Skip to main content

Accessibility menu

Skip to main content Skip to footer

Insurance

A page within Business Services

Accident insurance policy for individuals who travel to foreign countries

Europe Assistance is a program provided at no cost to State of Wisconsin (including University) employees while traveling abroad in the course and scope of their employment. This travel insurance program provides medical emergency assistance for worldwide travel while on business. Europe Assistance is designed to ensure the availability of competent health care as promptly as possible in situations where health care may not be available or is not up to US standards.

Europe Assistance operates a 24 hour, 7 days a week, toll-free, emergency telephone assistance service. To access the emergency assistance services while traveling, please call one of the following emergency numbers:

1-888-987-5920 (From within the US, Canada, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands); or from anywhere else in the World:  1-240-330-1571;  Call collect if necessary.

In the event of a travel-related emergency, Europ Assistance will provide the following emergency assistance services:

Medical Assistance Services

  • Worldwide Medical and Dental Referrals
  • Monitoring of Treatment
  • Facilitation of Hospital Payments
  • Transfer of Insurance Information to Medical Providers
  • Medication, Vaccine and Blood Transfers
  • Dispatch of Doctors and Specialists
  • Transfer of Medical Records
  • Continuous Updates to Family, Employer and Home Physician
  • Hotel Arrangements for Convalescence
  • Replacement Corrective Lenses and Medical Devices

Travel Assistance Services

  • Replacement of Lost or Stolen Travel Documents
  • Emergency Travel Arrangements
  • Transfer of Funds
  • Legal Referrals
  • Translation Services
  • Message Transmittals
  • Emergency Pet Housing and/or Pet Return

Worldwide Destination Intelligence

  • Pre-Travel Information
  • Travel and Health Information
  • Real-Time Security Intelligence

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Services

  • Emergency Medical Evacuations
  • Transportation to Join a Hospitalized Member
  • Return of Dependent Children
  • Transportation After Stabilization Repatriation of Mortal Remains

Personal Security Services

  • Political Evacuation Services
  • Security Evacuation Services
  • Transportation After Political or Security Evacuation

Call Europe Assistance if you are away from home and:

  • You are involved in an accident requiring medical treatment
  • You are having difficulty locating medical care
  • You have a medical problem and require translation services
  • You have any other serious travel difficulties.

In an emergency, go immediately to the nearest physician or hospital.  Contact the nearest Europ Assistance Center. Be prepared to give your name, ID number and a brief description of your problem.   

For additional information related to this policy and to receive a Europ Assistance card, please contact Risk Management at 608.785.8730 or sgreen@uwlax.edu.

Acquiring liability protection for organizations that host activities that are not included in the University insurance program

What is it?

Special events insurance is liability protection for organizations hosting activities that are not included in the University's insurance program. Contact Risk Management at 608.785.8730 or sgreen@uwlax.edu for assistance in determining if your event is provided liability coverage under the State Self-Funded Liability Program. The basis for determining if coverage can be extended for a specific event is included in UW System Risk Management Policy Manual, Part 10 A, Student Organizations and Risk Management.

This program provides liability coverage and legal defense for negligence brought on the grounds of mismanagement, improper security, misleading representations, or failure of equipment/fixtures, to name but a few.

Why do we need this?

In today's litigious society, event organizers face potential liability suits from spectators, contractors, and customers. Even if a suit is unjustified, the cost of defense can be significant.

Who needs it?

Any group or individual organizing an event on campus which may pose a liability risk should consider this program.

What will it cost?

Premium costs are determined based on the nature of the event, the anticipated number of participants, and the number of days. While it is impossible to quote rates without detailed information about the event, we can say that premiums for this program are almost always considerably lower than any similar policy you could buy on the open market.

What kind of events should have this coverage?

  • art shows
  • concerts
  • exhibits
  • dances
  • festivals
  • political rallies
  • cattle shows
  • recreational events
  • sporting events
  • parades
  • conventions
  • any other event that may pose a liability threat (Risk Management can advise you on this)

How can I get more information?

If you have questions, please contact Risk Management at 608.785.8730 or sgreen@uwlax.edu.

After contacting Risk Management, you will be quoted a premium.  Payments should be made payable to the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents and forwarded to:

Risk Management Office 
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 
125 Graff Main Hall 
1725 State Street 
La Crosse, WI  54601

Shortly after receipt, you will be issued a Certificate of Insurance.

Coverage underwritten by: 
Gales Creek Insurance Services 
Union Station 
800 N.W. 6th, Suite 335 
Portland, OR  97209

This page provides a description of the liability coverage and other important policies for personnel who volunteer at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Appropriate responsibilities for volunteers:

  • A department should not rely on volunteers to perform duties that are typically performed by permanent employees - other than on a short-term basis.  Volunteers should be supplementing the work done by employees, not replacing the need for paid staff

Letter to the volunteer:

  • To avoid any confusion about the terms of the relationship, the department is encouraged to send a letter to the volunteer spelling out the responsibilities, time commitment, whom to contact with questions and information about their volunteer status.  A sample Letter to the Volunteer is available to assist departments with this request.

Insurance issues:

  • Liability protection is provided to all officers, employees and agents of the University under Wisconsin Statute, Section 895.46(1). Volunteers acting under the direction and control of the University and for its benefit are considered agents and thus covered. In the event that injury or property damage is alleged to have been caused by the negligence of an officer, employee, or agent of the University in the course of his/her responsibilities to the University, this statute authorizes the State to defend against the allegations of negligence and, if necessary, to pay any damages that may be awarded. It is important that volunteers acknowledge and report any incidents that could lead to potential liability claims, both to their immediate supervisor and to the UW-La Crosse Risk Management Office using an Incident Report . 

    Volunteers are not covered by worker's compensation. If injured during the course of their volunteer work, they would have the same legal rights as any visitor to the campus to seek compensation if the injury resulted from University negligence.