Kidnap and Ransom Insurance Buyers Guide for Individuals

McKinley International Risk Management is asked a lot of questions about Kidnap and Ransom insurance, surprisingly by individuals as well as corporate entities. Personal kidnap and ransom insurance plans for individuals or security programs for expatriate families are becoming more popular. However, we are amazed these kidnap and ransom plans are not more popular based on who critically important they are in about 50 countries.

An individual living in one of the following countries, and of high net worth absolutely should consider a personal expatriate security program or an individual kidnap and ransom insurance program for themselves and their family: India, Indonesia, Honduras, Guatemala, Columbia, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, and / or living almost anywhere in the Middle East or Africa. Yes, these plans can cost a family $1,500 to $3,000 per year but for an individual making over $250,000 US a year, to not consider these programs is almost irresponsible.

If you are an expatriate looking at these personal international kidnap and ransom security insurance plans, we hope you will contact us at http://www.mckinleyinternational.com However, you should find these tips useful.

1. Purchase at least $500,000 of an insurance "benefit" for a kidnap and ransom plan. However, much of the ransom benefit paid out in many countries is a lot lower than you may expect and probably would not approach this amount.
2. Most importantly, make sure the family k&r plan includes unlimited consulting services. To focus just on the ransom benefit is the # 1 mistake.
3. Make sure the company you go with has people "on the ground" and experience in the country where you and your family are living. If they have to "fly someone in" from the U.S. this is not much good.

Expatriate Dental Insurance

For expatriates living outside of their country of citizenship, expatriate dental insurance, and finding quality international dental care can be a challenge.

If you are an expat working abroad for an employer, the employer in most cases can easily secure an expat dental insurance plan along side the expatraite medical insurance scheme. Expat dental on a group basis is often very affordable compared to the medical and the cost per person per month is typically no more than $40 per month.

If you are an individual expat living abroad, it is next to impossible to find an individual international medical plan for expatriates that also offers dental. The expat may be able to find international dental insurance inside of the host country but care would be limited to the host country and would never allow care back in the U.S. or the home country with the exception of EU dental plans that work throughout the EU.

Many U.S. expatriates will join an individual dental program in the States, like Delta Dental, and those that come back to the States at least 2 times a year and seek care while back.

For any expatriate with dental pain, seek treatment of any kind immediately. Small dental problems can turn into larger medical problems that can immobilize someone until the proper care is found. Many medical clinics in most countries that serve the expatriate population may have some limited international dental care, so check there first.

Expatriate Disability Insurance Buyers Guide

If you are moving overseas for over 1 year, whether your employer provides the insurance or not, you may want to consider buying expatriate disability insurance, especially if you are the only income earner of the family, with your expatriate spouse unable to work because he or she cannot get a work permit.

First, make sure your employer is even providing expatriate disability insurance, or make sure the home country long term disability insurance will work for you while you reside abroad. This is the number one mistake expatriates make with international long term disability insurance. They become disabled overseas and find out the carrier back in the U.S. will not pay the international disability insurance claim.

Even if you employer provides international long term disability insurance what is the benefit. Yes, the plan may replace 60% of your income but what is the monthly maximum. The monthly maximum benefit on expatriate disability insurance plans can be as little as $5,000 a month and this does not go very far for most expats.

Of course, if you leave the company you have nothing to take with you. Many will purchase expat disability insurance on their own, a supplemental plan over and above what the employer is providing that will move with them if they leave the job or go to a new company. If you purchase you own expatriate long term disability insurance program, make sure it will work for you if you return to your home country. Many plans will only work if you are residing outside of your country of citizenship full time. For more information on expatriate disability insurance please visit this link.