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The Magazine of Bellwood Prestbury
HOW TO GET
YOURSELF
KIDNAPPED
Being in the wrong place at the wrong
time isn't that difficult. Bellwood
Prestbury’s Security Advisor looks at
how not to become a kidnap statistic
Culture shock and the four phases
your employees need to work through
Getting the right medical insurance
shouldn't be a lottery
Why we are proud to achieve ISO
9001 certification
Spring / Summer 2016
2
In this issue How to get yourself kidnapped
If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice, writes Steve McCann,
Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express
(opportunistic) kidnaps with the planned ones making the headlines.
Can you avoid the culture shock?
Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the individual.
At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to adjust, even to
their own culture.
Laws you break at your peril in the UAE
Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. But the culture in
the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world so it is important that you get to
know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.
ISO9001
For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the
internationally recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so
important for both global buyers and traders?
Meet Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations
This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations,
about his life inside and outside the office.
Welcome to another issue of Expatria Magazine
This special edition highlights
the issues facing potential
kidnap threats and what it’s like
to be an Expat.
We also look at Global Liability
insurance and what it means
for your business plus we have
a happy tale from Afghanistan
where one of our clients is
helping to improve the welfare
of animals in Kabul.
EXPATRIA MAGAZINE SPRING / SUMMER EDITION
Bellwood Prestbury is the trading style of Bellwood Prestbury Limited registered in England and Wales as
company number 1100251 Registered Office: 4 Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GL50 1QB, United Kingdom
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
3
Expats experience twice as many mental health issues as domestic citizens
In some cases when depression becomes so severe, expats may feel that returning home is their only option.
Expats who have trouble with anxiety stop undertaking activities that they usually enjoy, because it does not give them pleasure anymore. Instead, they stay at home and worry.
Two factors that contribute to mental health issues are homesickness and social isolation.
Expats can experience a lack of support and find it harder to deal with new circumstances, because their relatives and close friends are back home.
Expats who did not have a choice, for example children or partners, are more prone to mental health issues. Children in the adolescence stage find it difficult to get used to a new country.
This period in their life is already difficult, so adding a whole new environment to the mix makes everything even more complicated.
International Private Medical Insurance
Why Expats choose International Health Insurance
Moving abroad can be a stressful process that requires plenty of planning, time
and energy. When becoming an expat, your employees will have to take into
account many factors about their relocation – and healthcare is an essential one.
Having taken the huge step in life to relocate to a new country, it is important to
secure peace of mind in as many aspects of their new life as possible; and
ensuring that healthcare will be available for them and their family is a must.
Have they figured out how the healthcare system works in their adopted country?
How will they, as an expat, gain access to local health services? Have they
considered the possible language barrier, or know what to do in case of a medical
emergency?
As a foreign national, your colleagues may not be entitled to any free or
subsidised healthcare. In some cases, they may need permanent residency
before they can enter the system – and that could take years, so it is important to
consider an expatriate health plan to provide for their healthcare needs from day
one.
International private medical insurance (IPMI) policies usually provide far better
cover and support to expats than those offered by local insurers, with many of the
benefits tailored specifically to suit expatriates.
Local (or sometimes referred to as state) health insurance can be very different to
what most expatriates are used to and can be of limited service for internationally
mobile citizens. Many local plans offer less in terms of medical services than what
is covered under a private plan. For example, it is unlikely they will be covered for
medical evacuation benefits under a local health plan. They may find that cover
does not extend to getting access to the leading local private facilities.
4
Moving abroad
is among the most
thrilling experiences
your employees will
ever encounter
Everything is new, and challenging: they must
communicate in a foreign language, every conversation
and each new person they meet adds something to the
experience.
If you felt like you were not living up to your expectations back at home, moving abroad is your time to blossom.
There is of course a dark side to moving abroad and expat life can get you down at times. Cultural displacement,
although a common feature of modern society as more people move abroad, is still pretty hard to get used to.
With it comes questions of national identity and triggers a loss of sense of belonging.
All expats experience these symptoms, more commonly known as “culture shock”; you might
be surprised to discover that the first people to give the syndrome a name were the most
open-minded, well-travelled people, namely anthropologists.
1. The first phase is called the “honeymoon” phase. The individual is naturally polite to
everyone, both compatriots and foreigners, during this phase. The individual is likely to
be bewildered when confronted by all things that differ to what he has left behind. You
realise that the cultural and societal flagposts were metaphorically holding you up, and
you feel as though you have been winded by the impact of the new, foreign society.
