1. Check how the product defines your home country, and whether the place where you live is covered. 2. Read the pre-existing clause and its look-back period, and test it against your own history. 3. Compare the age cut-offs with every traveler on the booking, and what happens to the limit after 65. 4. Ask what happens at the first phone call: who answers, in which language, and whether the clinic is paid directly.

Pulsar or SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: what changes when you live in Latin America and need a doctor abroad?

Q: What are the age limits?

SafetyWing does not sell to anyone aged 70 or older . The minimum is 14 days old, and the document does not describe a benefit reduction below 70 . Pulsar sells up to age 85 at purchase, and from 65 the medical limit applies at 75 percent .

Pulsar editorial team · Checked on 2026-10-01 against the conditions SafetyWing Nomad Insurance publishes.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is a subscription travel medical plan sold online for people who spend long stretches outside their home country: remote workers, long-term travelers and expats. If you live in Medellín, Mexico City, Lima or Buenos Aires, you will meet it when you search for "insurance for nomads". This page compares its Essential plan, as written in the Description of Cover effective September 2025, with Pulsar's plans.

Who is behind SafetyWing Essential, and who do you deal with when something happens?

The Description of Cover names SafetyWing Insurance I.I., incorporated in Puerto Rico, as the insurer [1]. It names no separate administrator or assistance company, and refers to a "24/7 assistance" and a customer service team [1]. The product page describes 24/7 live chat support [2]. Their published conditions do not state its languages [1][2].

Pulsar is sold by Asteroid LLC in Aventura, Florida. Assistance and claims are run by MDabroad (US & UK Medical Abroad, LLC), in international medical assistance since 2000, with 85,000+ contracted providers in 150+ countries. Medical benefits are insured by the insurer named in the voucher email [6].

How high are the limits, and is there a deductible?

Essential has an overall limit of USD 250,000 per active insurance period, with evacuation at USD 100,000 over your lifetime [1]. The document does not mention a deductible, though the US add-on carries a USD 100 co-pay per emergency room visit and USD 50 per urgent care visit [1]. A Complete plan has its own document and is not compared here [2].

Pulsar has four plans: Basic USD 30,000 (EUR 30,000 on Europe trips, the Schengen minimum), Standard USD 50,000, Superior USD 100,000 and Prime USD 150,000 medical per person, with no deductible on the plans sold on the site [6]. Essential's limit is above every Pulsar plan, so the closest comparison is Essential against Prime.

Where are you covered if you live in Latin America?

SafetyWing defines your home country as the country where you principally reside and receive regular mail [1]. By that definition, someone living in Medellín, Colombian or not, has Colombia as the home country. You are not covered there, except on short visits: the active period must be at least 90 days, and visits are covered up to 30 days per stay per 90 days [1]. The US needs a separate add-on, open only to people who are not US citizens or residents in any way [1]. Pulsar does not sell to US residents either [6].

What does each say about pre-existing conditions?

SafetyWing excludes them, with one exception. The first exclusion reads: "Pre-existing illness or injury, except as described in the section 'Emergency treatment of a pre-existing illness or injury'" (Exclusions, item 1) [1]. A pre-existing illness is one with a diagnosis, treatment or symptoms in the 2 years before the start date [1]. The exception covers a sudden, unexpected emergency that is rapidly progressive, treated within 24 hours, and the illness must be neither incurable nor expected to get worse over time [1]. Treatment is paid up to the overall limit, but medical evacuation for a pre-existing condition is capped at USD 25,000 over your lifetime, and each new plan with a new start date treats anything you had before it as pre-existing [1].

Pulsar does not cover pre-existing conditions, except acute heart attack and stroke, covered regardless of history. An optional upgrade (USD 15,000 or 20,000) covers acute episodes of listed chronic conditions [6].

What are the age limits?

SafetyWing does not sell to anyone aged 70 or older [1]. The minimum is 14 days old, and the document does not describe a benefit reduction below 70 [1]. Pulsar sells up to age 85 at purchase, and from 65 the medical limit applies at 75 percent [6].

How long can the period last?

One active insurance period lasts 5 to 364 days, and you can keep buying new plans until you turn 70 [1]. With auto extension, the end date moves 28 days forward each time you pay [1]. A closing section says the plan covers you for "a maximum duration of 354 days" [1], which does not match the 364 stated elsewhere. Pulsar's maximum trip is 180 days [6].

