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What is business Travel Insurance and why do I need it?

Business travel insurance protects directors, employees and even sub-contractors (if required) when they are travelling for business purposes rather than going away for social travel. However, upon request it is possible to include cover for directors including spouses/partners for social travel.

A business travel policy offers similar cover as standard travel insurance, but it also adds certain levels of cover more suited to people travelling for work. There would be cover for ‘manual’ work if that is the basis of travel for example.

Does it matter where I am Travelling to?

With your business you could be travelling to multiple countries. For these policies you’ll be given the following options:

Europe: This usually refers to the mainland European continent, but the specific list of countries included will vary by insurer. Interestingly some may even include cover for places like Morocco and Egypt under European cover.
Worldwide (excluding USA, Canada and the Caribbean): Worldwide policies sometimes exclude the USA, Canada and the Caribbean due to the higher medical costs associated with these countries.
Worldwide: A truly worldwide policy should cover you to travel anywhere on the globe, however you should still research into countries excluded as a result of war, terror threat or adverse climate.

What cover can business travel insurance provide?

Business travel insurance will in many cases extend cover to:

Business equipment cover – For example laptops, work phones and other work-related technology.

Medical cover – Cover for emergency medical expenses, personal accident, and personal liability

Legal support provides support to claim compensation in case of an injury, illness or fatality which occurs on your trip.

Cancellation or curtailment cover - Provides cover if you cancel your journey before it begins due to certain necessary and unforeseen circumstances.

Repatriation cover - Costs involved in transporting a claimant or their body back to their own country after they have been injured or killed in a foreign country.

What information do Insurers need in order to provide a quotation?

Insurers will ask you for your declared travel pattern by completing a table similar to the below. They will ask for a declared pattern for each appropriate territory of travel.

Total Travel Days is calculated as: Number of Return Trips x Average number of Staff Travelling x Average Duration in Days = Total Travel Days

Area of Travel	Number of Return Trips*	Average number of Staff Travelling	Average Duration in Days	Maximum Duration in Days	Total Travel Days
UK
Europe
USA
Rest Of World

*a return trip is defined as a journey within/leaving and returning to the UK

I have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) do I still need travel insurance?

Yes, you will need both. Travel insurance will cover other medical related costs that the EHIC will not, such as:

Cost of special assistance to get home, for example a medical escort, extra seats, stretcher or air ambulance.

Paying for your return journey if illness delays you.

Covering your personal contributions towards treatment.

Cancellation

What are some typical exclusions?

Pre-existing medical conditions: If you fall ill or become injured while abroad your travel policy should cover you for at least some of the medical costs. However if a pre-existing condition flares up or causes this illness your insurer will refuse to pay out unless you’ve declared it beforehand.
Claims resulting from intoxication: You you won’t be able to claim for damages, or lost or stolen goods, if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Items left unattended: Leaving your possessions unattended will usually void your claim if they’re lost, damaged or stolen.
Reckless behaviour: If you make a claim for something that happened as a result of your own reckless behaviour you also won’t be able to claim.
Travel recommendations: If an official governing body has warned against travelling to certain areas your insurer may then refuse cover for these destinations.

What are some real-life claims examples?

An events organiser’s employee tripped over walking to a client’s office in Spain resulting in a broken hip, treatment in a Spanish hospital with return flights – Total cost to insurer was £12,000.

A group of Exhibition contractors missed a flight due to Berlin when an accident on the M25 caused them to get stuck. The insurer paid out for overnight accommodation and the next available flight at a cost of £925.

When should I buy travel insurance?

You should purchase your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve booked your trip. This is because your travel insurance covers you for incidents that happen before you travel, as well as things that occur during your holiday. For example, with cancellation cover, you’ll be reimbursed if you can’t travel due to sickness.

Who do I contact to place Business Travel Cover?

Please contact – Rebecca Hulls – 01732 757624 or rebecca.hulls@inevexco.co.uk

InEvexco Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA, registered number 579073.

Our Mailing address is:

80 Churchill Square Business Centre

Kings Hill

Kent

ME19 4YU