There are many different types of insurance out there and it can be hard to sort through all of them. How do you know which type of coverage you really need? Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance is often overlooked or misunderstood. Allow me to help you understand AD&D insurance and why it’s important for international travel. I’d also like to introduce you to the international AD&D insurance plans offered by Good Neighbor Insurance.
What is Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance?
AD&D insurance pays a benefit if the insured person dies or becomes disabled due to an accident, rather than from an illness or some other natural cause. It often appears as a tag-a-long to life insurance and pays a death benefit in addition to the life insurance benefit.
Why is AD&D Insurance Important?
What if you have an accident, and the doctors manage to save your life at the cost of a limb or other essential part? Life insurance only pays your beneficiary if you die. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance compensates you for not being able to work due to a disabling accident. Losing the use of your eyes because of an accident, for example, would change your life drastically. An AD&D insurance policy still pays a lump sum depending on your loss.
Why is AD&D Insurance Important When Traveling Overseas?
If you are traveling overseas on your own, your domestic life insurance or Accidental Death and Dismemberment policy may not cover you, so it’s important to make sure you have proper coverage overseas. As you know, accidents can happen anywhere. The risks only increase while traveling.
If you are responsible for protecting your organization’s employees when they travel overseas, you must make sure they have adequate insurance to cover them no matter what happens. Some group plans don’t cover international travel, so you may need to get additional insurance to cover your staff while they are overseas. In the event of an accident, you’ll want to make sure they have AD&D insurance.
Also, please note that if you or your employees plan to travel in a country for which the State Department has listed a Travel Warning, make sure your insurance will cover that. Many international AD&D insurance plans won’t cover accidents in countries with Travel Warnings even if the accident is not related to war.
Does GNI Offer International AD&D Plans?
Yes, Good Neighbor Insurance offers great Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance plans to both individuals and employers. Individual AD&D insurance is often included in travel medical insurance plans, but not always. Make sure the plan you choose provides that coverage and at a sufficient level.
Group AD&D insurance is a significant piece of a comprehensive employer group benefit plan. It often supplements a company’s long term disability plan that is inadequate for overseas staff.
Which Individual AD&D Plan Does GNI Recommend?
Good Neighbor Insurance recommends Global Underwriters Diplomat International travel medical insurance for travel outside your home country (except to the U.S.). This plan’s AD&D coverage is one of the best and may be purchased for a few days up to 12 months. We’ve happily provided it to our clients since 2012.
Diplomat International travel medical insurance is underwritten by Advent Underwriting Limited on behalf of Syndicate 780 at Lloyd’s of London. The Diplomat International travel medical insurance is rated, as of 2017, A “Excellent” by A.M. Best.
The standard AD&D benefit (or Principal Sum) under the Diplomat International plan is $25,000. If you buy the Enhanced AD&D Benefit, the Principal Sum is increased from $25,000 to the selected amount – not to exceed $1,000,000 of coverage. Please note that the Enhanced AD&D Benefit is not available to children under 18 years of age.
What are the Benefits of the Diplomat International Plan?
If within 365 days after the date of a covered accident, the Insured Person’s Injury results in death or dismemberment, this Plan provides the following benefits for loss of:
Description of Loss |
Indemnity |
Life |
Principal Sum |
Both Hands or Both Feet or Sight of Both Eyes |
Principal Sum |
One Hand and One Foot |
Principal Sum |
Either Hand or Foot and Sight of One Eye |
Principal Sum |
Either Hand or Foot or Sight of One Eye |
One-Half the Principal Sum |
Paralysis Benefit – If a Covered Accident renders an Insured Person Paralyzed within 365 days of the date of the Covered Accident that caused the Injury, in any one of the types of paralysis specified below, the Company will pay the percentage of the Maximum Amount shown below for that type of paralysis:
Type of Paralysis |
Based on the Percentage of the Principal Sum |
Quadriplegia |
100% |
Paraplegia |
75% |
Hemiplegia |
50% |
Uniplegia |
25% |
Which Group AD&D Plan Does GNI Recommend?
If you’re in charge of providing benefits for employees, Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is a must for protecting your most valuable asset–your staff. Good Neighbor Insurance offers three outstanding group AD&D plans for employers with overseas employees. The plans are from Petersen International, Tangiers International and MetLife, and some highlights of these plans are shown below:
Petersen International AD&D – best for employers with four or more employees, worldwide coverage in and outside the U.S.
- Accidental death, Dismemberment
- Accident permanent total disability
- All benefits are payable in addition to any other plan
- 24-hour “round-the-clock” coverage
- Common carrier coverage
- Air-travel only coverage
- Can include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
- No minimum benefit amount
- Acts of war/terrorism ARE covered under these plans/options
- Business travel accident options available
- No medical examinations required
Tangiers International AD&D for Groups – best for employers with 10 or more employees, minimum age of 18
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance – $100,000 or more for accidental death
- Can include emergency medical evacuation
- High limit accident insurance for “at-risk”/high-risk nations and “hot zones”
- Coverage considered for anywhere outside the USA
- No medical underwriting
MetLife Group AD&D – best for employers with 50 or more employees, can cover as few as 2 employees
- Employer can pay for this coverage as a benefit to their employees, or as an employee-paid option, or both
- Metlife can also combine a AD&D group policy with a group term life insurance investment policy. Ask GNI for more information on this combo option.
- Bodily injury, accidental death and dismemberment, extended death benefit,
- Medically necessary rehabilitative training up to 2 yrs and $10,000USD (does not include any benefits worker is entitled to under the Workman’s Compensation Act or similar law)
- No waiting period
- No War and Terrorism provision
More information about these plans can be found in the international group AD&D insurance portion of our website.
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Good Neighbor Insurance has been in business for over 24 years! Every one of our international trained and licensed insurance agents has a heart to serve you, our guests. It is a joy to know that we can provide you all peace of mind with one of our many international insurance options to safeguard from financial calamity as well as providing you the best overseas medical care while on your travels.
Please call one of our Good Neighbor Insurance licensed agents at 866-636-9100 or locally here in Arizona at 480-813-9100. You may also reach us via email at info@gninsurance.com.
Have amazing and safe travels!