Genki Health Insurance Review for Sailors

Finding health insurance that actually works when you live outside the usual systems is one of those problems most people don’t realize exists until they’re planning to ditch the suburbs for a life of nomadic travel.

For liveaboard cruisers and digital nomads, finding health insurance isn’t just about worst-case medical emergencies, it’s about flexibility. You’re moving often, spending time in countries with wildly different healthcare standards, and don’t necessarily know where you’ll be next month, let alone next year.

Genki is one of the newer players in international healthcare, part of modern trend for "nomad health insurance". This review explores who Genki is for, what they offer, and when it's suitable for liveaboard cruisers.

CONTENTS:

• Who is Genki for

• Genki plans

• Genki for cruisers

• Claims and customer service

This post contains affiliate links that may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them. It's just a simple, free way to support the content, and doesn't impact our point of view or opinions.

Who Genki is designed for

Genki aims itself at people who live internationally, including digital nomads, long-term travelers, and expats. It isn’t trying to replace comprehensive international medical insurance, like Cigna Global, instead it's finding a middle ground between travel insurance and full global health cover.

While liveaboard sailing definitely has some unique risks, the day-to-day reality of this lifestyle often looks surprisingly similar to land-based nomad life. For yachties cruising in populated regions, like the Mediterranean or Caribbean, this type of insurance is often enough to meet your needs.

What Genki currently offers

Genki currency has two core plans:

• Genki Traveler

• Genki Native Basic (Basic or Premium)

Each is designed for a slightly different traveler, so here's a basic look at how they compare.

Coverage	Genki Traveler	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium
Cover period	Flexible policies up to 12 months	12 month policies	12 month policies
Maximum coverage	€1,000,000 per insurance year	€1,000,000 per insurance year	Unlimited
Emergency care	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chronic conditions	No	Yes	Yes
Rehabilitation care	6 prescribed physio sessions per insurance case	Yes - 20 days per insurance year	Yes - 30 days per insurance year
Ambulance to the nearest suitable hospital	Yes	Yes	Yes
Transportation to another country	Home country with preapproval	Yes - With preapproval	Yes - With preapproval
Preventative care	No	No	Yes
Dental, maternity and vision care	No	No	Yes

In general, Genki Traveler is more akin to the medical cover offered by traditional travel insurance, while Genki Native is more aligned with international medical insurance.

Why Genki appeals to cruisers specifically

Many cruisers are comfortable paying out of pocket for minor illnesses, dental visits, or basic diagnostics, especially in regions where healthcare is affordable. The real risk lies in events like broken bones, serious infections, or anything requiring hospitalization or evacuation to higher-quality facilities.

I experienced this first hand with an uninsured crew member who had a blood clot in their leg. It was pure luck that he happened to be in one of the few countries worldwide that offered free public healthcare to foreigners - elsewhere, it could have been financially devastating.

Genki Traveler sits at a price range that is more affordable that some of the other international healthcare options, with Genki Native being comparative in both coverage and price. To give you a rough idea, here's the cost for a 45 year old on each plan:

Region	Genki Traveler	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium
Worldwide (USA & Canada Limited)	€79.90/ month (€50 deductible)	€306.00/ month (no deductible) €255.00/ month (€1000 deductible)	€433.00/ month (no deductible) €359.00/ month (€1000 deductible)

Coverage considerations that matter offshore

There are a few specific points cruisers tend to care about when reviewing a health insurance policy.

One is where coverage applies. Genki is designed for people spending most of their time in populated areas, which aligns well with cruising regions like the Med, Caribbean, and much of Southeast Asia. Search and rescue costs aren't covered, but may be by your yacht insurance, or it can be purchased separately from a specialist provider.

Another is consideration is coverage for medical emergencies that occur offshore or while sailing. The good news - Genki explicitly includes this for liveaboard cruisers on all of their policies.

Genki Traveler	Genki Native Basic	Genki Native Premium
Covered for recreational sailing in both coastal and international water	Any kind of sailing, including coastal and offshore	Any kind of sailing, including coastal and offshore

Claims, service, and real-world usability

Customer service interactions are often the first real test of an insurer, long before any money changes hands. When it comes to general inquires, I've found that Genki is responsive and straightforward to deal with, especially via email or the website chat. Clear communication, timely responses, and accessible documentation all reduce friction when you’re managing insurance remotely.

The other thing that's very important is how claims are processed and paid.

For non-emergent situations, Genki will generally have you pay the costs then submit them for reimbursement. In the case of hospitalization, their emergency assistance team can help manage direct payments to the hospital so you don't need to worry about it.

In terms of the back-end, Squarelife is the current insurer. With Swiss origins, Squarelife is headquartered in Liechtenstein. They provide over 100 products with more than 30 partners, and are governed by EU requirements.

Things to check before choosing Genki

As with any international health insurance, the policy wording matters more than the marketing. Before committing, it’s essential to read the policy documents carefully and confirm that it aligns with your cruising grounds, plans, healthcare needs and any visa requirements.

Is Genki a good choice for cruisers and nomads?

Genki is a health insurance option that makes sense for people living internationally, including cruisers and digital nomads. It works particularly well if you’re sailing or travelling through regions with decent private healthcare, moving frequently, and are comfortable paying for minor medical issues out of pocket, while insuring against serious events.

While Genki won’t suit everyone, it strikes a practical balance between affordability, coverage, and usability, that fits how many people actually live on the water or on the road.