Missionaries and Workers' Comp: What You Need to Know

The work missionaries perform outside of U.S. borders can be hazardous and some locations may lack medical facilities equipped to deal with serious injuries. You may feel that your missionaries are covered under workers’ compensation policy, much like your other employees. 

Your ministry’s workers’ compensation generally covers employees during most work time or work-related travel. All insurance carriers have an extraterritorial exclusion that may allow coverage for overseas work or may limit overseas coverage to work that lasts for a short period of time, generally 60 days. A missionary would receive state-based benefits for a covered injury only if the state allows international coverage.

Work comp regulations in other states exclude work outside of the state borders. Expatriates who work internationally do not qualify for domestic workers’ comp. So how do you assess if your missionary is covered?

Some important considerations

Domestic workers’ comp coverage may not be enough for your international missionary. The mission may be longer than your state coverage allows. The missionary may be excluded by specific language in your ministry’s workers’ comp policy. 

Missionary work can be dangerous. It also can be difficult to determine when a missionary is “on-the-clock” since overseas missionary work often is considered a 24/7 job. If a worker is injured, harmed, or dies, your ministry could be held legally liable if the mission is longer than stateside workers’ comp allows.

Negligence and the standard of care. An employer generally has a duty to keep its employees safe; this is known as the standard of care. Your ministry could be legally liable to pay a claim of negligence, carelessness, or fraud if a court determines you placed a missionary in harm’s way by failing to provide a standard of care (security, training, safety, or stability). 

Even if you aren’t legally required to offer workers’ compensation coverage for your missionaries, your ministry may want to ensure that your missionary is covered for illness and accidents while on the job. Coverage also may financially protect your ministry from costly claims.

Foreign Voluntary Workers’ Compensation (FVWC) is coverage designed to fill in gaps. FVWC supplements domestic workers’ comp insurance and may cover even more. This insurance is for employees working outside of their home country. It typically covers:

• Bodily injuries from accidents and diseases. Some policies include endemic diseases not covered by domestic workers’ comp policies.

• Travel to and from the mission field. 

• Emergency medical evacuation.

• Repatriation expenses for when an employee is sick, injured, or dies abroad. 

Workers’ compensation insurance protects the ministry, too, if an employee outside the U.S. sues your ministry as a result of a work-related injury.

Talk to your agent

If you have a missionary scheduled in an overseas mission field for more than 60 days, talk to an insurance agent specialized in foreign coverage. 

Related Resources

• Workers' Compensation Insurance

• Mission Protection for Organizations

The information provided in this article is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program. Your organization is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws.