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While new technology allows us to do business easily with those in other countries, this increased globalization often necessitates in-person travel to those locations. 

Foreign voluntary workers’ comp provides additional insurance coverage for those who travel internationally on behalf of an employer. It extends your domestic worker’s compensation policy so that you’ll receive payment for your lost wages and medical bills if you injure yourself on the job while overseas. Also, you’ll have the benefit of access to resources through the plan that can help you find a doctor when you’re in an unfamiliar country. Here are three reasons you may need foreign voluntary workers’ comp and the most common scenarios in which employers offer this type of policy.

1. You frequently travel to lesser-developed countries.

Traveling to certain parts of the world increases your risk for certain illnesses, including malaria and other infectious diseases, food poisoning, and travelers’ diarrhea. This risk makes it more likely that you’ll need to seek medical care while overseas, and in some cases, you may need to pay for translation services if you do not speak the language and are unable to find an English-speaking doctor.

2. You rent a car or travel by automobile while overseas.

Automobile accidents are the most common cause of injury for business travelers, and a collision is more likely if you rent a car in a country where the road rules are unfamiliar or substantially different than those in the United States. If you plan to drive during travel for your employer, you might consider foreign voluntary workers’ comp.

3. You are a citizen of the United States who has been hired to work in another country.

If you’re a legal resident of the United States who is temporarily residing elsewhere for the purpose of employment, your employer should offer a foreign voluntary workers’ comp policy.