When you expatriate, you basically take off, and you fly on the wings of your
enthusiasm.
2. The second phase is called the “crisis” phase. In this phase, a person in the grasps of
culture shock becomes tangled up and knotted within the new culture that surrounds
them. According to Oberg, it is not uncommon for such an individual to start paying
extreme attention to cleanliness (even denigrating the hygiene standards of the new
country), and become excessively worried about being cheated. In the worst cases, this
phase can prelude a fully-fledged nervous breakdown. If one overcomes it, the individual
has overcome the worst phase and has the light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way
thereafter.
3. During the third phase, known as the “recovery” phase, your sense of humour makes an
appearance. A conceived sense of superiority towards the locals is the looking glass
through which you see your hosts, but now you can also empathise, easing the
judgement and endearing you to your new culture.
4. The final phase is known as the “adjustment” phase; now you can relate to other people
in a normal manner, mainly because you will have learned how to decipher the cues of
social intercourse.
5
One size certainly does not fit all, so getting the right advice is important
Understanding all the
different facets about
your colleague’s new
location can be a
daunting process, and
deciphering the way in
which a country’s national
health system works is
not the exception.
When it comes down to
health standards,
statutory care and
emergency treatment,
details vary from country
to country, and there are
major differences in
waiting times, cost, and
accessibility for expats.
The quality of care in their
adopted country may not
be to the standard they
were used to back home.
At Bellwood Prestbury we
specialise in health
insurance policies for
expats, and because we
understand what it is like
to be an expat we cannot
only guide you through
the maze of getting the
right cover for your
employees but we will
also help to ensure your
colleagues have the very
best of care as and when
they need it.
Can you avoid
culture shock?
Individuals are born into pre-defined cultures which, in part, define the
individual. At each stage of development, however, individuals struggle to
adjust, even to their own culture.
Get the hang of the language – you will feel infinitely more integrated into
society and the culture if you do so. Language is the key to communication
and with communication bonds between people are fortified.
Talk to people – people living abroad, Oberg observes, are led to ‘lean heavily
on their compatriots’.
It is natural to migrate towards those in the same situation as you, expats
always manage to find each other, and although there is no shame in this, it is
always great if you can say that you have managed to make ‘local’ friends. It
all helps in the integration process.
If you can think of a time when your culture and your nation’s way of thinking
have ever frustrated you, perhaps you were born to be an expat.
“Not all 'security' makes you safer,” I said to a potential new client not long ago. He was about to embark on a project in Nigeria that would
expose a number of staff to risks, including kidnap, over three
years. They were about to hire a respected armed risk-
management company, in the belief that their guns would provide
the best protection.
I disagreed. My company, Safer Edge, takes the view that having
a bunch of poorly-paid armed men accompanying a convoy was
at least as much a threat as a help.
Would they be an effective deterrent? Would a firefight make
staff safer? There may be a time and place for serious armed
protection, but token armed protection is often a very bad idea.
We proposed a strategy based around communication and local
community involvement, and won the argument. We helped our
client to develop, and deliver on, a strategy based on people in
the Niger Delta communities knowing who our client and its staff
were, and what they were doing there.
We used local and well-known partners to lead on assessing risk,
driving (safely!) and ensuring that our client's staff always
understood where they were and how to behave in a way that
minimised risk.
This really worked to their advantage when there was an incident
- the only one in three years. On that occasion, a member of our
client's staff went to explore a creek on his own, without going
through the protocol of communicating with the local community
first. When he was detained by local men, his driver managed to
get away and report it.
Our local team were able to approach the community and
apologised for the lack of courtesy, plead a misunderstanding,
and secured his immediate release, unharmed, within a couple of
hours. The detaining group found themselves communicating
with people they understood, and quickly recognised the client
from previous communications.
The fact that was the only security incident in three
years demonstrates the value of contingency planning and
strategy. In another place, another time, that strategy may not be
the right one. Not only is it true that "not all 'security' makes you
safer", what works in practice will vary from situation to situation.
It pays to get it right.
Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and a director at Safer Edge
Kidnap is only one of the threats
that you may face on your
travels
8
$500 million dollars. That’s what is earned by criminal gangs every year
through kidnap and extortion. And up to 30,000 people are being
kidnapped every year.
Reliable data is hard to come by, and the type of kidnap can vary greatly, making the numbers almost
meaningless on their own. But only one kidnap really matters anyway. Yours.
