New member -relatively urgent question regarding travel insurance

[RST]

Hello,

I just registered but I have a problem I need some help with straight away!

I know the usual forum kudos is intros etc etc etc but I can tell you what I can....

I set up my own Ltd company last 2 weeks for going as a contractor in the Offshore Engineering sector. I have always been staff before. Everything is set-up but my new client(?) requires specific insurance regarding repatriation.

I live in the UK -the offer is to work from an office in Paris "day rate", with some work back in the UK, and elsewhere about the world. I agreed I would work in France for 4 weeks, then I stipulated one week "off-time" back at my home in the UK as I am not in a position to relocate (hence the contracting offer).

I have everything sorted apart from business travel insurance. It seems I can get it no problem if I only travel between the UK and France (return home between 31 and 60 days -OK). It seems I can get it if I need to travel within the world after I get to France -or anywhere inbetween (OK). But I'm only covered for office work. As I am a professional engineer offering technical / consultancy / project engineering work there is a requirement to visit industrial worksites, particularly construction shops and test houses, though there is no manual labour involved -I am not covered (for example) the minute I cross afactory front door, or put a hard hat on!

I believe I would be covered for my own "repatriation" if injured in France -but what if I was hurt in a facory elsewhere? I doubt my insurers will accept me being dumped in a Paris hospital and being asked to go from there, when the accident happened elsewhere.

I have spoken to 20+ insurance companies so far. Some I haven't contacted as they require 2+ employees (and it's just me), some their terms are up front and not suitable before the recorded message even connects the phone call. I tried Zurich today on my lunch break (the only time I have to talk on the phone during business hours) only to be told they won't discuss "new business" at lunch times and call back after 3pm!!! First chance I had today was 5pm after closing time.

I have worked abroad before -ironically being pretty much the only staff person on the project team. Unfortinately I was ill abroad and the employer never paid out 100% even though I should have been fully covered -just one reason to leave staff employement after 9 years! There is no way I'm going through that again as my own employer this time.

I really don't know what to do as I thought this was sorted before but I am poptentially running close to losing the work to be honest. If that happens I'll have to fold my newly founded company straight away as it's meaningless.

The problem seems to be my "base" won't be in the UK from the start. And, as I am currently employed I cannot make personal calls business hours, sorting this out is a nightmare.

Can anyone offer some advice?

Thanks

[MrButton]

I’ve read this a few times and don’t really understand.

Just get what insurance you can and get an EHIC card. Is this not sufficient?

Your line of business sounds dangerous if you’re considering binning the contract because you can’t get insurance.

[NotAllThere]

Since your base is in France, maybe contact a French insurer. I think it unlikely you can be resident in France and get repatriation from travel insurance back to the UK.

Maybe also contact a global travel insurance provider.

[GhostofTarbera]

Ask your new client what insurance companies current consultants use as they will have a copy if it’s a real requirement and not a misunderstand

[WTFH]

I've only ever had medivac insurance when holidaying in parts of Africa.

I think you might be going about this the wrong way. You have your Ltd. Then get business travel insurance through your Ltd. Just because one of your clients is based in France doesn't mean that is where you are based.
Might be worth talking to these guys:

https://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/b...vel-insurance/

I can understand the hassle of trying to take or make calls during office hours, but surely you get a lunch break where you work, or are allowed comfort breaks. If so, make calls during those times.

[simes]

Ask your new client what insurance companies current consultants use as they will have a copy if it’s a real requirement and not a misunderstand

Maybe also ask the agency if not going direct? Am sure they will have people on their books in exactly the same position...?

[Scruff]

You are looking at the wrong type of Insurance - business travel insurance.

You should be looking for specific insurance for your Business to cover you when you are injured whilst conducting work on behalf of YourCo. Due to the nature of your work as an on-site Engineer, this can be very expensive. I would suggest that if you are a Chartered Engineer, you contact your professional body for their recommendations? If not, then you will need to do more leg work by contacting a specialist insurer (ask your present Employer / contemporaries who they use?). Zurich seems like a good place to start - if you can't make time during their stipulated hours (after 3pm) for something so critical, I would suggest that you revisit your priorities? Working at risk is no joke.

I have worked "behind the line" on Oil & Gas - I just made sure that the ClientCo. had the necessary cover.

[jbond007]

• Take late lunch, say around 3pm instead of standard 12 or 1pm ?
• Can you check with your current company insurance provider?
• Like others have mentioned check with agency or client which insurance provider they or their other consultants use
• Check with agency and/or client if you've understood the insurance requirements correctly

[sludgesurfer]

I'm in a similar field albeit contracting offshore. This is all pretty standard stuff. As the others have said - you're not looking for travel insurance - business or otherwise. You're looking for business insurance that covers other EU jurisdictions with repatriation services included. Ideally the same one that provides your professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Call Marsh in Aberdeen for starters.

For EU, the cost should be fairly low. For non manual onshore work in this field, £1k should easily cover your insurance needs.

My thoughts on your "nightmare" inability to sort this out during business hours are as follows...."eh?"

Also, what do you mean your base is not the UK? Your base is where your company is registered, you are just electing to take a contract out of a client's Paris office/site.