Office of Insurance and Risk Management

Foreign Travel Information For Employees

I.     General Information
II.   Emergency Assistance Program (Global Rescue)
III. GeoBlue Insurance Program
IV. International Insurance Coverages
V.    Driving A Vehicle While Abroad
VI. Personal Property Insurance

I. General Information

All travel to a Travel Warning country (as designated either by the U.S. Department of State at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html or the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices) or Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivore, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Libya, Niger, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, requires prior Provost approval. Requesting individuals should timely complete the International Travel Form (ITF) and submit it to the Office of Global Affairs and Regulatory Compliance for review and approval before their trip. If international activity involves research or capacity building abroad, please also complete the International Preliminary Questionnaire (IPQ). If you have questions regarding these processes, please contact the Office of Global Affairs and Regulatory Compliance at wwootan@tulane.edu for assistance.
All individuals traveling abroad for Tulane-related activity are required to register their travel itinerary with Global Rescue. See Section II Emergency Assistance Program below.
Prior to international travel, employees must consult travel warnings and alerts posted on the U.S. State Department website. The State Department site lists official warnings about travel to particular countries and it includes other information of which employees should be aware before traveling abroad. Sign up for travel alerts with the State Department by clicking here and with Global Rescue by clicking here. See Section II below for more information on Global Rescue.
Similar advisories related to health issues are available the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
It is also advisable to consult with the Tulane University Travel Clinic for pre-travel immunizations and counseling Phone: 504.988.1947.
Check out the American Embassy websites of the countries you plan to visit before you depart. Register your trip in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so the American Embassy or Consulate will be able to keep you informed and provide assistance in the event a crisis occurs while you are there. See the iPhone and iPad free Smart Traveler application.
It is important to know and to be aware of local customs and problem areas before you depart. It is also important to always let someone know where you are going and when you are due to return and to avoid traveling alone.
Occasionally, family members may accompany a University employee in travel to a foreign destination. Please be advised that University does not provide health or accident benefits to those family members. Please check with your health insurance provider for details regarding coverage of your family members while traveling outside the United States. Any costs incurred during the course of your travel by any family member, including minor children for whom you are a guardian, are the sole responsibility of you or your family member.

II. Emergency Assistance Program

Tulane University has contracted with Global Rescue to offer its employees and students traveling abroad medical, personal travel and security advice and assistance, as well as emergency evacuation services due to illness, injuries, natural disasters and security events. In addition, access to online information for up-to-date travel conditions and other important information is available.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ONLY AND NOT HEALTH INSURANCE!

SEE SECTION III AND IV BELOW FOR HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COVERAGE AVAILABLE TO TULANE EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD.

Summary of benefits provided under the Global Rescue Program:

Medical Assistance: Includes referral to a doctor or medical specialist, medical monitoring when you are hospitalized, emergency medical evacuation to a home hospital or an adequate facility, medically necessary repatriation, and return of mortal remains. Also includes assistance with dental referrals.

Personal Assistance: Includes pre-trip planning, medical, dental and legal referral information, travel advisory assistance, embassy and consular information, emergency information, lost document assistance, emergency message transmission, emergency cash advance, emergency travel arrangements, and translator/interpreter access while traveling.

Security Assistance: Includes evacuation when personal security is threatened by any political instability or civil unrest to the nearest safe location at the earliest reasonably possible time. This includes personal security during natural disasters. If evacuation is not reasonably possible, regular contact can be maintained until the threat to personal security is abated or evacuation becomes reasonably possible.

REGISTER WITH GLOBAL RESCUE

Tulane employees and students should register their trips with Global Rescue via:

1.    https://grid.globalrescue.com/portal/tulane/index.html

2.    On the landing page, click the "Register Here"box under the section titled: Employees/Students Register Here to Add Travel and to Access Pre-Trip Advisories and Event Reports

3.      Next, click "Register Here",

4.      It is recommended to complete all fields, but required for those with the red asterisk. You MUST register using your official @tulane.edu email address. If you do not have a @tulane.edu email address, contact the Office of Insurance and Risk Management at 504.865.5653.

5.      Upon receiving your temporary password, you will be asked to create a new password. Once logged into the portal, you will be able to add travel and see your trips by clicking the "Itineraries" menu.