Choose Your Kidnap Experience
If you want to get yourself kidnapped, you have a choice writes Steve McCann, Bellwood Prestbury’s Security
Advisor. There are planned kidnaps and express (opportunistic) kidnaps. It’s the planned ones that make the
headlines: Hassan, Henning, Bigley.
But when it comes down to you, which kind of kidnap would you prefer? The initial experience is similar, but after
that you might find yourself locked in a room full of mosquitoes for a day or two, or tied to a radiator for five years
like Terry Waite. Or losing your head. Literally.
There are many similarities on the way to achieving either, but some differences too.
If it’s the Express Kidnap you prefer, that’s quite easy to arrange. In an Express Kidnap you will be taken and
forced to extract money from an ATM with your bank card, often over several days, taking ‘the max’ each day of
your ‘millionaire tour’.
how to get yourself
kidnapped
9
Kidnap
Hotspots of
the World
Whether one employee or
hundreds of employees
are deployed overseas,
for short or long-term
assignments, there are
unknown and unseen
dangers in sending
employees to foreign
lands.
Today, the largest
proportion of recorded
kidnappings takes place
in Asia and the Pacific,
particularly in India,
Pakistan, Afghanistan
and the Philippines.
While Mexico remains
the top country for
kidnappings, the oil-rich
regions of Africa –
Nigeria, Kenya, the
Sudan, Mali and Libya
are seeing increases too.
To protect employees
and company facilities,
most prudent global
companies buy kidnap,
ransom and extortion
(KRE) coverage.
However, there’s a catch
22 to KRE coverage.
The employee isn’t
supposed to know about
the coverage. If they do,
the coverage may not be
valid.
The whole point of a
kidnapping is to collect a
ransom and knowing that
coverage exists could
make the employee even
more vulnerable.
how to get yourself
kidnapped
You probably won’t get the chance to check out the sights – but you will
experience the all-too-real life of some local people.
It all started in the USA in the 1980s, but to book a place on this tour
nowadays head over to Latin America. Mexico is best, but Venezuela,
Peru, Brazil and Argentina are satisfactory alternatives. Nigeria is watching
and learning.
Just identify the most lawless part of the city at night, and between 11 and
12pm, wander around, looking lost, on your own, ideally a bit drunk, and
approach an isolated ATM without looking around you first. There is a good
chance that quite soon you will find some new friends who will host you for
a couple of hours or even a few days, emptying your bank account.
The risk of you being kidnapped is always the happy coincidence of the
level of threat combined with your vulnerability to that threat. Where you
go, who you are, and how you behave are the factors that will establish
your likelihood of successfully being kidnapped. The table overleaf is a
guide, but as ever you need to look into the data, to understand who is
being taken and why, for it to be useful.
To succeed at being the target of a planned kidnap, what you really need is a failed State or post-
conflict country, where the effective authority of the State is undermined. Libya would be a great
choice this year, as Iraq was earlier this decade (and it’s still a not too shabby choice!).
Once there, you can make it easy for the kidnappers with poor personal security. Being predictable in your travel
and accommodation routines will help them to know when and how to most easily take you. Having established
yourself as a high economic value target, make sure you take no precautionary measures such as using an
armoured car or even close protection – which can be very effective in some circumstances be it armed or
unarmed.
To top the target list, these are the behaviours likely to get you kidnapped… one way or another:
Travel alone. This always seems to improve your chance of successfully being taken .
Appear wealthy and high profile.
Make it obvious you don’t know your way around.
Appear drunk, or better still, be drunk.
Go looking for drug dealers or sex workers late at night.
Adopt a very regular and predictable routine in travel and accommodation.
Stay ignorant of where the threats in your environment are, and what time of day they are most likely to
be at their greatest.
Broadcast to the world where you are and what your plans are on social media; make sure to include
very personal information that only your close friends and family would know.
Carefully research your destination to expose yourself to the kind of kidnap you prefer - Latin America
for the opportunistic variety and Libya or Syria for the planned version, where it will likely be criminals
who take you and sell you up to a more political entity. For the latter a one-way flight ticket will suffice, to
avoid wasting your legacy…
Country 2014 2013
Mexico 1 1
India 2 2
Pakistan 3 4
Iraq 4 10
Nigeria 5 3
Libya 6 14
Afghanistan 7 8
Bangladesh 8 26
Sudan 9 20
Lebanon 10 6
TOP TEN KIDNAP RANKINGS BY COUNTRY
Alternatively, you can choose to minimise your chances of becoming a kidnap victim.
The principles are similar, but the behaviours will vary from the above. When you know the threat and understand
your individual vulnerability, you can manage the risk.
