I don’t want to hyperinflate this insurance issue, but with an increase of 20,000%, I was a bit flammoxed about what to do for my medical insurance in 2026 as I travel the world full-time. I feel like a politician when I say 20,000%. But it’s true.
Lots of full-time travelers are scrambling right now, trying to rectify what they’ll do for their medical coverage in the USA. With some subsidies on ACA (Obamacare) going the way of the penny, getting medical insurance in the USA if you’re under 65 and unemployed (retired) has gotten complicated.
For me, I had been on ACA for three of the five years I’ve been traveling the world full-time. It wasn’t great insurance (annual deductible of $10,000 and only usable in Texas), but it provided an option for when I was in the US. Fortunately, I don’t have any chronic conditions, so this type of neglible coverage was enough in case I did need major medical services.
But now, my ACA premiums have gone up to $2400 a year. Most Americans would state that $2400 a year is not bad for an annual plan, and they’re right. With my minimal income, I still get an ACA subsidy of $800 a month. That’s generous. Yet in 2026, I’ll only be in the USA for about a month and not in Texas, where I’m covered. So basically my insurance would cost $2400 for one month of coverage, and I would have to get to Texas to use. That doesn’t make sense.
Europe to the Rescue for Insurance
Thus, I’ve shopped around. I looked to the major Travel Insurance providers such as IMG, Safetywing, GeoBlue. They all require that you have primary coverage in the US to be able to use their Travel Insurance in the US. Well, since I don’t have insurance in the US anymore, I can’t get Travel Insurance in the US. The irony, eh?
I’ve had to look to other insurance markets in order to find coverage in the US. Fortunately, I found a company in France called Mondial. They have three types of policies of interest. The first just covers the Schengen area of EU (plus UK.) They have a global plan that covers the rest of the globe with the exception of the US and Canada. Then they have a third policy that covers the globe plus the USA and Canada. You can get the policies monthly or annually. Respectively, they cost $400, $800, $1400 annually for me as a 59-year old. There’s a 50 euro deductible on doctor’s visits. Genki is another option that will work for me in the US, costing about $250 a month for US and Canada coverage.
Meanwhile, we’re working on getting our Golden Visa in Greece. Once we have that, we’ll have access to the Greek public hospital system for $100 a year. We’ve yet to use the Greek system, but we have interacted with a few doctors, a dentist, and the pharmacies. All interactions have gone swimmingly.
Since I’ve decided not to re-up my ACA, I wonder if I’ve permanently exited the American health care system. I think I’m happ about it. Alas, we’ll see as the future unfolds.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.