TRAVEL POLICY AND
    PROCEDURES MANUAL

TRAVEL INSURANCE

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE
The university has purchased an international travel insurance package which provides coverage and services to students participating in university sponsored and approved international study abroad programs and faculty, staff and volunteers on approved international travel for university business. The university now has the following types of coverage in place:
For faculty and staff:

        * Foreign Commercial General Liability
        * Foreign Business Auto Liability and Physical Damage
        * Foreign Voluntary Worker's Compensation
        * Foreign Travel Accident and Sickness
        * Medical Assistance, Evacuation, Repatriation, Accidental Death & Dismemberment

For students and volunteers:
        * Foreign Travel Accident and Sickness
        * Medical Assistance, Evacuation, Repatriation, Accidental Death & Dismemberment

The University's international travel coverage is intended to provide the first line of service and protection to the University's travelers. Prior to traveling, international travelers should still contact their personal health insurance company to make certain they understand what additional coverage they may have in place, or may want to put in place, while traveling abroad. Any additional coverage purchased would be at the traveler's own expense.

More information can be obtained through the International Programs Office websites:
"International Travel Insurance Information" link International Travel Insurance Information

Questions concerning the University’s travel insurance coverage should be addressed to the University Treasurer’s Office, (413) 587-2055

 

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY

The University maintains a Commercial General Liability Insurance policy, which provides liability coverage for employees, volunteers, agents and others while working for or on behalf of the University. The policy limit is $1,000,000 with a $50,000 deductible. The coverage can provide protection in cases involving bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury caused by the negligence of an insured while carrying out his or her duties.  There are coverage exclusions where certain types of claims are not covered, e.g., discrimination, personal automobile, watercraft, etc. To be covered by the University’s policy, individuals on travel status must be working in official capacity at the time of an accident. The facts and nature of the suit will dictate whether coverage will apply. 

 

UNIVERSITY-OWNED

The University of Massachusetts is self-insured in accordance with Chapter 258 of the Massachusetts General Laws for automobile liability. This self-insurance applies to vehicles owned by the University. The University’s Treasures office manages this program and settles all claims. Settlements are generally paid directly by the at-fault campus, unless the settlement/judgment exceeds $2,500, in which case the State Attorney General's Office needs to approve it, and payment will be made by the State Comptroller. The State Comptroller assesses an annual premium based on the average of all negligence settlements and costs paid on behalf of the University over a five year period. The University relies on certain protections from Massachusetts State Law Chapter 258 when self-insuring. In particular, University employees are generally immune from personal liability associated with damages resulting from their negligence while working within their job responsibilities. The University's liability is capped at $100,000 per claimant for the actions of its employees. Therefore, only University employees should be driving University/State owned vehicles.

The University is prohibited from insuring University/State owned property per Massachusetts State Law Chapter 29, Section 30. Therefore, University/State owned vehicles are NOT insured for Physical Damage (Collision and Comprehensive). Any damages that the University is not able to subrogate to a third party would be paid for by the applicable department.
 Loss form link General Liability Claims and Incident Reporting Form.

 

LONG-TERM LEASED VEHICLES
Before a vehicle is leased, the lease agreement must be approved and signed by the University Treasurer's Office.  The University purchases Liability Insurance and Physical Damage Insurance (Collision and Comprehensive) for all leased vehicles. The title to a leased vehicle remains with the leasing company and, as a result, the University is required by the lessor to purchase insurance on the vehicle. When leasing a new vehicle, University departments should request that the University Treasurer's Office add the leased vehicle to our existing policy, a yearly premium would be assessed to the department, and coverage would extend to anyone driving the vehicle with permission.
Loss form link General Liability Claims and Incident Reporting Form.

 

PRIVATE VEHICLES

The University does not provide insurance coverage for employees operating a privately owned vehicle. The owner/driver is solely responsible for automobile insurance coverage.  The owner/driver will be responsible for any damage caused to third party property and any damage to the employee’s own vehicle, regardless of fault.

