Small Business Duty of Care: Why Overseas Business Travel Requires Dedicated Insurance

The Myth of Corporate Credit Card & Health Plan Coverage Abroad

When sending employees abroad for client meetings, site visits, or industry conferences, small and mid-sized business (SMB) leaders often operate under two risky assumptions:

1. "Their standard US health insurance will cover medical emergencies abroad."
2. "Our corporate credit card includes travel protection, so we are covered."

In reality, most US primary health plans provide limited to zero coverage outside the United States and almost never arrange direct payment to foreign medical providers. Furthermore, credit card travel perks are typically secondary, carry strict sub-limits, and exclude business-specific travel scenarios or medical evacuation costs that can exceed $100,000 to $500,000.

What Is Employer "Duty of Care"?

Under legal standards, employers have a moral and regulatory obligation—known as Duty of Care—to mitigate foreseeable health, safety, and security risks for employees traveling on company business.

If an employee suffers an accident or severe illness in a foreign country without employer-provided emergency medical coverage or 24/7 assistance:

• The Employee: Faces immediate out-of-pocket medical demands (often cash deposits required by foreign hospitals before admission).
• The Company: Opens itself to major financial liability, emergency repatriation expenses, and operational disruption.

To ensure coverage for employees who travel internationally, consider an annual plan that covers multiple trip in a year for a fixed price. TravelCare's Expedition plan is a great option to reduce an employers Duty of Care risk while ensuring a high value employee is protected while traveling on business outside the U.S.

2 Core Protections Every B2B Travel Policy Must Include

To protect both your staff and your bottom line, ensure your corporate international travel policy includes:

1. Primary Emergency Medical Expense ($250,000–$500,000+): Pays foreign doctors and clinics directly without requiring employees to max out personal credit cards.
2. Emergency Medical Evacuation ($500,000–$1,000,000): Coordinates and covers medically supervised air ambulance transport back to US trauma centers if local care is inadequate.

Both of these requirements are met with the TravelCare Expedition annual plan.

2 Optional Protections Every B2B Travel Policy Should Strongly consider Include

1. Trip Interruption & Travel Delay: Recovers non-refundable flight and hotel costs when severe weather, illness, or travel disruptions cancel business itineraries. This optional coverage along with the Medial Evacuation and Medical Expense coverages are available with the TravelCare Elite Protect and Pathfinder plans which are purchased on a per trip basis.
2. Baggage & Equipment Delay/Loss: Reimburses essential business gear, trade show materials, or personal clothing lost by airlines. All TravelCare plans include this coverage; however, coverage maximums vary per plan. Elite Protect offers the most comprehensive coverage for travelers.