How do you get care, and is there telemedicine?

The document gives two routes: pay yourself and submit a reimbursement claim on the website or by email, or contact the 24/7 assistance so they can arrange payment [1]. Their published conditions do not state a provider network, a direct billing guarantee or telemedicine [1].

With Pulsar you call first, and in network the clinic bills Pulsar directly. People answer 24/7 by phone at +1 (786) 257-0040 and on WhatsApp at +1 (786) 414-1901, in Spanish, English or Portuguese. Telemedicine is unlimited on every plan, with no charge per consultation and nothing counted against the medical limit [6].

How fast are claims paid?

SafetyWing requires you to claim within 60 days of the end date of your insurance [1]. Their published conditions do not state a decision or payment time [1].

For Pulsar, check the issued plan terms for reimbursement timelines.

In what currency are you charged?

SafetyWing's document gives amounts in dollars and does not describe the currency in which premiums are charged [1]. Pulsar charges in your own currency (COP, MXN, PEN, CLP and others) at the prior day's market rate plus 1 percent, rounded up, and refunds are the same amount in the same currency [6].

What are the cancellation and refund terms?

You can cancel at any time. Premiums are refunded in full if the request arrives before the start date. After it, the unused portion is refunded only if you have not filed a claim, minus a USD 25 fee [1]. Pulsar gives a full refund within 10 days of purchase if the trip has not started and nothing was used. After that, 80 percent back or a free date change until 3 business days before cover starts [6].

What about flight delays and exclusions?

SafetyWing covers reasonable accommodation and meals for up to two days after an unplanned overnight stay, up to USD 100 per day, when transport was delayed or canceled with no replacement for at least 12 hours [1]. Pulsar reimburses reasonable expenses for delays over 12 consecutive hours (clause 38) [3]. Flight delay, with Blink Parametric: register your flight 24 hours ahead and get a lounge pass if it is delayed, live now. An automatic USD 50 payment for a delay of 2 hours or more is coming November 2026. Eligible flights per the terms on your voucher.

SafetyWing's excluded activities include rugby, off-piste skiing, martial arts and, with exceptions, scuba diving; an Adventure Sports add-on extends the list [1]. It also excludes mental health disorders, cancer or neoplasm, organ transplants, and pregnancy and childbirth except listed complications [1].

When might SafetyWing be the better choice?

You want a limit above USD 150,000: Essential's is USD 250,000 per active insurance period [1].
You live abroad full time and want one policy that renews in 28-day steps up to 364 days [1].
You are not a US citizen or resident and want the optional US add-on [1].
You want limited cover for short visits to your home country, which Essential includes after 90 days of active cover [1].
You need more than 180 days in one policy, Pulsar's maximum [6].

How do I choose?

Check how the product defines your home country, and whether the place where you live is covered.
Read the pre-existing clause and its look-back period, and test it against your own history.
Compare the age cut-offs with every traveler on the booking, and what happens to the limit after 65.
Ask what happens at the first phone call: who answers, in which language, and whether the clinic is paid directly.

Sources

SafetyWing Insurance I.I., Nomad Insurance Essential, Description of Cover (SWIII-DOC-NI3.1E), effective September 2025. https://assets.ctfassets.net/hal1sayc3tet/3GMNdriEzp38MZ3NgCJHap/f56cf2c899d152da058cdc41286a563e/NI-Essential-Policy-2025-09-03.pdf (accessed 2026-10-01)
SafetyWing, Nomad Insurance. https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance (accessed 2026-10-01)
Pulsar Terms. https://pulsar.travel/terms/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
The Pulsar Promise. https://pulsar.travel/pulsar-promise/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
Flight Delay Benefit. https://pulsar.travel/flight-delay-benefit/ (accessed 2026-10-01)
Pulsar product facts. https://pulsar.travel/llms-full.txt (accessed 2026-10-01)

This comparison uses the conditions and pages SafetyWing Nomad Insurance publishes, read on 2026-10-01 (sources above). Conditions change and vary by plan and country: check the current document before you buy. Pulsar is not affiliated with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. Brand names belong to their owners.