 

CAR RENTAL

CAR RENTAL INSURANCE
 

Insurance is purchased for the University by the Treasurers Office.  This insurance policy is only applicable to University employees.  Non-employees are not covered under this policy.  Look at this link Auto insurance Coverage for Rented Vehicles.html for source information.

When University employees rent vehicles for University business, they must include the "University of Massachusetts" next to their names on rental applications.

Employees renting vehicles will most likely be given the option of buying the following two types of rental insurance:

-          Physical Damage Insurance-often referred to as a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)- covers property damage to vehicles

-          Liability Insurance-covers bodily injury or property damage to a third party

Rental Car Physical Damage Insurance
You should obtain Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance when renting an automobile for University business.  Any charges assessed by the rental company for physical damage that are not covered by insurance are the responsibility of the applicable department.  There are three ways to obtain the CDW:

1.      Using the University's Corporate card for Car Rental:
Full value, primary coverage is provided at no charge for most rental cars when the entire rental transaction is made with the University’s corporate card. An explanation of the coverage and limitations of the University’s corporate card can be found in the cards "Guide to Benefits, available at this link MasterCard Commercial Guide to Benefits.pdf .

2.   Using a Purchase Order:
Travelers should elect CDW/LDW coverage from the rental company when using a purchase order as coverage is no longer provided by the University.

3.   Using a Personal Credit Card:
The traveler should determine if his/her personal credit card provides automatic coverage for CDW. If not, the University strongly recommends purchasing the car rental company’s CDW. It is a reimbursable expense.

Rental Vehicles Liability Insurance
 The University has a Hired and Non-owned Liability Insurance policy for vehicles rented for University business.  The University's policy is only an excess policy. This policy has a $1,000,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and/or property damage to others.

Rental Vehicle Liability Insurance within Massachusetts
Decline the Liability Insurance offered by the rental company, if you are renting the vehicle in Massachusetts and you will only be driving the vehicle in the State of Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, rental companies are required by state law to carry the minimum liability coverage on their rental vehicles (the rental company's liability insurance serves as the primary liability insurance), so purchasing the additional Liability Insurance from the rental company is not necessary due to the University's existing excess policy.

Rental Vehicle Liability Insurance Outside of Massachusetts
Purchase the Liability Insurance offered by the rental company, if renting a vehicle outside of the State of Massachusetts or for use outside of Massachusetts

 For more insurance elated information please visit the Treasures Office website: Treasurer's Office - Insurance and Risk Management .

 

PRIVATE AND CHARTERED AIRCRAFT

The University provides accident or aircraft insurance coverage only for travelers who utilize regularly scheduled commercial airlines. Should other aircraft be used in exceptional circumstances:
  • The University requires that chartered aircraft owners maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 per seat in Aviation Liability coverage and that the University is named as an additional insured.
  • The same applies if a traveler pilots his/her own or privately owned plane.
  • The Controller’s office should be contacted prior to finalizing plans regarding the use of private or chartered aircraft.

 

ACCIDENT/BAGGAGE INSURANCE

Accident and baggage insurance is provided at no charge by the University’s corporate card if travel services are purchased with the corporate card. Eligibility a coverage information can be found at this link: Common Carrier Baggage Insurance Coverage for the CitiBank Corporate Card.pdf

 

TRAVEL ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Information about Travel Accident Insurance Coverage for travel fares purchased with the University's corporate card is available at this link.
Automatic Travel Accident Insurance Coverage for the Citibank Corporate Card.pdf
 

 

Questions concerning the University’s travel insurance coverage should be addressed to the University Treasurer’s Office, (413) 587-2055.

 

Travel Policy and Procedures Manual (MAIN INDEX)
Travel Management, (MAIN PAGE)
Controllers Office (MAIN PAGE)

 

  This page is maintained by the Controller's Office
  Copyright © 2011 University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  • Site Policies

Last Updated: 03/14/13