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That nomad with 5 years of hostel experience told me to ditch travel insurance
Back in 2018, some guy at a hostel in Chiang Mai swore travel insurance was a scam. Got dengue fever three months later in Bali and the hospital bill was $1,200. Anyone else ignore obvious advice and pay for it?
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daniel_gonzalez1mo ago
Yeah I read somewhere that most nomads regret skipping insurance within the first year.
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blair_nguyen1mo ago
That 2018 Chiang Mai guy probably meant it for his own situation (like if he had good health to start with), not for everyone. I've seen the stat too - something like 60% of long-term travelers end up using their insurance within the first year for something, even if it's just a bad stomach or a stolen phone.
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shane_park921mo ago
60% seems like one of those numbers someone pulls out of nowhere honestly. I've been traveling for 6 years and only filed a claim once for a lost bag. Most people I meet don't even remember what their policy covers half the time. Blair, you're right that the Chiang Mai guy was probably talking about his own health situation. Everyone's risk tolerance is different, and some folks are fine rolling the dice on a few hundred bucks of medical costs. Not saying skip insurance forever, but that 60% stat sounds like travel insurance companies trying to scare you into buying the premium plan.
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