Can I get business travel (only) life insurance?
October 11, 2007 9:25 AM Subscribe
I have to travel to Johannesburg for 3 weeks on business so I thought I'd check our corporate travel / life insurance. I'm covered for $20,000 which I consider way below par. I need business travel life insurance options.
Our health insurance (Blue Anthem) dictates a minimum level of life insurance cover, which we have: $20,000. We also have business travel insurance which covers medical expenses extra -- but no life cover. Our UK staff have life insurance at 3x / 4x their annual salary (depending on number of dependents).
I don't need extra comprehensive life insurance for my every day life - at least not from my company. But I would like to be cover in the event of a plane crash (wherever I travel on business) or a carjacking in Jo-Berg say.
Does anyone have experience of specific business travel life insurance or similar plans? I'd like to approach HR with some good background knowledge.
Our health insurance (Blue Anthem) dictates a minimum level of life insurance cover, which we have: $20,000. We also have business travel insurance which covers medical expenses extra -- but no life cover. Our UK staff have life insurance at 3x / 4x their annual salary (depending on number of dependents).
I don't need extra comprehensive life insurance for my every day life - at least not from my company. But I would like to be cover in the event of a plane crash (wherever I travel on business) or a carjacking in Jo-Berg say.
Does anyone have experience of specific business travel life insurance or similar plans? I'd like to approach HR with some good background knowledge.
Best answer: Do you have accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance through your work? That would probably cover air travel. I see what you mean. Basically, you don't want your family screwed over if you should die during business travel. Most conditions you would be extra-susceptible to only during business travel would probably be accidental, and non-health related. I emphasize MIGHT though, because as we all know, insurance companies like to make exclusions. I definitely wouldn't put it past any insurance company to exclude air travel and travel outside the country, as they are seen as dangerous and avoidable.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 10:41 AM on October 11, 2007
posted by gauchodaspampas at 10:41 AM on October 11, 2007
Response by poster: Thanks for answering y'all.
triggerfinger: We have travel insurance already. It covers medical expenses, lost baggage etc. Pretty much everything except a lump sum in the event of my being "whacked".
gauchodaspampas: Yes - that's right "you don't want your family screwed over if you should die during business travel". I'm not sure whether our insurance is AD&D. I just know that it's 20k of minimum life insurance that is mandated by Blue Anthem.
So I guess AD&D is what I need. Either that or to convince the company to change to a travel insurance provider that includes life insurance also - the latter is not likely to be easy.
posted by NailsTheCat at 10:56 AM on October 11, 2007
triggerfinger: We have travel insurance already. It covers medical expenses, lost baggage etc. Pretty much everything except a lump sum in the event of my being "whacked".
gauchodaspampas: Yes - that's right "you don't want your family screwed over if you should die during business travel". I'm not sure whether our insurance is AD&D. I just know that it's 20k of minimum life insurance that is mandated by Blue Anthem.
So I guess AD&D is what I need. Either that or to convince the company to change to a travel insurance provider that includes life insurance also - the latter is not likely to be easy.
posted by NailsTheCat at 10:56 AM on October 11, 2007
Best answer: Are you going to be taking any internal flights while in Africa? The reason I ask is the standards for domestic flights are very poor in many African nations.
I've spent a lot of time on the ground down there and domestic flights are downright scary - try to avoid if at all possible.
International flights operate in an entirely different safety regime, however, as other nations will simply refuse transit or landing / take off privileges should they not be up to acceptable standards.
So don't fret the getting there & going home part, but avoid domestic flights at all costs.
I can't comment on car jackings / etc in South Africa - I almost always had local security with me - but you're smart to consider the need for this as $20K isn't going to cover a lot of expenses if you've got to be flown out in a hurry.
If you've personally got a higher end credit card (i.e., Amex Platinum, etc), try to see if the company will let you pay with that. Some of the better cards will automatically insure up to $1M for travel paid for using this facility.
Also make sure you've gotten your jabs and don't forget to bring and use a Malaria prophylaxis.
But most of all - enjoy Africa!
posted by Mutant at 1:02 PM on October 11, 2007
I've spent a lot of time on the ground down there and domestic flights are downright scary - try to avoid if at all possible.
International flights operate in an entirely different safety regime, however, as other nations will simply refuse transit or landing / take off privileges should they not be up to acceptable standards.
So don't fret the getting there & going home part, but avoid domestic flights at all costs.
I can't comment on car jackings / etc in South Africa - I almost always had local security with me - but you're smart to consider the need for this as $20K isn't going to cover a lot of expenses if you've got to be flown out in a hurry.
If you've personally got a higher end credit card (i.e., Amex Platinum, etc), try to see if the company will let you pay with that. Some of the better cards will automatically insure up to $1M for travel paid for using this facility.
Also make sure you've gotten your jabs and don't forget to bring and use a Malaria prophylaxis.
But most of all - enjoy Africa!
posted by Mutant at 1:02 PM on October 11, 2007
Response by poster: Mutant: No I shan't be taking any internal flights -- I was more concerned about the (remote chance of) mugging, car jackings etc.
Um... I've just realised that my opening post was misleading. In a nutshell:
- I have work travel insurance. It covers medical, baggage etc. It does not cover compensation for accidental death or dismemberment.
- I have life insurance through work, but only to the tune of 20k. (I work in the US for the US branch of a UK company. The UK employees all have 3/4x salary as life insurance.)
Additional AD&D seems to be the best option therefore -- if I can get the company to pay for it. Otherwise getting credit card cover could work too.
Thanks
posted by NailsTheCat at 12:53 AM on October 12, 2007
Um... I've just realised that my opening post was misleading. In a nutshell:
- I have work travel insurance. It covers medical, baggage etc. It does not cover compensation for accidental death or dismemberment.
- I have life insurance through work, but only to the tune of 20k. (I work in the US for the US branch of a UK company. The UK employees all have 3/4x salary as life insurance.)
Additional AD&D seems to be the best option therefore -- if I can get the company to pay for it. Otherwise getting credit card cover could work too.
Thanks
posted by NailsTheCat at 12:53 AM on October 12, 2007
« Older Is there a way to monitor what programs are... | I Put On Women's Clothing and Hang Around in Bars Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:35 AM on October 11, 2007