Foreign Travel Insurance Program

References

All faculty, students an staff traveling internationally on CSU business or CSU-sponsored trips are required to utilize the CSU's Foreign Travel Insurance Program (FTIP) coverage.

Foreign Travel Insurance Program benefits include but are not limited to the following:

General Liability and Excess Auto Liability
Primary Medical Expense, Emergency Medical Benefits and Evacuation
Repatriation of Remains
Political Evacuations and Repatriation Benefit War Risk Coverage
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit
Trip Cancellation Coverage

To request FTIP coverage, please provide the following information to Risk Management:

Purpose of travel
Name of each traveler
Email address of each participant's emergency contact
Dates of departure and return
Name of faculty member traveling with student(s)
Detailed itinerary indicating destination cities in each country visited
Any special needs

A coverage request form may be used.

Foreign Travel Insurance Request (PDF, 919KB)

Program Administered By

Chubb Travel Assistance Program
1-630-694-9764
Email: medassist-usa@axa-assistance.us
Policyholder: California State University RMA
Policy Number: N04950872R
Assistance Provider: AXA Assistance USA, Inc.

It is recommended that all employees traveling internationally sign up for the State Department's Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a system utilized by the State Department to connect with the traveler; providing information should conditions change in the foreign location and assist you in an emergency. The traveler need only enroll once and then can update as trips are planned.

For the most current high hazard/travel warning information, please check the State Department website and the CSU broker's High Hazard and War Risk Countries list.

Should you have any questions, please contact Risk Management at 805-437-8950.

International Travel Guidelines

I. Conduct a Risk Evaluation

International travel should be evaluated to determine if it is safe based on health, political and cultural criteria. Useful web sites for making this evaluation are the U.S. State Department (http://travel.state.gov/) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) These websites provide status reports on foreign destinations regarding political/cultural and health issues respectively.

II. Conduct Orientation

Every trip should require attendance at one orientation meeting (minimum) where the following information should be covered:

Arrangements for any out-of-country visas, immunizations, etc.
Discuss travel and packing tips, medical and health concerns, modes of transportation, hours of departure and return.
Review background information pertaining to upcoming cultural differences that a student may experience while visiting foreign countries.
Obtain waivers and health forms.
Remind participants to carry sufficient personal medication supplies and physician documentation for medication to last the length of travel or to replace medication lost during the trip.
Review emergency preparedness processes and the crisis response plan.
Provide current health and safety information to participants (i.e. prophylactic precautions, viral infections carried by insects and how to protect themselves against known infectious disease breakouts – check with the World Health Organization). Provide information about emergency medical assistance, emergency evacuation, and repatriation procedures. Review options for medical insurance coverage for foreign travel.
Identify health and safety products or services that may not be available at overseas locations.
Conduct orientation briefings once the destination is reached which include information on health and safety, legal, environmental, political, cultural and religious conditions in the host country.
Communicate codes of conduct for staff and students, addressing such issues as fraternizing, consuming alcohol, controlling activities and conduct during free time. Advise participants of the consequences of non-compliance and take appropriate action when aware that participants are in violation.
Review Center for International Affairs policies and procedures.

III. Collect Required Medical Disclosures, Air and General Liability Releases

A. Medical Disclosure

Medical disclosure provides an opportunity for the faculty member to be informed about student medical conditions that may need special treatment and also provides a medical record that may be used in emergency situations.

Medical Disclosure and Assumption of Risk form (PDF, 1.1M)

B. Air Travel Notification Waiver and Release

All students or non-working individuals participating in CSU-affiliated programs which include air travel shall be informed in writing that participation in such programs is voluntary and that air travel involves risk to personal safety, damage to property, injury, or death. Students and non-working individuals shall be informed in writing that the California State University assumes no liability for damage, injury, or death arising from voluntary air travel and that travel is under taken at their own risk.

All students and non-working individuals participating in CSU-affiliated programs which include air travel shall be required to acknowledge that they have been informed of the risks of air travel required by such programs and to sign a statement certifying that they have been informed of and undertake such air travel voluntarily with full knowledge of such risks, and release and hold harmless the California State University and related entities from any and all claims and causes of action that the student, non-working individual or any person(s) claiming through them, may have against any of the above State entities, by reason of any accident, illness, or injuries, death , or other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from or in any manner arising out of, or in connection with, air travel.

Air Travel Notification Release and Waiver (PDF, 484KB)

C. General Liability Release

All participants shall sign a Release of Liability release prior to the trip.

Release of Liability (MS Word, 31KB)

VI. Semester or Year-Long Study Abroad Insurance

The CSU Study Abroad program is administered through C.I.’s Center for International Affairs. Students planning to study abroad may learn about Study Abroad Insurance options at CSU Healthlink (https://wfis.wellsfargo.com/csu/Pages/default.aspx)