Protecting Your Employees Overseas
Does this sound like your workweek? You catch the red-eye to New York for a day of meetings, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch up with your college friends at an early dinner. Before you know it, it’s another overnight flight to Brussels, where you have a morning of meetings with international delegates before catching the train to Munich. A few days later, you repeat the schedule to head to London. The trip concludes with a final round of negotiations in Bonn, followed by some socializing with the clients before you head home. You would do anything for a direct flight, but the only option that worked with your schedule was a bit of a puddle jumper, changing carriers halfway through the journey.
Business travelers don’t see the world in the same way as everyone else. They’ve got the hottest tips on cool airport lounges, and they’re pros for sniffing out a good cup of coffee. But when it comes to flexibility and spontaneity, they’re much more constrained. Their journey is unique, and so are their business travel health insurance needs. Here’s a look at what an employer should consider when buying employee insurance.
International Business Travel Insurance Quote
The cost of group travel insurance is determined by the coverage selected, the group size, the duration of coverage, the destination, and any deductible you choose to include. Plans typically start at $1 per day per person and increase from there. Older travelers may incur higher costs due to associated health risks.
Types of Business Travel Coverage
Emergency Evacuation Coverage for Employee Trips
Most people would never imagine traveling to a region with a high risk of volcanoes, earthquakes, monsoons, and political instability. However, business travelers know that a trip to Sumatra is invaluable when coffee is your cash crop, and that some of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the world are located in the Middle East. Sometimes, there’s no choice but to travel to a rather dangerous part of the world.
Comprehensive emergency evacuation coverage can be your best friend when Mother Nature (or a group of protestors) decides to roar. Along the same lines, a generous medical coverage package is essential for employees who likewise find themselves in developing countries. If you need emergency medical care, you’ll want to ensure you receive it in a hospital that meets global standards. All of the plans recommended below include emergency evacuation benefits.
Baggage Coverage While on a Business Trip
Most business travelers are geniuses when it comes to carry-on packing. No one can pack a small suitcase better! No business traveler wants their polished dress shoes and presentation blazer to go missing. Alas, sometimes checking a bag is a necessary evil, especially if you have irreplaceable tech gear or product samples in your carry-on bag. When it comes to baggage protection, make sure you’re signed up for adequate coverage. The cost of a custom suit or business-appropriate clothing can quickly exceed the basic baggage coverage that is part of most plans.
Trip Interruption Coverage
This scenario is familiar to most business travelers. You’ve spent a small fortune and a massive chunk of time preparing for the presentation of a lifetime. Everything hangs on this meeting, and you’ve sunk more money into the trip than you can afford. But as soon as you arrive, the meeting is canceled. Political unrest is generating travel warnings in your destination country. Rumors of terrorist activity make authorities nervous, and all non-essential travel is restricted. Bad luck is an inevitable part of travel, but for business travelers, it can derail their work indefinitely. Protecting the investment made in your trip with trip cancellation insurance protects your business in the long run.
Coverage for Adventure Travel
Everything is going according to plan. Your fight was right on time, and everything arrived as expected. Your conference was a resounding success, and your presentation skills have never looked better. Now all you have to do is bond with your new clients. And, after all, cultural niceties dictate that you accept their invitation to help you with a bit of sightseeing. There’s just one catch. You had no idea that sightseeing meant alpine hiking in Switzerland, scuba diving with sharks when visiting Malaysia, or camel riding in Morocco. And as you stare down the meanest camel in Africa, you’re suddenly wondering if your insurance covers foolish adventure activities. Many business travelers would never identify themselves as adventure enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t participating in adventure activities. If there’s more to your travel life than boardrooms and hotels, ensure your side excursions are adequately insured.
Best Travel Insurance for Business Travelers
Business Travel Insurance for Single Trips
We offer some excellent solutions for individual employees on business trips. For U.S. citizens traveling abroad on a work trip, we recommend the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield backs this plan and offers an excellent network of international hospitals and doctors. We recommend the Atlas Travel Insurance plan for global citizens traveling worldwide, which is available to all nationalities. These plans will cover all the benefits, including medical care, repatriation, emergency assistance, and more.
Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
- For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, and repatriation benefits
- Choose between basic or more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
Annual Multi-Trip Business Travel Insurance Plans
For employees and business travelers who travel frequently throughout the year, you might be better off with an annual travel insurance plan. These plans can be purchased at any time and will cover you for a period of twelve months. These plans can be renewed for the subsequent year. There are cost savings when purchasing these plans if you travel three or more times a year. You also have the peace of mind of being covered for any trip without needing to buy a new plan each time you go abroad.
Best Annual Travel Insurance Plans for Business Travelers
Multi-Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
- Up to $500,000 for sickness and accidents
- $500,000 medical evacuation benefit
- Unlimited Trips Outside the U.S. for trips up to 70 days
Patriot Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
- Annual travel medical coverage
- Designed for individuals and dependents
- Full year of cover for trips of 30, 60, or 90 days in length
Expatriate Insurance for Employees Living Abroad
If your employees live in a foreign country or travel abroad for six months or more, you may want to consider an expat insurance plan. These international health plans provide comprehensive coverage worldwide, including in your home country. We recommend the Cigna Global Plan due to its flexible plan design, excellent client services, and extensive range of benefits.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
Request a Quote for Your Employees Abroad
A group plan may be your best option if you have two or more employees who live or travel abroad. Our team is available to help you determine the coverage and benefits you need to protect your most valuable assets while they are outside of their home country.
Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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