WARREN, NJ (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
As businesses gear up for fall meetings and conferences, experts stress that business travelers need to take steps now to protect themselves from infectious disease outbreaks, terrorist activities and other potentially life-threatening situations around the globe.
“The Ebola virus in Africa and the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean, as well as terrorist activities in the Middle East, demonstrate the need for employers and their employees to think about personal safety while traveling outside the United States,” said Jim Villa, senior vice president of Chubb Accident & Health. “Employers have a duty of care to their employees who travel. Some prudent companies have relocated business meetings and events to alternative destinations.”
Villa advised all travelers to check the list of travel alerts and warnings from the U.S. Department of State – which now includes Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Egypt and Mexico – and from the Centers for Disease Control before they book their trips and pack their bags.
“Whether you are traveling on business or for pleasure, you should be prepared for uprisings flaring up at virtually any moment – even in the safest places,” he said. “You should also know how to get help if you become ill, injured in an accident or are a crime victim.”
Villa also suggests that travelers:
Raise conflict awareness. Inquire about possible political strife in the planned destination. Avoid political demonstrations and other rowdy situations.
Do research. Study the culture of the country and be knowledgeable about native customs to avoid standing out as a tourist or being viewed as disrespectful.
Check health insurance policies. Some policies do not provide money to the insured up front, which could be a problem because many foreign hospitals require large payments before admitting a foreign patient.
Don’t try to be the hero. Don’t attempt to defuse a dispute single-handedly. Contact local authorities for help.
Make sure to secure travel insurance. If you are traveling on business, your employer may provide you with insurance coverage including medical evacuation and other assistance in the event of an emergency. Similar coverage is available for purchase for personal travel.
Chubb’s BTA 360oSM business travel accident policy for commercial customers and Signature PassportSM for personal customers provide insurance coverage for excess medical, emergency medical evacuation, lost or delayed baggage and other expenses. BTA 360 and Signature Passport customers also can obtain emergency assistance from a global network of crisis response centers staffed by multilingual representatives 24 hours a day. They also have access to a mobile-optimized travel risk management website, which includes up-to-date country and city risk ratings, real-time security alerts, local health, safety and security reports, travel risk mitigation tips and transportation information.
About Chubb
Since 1882, members of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies have provided property and casualty insurance products to customers around the globe. These products are offered through a worldwide network of independent agents and brokers. The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is known for financial strength, underwriting and loss-control expertise, tailoring products for the needs of high-net-worth individuals and commercial customers in niche markets and select industry segments, and outstanding claim service.
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is the marketing term used to describe several separately incorporated insurance companies under the common ownership of The Chubb Corporation. The Chubb Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and, together with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 10,000 people throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. For more information regarding The Chubb Corporation, including a listing of the insurers in the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, visit http://www.chubb.com.
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