By Doug Gulleson
The focus of every church is serving God, serving others, and encouraging others to serve in their own part. For many churches, the desire to serve extends to all parts of the globe as members embark on missions and provide humanitarian aid to spread the word of God and serve those in need.
Churches should continue to do critical work overseas, but church leaders should organize these trips with the safety of their members in mind. No church should organize trips overseas without proper insurance coverage.
Global insurance for traveling church members is more important than ever, as they often serve people in areas of heightened medical, civil and political unrest. If emergency services are needed, churches will need the proper insurance to ensure their members can receive the care they need in a foreign country. Travel insurance is not just paperwork, but peace of mind. I hope you never need to use it, but it becomes your greatest safety net when you do. Here are some key types of insurance that executives should provide their members when traveling on international church trips.
Travel medical insurance
One of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that their health insurance will cover them for healthcare needed while outside of their home country. This is why every church should provide traveling members with international travel medical insurance that covers unexpected injuries, illness and hospitalizations. Most importantly, medical insurance should provide coverage for medical evacuations. A medical evacuation is a dedicated medical flight from one hospital to another with better medical equipment. Out-of-pocket costs for a medical evacuation can range from $30,000 to $200,000. Purchase a plan that covers a minimum of $250,000. This will ensure the church or one of its members does not have to foot an expensive medical evacuation bill.
If all traveling members are of a similar age and similarly healthy, I would recommend signing up for a group plan, as this simplifies administration and can potentially save you money. Individual plans would require everyone, except family members, to sign up for their own plan. If you have ten members traveling, this will mean paperwork for ten separate plans. Group plans allow for a one-time sign-up and premium payment.
An individual plan is recommended for individuals who require special care, such as older adults or those with pre-existing conditions. In situations like this, it is recommended that churches do individual plans for the members who need them and put everyone else on a group plan. It is essential to note that not all plans cover pre-existing conditions, so it is crucial to thoroughly read any policy you are considering if you require this type of coverage. Benefits can vary significantly by plan, and you don’t want to put a member in a position where they don’t have a plan that covers their needs. Members traveling abroad should share their medical history with the group, and pre-existing conditions must be disclosed so that they can be addressed in coverage discussions.
Lastly, any travel health insurance should cover telehealth access. This is essential for members in rural areas who are dealing with minor issues that don’t require transport to a clinic.
Personal liability coverage
When a church sponsors a trip abroad, executives must also protect the church from liability. Personal liability coverage is essential for any church to have when sending members abroad. Unpredictable and unforeseen events occur, and personal liability coverage ensures the Church can cover the costs of incidents beyond its control. Churches rent property and interact with the local community, and they want to avoid paying out of pocket if a member breaks a leg in the hotel lobby or if the rented property is significantly damaged. Crazy situations occur frequently, and the church can be potentially liable for them. Protect your church and get personal liability coverage.
Extreme travel insurance
Many church trips involve organized sporting activities, such as playing in soccer tournaments, paragliding, or windsurfing. These organized sporting events are great for bonding and provide a lot of fun. Still, it is essential to know that standard travel health insurance typically does not cover injuries sustained during these activities. Sports travel insurance will ensure that your members are covered in the event of an accident during an organized sporting event. Despite the name, a sport does not have to be “extreme” to be denied by your travel insurance. The main factor is whether the sporting event is organized. This means the sporting event was planned. If you plan to participate in any organized sporting event during your trip, I recommend purchasing this coverage.
Trip cancellation coverage
This one seems obvious, but people frequently forget to obtain a plan that covers trip cancellations. You want every trip to go as planned, but sometimes things happen, and some or all members may be unable to attend. Adding coverage for trip cancellations will protect your members’ down payments.
In closing
Travel insurance is more than a checklist item; it is a lifeline for church members performing essential work in underserved and high-risk areas around the globe. Ensure your members are covered with the right travel health insurance plan, which covers everything from medical evacuations to telehealth services. Obtain personal liability insurance to protect your church from unknown liabilities. Find the right plan for your members and give them peace of mind, protection, and practical support when they need it most.
Doug Gulleson is the Co-Owner of Good Neighbor Insurance, a family-owned global insurance brokerage specializing in international medical coverage for travelers, expats, and organizations in Gilbert, Ariz. Good Neighbor was founded in 1997 by Doug’s father, Jeff Gulleson, who served as a missionary with WEC International in Indonesia for more than three decades.
