Travel Insurance: Any employee preparing to undertake a period of work on an overseas assignment should ensure that as a condition of employment they have travel insurance provided at the employers cost to meet the needs of the individual's circumstances.

Where an individual may wish to travel outside a geographical limitation, say at the end of the assignment period, it is important that the individual obtains suitable additional insurance cover for the period before they leave the zone they are insured for.

Medical Insurance: Reciprocal medical insurance arrangements exist with EEA countries and certain non-EEA countries to enable treatment to be provided where needed. Where state reciprocal arrangements are inadequate, or where the terms of the medical insurance provided by the employer do not meet individual needs, members should seek assistance.

Before accepting an overseas assignment everybody should ensure that:

• Medical insurance adequate to meet their needs, including emergency repatriation, is provided by the employer and that copies of the nature and extent of the cover available is provided before the commencement of the overseas assignment
• That individuals undergo a thorough examination by a medical practitioner at the expense of the employer, prior to formal acceptance of an overseas assignment, and
• That entitlements to cover under any existing company personal accident plan or other personal insurance arrangements will continue throughout the assignment abroad.

Professional Indemnity Insurance: It would be appropriate to ensure that individuals working abroad have adequate professional negligence liability insurance to ensure that any personal liability arising from any act or omission occurring in the course of the company's or the client's business is fully insured and that claims will not fall upon the individual.

The cost of providing professional indemnity insurance should remain with the employer.