Last Updated on November 27, 2025
Travel insurance matters for every traveler, but for volunteers—often working in remote areas, rural clinics, or unfamiliar environments—it’s essential. Over the years, I’ve met far too many volunteers who bought a cheap “volunteer insurance” plan from a reseller like Volunteer Card or World Nomads, only to discover that the policy had gaps, hidden limitations, or didn’t actually cover them during their placement.
This guide breaks down which type of insurance fits each kind of volunteer trip, how SafetyWing and IMG compare, and the red flags to watch for in volunteer-branded plans that look convenient but offer far less protection.
I’ve been on the road since 2008, volunteering everywhere from rural Kenya to the mountains of Oaxaca, and I’ve bought more insurance policies than I can count. Over the years, the pattern has held steady: most volunteers don’t need “volunteer insurance”—they just need the right travel medical plan for their trip length and destination. Buying directly through IMG or SafetyWing gives you clearer coverage and far more flexibility than reseller plans.
Here’s the quick snapshot I wish every volunteer saw before buying a plan—match your trip type to the row that fits your situation.
| If You Are… | Best Fit | Why This Works |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteering 1–8 weeks (single country) | Single-trip travel medical (e.g., IMG Patriot) | Covers emergency medical + evacuation + basic trip protection. Ideal if you keep primary insurance at home. |
| Volunteering + traveling 2–12 months (multi-country) | Long-term nomad plan (SafetyWing Nomad or IMG Patriot long-term) | Flexible dates, extendable on the road, designed for border hopping and placements with travel breaks. |
| Volunteering abroad for months and want cancellation + electronics coverage | SafetyWing Complete, IMG iTravel Insured | Hybrid coverage: travel medical + cancellation/ interruption + electronics + some routine care. Great for open-ended itineraries where you want more than bare-bones medical. |
| Living abroad 12+ months in one location | Expat health insurance (IMG Global, Cigna Global) | Primary health coverage abroad. Covers routine care + emergencies. Meets many visa requirements. |
| On a mission/NGO placement with a sponsoring organization | Mission/NGO-specific plans (IMG Patriot Mission / Outreach Mission) | Designed for humanitarian/clinical/faith-based work. Often matches organizational requirements. |
| Returning home briefly during a long volunteer stint abroad | Short-term domestic health insurance | Ensures coverage during visits home when global/expat plans don’t apply. |
Whatever your trip length, the goal is the same: match your insurance to the realities of where you’ll be volunteering.
What types of insurance do international volunteers need?
Travel insurance is a big category, but volunteers mostly need one thing: solid medical and evacuation coverage that works in the real conditions where they’ll be living or working. The confusing part is that many “volunteer insurance” plans are just resold policies with preset limits, not tailored protection.
After years of volunteering and traveling internationally, the pattern is clear: you don’t need a special volunteer-branded plan—you need the right type of travel medical coverage for your itinerary. Here’s how the options break down, depending on your trip length and where you’re volunteering.
1. Travel Insurance for Short-Term Volunteers (1–8 weeks)
Short-term volunteers typically join a single placement—teaching, conservation, clinics—and many add a little travel on either side. For these trips, skip the volunteer-branded plans and choose a solid single-trip travel medical policy—one that covers emergency care, evacuation, delays, and baggage issues.
IMG Patriot is my go-to here because you can adjust deductibles and medical limits to match your destination and risk tolerance—flexibility you don’t get with fixed reseller plans.
Most volunteer sites aren’t close to reliable hospitals. I’ve worked in places where “getting to care” meant finding a driver and spending hours on rough roads. In those settings, evacuation coverage isn’t optional—it’s the part of your policy that protects you from enormous medical bills if something serious happens.
If you keep your health insurance at home, this becomes your emergency layer abroad. And if your plans might shift (they often do), choose a policy you can extend on the road and add an adventure-sports rider if you’re snorkeling, trekking, or doing hands-on fieldwork.
Short trips are where people most often overpay for “volunteer insurance,” but a straightforward travel medical plan almost always gives better protection for the price.
