covered no matter the cost.
What is NOT Covered
Of course, there are some things that are not covered by the Genki Explorer plan, like:
- Preexisting conditions
- Dangerous activities/sports
- Professional Sports (if you get paid to play, it won’t be covered)
- Drugs and excessive alcohol
- Active Participation in War
- Medical Tourism
Another thing that is not covered is medical repatriation meaning if you choose to be sent back to your home country to receive medical care, your Genki Explorer policy will be terminated once you arrive. Genki leaves that decision up to you.
Home Country Coverage
The Genki Explorer plan covers you for six weeks per 180-day period (42 days per six months) in your home country and only covers accidents and life-threatening emergencies.
To be able to be covered in your home country, you need to either A) begin your policy when you are already outside of your country of residence or B) leave your home country after your policy begins.
Again, make sure you read the fine print of the policy so you know exactly what is covered.
Learn more about Genki Explorer.
Thank you for reading. We hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions, leave a comment below.
Leave a Reply