6.      To add travel information, click on the "Add Travel" menu.

7.    If you are between the age 75-85, click "here" and complete the application and return it to cpalmieri@globalrescue.com for review and written approval prior to travel. Otherwise, Global Rescue is not responsible to provide Services. Individuals over 85 are excluded.

(NOTE: Any travel booked via Concur will automatically upload to your individual portal.)

DOWNLOAD THE GLOBAL RESCUE-GRID APP

After registering your profile, it is highly recommended that you download the Global Rescue-GRID app. YOU MUST CHOOSE THE "GLOBAL RISK-GRID" APP WHICH HAS A BLACK BACKGROUND ON THE ICON –DO NOT CHOOSE THE "MY GLOBAL RESCUE" APP WHICH IS THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES UP. You can also create your profile on the mobile app, just click on "Login Help" and follow the directions.

IMPORTANT MOBILE APP FEATURES:

1. "Emergency" Button: Tap and hold for 3 seconds to notify Global Rescue for dire emergencies ONLY.

2. "Check In" Button: Tap any time for safety check-ins ("breadcrumbs") to assist in locating lost/missing travelers during an emergency.

3. Enable the location and GPS coordinates functions to help locate you.

If you experience any difficulties, please contact Global Rescue at 1.800.381.9754 (US/Canada) or +1.617.459.4200 (Internationally) or email Global Rescue at operations@globalrescue.com.

You may also contact OIRM at 504.865.5653 for assistance.

III. GeoBlue Study Abroad Insurance Program

See the health and safety abroad videos.

For faculty and staff providing direct support to the Study Abroad Program at its County of assignment whose health insurance does not apply abroad or who want to supplement existing health insurance, enrolling in the GeoBlue Insurance Program may be worthwhile. For a summary of the benefits provided through the GeoBlue Insurance Program, as well as information on costs and policy exclusions, please click here for the 2018 benefits. Faculty and Staff may purchase the insurance via their school or department "fulfillment coordinator". Please check this fulfillment coordinator lin k for contact information. If you need more information, please contact the Office of Insurance & Risk Management at 504.865.5653 or visit the GeoBlue Website. If you are not providing direct support to a Study Abroad Program please visit the GeoBlue website for individual plans.

If students will be accompanying any faculty or staff member abroad, the faculty or staff member should request that the student verify that the students' health insurance will apply in foreign countries. If a student's health insurance will not apply in foreign countries, the student should be directed to apply for coverage under the GeoBlue Insurance Program.

IV. International Insurance Coverages

The Office of Insurance and Risk Management at Tulane University maintains additional property, casualty and workers' compensation insurance policies that may be applicable to employees who are working in a foreign country.

If you have questions, need additional details on the coverages or countries that may be excluded, please contact the Office of Insurance & Risk Management, 200 Broadway Suite 126 Telephone 504.865.5653.

For health and employee benefit insurance please contact HR, including Business Travel – International Medical Coverage http://www2.tulane.edu/wfmo/announcements/business_travel_international_medical_coverage.cfm

V. Driving A Vehicle While Abroad

The employee is required to purchase the locally required coverage, including physical damage coverage. Tulane's foreign package auto liability insurance is excess of locally required auto insurance.

Many foreign automobile insurance policies exclude liability coverage if the driver does not have a valid drivers' license or if the driver is intoxicated or presumed to be intoxicated. Also, because many foreign countries do not recognize U.S. drivers' licenses, an International Driving Permit ("IDP") is highly recommended if you plan to drive abroad (most countries accept an IDP). Before your departure, you can obtain an IDP through either of the two automobile associations authorized by the U.S. Department of State, AAA (American Automobile Association) or National Auto Club. You can apply online or at a local office. Driving conditions in some countries can be hazardous. Check local driving conditions on the U.S. State Department website.

VI. Personal Property Insurance

Personal property insurance for students, faculty and staff covering worldwide on broad conditions is available at reasonable premiums and deductibles as low as $25 at https://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/ Coverage can include items owned by the department as well as personal property of the traveler.

VII. Warnings.

Please always check with Global Rescue for location specific warnings.

Zika Warning