Volunteer Tip: Most volunteers travel before or after their placement—even if that wasn’t the original plan. Choose a policy that covers both the placement and any side trips you might take.
2. Travel Insurance for Long-Term Volunteers (2–12+ months)
If your volunteer trip stretches into months rather than weeks, your insurance needs shift a bit too. Long-term volunteers often split their months abroad between placements, side trips, and travel breaks. That kind of itinerary needs a policy that works across multiple countries and doesn’t require a fixed end date. Having an insurer who can coordinate care if you get sick in a rural or unfamiliar setting isn’t extra—it’s essential.
A few plans consistently fit long-term volunteer travel well:
- SafetyWing Nomad: flexible, subscription-style coverage that you can start or stop as plans evolve
- IMG Patriot (long-term version): more structured but strong for multi-country movement and long volunteer itineraries
- SafetyWing Nomad Complete: If you want cancellation coverage, stronger baggage protection, or coverage for electronics during a long placement, SafetyWing Nomad Complete adds those traditional trip-insurance benefits.
For this type of travel, focus on medical + evacuation coverage, multi-country validity, adventure-sport coverage if you’ll be hiking or diving, and the ability to extend your policy from abroad. These are the spots where volunteer-branded plans usually fall short, especially when they include “must intend to return home” clauses or low medical limits.
SafetyWing tends to shine here because it adapts easily when plans shift mid-placement—a common reality in volunteer travel. IMG Patriot remains a great option if you prefer more traditional coverage and higher medical limits.
3. Insurance for Volunteers Living Abroad (12+ months in one place)
If you’ll be volunteering in one country for a year or more, you’ve moved into expat health insurance—not travel insurance. These plans act as your primary healthcare abroad, covering routine visits, illnesses, prescriptions, and emergencies, with evacuation included.
Expat plans tie coverage to your country of residence, so they don’t work well for multi-country movement or adventure travel. Many long-term volunteers pair them with a short travel medical policy for regional trips or higher-risk activities.
The most reliable expat options for volunteers are IMG Global, Cigna Global, and GeoBlue Xplorer. They’re visa-friendly, customizable, and designed for volunteers who need everyday healthcare access—not just emergency-only coverage.
Some volunteers eventually switch to a local health policy once they establish residency and a bank account, but that’s usually something to arrange after arrival, not before.
4. NGO / Mission-Specific Insurance (for structured programs)
Some NGOs and humanitarian groups require insurance that covers higher-risk work—remote placements, manual labor, clinical support, or evacuation from unstable areas. If your organization gives you a list of requirements, match your plan to that list. IMG’s mission-focused policies (Patriot Mission or Outreach Mission) usually fit what humanitarian and medical placements need and are often easier to verify for program directors.
Pros and Cons of the Volunteer Insurance Companies I Actually Recommend
I’ve tested a lot of insurance over the past 15+ years—through volunteer placements, long-term travel, and multi-year expat life. These are the only companies I consistently recommend because they offer clear coverage, strong evacuation limits, and none of the “surprise exclusions” I’ve seen in volunteer-branded reseller plans.
IMG Patriot (Travel Medical Insurance)
Best for: Short-term volunteers, families, multi-stop trips, and anyone who wants customizable coverage.
Why It Works
- Customizable deductibles, evacuation limits, and coverage caps.
- Strong evacuation policies—important for rural or remote work.
- Easy to extend mid-trip.
- Claims are straightforward when filed directly with IMG (you don’t need a reseller middleman).
Where It’s Not Perfect
- Adventure sports require an extra rider.
- Not intended as primary health coverage for year-long stays.
SafetyWing Nomad & SafetyWing Nomad Complete
Best for: long-term volunteers, open-ended itineraries, multi-country travel.
Why It Works
- Month-to-month subscription fits how volunteers actually travel.
- Easy to start or extend abroad.
- Great for volunteers mixing placements with side trips.
- Nomad Complete adds more traditional “trip insurance” benefits (cancellations, lost luggage), which fills some gaps Nomad Basic doesn’t cover.
