Multinational Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a multinational policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current foreign package or master policy and any local policies, and check the box next to each feature you can confirm they include — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor.
Tick each feature you can confirm your policy includes — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Confirm? | Policy feature | What to confirm | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide Suit Territory | Foreign liability should answer suits filed in foreign courts. A U.S. general liability policy covers abroad only when the suit is brought in the U.S. | Standard | |
| Foreign Products Coverage | Covers products made or sold by foreign entities, not just goods shipped from the U.S. | Standard | |
| Foreign Voluntary Comp & Employer's Liability | Covers U.S. employees injured abroad on hiring-state benefits, plus employer's liability suits. | Standard | |
| Endemic Disease & Repatriation | Confirm illnesses such as malaria and dengue are covered and that transport to adequate care and home is paid. | Standard | |
| Medical Evacuation & Travel Assistance | A 24-hour assistance line and evacuation costs; U.S. health plans rarely pay these abroad. | Standard | |
| Local Admitted Policies Where | Required Countries such as Brazil, India, and China allow only locally licensed insurers. Compulsory lines like auto need a local policy. | Standard | |
| Difference in Conditions / Limits | Master policy fills gaps in local terms and limits. It responds only where a local policy exists. | Often limited | |
| Financial Interest Coverage | Pays the U.S. parent for a foreign entity's uninsured loss where a local policy can't be issued. Wording varies by carrier. | Often limited | |
| Third-Country National Employees | Workers who are neither U.S. nor local citizens are often excluded unless scheduled. | Often limited | |
| Premium Allocation & Premium Tax | Each country's share should match its exposure, with local premium tax paid. Token local premium invites audits. | Often limited | |
| Local Claims Handling & Payment | Confirm licensed local adjusters and payment in local currency. Paying a claim the wrong way can bring fines or tax. | If needed | |
| Sanctions Clause | Global policies exclude risks that would violate U.S. sanctions. Know which countries and parties are affected. | If needed | |
| Kidnap & Ransom / Political Risk | Needed for travel to high-risk countries or assets exposed to government action. See CWCO-SUP-KR and -POLRISK. | If needed | |
| Defense Base Act | Required for employees on U.S. government contracts abroad. See CWCO-SUP-USLH. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The most commonly missed gap in this coverage is assuming the U.S. master policy can pay anywhere. Difference-in-conditions and difference-in-limits clauses respond only over a local policy, and in countries that prohibit non-admitted insurance a U.S. insurer cannot adjust or pay a local claim. Carriers report that DIC/DIL is used on about 30% of foreign products claims because local limits run low. Confirm which countries need a local policy, then confirm the master policy sits on top of each one.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your multinational coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Multinational Insurance · Multinational Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a multinational policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a multinational policy include Worldwide Suit Territory, Foreign Products Coverage, Foreign Voluntary Comp & Employer's Liability, Endemic Disease & Repatriation, Medical Evacuation & Travel Assistance, Local Admitted Policies Where. This checklist also flags the features that are often limited or sublimited and the ones to add if needed, with a plain-English note on each.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my multinational coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.