PCUSA Insurance
Below
is a document sent to this Ethiopian Partnership in September, 2000, from
PCUSA Worldwide Ministries Division in response to a request for information
about insurance PCUSA provides for international travel. The document has
been scanned and may not be precise in every way. Phone numbers are provided
within the document that may be used to find interpretation of items contained
in the document and to answer questions. We encourage interested parties
to call the numbers given for current information and interpretation.
Individuals have many different insurance resources and needs. The Ethiopian Partnership Committee encourages each person planning to travel to Ethiopia to evaluate their insurance resources and needs and to then make responsible choices related to the insurance decisions and products they choose. The Ethiopian Partnership Committee makes no judgment on the adequacy of this, or any other insurance program, as appropriate for any individual. Those decision must be made by each individual.
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ECUMENICAL PARTNERSHIP
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH (USA) WORLDWIDE MINISTRIES DIVISION
MEMO TO: ALL PRESBYTERIES AND SYNODS (Presbytery &
Synod Executives, and International
International Partnership Contact Persons) FROM:
Homer Richenbaugh
in
the Worldwide Ministries Division KRIS
~Manager, Risk Management for the General Assembly Council DATE: June 6, 2000 IMPORTANT
INSURANCE INFORMATION UP‑DATE SUBJECT:
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PERSONS TRAVELING ON BEHALF OF THE
PRESBYTERY OR SYNOD |
People exchanges and travel for
learning and/or service are so for those involved in Presbytery and Synod
International Partnerships. By this memorandum we in the Worldwide Ministries
Division of the PC(USA) and the Risk Management Office of the GAC want to
remind you that it is very important that there always be adequate insurance
coverage, both accident and medical/hospitalization coverage for all those
who travel at your request or invitation. Please bring the following information
to the attention of all those in your Presbytery or Synod who need to know
whenever travel plans are being made.
1. PROVIDING INSURANCE FOR U.S. PRESBYTERIANS WHO TRAVEL ABROAD:
Church employees (clergy or lay) who have medical and hospitalization
insurance coverage under the Presbyterian Benefits Plan (with the Pension
Board), and those who have similar coverage with other insurance providers,
are in most cases adequately covered. However, it is good for each person
who travels to another country to check with his/her insurance provider regarding
any limitations or special requirements that may apply for medical needs and/or
hospitalization while they are traveling abroad.
The PC(USA) has a Business Travel Accident Insurance program
for persons traveling on assignment by, or at the direction/request of the
General Assembly, a Synod, or a presbytery. This policy is limited to accidental
death and dismemberment. The policy does include a $5,000 accidental medical
insurance which is secondary to any other insurance that may be in place at
the time of injury. See the enclosed description and benefits of this Business
Travel Accident Insurance policy. The policy coverage does not include those
who travel for, or at the request of the Session of a particular congregation.
Accordingly, this means that those persons who may travel to visit a sister
church or congregation, apart from a presbytery or synod sponsored trip, are
not covered by the Business Travel Accident Insurance policy. So those traveling
at the request of a particular congregation may want to consider purchasing
some other travel accident insurance. The Risk Management Office of the GA
has informed us of some changes in the coverage provided, and also a change
in the matter of reporting to them the names of persons traveling, the country
or countries to be visited, and the dates of travel.
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Letter to Presbyteries
and Synods about Insurance for International Travel (June 7. 2000) ‑ page 2 The insurance carrier
requires that PC(USA) related travel outside the United States be
reported. This applies to all GA, Synod and Presbytery employees,
and also to individuals who are not church employees (`volunteers'),
who are traveling at the request of the GA, Synod or Presbytery. The
persons or groups traveling abroad who are to be enrolled in this
insurance program will need to complete an enrollment form. See the
enrollment form attached, for the use of individuals or groups of
individuals traveling abroad for International Partnership activities.
All persons or groups traveling at the request of, or in travel sponsored
by, a Presbytery, a Synod, or the General Assembly are to report the
names of the person(s) traveling, the purpose of their travel, and
the dates that they will be in a country or, if applicable, in more
than one country. This information must be received by the Risk Management
Office of the PC(USA) in Louisville ten days in advance of the planned
travel. It is also helpful for a copy of the same information to
be sent to the Office of Presbytery and Synod International Partnerships.
Sometimes this is the only way that we know that your Presbytery
or Synod is sending people to visit with your overseas partners. There is a rider to the
Business Travel Accident Insurance program which provides for emergency
assistance for some situations that may arise while persons are
traveling for the presbytery or synod. This program is the "Worldwide
Assistance Services, Inc.", and may provide medical assistance, information
services, legal assistance and/or personal assistance. A brochure
describing these services is enclosed. For a Group Policy Identification
Card, and for other information about the Accident Insurance
coverage or the Worldwide Assistance Services, call the
Risk Management Office here at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville,
at 502-569-5549. Risk Management recommends the use of a "waiver
of liability" for presbyteries and synods sponsoring travel. (See
sample attached) 2. PROVIDING
INSURANCE FOR PERSONS WHO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. FROM OTHER COUNTRIES: A presbytery or synod is responsible to
provide adequate insurance coverage, both accident and medical/hospitalization,
for any and all persons who travel to the U.S. by their invitation.
Those in the presbytery or synod who are responsible for extending
invitations to persons from an overseas partner church, should purchase
adequate insurance coverage for the period of time that the invited
person(s) will be in the U.S. and carrying out activities or functions
directly related to your invitation. Be aware that some international
visitors choose to come early or to extend their visit for personal
reasons; this would not necessarily be your responsibility with respect
to insurance. Some commercial insurers may be able to arrange coverage
at various levels, and for the short periods of time that usually
apply for such travel. You may want to contact an independent insurance
agent; he or she may be able to write a policy with an established
insurance company that will meet your needs. r oiiowmg is information about
insurance companies or organizations, among others, that have special
programs for foreign nationals visiting in the United States: HEALTHCARE AMERICA/Wallach
& Company, Inc. 243 Church Street, NW,
Suite 100‑D Vienna, VA 22180 (1‑800‑237‑6615) GATEWAY USA/Seabury &
Smith 1255 ‑ 23rd Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20037 (1‑800‑282‑4495)
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