Where It’s Not Perfect
- IMG is usually cheaper for short, fixed trips.
- Gear/cancellation coverage is lighter on the basic plan (Complete improves this).
Volunteer insight: SafetyWing is ideal when the length of your placement is uncertain—plans rarely stay fixed once you’re on the ground.
IMG Global (Expat Health Insurance)
Best for: volunteers living abroad 12+ months in one country.
Why It Works
- Functions like primary health insurance (routine care + emergencies).
- Zero-deductible options (needed for some countries—I used this for my first year in Barcelona).
- Visa-friendly and widely accepted.
- I’ve personally used IMG Global during long stays—its hospital networks and evacuation support are reliable.
Where It’s Not Perfect
- Costs more because it’s true health insurance, not travel insurance.
- Doesn’t include trip interruptions or gear coverage—pair it with travel medical for side trips.
Cigna Global (Expat Health)
Best for: long-term volunteers in higher-cost healthcare regions, or anyone needing robust routine-care benefits.
Why It Works
- Large worldwide provider network.
- Multiple tiers so you can add mental health, specialists, maternity, etc.
- Trusted by NGOs and long-term humanitarian placements.
Where It’s Not Perfect
- Often pricier than IMG Global for similar tiers.
- Unnecessary for volunteers staying under 12 months.
So… Why Not Volunteer Card or World Nomads?
Because both are resellers—not insurers—which means preset limits, less flexibility, and policies often underwritten by the same companies you can buy from directly. The details matter, and that’s what the next section untangles.
Review: Is Volunteer Card Travel Insurance Legit?
Here’s the honest take: Volunteer Card isn’t a scam—but it’s also not what most volunteers think they’re buying.
Volunteer Card isn’t an insurance company—it’s a reseller. Their plans are underwritten by larger insurers (often IMG), but packaged with preset limits and little room to adjust coverage. That simplicity is appealing, but it comes with trade-offs most volunteers never see until they’re already abroad.
Where Volunteer Card works:
- Fast, simple purchase process
- Helpful claims hand-holding if paperwork stresses you out
- Acceptable for very short, structured trips with minimal risk
Where it falls short:
- Lower medical caps (some plans cover only $50,000—far too low for emergencies or evacuation)
- No customization (you can’t adjust deductibles or limits like you can with IMG or SafetyWing)
- “Intent to return home” clauses on some plans, which can invalidate coverage for open-ended or multi-country volunteer travel
- Ethical concerns: their per-policy donation is routed through their own faith-based nonprofit, which blends humanitarian work with evangelism—something many volunteers prefer to avoid
Bottom line: Volunteer Card is legitimate, but rarely the best value. Most volunteers get better coverage for the same or lower price by buying directly from IMG (customizable travel medical) or SafetyWing (flexible long-term coverage you can extend on the road).
Before You Buy Volunteer Insurance: What Most People Miss
Most bad insurance experiences come from not understanding the policy—not scams or loopholes. These are the must-know details that matter specifically for volunteers.
1. Document your valuables before you leave
To claim theft or loss, insurers need:
- proof you owned the item (receipt)
- proof you traveled with it (photo)
- proof it was stolen (police report)
Most denied claims come from missing one of these steps. Fix it upfront.
2. Call your insurer as soon as you’re sick or injured
Most insurers require early notification so they can direct you to approved clinics.
Skip this and your claim can be denied—it’s a contractual requirement, not a technicality.
3. Save every piece of medical paperwork
Pharmacy receipts, ER forms, discharge notes—keep them all.
Documentation is what gets claims paid quickly.
4. Know your exclusions before you travel
The big ones that surprise volunteers:
- pre-existing conditions
- volunteering with animals
- clinical/medical work
- high-altitude trekking
- scuba diving
- adventure sports
If your volunteer role involves risk, add the right rider.
5. Understand the motorbike rule (the most misunderstood clause in travel insurance)
If you drive a motorbike without:
- a valid motorbike license from your home country, and
- an international permit with motorbike certification
…you are not covered in an accident. (This applies even if the rental shop doesn’t ask for a license.) Renting is easy abroad; getting coverage for a crash is not.