Find out about where you are going, not just at country level, but at a local level. What is the profile of crime?
Who is targeted? Where are the dangerous places?
Follow a sensible process of minimised exposure. Be low profile, do not look like a target and do not make it
easy.
Vary your routines, your routes, your timings. Do not stay in the same place long enough to be ‘cased’.
Be very thoughtful about who knows your itinerary.
If the risks are high, consider whether you have to be there in person.
Be thoughtful about what you say in your social media – it can make you more vulnerable and provide vital
insights for a planned kidnapping.
How to not become a kidnap statistic will vary according to many factors. Common sense is always im-
portant, and other more sophisticated strategies can pay a significant part.
To find out how to manage your duty of care to your staff and yourself, and to come back safely, call us on
+44 (0)1242 584558
Steve McCann is Bellwood Prestbury’s Security Advisor and director of Safer
Edge with more than 21 years of practical security industry experience across the
humanitarian and development sectors along with extensive UN and military
experience. Steve’s army career saw him responsible for troop logistics whilst his
post-military life has included working in logistics and security for the UN.
www.bellwoodprestbury.com
Minimise your chances of being kidnapped
It’s easy to forget about
health insurance … after all you will not be away for long and medical issues always happen to someone else, don’t they?
However, if you have an accident or become ill, can you afford the cost of medical treatment? What
happens should you need to be medically evacuated? Will the treating doctor be able to get hold of clean,
uncontaminated blood should an emergency transfusion be needed?
The International Contractors Health Plan answers these questions and provides peace of mind no matter
where in the world you’re working, and assistance is only a phone call away 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
You will be covered for medical treatment costs and also the expense of an emergency medical evacuation
if it’s needed. The policy is supported by emergency experts who are understanding, sympathetic and
knowledgeable to handle any situation that may arise.
If you are working in a place where you feel a little uncertain about a diagnosis and want a second medical opinion on a proposed treatment plan, you will have access to Best Doctors. They will be able to arrange a review of the medical diagnosis and treatment plan with a world class specialist in a field that relates to your medical condition.
You will also become a member of the Blood Care Foundation. Worryingly, unclean blood is still being used
in operations in many parts of the world, so should you be badly injured and require a blood transfusion,
your membership will provide access to a global network of blood banks, enabling clean uncontaminated
blood to be sent to almost any location in the world within 12-18 hours.
Security, quite rightly, is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment. Therefore, built into the policy is access
to the very latest travel safety tips and advice, and up-to-the-minute information on civil unrest, natural
hazards and travel disruptions from Red24, covering hundreds of countries and cities worldwide.
And on top of all this, if there is a death of a close family member back home whilst on assignment, the plan will even pay for a return flight home.
14
Laws you break at your peril if you are living and
working in the UAE Moving to the Gulf is for many a once in a lifetime opportunity. A time to enjoy great weather whilst living a life
that others can only envy. But the culture in the Gulf is very different to other parts of the world, so it is
important that you get to know the “do’s and don’ts” of daily life and avoid finding yourself in trouble.
Storing alcohol at home, having a satellite TV or simply washing your car on the road may seem harmless but these are
just a few of the offences that carry heavy penalties in the UAE and could get you into serious trouble.
Illegal satellite TV: Since your building owner did not specify it, you may think installing Dish TV, Sky TV or other
such illegal satellite TV decoders was permitted. You are mistaken.
Laws you violate: The UAE Intellectual Property Law and UAE Trademark Law.
Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000. Those providing such services could face jail and deportation.
Keeping alcohol at home: You may have taken it from a friend or bought it from an outlet but remember, keeping
alcohol at home without a liquor permit is an offence. Anyone consuming, transporting, possessing or selling alcohol in
the UAE needs a licence.
Law you violate: Penal Law.
Penalty: Penalties can lead to imprisonment of six months and a fine of Dh5,000. People can find themselves in trouble if
they have consumed liquor in the event of an accident or public disturbance.
Employing illegal domestic help: Illegal workers include housemaids on someone else’s visa or even those
helping you in odd jobs without a proper visa.
Law you violate: UAE immigration laws.
Penalty: Fines could go up to Dh50,000.
15
Jaywalking: You may be in a hurry but it does not give you freedom to dash across the road. Crossing
streets at undesignated streets or crosswalks is not only life-threatening, but also a pedestrian infraction punishable
by law.
Law you violate: Federal Traffic Law.
Penalty: Dh200.
Washing your car on the road or letting water drip from the air conditioner: Washing your car on the streets,
disposing of vehicle water in the open, or water leaking from your air-conditioner onto the roads is a strict no-no.
