Preparing for Mission Trips: A Closer Look at Insurance Protection for Ministries

Mission trips are an incredible way for those within religious organizations to live out their faith and make a meaningful impact on communities around the world. Whether it is through building homes, providing medical care, or offering spiritual support, these trips often come with complex logistical challenges—and unique risks. Approximately two million Americans participate in short-term missions trips every year—this includes domestic and international travel. Many ministries spend countless hours planning the trip’s itinerary, fundraising, and preparing their teams, but one critical area often overlooked is insurance.

Ministry work, especially at the international level, requires more than good intentions—it requires thoughtful risk management to safeguard both the mission and the people serving. Let’s take a deeper look at the essential insurance considerations for ministries planning mission trips and why they matter.

Secure Comprehensive Travel Insurance That Goes Beyond the Basics

Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all. Many standard policies may cover trip cancellations or baggage loss, but international ministry trips demand broader protection. Consider the following:

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Look beyond simple trip delay coverage. Make sure the policy covers cancellations due to political unrest in the destination country, illness of a team member, or even unexpected visa denials.
• Emergency Medical Expenses: International medical costs can quickly escalate. Ministries should verify that their travel policy covers hospitalization, outpatient services, and prescriptions—not just emergency care.
• Medical Evacuation & Repatriation: In the event of a severe illness, injury, or natural disaster, the cost of emergency medical evacuation can reach tens of thousands of dollars. This coverage ensures that team members can be transported to adequate care facilities or returned home if necessary.

Confirm Adequate Medical Coverage Outside the U.S.

Many domestic health insurance plans do not extend coverage outside the U.S. To ensure team members receive the necessary medical care, ministries should consider:

• Auditing Team Members’ Existing Medical Insurance: Don’t assume everyone is covered. Ask each participant to verify if their personal health insurance offers any international protection.
• Offering Group Medical Coverage: For larger mission teams, consider purchasing a group short-term health insurance policy specifically for international missionaries. This may offer better terms and pricing than individuals can obtain on their own.
• Creating a Medical Resource Guide: Identify nearby hospitals, clinics, or healthcare providers in your destination country and ensure team members know where to seek care. Also, review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers’ Health guidelines based on your destination to adequately prepare.

Address Unique Liability Risks for Ministries

Mission trips expose ministries to potential legal and financial liabilities that may not be covered under their existing insurance policies. To ensure missions trip safety, key areas to evaluate include:

• General Liability Coverage: This covers bodily injury or property damage caused by team members during the trip. For example, if a volunteer accidentally injures a local community member while distributing supplies, this policy can help cover related claims.
• Abuse & Misconduct Liability: Sadly, allegations of abuse can arise in any organization, including ministries. This coverage helps protect the ministry against claims of misconduct by staff or volunteers.
• Automobile Liability: Many mission trips involve renting vehicles or driving in foreign countries. Ministries should ensure they have appropriate liability protection for any rented or borrowed vehicles—review our auto safety resources to help get started with your planning.
  

Establish a Robust Emergency Response Plan

Insurance is only one piece of the puzzle. Ministries should also build and communicate a clear emergency plan so that leaders and participants can ensure a safe trip and respond effectively when something goes wrong.

• Create a Written Emergency Protocol: This would be in addition to your Medical Resource Guide—include steps for medical emergencies, natural disasters, political unrest, and accidents.
• Provide Emergency Contact Cards: Each participant should carry a card with local emergency numbers, embassy information, insurance policy details, and ministry leadership contacts. Not sure where to start? The University of South Florida created an Emergency Contact Card template to help travelers prepare for an emergency abroad and travel safely—this is a great tool to help you get started.
• Run Emergency Drills or Briefings: Before departure, hold a session to walk through potential emergency scenarios so everyone knows how to respond.

Protect Equipment, Supplies & Ministry Property

Mission teams often bring valuable items—such as construction tools, medical supplies, sound equipment, or electronics—to support their work. These items can be lost, damaged, or stolen in transit or on-site.

• Property Coverage: If your ministry owns larger assets like vehicles, tents, or mission-specific equipment, make sure they are adequately covered against theft, damage, or loss.
• Coverage for Rented or Borrowed Equipment: Often, ministries rent equipment abroad. Ensure your policy extends to protect these assets, as many rental agreements hold renters financially responsible for any loss or damage.

Partnering for a Safe, Successful, and Impactful Mission

A well-planned mission trip is a powerful opportunity to serve others—but it’s not without risks. The right insurance strategy helps religious organizations protect their people, resources, and reputation so they can focus on what matters most: the mission.

At Glatfelter Insurance Group, we specialize in providing faith-based organizations with comprehensive risk management solutions tailored to their unique needs. We’re here to help you think through every detail and ensure your team is protected from start to finish.

Ready to prepare for your next mission trip with confidence? Request a proposal or contact your insurance agent or broker about a Mission Travel Accident Package available through Glatfelter Specialty Benefits.