Routine Business Travel Turns Into an Emergency
During a business trip1, a father from Texas found himself in the same city where his son lived. On his way to meet his son for dinner, he was involved in a car accident and, tragically, did not survive his injuries.
Although he was traveling for work, the drive itself was considered personal and outside the scope of his employment. As a result, his family was not eligible for death benefits under his employer’s workers compensation plan which could have been up to $350,000 under Texas law.
Without an employee accident insurance policy, specifically one that includes Business Travel Accident (BTA) Insurance, the family was left to face tragic circumstances and bear the financial loss on their own.
1Based off of the scenario presented in this article: Goldberg, S. (2016, January 3). Responsibility for employees injured while traveling for work can be murky. Business Insurance. https://www.businessinsurance.com/recent-workers-compensation-cases-involving-employees-injured-while-traveling-hi/
2Workers’ compensation death benefits by state [interactive map]. Gerber & Holder. (2024, June 30). https://www.gerberholderlaw.com/employee-death-benefits-by-state/
Why Brokers Should Educate Clients on BTA Insurance
Many business owners assume that domestic workers’ compensation covers all employee travel-related injuries or illnesses, but this may not always be the case, especially for international business trips. BTA insurance helps fill the gaps, providing financial and logistical support when an employee experiences a medical emergency resulting from an accident while traveling for work.
Video Transcript
Workers compensation and major medical insurance show how you value your employee’s safety, health, and overall welfare. However, when they are traveling for business, employees may face risks that aren’t covered by these traditional insurance options. That’s where employee accident insurance from Arch Insurance may help. This type of coverage can help protect your employees from out-of-pocket medical costs and unexpected expenses. It may also include key travel-related benefits that may not be covered by other insurance, such as emergency medical evacuations, required immunizations for foreign travel, worldwide medical referrals, emergency evacuations for political or security concerns or natural disasters, repatriation of remains should a tragedy occur, and many more. Employee accident insurance augments your worker’s compensation and major medical plans to help reduce out-of-pocket costs if your employees ever experience an accident. When you choose Arch Insurance to provide employee accident coverage, you are choosing a highly rated and trusted provider with award-winning customer service. Contact us today to learn more about protecting your employees.
Different Types of Accident Insurance Coverage for Employees
Insurance brokers should help their clients understand the distinctions among the various types of accident coverage available, and how they relate to an employee’s existing major medical plan. It is important to know that domestic major medical insurance may not respond fully to an international medical claim, leaving employees with out-of-pocket expenses.
Arch Insurance offers a range of coverage options, including the options listed below, and we can help determine which policy or policies may be most appropriate for your business clients.
| Coverage Type | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Workers’ Compensation | Covers work-related injuries or illnesses, but may often exclude incidents that occur outside of the designated workplace or outside the home country. |
| Business Travel Accident Insurance (BTA) | Covers employees traveling for business, including medical emergencies, accidental death, disability, and emergency medical evacuations. |
| Accident & Health Insurance | A broad category that includes employer-sponsored accident policies, supplemental health insurance, and voluntary AD&D coverage. |
| Foreign Voluntary Workers’ Compensation | Extends workers’ compensation benefits to employees working outside their home country. |
If you rely solely on workers compensation and foreign casualty plans for coverage, you may experience gaps that a business travel accident plan may help fill. A clients’ upcoming Work Comp renewal may present a potential opportunity to offer or discuss Business Travel coverage options.
| Workers Comp | Foreign Casualty | Employee Accident | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage within regular job duties | √ | √ | √ |
| Accidental Death and Dismemberment | √ | √ | √ |
| Domestic Coverage | √ | √ | |
| International Coverage | √ | √ | |
| Business Trip Deviation/ Sojourn | √ | √ | |
| Commutation | √ | ||
| Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage | √ | √ | |
| Security Evacuation | √ | √ | |
| Natural Disaster Evacuation | √ | √ | |
| Out of Country Medical with Hospital Admission Guarantee | √ | ||
| Foreign Travel Immunization | √ | ||
| Quarantine | √ | ||
| Emergency Medical Repatriation | √ | ||
| Emergency Family Reunion | √ |
Beyond Business Travel: Comprehensive Protection
BTA insurance doesn’t just protect employees on work trips – it may also extend to:
- Family Members Traveling with Employees: Coverage for spouses or dependents accompanying the employee on approved business trips.
- “Bleisure” Travel: Employees often combine business and leisure travel. Having coverage that accounts for personal deviations within a business trip is essential.
- Remote Work & Commuting: Employees traveling between locations or working from multiple sites may face unique risks that this coverage can address.
Enhancing Your Expertise: The Importance of Continuing Education
To effectively advise clients on Business Travel Accident Insurance, brokers need to stay updated on the latest trends and coverage solutions. Our Continuing Education (CE) course, “What is Employee Accident Insurance?”, provides crucial insights into:
- Understanding Employers’ Duty of Care: Learn about employer responsibilities in safeguarding employees during business travel.
- Integrating Coverage: Discover how BTA insurance complements workers’ compensation and other policies.
- Risk Management Strategies: Equip yourself with the knowledge to help clients mitigate global travel risks.
This one-hour course can earn you one (1) CE credit for both property & casualty and life & health in select states, and helps ensure that you, as an insurance broker, can confidently present BTA insurance as a critical solution for business clients. To schedule a session for your organization, contact us at accidentandhealth@archinsurance.com.
Conclusion
Accidents and medical emergencies don’t just happen in the office. As business travel becomes more complex, employers must prepare for the unexpected. By offering Business Travel Accident Insurance, brokers can provide clients with a proactive solution that helps safeguard employees, reduces financial risks, and ensures business continuity.
Take the next step – schedule a Continuing Education course today and help your clients navigate the evolving risks of business travel.