Law you violate: Dubai Municipality’s orders.
Penalty: Dh100 for a leaking air conditioner, washing vehicles on the road or flushing vehicle water on the road.
Using illegal phone cards: You are tempted to buy phone cards to make cheap international phone calls.
Law you violate: UAE Penal Law.
Penalty: Jail term, fine and deportation.
Sharing flats/live-ins: Sharing a flat with a person of the opposite sex who is not a blood relative is an
offence. Sharia law prohibits two unmarried and unrelated persons from the opposite sex living together.
Law you violate: UAE Penal Law.
Penalty: Fine, detention or both and possibly deportation.
Sex out of wedlock: Having sex outside marriage can land you behind bars.
Law you violate: Article 356 of the UAE Penal Law.
Penalty: Fine, jail, deportation, depending on the judge’s discretion.
Public display of affection: Kissing or hugging someone unrelated to you in public can also
have serious consequences.
Law you violate: UAE Penal Law of 1987.
Penalty: Up to six months in jail and deportation.
16
Where were you born, where did you study and
where do you live now?
I was born in Gloucester and went to Severn Vale
Comprehensive school. I then moved to Gloucestershire
College of Art and Technology gaining a First Diploma in
Business and Finance and a National Diploma in
Business and Finance.
How did you come to join Bellwood Prestbury?
A chance meeting with one of the directors I had known
from my time at Eagle Star… during some general chit
chat they asked how things in my current role were going
and I advised I was looking for new opportunities. This
was perfect timing as Bellwood Prestbury were in the
process of applying to become a Lloyd’s of London
Coverholder and they were aware of my experience.
The rest is history…
What do you think makes Bellwood Prestbury
different to other insurance intermediaries?
The ability to deliver quality bespoke service and
products in complex niche markets where there is no
room to get things wrong – the solution has to work and
deliver when needed!
Technology plays a big part in our industry. How
does it help you in your role today?
The ability to have quick access to accurate information
at a click of a button is so important to the service we
offer. Whether underwriting or reviewing procedures and
processes I need to be able to view and rely on accurate
data to ensure the correct decision is made. Using
technology and in particular bespoke industry software
(such as Acturis) provides the ideal solution.
Other more traditional software such as Word and Excel
This month we chat to Simon Shipway, Bellwood Prestbury’s head of operations, about his life inside and outside the office
also provide us with the ability to create tailored solutions
allowing us to respond quickly and accurately to clients’
needs and requirements.
You are heavily involved in looking after the
compliance side of the business. What tips can you
give to anyone working in a regulated environment?
I think the majority of people would rather deal with a
regulated company than a non-regulated company.
By embracing regulatory requirements and making them
core to what we do we can offer the client peace of mind
that they are being looked after and protected in a proper
manner, enhance our service and also afford the company
protection – regulation affects all parties involved.
Compliance is generally a case of applying common sense
to your actions and often supports/evidences the work
already being done. It is not as complicated as people
think and I would always challenge colleagues to treat
others like they would expect to be treated themselves,
remembering that for a lot of people insurance is a
maze and they are looking to us to help them through.
What major changes have you seen at Bellwood
Prestbury since you joined the Company?
There have been a number of changes due to the very
nature of the market we operate in which is changing and
evolving all the time. Technology has been used to help
cope with the changes, staff are becoming more
experienced and products are constantly being reviewed
and improved to ensure we remain at the forefront.
If you could do any other job in the world other than
the one that you do now, what would it be?
I spend a lot of time in my garden so perhaps a landscape
gardener but it would definitely be something creative –
I’ve always liked the idea of working for Pixar and being
involved in developing an idea, where the only limitations
17
Bellwood
Prestbury’s
website wins
Silver at the
Horizon
Interactive
Awards
The Horizon Interactive
Awards, one of the
world’s most prestigious
events, when recognising
the very best global
websites has awarded
Bellwood Prestbury’s
website “Silver” in the
highly-fought Banking
and Finance category.
Bellwood Prestbury’s
leading edge website was
created by international
award winning design
company Liquid Light.
Simon Shipway, head of operations
are your own imagination, and bringing it to life.
What are you most proud of both personally and
professionally?
On a personal note it’s hard to say if there is any single
thing I am most proud of … I have a circle of close family
and friends and I really value the time I am able to spend
with them.
When it comes to professionally, I am proud of what I have
achieved by using commitment and hard work, regardless
of the role I have been asked to fulfil.
