International Travel Insurance Requirements: What Employers Need to Know
In an increasingly globalized marketplace, employers sending employees overseas has become an essential part of doing business. Such tasks, however, can be fairly involved and complex due to the need to arrange efficient international travel insurance coverage to safeguard employees’ health.
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In today’s blog post, we will be going over the requirements for international travel insurance that employers need to know in order to safeguard their employee’s health and wellbeing during their business tasks overseas.
Knowing the International Travel Insurance Requirements of your Employees’ Destination
Whichever country your employee is assigned to go to on a business trip, business travel insurance for employees is a crucial element that employers should not overlook. This is because while abroad, the risk of illnesses and injuries for your employees always exists.
As such, certain countries require travel insurance for their visitors to ensure their safety and wellbeing while overseas. Countries may enforce travel insurance requirements in cases of threats to public health or constant risks of other health issues.
Whenever international travel insurance is mandatory, your airline will likely require a proof of travel insurance policy before boarding. Otherwise, your entry could get denied at the immigration checkpoint, whether it’s on land or at airports. Fines and convictions may apply in some cases.
Below are some countries that require their visitors to have travel insurance.
Schengen Countries
Europe’s Schengen area consists of 27 countries, and proof of travel insurance is required for you to apply for a Schengen visa. This is because travelers should be able to handle and financially cover medical treatment for accidents, illnesses, or injuries.
The visitors’ travel insurance policy must also have a minimum medical coverage limit of EUR 30,000 (approximately USD $32,580.15) and must be valid within the entire Schengen region for the entire duration of the trip.
Cuba
For those visiting Cuba, proof of international travel insurance is required. One must show proof of immigration before they grant entry.
Because international travel insurance coverage is required to visit Cuba, insurance is usually included with airline ticket prices purchased in the US. Visitors also have the option to purchase international travel insurance upon arriving at the airport.
Travel insurance policies should at least cover medical emergencies, medical evacuation, and the repatriation of remains. You can also purchase a policy through travel insurance companies for comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellations and interruptions.
Bhutan
All visitors must obtain a visa in order to visit Bhutan, and they’ll also need valid travel insurance that covers their trip to apply for the visa. Visas will then be issued once tourists complete an application or apply through valid travel and tour operators.
Things to Be Aware of When Purchasing Travel Insurance for Employees
One crucial aspect to be aware of when purchasing corporate travel insurance for your employees is that the most inexpensive plan might not grant employees the full coverage they actually need.
Certain travel insurance plans may issue very basic plans for visa and entry purposes, but at the cost of very basic coverage with low limits and a multitude of exclusions. Thus, it’s worth considering taking more time to search for other travel insurance plans with greater coverage areas.
Even if your employee is heading to any country that does not require travel insurance for visa applications and entries, it’s still worth considering obtaining business travel insurance coverage anyway. This is because the employer is ultimately responsible for the employees’ health and safety.
Should You Get Travel or International Health Insurance?
While travel insurance is the best overall option for employees going on short tasks or attending conferences abroad, it’s likely not the best option for employees going on mid-to-long term assignments or expatriation.
Travel insurance plans are generally intended for short-term stays between three and six months. Despite offering travel benefits such as emergency evacuation as well as baggage loss and delay coverage, its health benefits are often limited only to emergencies.
Meanwhile, international health insurance goes beyond by providing greater medical coverage both in the employee’s home country and overseas. There are coverage benefits in virtually every country and hospital worldwide, all of which are designed to cater to expats’ healthcare needs.
Examples of additional benefits found in international health insurance include the option for dental, maternity, vision, and other wellness benefits.
Whether you should opt for travel insurance or international health insurance will depend on the duration of your employee’s assignment abroad and if your employee needs additional coverage for dental, vision, or other coverage areas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, international travel insurance for employees is a crucial aspect that employers should not overlook. This is because not only are employers ultimately responsible for their employees’ safety and wellbeing, but the risk of illness and injury always exists overseas.
Known as a leading global health insurance broker and employee benefits specialist, Pacific Prime has 20 years of both matching locals and expats to their health insurance plan of choice and offering guidance on employee benefits.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.
He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.
In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
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Comments
2 Comments
Are there any tax implications for expats when employers provide international travel insurance as a benefit? How do different countries treat employer-provided insurance from a tax perspective?
Employer-provided international travel insurance can have tax implications for expats, depending on the country. In some countries, such benefits may be considered a taxable fringe benefit and added to the employee’s income, while others might treat it as a non-taxable business expense if the insurance is directly related to work assignments. To navigate these variations, employers and expats should review local tax laws or consult a tax professional to ensure compliance and avoid unexpected tax liabilities.
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