What Is Foreign Voluntary Workers’ Compensation (FVWC) ?
FVWC is a wide term that encompasses insurance that covers additional benefits to a workers standard domestic policy. Often, a worker’s compensation policy does not provide coverage for injuries or illnesses that occur outside of the country. These could include endemic diseases, terrorism, piracy, repatriation expense, or other harm faced while on the job. Repatriation refers to the process of returning to your home country.
FVWC policy often covers this as it may need to be expedited if you are injured. Both the employers and employee’s benefit from FVWC as the employer may be liable to a lawsuit without it. Any employee who works outside the country on business needs FVWC to protect them from injuries or illness that may befall them.
Employees from the United States who are traveling outside the country, foreign nationals on U.S. assignments, and international employees who are outside of their assigned countries are often covered by FVWC. The basic need for FVWC exists because stateside worker’s compensation usually only covers employees during their standard working hours (8-5). Because of this, FVWC can cover you if you are injured at any time while you are living or working in another country.
The policy may also pay benefits based on the state that the worker was hired in while still in the U.S. FVWC pricing can be determined by factors such as the amount of time the worker spends in a foreign country, the type of work they are doing, and security and risk management.
If I Am Covered by FVWC, What Benefits are Available to Me?
FVWC can cover you if you are injured or fall ill while working in another country. If this unfortunately happens, a variety of benefits are available to you. For example if you are afflicted by an endemic disease such as malaria or dengue fever, FVWC can cover for your medical care and travel to a medical facility. Oftentimes the policy specifically includes a point of contact that injured employees can use to help facilitate their care while they are in a foreign country. FVWC claims are filed to the insurer rather than state comp regulators, however, the state where the company is located determines what law is applicable to your situation. Because of this complex situation, an experienced attorney can help to fight a claim if it is unfairly denied or not paid fairly.
What are the Costs for Hiring Doyle Dennis Avery LLP?
At Doyle Dennis Avery LLP, we believe that there should be no up-front fees or hidden costs if you hire our firm to represent you in your claim. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. Simply put, the only way we get paid, is if you get paid. The risk falls on us if we pursue your case in hope of getting you to a financial recovery. You are welcome to set up a free consultation with us to help with your potential insurance claim. FVWC can be tricky and the current COVID-19 outbreak has only complicated it. Contacting an experienced and accredited attorney can help with any questions or concerns.
- Contact your insurance broker – First, contact your insurance broker and ask for every policy available regarding your claim. It is important to note that whether you are covered or not is not as simple as asking your broker. You may be covered for a variety of different reasons as foreign voluntary workers’ compensation (FVWC) is featured in a wide array of policies.
- Read – Read your policy. Check carefully for keywords such as extraterritorial travel, endemic disease, evacuation, car/automobile, communicable disease, and foreign voluntary workers’ compensation. Even if you are not explicitly covered by your policy you may still receive financial compensation for a separate reason.
- Check your benefits – Check what benefits might apply in your situation. This could include lost revenue, paychecks, medical bills, medical referral, or financial compensation for an injury or illness. It is crucial to keep records for this very reason, so make sure to keep important financial and medical documents.
- Seek legal help – Finally, contact a trusted attorney. Due to the complicated nature of FVWC, an experienced attorney can help with your claim. Your broker is not the final authority on whether or not you have coverage. Check with a lawyer. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP offers a no-cost initial evaluation of your claim to help determine if you are covered by FVWC.
