However, the kidnap and ransom scenario is the classic “it will never happen to me case.”  No matter how much one reads up on the need for kidnap and ransom insurance for the expatriate family, there is that little voice inside us that says, it will never happen and that is the next guy’s problem.  A movie like Taken is one of the few things that can get the adrenaline pumping and can make us actually consider, “what if that was my child.” 

We find it amazing how many high net worth individuals take their entire family to places like Kuwait, Mexico, Philippines, Egypt and 20 other highly dangerous places without even checking up on kidnap and ransom insurance.  Many won’t even question their own employer about what security plans may be in place in the event of an incident. 

Of course, under a real kidnap and ransom insurance program the company is not at liberty to discuss the particulars and even inform the expatriate about the existence of a kidnap and ransom insurance plan, but the point is very few even ask, at least this is our experience.

It’s too late to make plans once something happens.  A private kidnap and ransom insurance plan may only cost a family $2,000 a year.  If you are a high net worth individual working away from home, this is money well spent.

The results are very surprising because it’s expected that United States citizens would be the most at risk for kidnap and ransom.  The reasons the Chinese are at risk is simple, they have the largest number of people traveling to high risk locations for kidnap and ransom around the world.

Of course, from this fact we can form several conclusions, most notably that the country of the kidnapping victim and how their country treats kidnappers is of no concern to the kidnappers.  The United States made a strong case on how it will treat kidnappers in 2009 when the Navy Seals shot and killed maritime pirates on the Maersk ship Alabama.  We suspect the Chinese special forces would not treat the kidnappers of their citizens with any gentler gloves than the Americans.

For more information on kidnap and ransom insurance for expatriates and travelers please contact McKinley International Risk Management.