Covered Journey (Insured Business Trip)

Function

The definition of the covered journey determines when business travel accident cover applies at all. Market practice defines a business trip as the temporary business absence from the permanent place of residence or the regular place of work, directed by the employer. Cover starts on leaving that place and ends on return; under the ERV wording, journeys at the place of residence or work and between those places – i.e. the daily commute – are expressly not a business trip. Some wordings additionally require a minimum distance or an overnight stay, particularly for domestic travel.

Variants and Distinctions

Three parameters shape the definition. First, the maximum duration per trip: Swiss wordings allow up to 365 days, other markets cap at 90 or 180 days; longer stays count as assignments and fall under expatriate and IPMI solutions. Second, the private element (incidental holiday): leisure activities during the trip and holiday days attached directly before, during or after it are covered up to a limit of typically 14 to 21 days. Third, the group of persons: expatriates who relocate their domicile, accompanying persons or family members are covered only by express additional agreement. The covered journey must be distinguished from the occupational accident concept of statutory accident insurance, which under Art. 7 UVG turns on work in the employer’s interest and does not capture private elements of a trip.

Practical Note

Companies should align their travel policy with the insurance definition: bleisure trips, home journeys of cross-border commuters, travel between group locations and domestic trips without an overnight stay are frequent sources of gaps. The agreed definition also determines which travel days enter the premium declaration.