If you could have a long relaxing lunch with
anyone alive today or from the past, who would it be
and why?
This is a difficult question but if I was to pick one person it
would be Sir David Attenborough. I have always been
fascinated by the natural world and his enthusiasm and
passion for the subject is infectious… he has been
involved in so many ground breaking series and I would
have so many questions it would be a very long lunch.
You are known for your interest in sports. If you could
have been a professional sportsman, which one would
you choose and why?
A golfer. The ability to travel the world, playing some of the
most iconic sporting venues (mainly in warm weather) and
following in the footsteps of so many sporting legends.
Before heading off on your first venture as an expat or for your next posting, please give some extra
thought to protecting you and your family before you leave.
Having the right protection in place is an aspect of financial planning that is often overlooked when
moving abroad. Insurance can become harder to source, more complicated and costly for that matter.
Adequate protection - or insurance cover - can provide peace of mind for you and your family. It means
you can safeguard a desired quality of life for your loved ones and help avoid any financial hardship if
long-term plans change through an accident, illness or loss of life.
Types of Cover
There are various types of personal protection policies available. In general, it's always important to
ensure that the cover you have is adequate for your circumstances and your family members know the
details of what you have in place.
The type of protection available includes:
Life insurance – often inexpensive, these policies are designed to pay a lump sum if you die and will
often enable you to claim earlier if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, enabling you to get your
affairs in order.
The cost of the cover will be based on your age, smoker status, state of health, and occupation as well
as how much cover you need and how long you want it to last.
Income protection insurance - this provides a replacement income if you are unable to work due to an
accident, illness or disease. The benefit is set as a percentage of your salary and will come into payment
after a waiting period, usually 13 or 26 weeks. Your premiums will depend on your age, occupation,
benefit amount and waiting period.
Critical illness insurance - this will provide a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a serious
illness or are permanently disabled.
Depending on the level of cover - which again can be altered if required - this could
help to pay living expenses and the costs of moving if illness means you have to
retire early.
Private health insurance - depending on your circumstances, for
example your home and host country, you may be eligible for free or
subsidised healthcare. The extent of this provision and the quality of
local healthcare services are likely to be key factors in deciding whether to have
private health cover or not. If healthcare is not state provided or subsidised, the costs
of even minor or routine medical treatment can quickly mount up over time. When
arranging cover, check whether the whole family is covered for investigations,
inpatient and outpatient fees, hospital stays, transport to a specialist unit and
repatriation. Such policies can be very expensive, so you
may wish to include a voluntary excess to keep premiums down.
If your circumstances change, such as a move to an area
with higher risk, it may be that existing cover isn't valid or or
sufficient.
Protecting what matters as an Expat
Equally, if you're relocating abroad with a company that provides insurance, read the small print carefully
to check that the cover is adequate for your requirements and circumstances. If not, you may need to
supplement it with your own policy.
Global Cover
Insurance provides vital protection against the impact of unexpected events and should be structured to
reflect you and your family's needs and circumstances.
Having the right level of cover is vital, so get an insurance assessment carried out. Over-insurance means
that you are spending more than you need to on premiums, whilst being under-insured will lead to a pay-
out which is not sufficient for your circumstances.
Everybody has a set of individual circumstances that are clearly unique, and your cover will need to reflect
this. For example, an accident in the family may result in higher medical costs for non-nationals depending
on where you are, as will extras, such as an interpreter, if required.
For expats, it is likely to be important to arrange insurance policies that have international coverage.
Always inform your insurance company if you move to a posting in a new country as the rate, level and
type of cover may need adjusting. In effect, this could mean changing or updating your policy every time
you move.
An easier solution could be to take out a portable policy that can move with you wherever you are in the world.
what matters as an Expat
What is an emergency medical evacuation?
This is a question that we often hear from our clients. What exactly is
medical evacuation cover? Why or when do we need this coverage and
how does it work in practice?
Medical evacuation (sometimes referred to as “med evac” or “medivac”) is
the transfer from one hospital to another for medical treatment. Medical
evacuation doesn’t happen for minor scrapes, bruises and breaks and you
just want to get home. Rather, it’s coverage to get you to better treatment
and in some cases to your hospital of choice back home when you need
ongoing, inpatient care for a serious illness, injury, or other medical condi-
tion.
Sometimes we travel to amazing places that can be some way off the
beaten path and where the medical care isn’t great. A lack of a proper
medical specialist for your condition, insufficient equipment, or substandard
care means that you may need to move quickly to somewhere there is a
hospital which is better suited to give you the most appropriate treatment.