6. Avoid policies tied to “intent to return home”
Some volunteer-branded plans include this.
If your trip is open-ended—gap year, multi-country placements, one-way ticket—it can void your coverage.
7. Read the policy. Yes, really.
Highlight:
- exclusions
- coverage limits
- claim requirements
- evacuation terms
If you’re unsure, email the insurer before you buy.
8. Know what travel insurance does NOT cover
It’s not designed for:
- routine checkups
- long-term prescriptions
- ongoing medical care
Volunteers abroad for a year or more should look at expat health insurance, not backpacker-style plans.
With those foundation pieces in mind, the final step is choosing the plan that actually fits your specific trip.
Making the Right Choice for Your Situation
There isn’t one “best” volunteer insurance policy—only the policy that fits your trip length, health needs, and risk tolerance. An eight-week placement looks very different from a year-long move abroad, so use this as a practical decision guide.
If you’re volunteering short-term (1–8 weeks):
- Best fit: Single-trip travel medical insurance (IMG Patriot)
- Covers: emergency care, evacuation, travel delays, baggage issues.
- Why it works: strong evacuation limits, customizable deductibles, easy to extend if your trip grows.
(best for fixed dates in one country)
If you’re volunteering long-term (3–12+ months):
First ask: Will you keep health insurance in your home country?
- Yes → IMG Patriot or SafetyWing can act as your emergency + travel coverage.
- No → You’re effectively living abroad. Choose expat health insurance (IMG Global, Cigna Global, GeoBlue Xplorer).
(best for multi-country or evolving plans)
If you’re moving abroad to volunteer in one place (12+ months):
- Best fit: Expat health insurance
- Why: Travel insurance won’t reliably cover routine care, ongoing prescriptions, or specialist visits.
Volunteer Tip: If your volunteer year involves both long stays and periodic regional travel, a mix—expat insurance for routine care + SafetyWing Nomad Complete for travel interruptions and electronics—often works best.
If you’re joining a structured NGO or humanitarian program:
Your organization may require a specialized plan that covers working in remote areas, clinical settings, or conflict zones.
Best fit: IMG Patriot Mission / Outreach Mission (or your NGO’s recommended equivalent).
A few personal guidelines I’ve learned after 15+ years on the road
These are the insights volunteers usually only hear in Reddit threads or from someone who’s learned the hard way:
- Always choose higher medical evacuation limits. Evacuations from remote clinics can exceed $100,000.
- If traveling with minors, IMG has stronger guardian-incapacitation language. This is why I’ve stuck with it for years.
- Insure expensive gear separately. I use Clements for my camera + laptop. Travel insurance caps are too low for photographers and long-term volunteers.
- Pick a policy you can extend from abroad. Volunteer travel rarely stays within the original dates.
- Avoid plans with “intent to return home” wording. They’re unnecessary and introduce avoidable risk.
I’ve used World Nomads, IMG Patriot, IMG Global, and SafetyWing in different phases of my travel life. None are perfect, but IMG remains the most consistently reliable for both short- and long-term volunteers, and SafetyWing is now a strong, budget-friendly option for extended travel or multi-country volunteering.
Whatever you choose, make the decision deliberately. Insurance is one of those things you hope never to use—but when you need it, you need it to work.
~Shannon
Founder of Grassroots Volunteering
FAQ
Do I need volunteer-specific insurance?
No. You need the right travel medical plan for your trip length and destination.
Is World Nomads worth it?
It’s fine, but pricier than IMG for similar coverage with fewer customization options.
What’s the biggest mistake volunteers make?
Buying a plan with low medical caps or hidden return-home clauses.
Information in this guide is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but always verify coverage directly with the insurer. Policies change, and only the official documents outline what’s truly covered. GV doesn’t accept paid placement. Some links (IMG, SafetyWing) are affiliate links to companies I personally use; if you purchase through them, GV may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read your policy closely and choose coverage that fits the actual details of your trip.