Travel Insurance for Remote Workers: What to Check Before You Go

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Yes, remote workers who travel for work need more than a basic trip policy. A good plan covers medical care and evacuation, the laptop you earn a living on, and trip disruption, and it matches how long you are away and what you actually do there. Check your own health plan first, because it may not follow you abroad.

Do remote workers need different travel insurance from tourists?

Often, yes. A holiday policy assumes a short trip and a return home. If you work remotely from another city for a month, attend a team offsite, or spend a season in a coworking space abroad, you may be away longer, carry more equipment and have more at stake if something goes wrong.

Three things usually differ: trip length limits, cover for work gear, and whether working on the trip is allowed at all. Some policies treat paid work abroad differently, so ask the insurer directly and get the answer in writing.

What kinds of cover exist?

The CDC's Yellow Book describes three separate types: travel disruption, travel health and medical evacuation insurance. They can be bought separately or bundled, and each pays for different things. The same page advises against treating credit card benefits as a substitute for these policies.

• Travel health: doctor visits, hospital care and sometimes prescriptions while you are away.
• Medical evacuation: transport to a suitable hospital or back home when local care is not adequate.
• Travel disruption: costs from cancelled, delayed or cut-short trips, within the policy's listed reasons.
• Gear and baggage: loss, theft or damage to belongings, usually with a per-item limit.

Will my regular health insurance cover me abroad?

Do not assume so. The Yellow Book notes that some US health insurance carriers cover emergencies that happen while you travel internationally, but others do not. Call your insurer and ask three things: does the plan apply outside the country, does it cover emergency transport, and will you have to pay upfront and claim later.

If you have questions about a medical condition you already have, ask your doctor and the insurer how it is treated. Pre-existing condition rules differ a lot between policies.

How do I protect my work laptop and equipment?

For most remote workers the laptop is the business. Read the gear section closely:

• Look for the per-item limit and the total electronics limit. A single cap can be lower than the cost of a laptop.
• Check whether theft from a bag, a car or a coworking desk is covered, and whether you must file a police report.
• Find out whether items left unattended are excluded.
• Ask if your work is covered, or whether your employer's equipment policy already insures the device.

Employees should ask their company first. Company-issued equipment is often covered by the employer, and your own policy may not need to duplicate it. Backups matter as much as insurance: keep files in cloud storage so a stolen laptop costs you hardware, not work. Our guide to a portable home office kit covers what to carry in the first place.

What should I check before I buy?

Trip length and renewals

Compare the maximum days per trip with your plans. If you may extend, find out whether you can renew while you are already abroad.

Activities and exclusions

Hiking, diving or riding a motorbike are commonly excluded or limited. Read the exclusions list, not just the headline benefits.

Deductible and claim process

A deductible is what you pay before the insurer pays. A higher one usually lowers the premium, so pick an amount you could cover without trouble. Also learn whether the insurer pays the hospital directly or reimburses you afterward.

Liability

If you injure someone or damage property, personal liability cover may help. Not every policy includes it, so check.

What mistakes do people make?

• Buying after something has already gone wrong. Cover generally does not apply to problems that began before purchase.
• Skipping the exclusions and finding out at claim time.
• Assuming a credit card or home policy covers everything.
• Not keeping receipts, reports and medical records.
• Ignoring the cost of local medical care and evacuation.

How do I file a claim?

1. Contact the insurer or assistance line as soon as it is safe to do so. Some policies require notice for emergencies.
2. Collect documents: medical records, police report for theft, receipts and proof of ownership for gear.
3. Complete the claim form accurately and submit it by the method the insurer sets.
4. Keep copies and follow up until the claim is settled.

What else should I plan before leaving?

Insurance pays after the fact, so reduce the chance of needing it. Reliable internet is a work essential, and our remote worker's guide to reliable internet helps with that. If the trip is long, set money aside using a plan like the one in this long-term travel budgeting guide, and keep a copy of your policy number and assistance phone line offline.

For secure carry options, you can browse the Mavigadget Travel Gadgets Collection, which includes laptop backpacks and portable power.

For policy wording, tax or legal questions about working abroad, talk to the insurer, a licensed broker or an adviser. This article is general information, not advice for your situation.