When this happens an air ambulance may be needed. The patient is
usually strapped to a stretcher, with a nurse and physician attending to any
medications and other appropriate treatments needed to keep the person’s
condition stable for the flight.
Because most air ambulances tend to be fairly small, there’s usually only
room for one travelling companion to accompany the patient and a bare
minimum of carry-on luggage. The more weight on the plane, the more fuel
stops required, the longer it takes to get to the new hospital.
Why do you need medical evacuation coverage?
We all expect our trips to go off
without a hitch, and most times
they do. However, if you suffer a
serious illness or injury away
from home in a country where
the medical care isn’t up to
scratch, then having a medical
evacuation service is critical.
A medical evacuation will
transport you to a better care
centre and/or home to your own
doctors.
Additionally, medical evacuation
coverage not only protects
well-being, but also your
finances. As an example, the
cost of an air ambulance from
Europe could be as much as
$ 50,000 and up to $100,000 or
more from China. Would you
have that kind of money available
on short notice? Making sure
this benefit is included in your
upcoming travel plans will cover
those unexpected emergency
transportation costs and leave
you at ease knowing you will be
covered.
Most businesses insure their vehicles and their office contents but fail to put in place ade-
quate protection should they be faced with a claim as a result of their business activities.
This can be due to one or more reasons, with cost-savings often topping the list. Some believe they
have the cover when they haven’t. And then there are those who convince themselves (often due
to the cost-saving) that they have the cover when, in fact, they have not.
Third-party claims can and do happen. Defending a claim can be both time consuming and costly,
often eating up reserves and denting profits. Third-party claims can come from many different
sources, whether it is customers, members of the public, investors or shareholders. Some claims
may come from a no-win, no-fee solicitor which makes bringing a claim all the easier.
Furthermore, if you employ people or bring in contractors, then you are likely to have a
responsibility (duty of care) for that person whether they are working for you for a year, a month, a
day or even an hour. Just imagine the total sum a loss of income claim could amount to should a
high earner not be able to work again and you are found at fault – we are talking millions.
What is liability insurance? Liability insurance covers your legal liability for paying compensation for successful claims brought
by employees, clients, customers, shareholders, investors, or members of the public. Defence
costs can also be included to provide legal expenses.
Liability insurance usually covers the cost of compensation for:
Personal injury – bodily injury, sickness or disease, and/or
Loss of or damage to property
The main types of liability insurance are as follows:
Employers’ liability: covers the cost of compensating employees or contractors who are
injured at or become ill through work.
Public liability: covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur
in connection with your business activities.
Product liability: covers the cost of compensating anyone who is injured by a faulty product
that your business designs, manufactures or supplies.
Professional indemnity: covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage
resulting from services or advice provided by a business or individual.
Directors’ and officers’ liability: covers the cost of compensation claims made against your
business’s directors and officers for alleged wrongful acts.
However, there are other types which are industry specific such as aviation, pollution, environment
and many others.
Global
Global Liability Insurance
How much cover do I need?
It is important to ensure you are not under insured, or over insured for that matter. This will very much depend
on your activities, where you are working or what you are working on. If you are working on a contract, the UN
would be a good example, then it will stipulate the type of insurance you need and the amount. Policies can be
arranged which are contract specific, client specific or covering all your business activities.
Is my cover adequate?
If you are operating in a high-risk region or providing specialist services, then buying an off-the-peg insurance
product is unlikely to offer comprehensive coverage. As always, seek the advice of a specialist with the
necessary international expertise.
If you would like to find out more, please contact our team of specialists on +44 (0)1242 584558 or e-mail us at
info@bellwoodprestbury.com.
A happy tale from
Afghanistan
Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad in Helmand
Province of Afghanistan in November 2006. Their mission: to provide stability for the local people
during a period of ever-decreasing security.
Despite what was happening all around them, the Royal Marines soon realised that it wasn’t only the
local people that needed their help. Many of the stray dogs that roamed the town of Now Zad now had
a guardian for the first time in their lives in the form of Royal Marine Sergeant ‘Pen’ Farthing.
Breaking up an organised dog fight taking place right outside their remote compound, Pen never
realised that one of those fighting dogs would then befriend him. He couldn’t say no to those big sad
eyes and the now very former fighting dog became the Royal Marine’s four legged buddy which they
named ‘Nowzad’ after the town where he was rescued.
