Genki - Health Insurance Option for Live Aboard Cruisers
- Telicia
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
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 leave suburbs.
Genki is one of the newer players in international healthcare, part of modern trend for "nomad health insurance". They're also my health insurer, having held a continuous policy with them for the past few years.
To give you a better understanding of who Genki are and what led me to choose them, let's explore who Genki is for, what they offer, and when it's suitable for liveaboard cruisers.
CONTENTS:
Who Genki is designed for
Genki aims its insurance policies towards people who live internationally, including digital nomads, long-term travelers, and expats.
Having gone through their documentation and spoken to customer service about their attitude towards sailing, it's also suitable for liveaboard cruisers, but more on that soon.
What Genki currently offers
Genki currency has two core plans:
Genki Native Basic (Basic or Premium)
Each is designed for a slightly different traveler, so here's a look at how they compare.
Coverage | 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 simple terms, Genki Traveler is more akin to the medical coverage offered by traditional travel insurance, while Genki Native is more aligned with comprehensive international medical insurance.
Why Genki appeals to cruisers specifically
Many cruisers, myself included, are comfortable paying out of pocket for minor illnesses, dental visits, or basic diagnostics, especially in regions where healthcare is affordable. The risk lies in serious events like critical illness, injury, infections, or anything requiring hospitalization or evacuation.
I experienced this first hand when a crew member, who'd decided against getting health insurance, was diagnosed with a life threatening blood clot. He was extremely lucky that we were in Trinidad & Tobago at the time, one of the few countries worldwide that offers free public healthcare to foreigners. Elsewhere, it could have been financially devastating.
Cost for a policy
Genki Traveler sits at a more affordable price range than some of the other international healthcare options, while Genki Native is 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 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) |
Considerations that matter for sailors
There are a few specific points cruisers tend to care about when reviewing a health insurance policy.
Coverage - Genki is worldwide, with limits applying to time in the United States and Canada.
Nationality - People from all countries are eligible
Search and rescue - Isn't covered, but may be by your yacht insurance, or can be purchased separately from a specialist provider
Offshore coverage
One of the main considerations is coverage for medical emergencies that occur offshore, or while sailing. The good news - Genki explicitly includes this on all of their policies.
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 and customer service
Customer service interactions are often the first real test of an insurer.
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. Being able to manage my policy entirely online with responsive communication is important to me, as I can always get data, but calling an overseas landline can be a pain, if I don't have international calling set up properly.
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 insurer working with Genki. Originating in Switzerland, they are currently headquartered in Liechtenstein and provide over 100 products with more than 30 partners, being governed by European Union requirements.
Trustpilot reviews
At the time of writing Genki was rated 4/5 on Trustpilot with over 800 reviews. Customers appreciated the simple processes, helpful online chat, quick payouts and fairness at which the company approved or denied claims, based on the policy rules.
Things to check before choosing Genki
As with any international health insurance, the policy wording matters much more than the marketing. It’s essential to read the policy documents carefully and confirm that what's on offer aligns with your cruising plans, healthcare needs and personal context.
Is Genki a good choice for cruisers and nomads?
Genki is a health insurance option that makes alot of sense for people living internationally, including liveaboard cruisers, sailors and digital nomads. It strikes a practical balance between affordability, coverage, and usability, that fits with how many cruisers actually live on the water.
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