I moved to Singapore on an expat package. HR said, “You are fully covered for evacuation.” When my wife got Dengue and needed a transfer to a better facility, the insurance denied it. “The corporate policy covers the employee only. Dependents have medical coverage, but not evacuation.”
Key Takeaways
- The “Employee Only” Gap: Many corporate policies (Business Travel Accident – BTA) cover the employee for evacuation but exclude the spouse and kids, or offer much lower limits for them.
- Business vs. Leisure: Corporate plans often only cover business trips. If you and your family go on a weekend vacation to Bali, the corporate cover might void because it’s “Leisure Travel.”
- Separation of Families: If the company evacuates you, they might not pay for your kids to fly with you.
- “So-Called” Evacuation: Some corporate plans only evacuate to the “Nearest Center,” not back to the Home Country/HQ.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Blanket Assurance.”
HR tells you “You’re covered.” HR usually doesn’t know the fine print. They bought a bulk policy.
- The Crisis: You rely on the work policy and don’t buy personal travel insurance. Then you get stuck with a $50k bill for your spouse.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- Chubb (Corporate BTA): I reviewed a standard policy. “Coverage applies to Class 1 Insureds (Employees). Class 2 (Spouses) are covered ONLY if authorized by the company for specific relocation travel.” Routine leisure travel? Excluded.
- Medjet (Corporate): They offer corporate memberships. I checked if it covers family. “Only if the family membership tier was purchased. Individual corporate memberships do not cover family.”
- GeoBlue (Corporate Expat): Usually covers the whole family if they are enrolled in the medical plan.
Comparison Table: Corporate Coverage
| Feature | Corporate BTA (Standard) | Corporate Expat Health | Personal Travel Insurance |
| Employee Evac | YES | YES | YES |
| Spouse/Kid Evac | NO (Often) | YES | YES |
| Leisure Trips | NO (Often) | YES | YES |
| Repatriation to Home | Varies | Varies | Varies |
[IMAGE: Graphic of an ID badge vs. a Family Portrait. ‘Covered’ stamp on the badge, ‘Check Policy’ stamp on the family]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Request the “Certificate of Insurance”: Don’t take HR’s word. Ask for the PDF.
- Search “Dependents”: Look for the definition of “Insured Person.”
- Search “Leisure”: Does it cover “24 hour business and pleasure”? Or “While on the business of the Policyholder”?
- Buy a “Gap” Policy: If the work policy is weak, buy an annual Multi-Trip policy (like Allianz) for your family vacations. It’s cheap peace of mind.
FAQ
If I get fired, does coverage stop immediately?
Yes. That day.
Does it cover me if I extend a business trip for a vacation?
Often yes (called “Sojourn coverage”), but limited to a few days.
Can I upgrade the corporate plan?
Usually no. You have to buy your own supplemental plan.