After 6 months of coding from bean bags and hammocks in Bali, my right wrist seized up. Diagnosis: Severe Carpal Tunnel. I needed bracing and PT. I filed a claim. SafetyWing denied it. “This is a chronic, occupational condition, not an unexpected illness.”
Key Takeaways
- Occupational Exclusion: Many travel policies exclude injuries arising from “professional activities.” If you are a writer and get carpal tunnel, that is your job’s fault, not the trip’s fault.
- Gradual vs. Sudden: Travel insurance covers sudden things (broken wrist). It denies gradual things (RSI, back pain from bad posture).
- Ergonomics: You are responsible for your workspace. If you work from a hammock, insurers view that as negligence.
- Remote Health: You need a “Primary Health” plan (like Cigna or SafetyWing Remote Health) to cover RSI and PT.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Foreseeability.”
Working on a laptop 10 hours a day leads to RSI. It is foreseeable. Therefore, it is not an accident.
Also, standard travel insurance is not “Workers Comp.” If you were in an office, your employer would pay. As a freelancer, you are your own employer, but you probably didn’t buy Workers Comp for yourself.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- SafetyWing (Nomad Insurance): “We cover illness and injury. However, gradual onset conditions or those related to work may be subject to review.” The adjuster told me RSI is almost always denied as “not acute.”
- SafetyWing (Remote Health): This is their $150+/mo plan. It COVERS it. It includes physiotherapy, chiropractic, and specialist visits for chronic/gradual issues.
- Local Physio: In Bali, a physio session is $30. In the US, it’s $150.
- Analysis: It’s often cheaper to pay cash for PT in cheap hubs than to buy expensive insurance.
Comparison Table: RSI Coverage
| Feature | Nomad Insurance (Travel) | Remote Health (Global) | Paying Cash (Bali/Mexico) |
| Carpal Tunnel (PT) | DENIED | COVERED | Affordable |
| Sudden Back Spasm | COVERED | COVERED | Affordable |
| Ergonomic Surgery | DENIED | COVERED | Expensive |
[IMAGE: Graphic of a skeleton working on a laptop with red pain points highlighted on wrists and lower back]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Invest in a Roost Stand: Bring a laptop stand and an external keyboard/mouse. Prevention is cheaper than the cure.
- Don’t say “Work”: If you go to the doctor for back pain, do not tell them “it hurts because I work 12 hours a day.” Tell them “I lifted my backpack wrong.” Sudden injury = Covered. Work injury = Denied.
- Budget for Massage/PT: In nomad hubs, massage is
10−10−20. Go weekly. It’s maintenance. - Switch Plans: If you have chronic pain, you must switch to a Global Health plan. Travel insurance will deny you forever.
FAQ
Is “Digital Nomad” considered a dangerous occupation?
No, usually “Clerical/Admin.” But if you are a “Travel Vlogger” doing stunts, that might be excluded.
Does insurance cover a standing desk?
No.
What if I need surgery for the Carpal Tunnel?
Travel insurance: No.
Global Health: Yes.
Home Country: Yes.
Advice: Fly home for the surgery if you don’t have Global Health.