This career path means more than just great pay and adventure. It also offers the chance to enjoy some of the top-rated benefits programs for travel nurses. These are designed to support your health, finances, and overall well-being while on assignment. The right package can make your journey smoother and more rewarding.
Why Benefits Programs Matter
The life of a travel nurse is exciting, but it also brings unique challenges. Constantly moving to new cities, adapting to new workplaces, and balancing health care demands can be overwhelming without proper support. That’s why choosing a top-rated program for travel nurses is so critical. It ensures you have access to reliable care from the very first day, retirement savings plans for your future, and even extras like housing stipends or loyalty rewards to make the lifestyle easier.
Strong benefits also protect your peace of mind. Imagine the stress of being uninsured between contracts or scrambling to cover travel costs. With the right program, those worries disappear. You can focus on caring for patients and enjoying the journey.
The 5 Top-Rated Benefits Programs for Travel Nurses
Here are five of the best programs on the market, each with unique perks.
1. Trustaff
Trustaff is a top-rated benefits program for travel nurses, delivering a generous benefits package tailored to the realities of the job. Its health options include medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus disability insurance. You also get a 401(k) with matching after one year, license reimbursement, exclusive employee discounts, travel expense assistance, and 24/7 support.
These essentials come together to provide support, flexibility, and take-home pay. Its expense reimbursement plan is especially valuable, offering tax-free reimbursements under IRS rules to boost your weekly income. However, you need to qualify, so talk to your recruiter.
Key Features
- Medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance
- 401(k) plan with matching after one year
- License reimbursement
- Ingenovis Health ACT career and advocacy tools
- Employee discounts
- Housing and travel expense assistance
- 24/7/365 assignment support
- Referral bonuses and high-pay potential
2. TriageStaff
TriageStaff’s benefits shine from day one. Medical, dental, and vision coverage kicks in immediately nationwide. There are multiple plan options and a health savings account (HSA). It also includes a 401(k) Safe Harbor match after a year and 1,000 hours and offers discounted pet insurance for your furry travel companion.
It’s a strong package for anyone who wants their coverage solidified the instant they start an assignment. This no-gap approach is especially reassuring for nurses changing contracts frequently, since you don’t risk being uninsured during transitions.
Key Features
- Day-one medical, dental, and vision insurance nationwide
- HSA
- Choice of multiple insurance plan options
- 401(k) Safe Harbor matching after one year or 1,000 hours
- Pet insurance discounts
3. Prolink
Prolink is a top-rated benefits program for travel nurses offering comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance from the moment your contract begins. It also includes disability and life insurance, retirement planning, expedited onboarding, and access to diverse assignments across the U.S.
Another standout feature of Prolink is its professional development support. Unlike many agencies, it actively encourages further education with tuition discounts and CEU reimbursements. That means you can grow your credentials, keep your license up to date, and expand your long-term career options, all while traveling and earning.
Key Features
- Day-one health, dental, and vision coverage
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Day-One 401(k) retirement plan
- Fast onboarding process
- Tuition discounts and CEU reimbursement
- Broad assignment opportunities nationwide
4. Trusted Nurse Staffing
Trusted Nurse Staffing provides full prepaid health insurance and HRA cards, so insurance costs don’t come out of your pocket. Dental and vision plans are also available, with multiple deductible options. You receive a welcome box of merchandise and an introduction to a loyalty program that lets you redeem points for clothes, gadgets, and books. All contracts come with housing, meal, and travel stipends, and you get 24/7 access to your recruiter.
For many nurses, the lifestyle extras make this agency memorable. A loyalty program that feels more like a retailer’s rewards system adds a little fun to the job. Combine that with flexible contract lengths, from quick per diem shifts to year-long placements, and Trusted Nurse Staffing provides a structure adaptable to your career goals and personal life.
Key Features
- Prepaid health insurance and an HRA card
- Dental and vision with deductible choices
- Welcome box
- Housing, meal, and travel stipends, all tax-free
- Loyalty rewards program redeemable for real goods
- Flexible contract lengths
- 24/7 recruiter access
5. Travel Nurses, Inc.
Travel Nurses, Inc. (TNI) delivers strong, immediate support. You get day-one coverage for health, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus the opportunity to enroll in a 401(k). It also offers generous referral bonuses, travel reimbursement, weekly pay on Fridays via direct deposit, first-time traveler incentives, CEU reimbursement, and transparent contracts, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Another reason nurses choose TNI is for its reliability. Weekly direct deposits mean no waiting around for paychecks, and its reputation for transparent contracts reduces the risk of unpleasant surprises mid-assignment. For first-time travelers, especially, extras like scrub allowances and completion bonuses make onboarding feel smoother and more rewarding.
Key Features
- Day-one health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) eligibility
- Travel and onboarding cost reimbursement
- Weekly pay and direct deposit
- First-time traveler incentives
- CEU reimbursement of up to $300 annually
- Referral bonuses
- Clear, transparent contracts
An Overview of the Best Travel Nurse Benefits Programs
| Agency | Health Coverage | Retirement Plan | Extras | Professional Development | Support and Flexibility |
| Trustaff | Medical, dental, vision, disability | 401(k) with match after one year | License reimbursement, employee discounts, travel and housing assistance | Career advocacy tools (Ingenovis ACT) | 24/7 support, referral bonuses, high pay potential |
| TriageStaff | Day-One medical, dental, vision | 401(k) match after one year or 1,000 hours | Pet insurance discounts | HSA and choice of insurance plans | Day-One coverage ensures no care gaps |
| Prolink | Day-One health, dental, vision, disability, life | Day-One 401(k) | Fast onboarding, nationwide assignments | Tuition discounts, CEU reimbursement | Emphasis on long-term career growth |
| Trusted Staff Nursing | Prepaid health and HRA card, dental, vision | None listed | License reimbursement, employee discounts, travel, and housing assistance | Not specified | Flexible contract lengths, 24/7 recruiter access |
| Travel Nurses, Inc. | Day-One health, dental, vision, life | 401(k) eligible | Weekly direct deposit, referral bonus, scrub allowance, travel reimbursement | CEU reimbursement up to $300 annually | Transparent contracts, first-time traveler support |
Make the Traveling Nurse Lifestyle Easier
The top-rated benefits programs for travel nurses provide peace of mind and professional growth. Whether you’re looking for immediate health coverage, a strong retirement plan, or lifestyle perks that make life on the road more enjoyable, the right choice depends on your priorities.