A year later and the Nowzad charity was born to improve the welfare of animals in Afghanistan,
including humanely reducing the stray dog population which in turn has helped to reduce the incidents
of canine rabies, provide animal welfare education for the Afghan people and develop training
programmes to improve the lives of working animals. The charity operates the only official small
animal clinic and purpose-built facility to provide a safe environment for over a 100 stray dogs, 40 cats
and so far 4 donkeys on the outskirts of Kabul.
Incidentally, it just so happens that ‘Nowzad’ in Farsi actually means ‘New born’, a fitting name for the
first ever animal welfare organisation in Afghanistan.
Nowzad the dog is sadly no longer around having enjoyed a long and comfortable life in Europe but
his inspiration has now helped over 800 soldiers serving in Afghanistan to be reunited back in their
home countries (USA, UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Holland and Germany) with the dogs
or cats they rescued from the front lines of Afghanistan.
The ‘tail’ of the rescue of Nowzad and his other canine buddies from the remote desert outpost of Now
Zad, was published as a best-selling book ‘One Dog at a Time’, which helped to promote and fund the
running of the Nowzad charity.
Bellwood Prestbury are proud to provide and manage the Personal Accident and Life insurance cover
for the Charity’s expatriate team and visiting volunteers.
Pen Farthing, the charity's founder, comments ‘I would like to thank the team at Bellwood Prestbury
for a thorough and professional service, providing the comprehensive cover we need for operating in
Afghanistan but more so for making the application process painless and simple!’.
Our certification can help to benefit your business
For the fourth consecutive year Bellwood Prestbury have achieved the internationally-recognised ISO 9001 certification. But what is it and why is it so important for both global buyers and traders?
ISO 9001 has been in existence for over 20 years and has grown to become a well-respected, internationally-recognised standard. Being awarded ISO 9001 communicates an important, positive message to both the company’s customers and its employees: that it takes itself seriously by striving to be a well-managed and organised business,
focused on delivering efficiencies where possible.
ISO 9001 does improve productivity and increases profitability, as it highlights where businesses can cut costs and reduce waste. ISO 9001 also encourages businesses to implement risk assessments into their processes in order to create an exceptional Quality Management System.
Of course there are huge benefits for customers, both old and new. When making a decision on who to work with or who to purchase from, you can be reassured that a company with ISO 9001 adheres to strict standards and will have been audited by an independent body.
the audit The audit is carried out onsite and will include a thorough check of the company’s quality manual, documents and records plus the following:
Management review process
Review of resources
Review of purchasing procedures and supplier selection process
Review of client satisfaction and continual improvement processes
Review of problem reporting and complaint management
Review of internal audits
Legal compliance – health and safety, risk assessment
Gaining the certificate is the recognised global benchmark for best practice in quality management. Important government tenders and supply chain questionnaires often stipulate that any companies bidding must have ISO 9001, so that procurement teams can be sure they only choose from the best.
Therefore, by successfully achieving ISO 9001 certification, an organisation is able to distinguish itself from its potential competitors, winning new business and retain existing customers.
These extensive benefits are why millions of organisations across the globe have or are implementing the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard. ISO 9001 also helps workforces know exactly who does what, when they do it and how, saving time and cost by reducing mistakes.
In a client-focused and service-driven world, this is a win-win scenario as ISO 9001 ultimately creates improved levels of customer service whilst creating a more disciplined and efficient working environment.
business travel insurance that protects your
employees and your business
Contact Us
Give us a call for more
information about our
services and products
Bellwood Prestbury
4 Imperial Square
Cheltenham
GL50 1QB
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1242 584558
info@bellwoodprestbury.com
Visit us on the web at
www.bellwoodprestbury.com
About Bellwood Prestbury
As leading Global Insurance specialists, we have been arranging high-risk and
complex cover for individuals, companies and organisations throughout the world
for more than 15 years. We are strongly independent, but work closely with the
industry’s leading international insurers.
From oil and gas contractors to humanitarian workers providing vital support
across the globe, from High Net Worth individuals to corporate groups, our
independent, affordable and tailored solutions help provide the right balance
between premiums and benefit protection.
Our clients are worldwide. From the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa, to
Asia and America, we are perfectly placed to offer the right experience and
expertise for your business.
Bellwood Prestbury are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority. We are a member of British Expertise, the leading UK organisation for
British companies offering professional services internationally, and members of
a number of other specialist industry bodies. Bellwood Prestbury are proud to be
accredited by the British Assessment Bureau to ISO 9001.
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EXPATRIA MAGAZINE
Our international medical insurance plan for global
contractors could be just what you are looking for.
Call us for a FREE quote on +44 (0)1242 584558.
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