Where and when are risks of war covered?

To what extent are risks of war covered under your AG Employee Benefits plan? Read on to find out the essentials when it comes to business travel and extended stays abroad.

What cover does your AG Employee Benefits plan provide?

With respect to war risks, three essential types of cover are affected: Healthcare, Life/Death and Disability.

In Healthcare, the coverage is effective worldwide.

If the insured needs urgent medical help or assistance during a private or professional trip abroad, he can call on his hospitalisation insurance. This also applies to planned medical interventions for which the insured has received the approval of the mutual benefit organisation.

What if the emergency medical assistance is the result of a war or a civil war?

If the country is at war, diseases or accidents caused by war (or civil war) are excluded from the healthcare cover.

Are the risks associated with riots and civil unrest covered?

In the event of riots, civil unrest or politically, ideologically or socially motivated collective acts of violence in the country visited, any resulting illnesses or accidents are not covered. Unless the insured can demonstrate that:

They did not take an active part, or

They acted in self-defence, or

They acted to save persons or property.​

In Life/Death, death coverage is effective worldwide.

All deaths are covered if they occur:

During private or professional trips abroad
and

are the result of a natural cause or an accident that is unrelated to a war event.

What if the decease is the consequence of a war?

As a general rule, death resulting from war, civil war or another, similar event occurring during a private or professional stay in another country is not covered.

However, if the death occurs during a stay (private or professional) abroad, there are two possible scenarios:

If the unforeseeable conflict erupts during the stay, the risk is covered provided that the beneficiary proves that the member was not actively involved in the hostilities

If the member visits a country in which there is an armed conflict or in which a foreseeable conflict erupts during his stay, the risk may be covered provided that the beneficiary proves that the member was not actively involved in the hostilities.   

In this case, the cover will be subject to a waiver granted by AG Insurance and to an additional premium, paid by the employer, which is mentioned in a rider to the contract.

Are risks in connection with riots or civil unrest covered?

The risk of death resulting from such events is not covered.

However, the risk is covered if the beneficiaries demonstrate:

Either that the member did not take an active part, or

That they acted in self-defence, or

That they intervened to save persons or property.

How is the war risk assessed?

The war risk is assessed depending on the destination country.

Countries are divided into four lists*, which may be updated daily, with different cover and pricing. The capital at risk covered is limited to EUR 250,000.

In Disability, the disability benefit is effective worldwide.

All disability is covered if it occurs:

during private or professional trips abroad
and

is the result of a natural cause or an accident that is unrelated to a war event. 

Are war events covered?

Illnesses or accidents caused by a war event are not covered.

However, if the disability occurs during a stay abroad, there are three possible scenarios:

1. If the disability occurs during a private trip and is the result of a war event, the risk will be covered, provided that the beneficiary proves that they were not actively involved in the hostilities
2. If an unforeseeable conflict erupts during a professional trip, the risk is covered provided that the plan taken out by the employer includes cover for occupational accidents and the beneficiary proves that the member was not actively involved in the hostilities
3. If the member makes a professional trip to a country in which there is an armed conflict or in which a foreseeable conflict erupts during his stay, the risk may be covered provided that the plan taken out by the employer includes cover for occupational accidents and the beneficiary proves that they were not actively involved in the hostilities. In this case, the cover will be subject to an additional premium, paid by the employer, which is mentioned in a rider to the contract.

Are risks in connection with riots or civil unrest covered?

The disability risk following a riot, civil unrest or any politically, ideologically or socially motivated collective acts of violence, whether or not they involve rebellion against the Governing Authority or any powers conferred, is not covered.

How is the war risk assessed?

The war risk is assessed depending on the destination country.
Countries are divided into four lists*, which may be updated daily, with different cover and pricing. The annual disability pension covered is limited to EUR 12,500.

What about terrorist attacks?

Cover is granted if the provisions of the Act of 1 April 2007 on insurance for illness and damage caused by terrorism, with which AG Insurance complies, are those of the Terrorism Reinsurance and Insurance Pool (ASBL TRIP). Your employees will then be covered for Healthcare, Life/Death and Disability.

What measures should be taken?

To be covered for war risks, the employer must inform AG Insurance in advance of the next departure of their staff to a country at risk in order to adjust the premium, if required.

For further information, please contact your usual contact person at AG Employee Benefits.

* List of countries at risk of war at 02/04/2024 (only available in French and Dutch)