In a Closed Door Exclusive Round Table Business Forum, iPMI Magazine will speak with C-Suite Industry Leaders from the International Medical Cost Containment Market about International Medical Cost Containment Strategies For Global Medical Payors And Providers.

Although international risks have changed, the cost of healthcare around the world remains a key concern for the international private medical insurance market.

This exclusive round table will define the complex nature of international medical cost containment and how medical payors and providers may leverage cost containment strategies to improve the access and standard of care, whilst reducing the bottom line to the payor.

Talking Points

• Real-time cost containment and medical case management;
• Managing the costs in the advancements of new medical procedures and pharmaceuticals;
• Discrepancies in pricing across global hospital networks;
• iPMI Plan design to manage costs before emergency;
• The use of technology to improve healthcare access and reduce the bottom line;
• The financial pressures of COVID-19;
• Combating international medical insurance fraud;
• Provider network management and negotiations;
• The challenges of cross-border regulatory and legal developments;
• The future of medical cost containment and medical case management.

iPMI Magazine Cost Containment Network

• Athens Assistance
• Charles Taylor Assistance
• Global Excel
• GMMI
• Healix International
• MDabroad
• New Frontier Group
• Roy Medical Assistance
• StandbyMD
• UnitedHealthcare Global

Related Reading:

International Medical Cost Containment Strategies 2018

Apply

To apply for a seat at the table, please write to Christopher Knight, CEO, iPMIM: ceo[at]ipmimagazine.com

About iPMI Magazine Round Tables

Leaders learn from leaders, and by invite only, iPMI Magazine Executive Round Table Business Forums feature leading C-Suite Executives from the world of iPMI. Limited in numbers and distributed to over 40,000 readers in 120+ countries, iPMI Magazine round tables are an educational, executive, and exclusive event.

Martyn Swann has been appointed Sales Director for SME UK and Europe at Aetna International.

He will be responsible for driving growth and retention in the SME sector as Aetna International continues to expand into new markets.

Martyn joined Aetna International in 2018 and brings 20 years of experience across a range of roles within the UK and international health care markets to his new role. He successfully managed the migration of the Aviva International portfolio when they exited the IPMI market, and has been instrumental in driving product and proposition development into new territories.

Martyn reports to Damian Lenihan, Executive Director Operations and Distribution Europe, who comments, “Martyn has been an integral part of the team over the past two years and I’m delighted to welcome him to his new role. With so many innovative plans in motion, Martyn’s proven track record, experience and skills are just what we need to drive forward our SME proposition in Europe. His appointment cements the strength of our sales leadership support, and positions us well for continued growth in our markets.”

Martyn will head up an expanded SME team, and start his new role with immediate effect. He is currently reconnecting with key contacts and intermediaries in the iPMI market so, to find out more about his proposed SME growth strategy, please connect with him directly via LinkedIn

Healix International combines cutting edge technology with best in class medical and risk intelligence for highest levels of duty of care.

While the debate continues about 'air bridges' to open up international travel between certain countries, there is a clear imperative for business to re-open around the world. But for many organisations the big issue is how to keep employees safe and well while simultaneously resuming global operations and maintaining profitability.

"Businesses cannot operate via virtual conference tools forever; business critical travel needs to resume, and for many, that needs to happen now", commented Mike Webb, CEO of Healix International. "However, employee expectations and legislation have drastically changed in the wake of COVID-19 and organisations across every industry are faced with the difficulty of demonstrating their duty of care obligations to their employees in an incredibly complex operating environment, particularly when it comes to weighing up the risks of international travel.

"COVID-19 has turned the entire concept of travel risk on its head. For the first time in a generation, risk is highest in parts of the world that have historically been considered the safest, and these countries account for more than 90% of global business travel. Logistical and operational restrictions across the world are changing by the day. And information related to COVID-19 and necessary measures to reduce transmission remains vast, ambiguous, highly complex and often incomplete. Even the most well-resourced organisations are struggling to stay on top of the magnitude of information that is published each day."

In response Healix International is launching 'COVID Travel Safe'. This one-of-a-kind product is a layered risk assessment tool that has been designed to enable business travel within a pandemic, and to provide instant assessments of the medical and logistical risks posed by each and every unique proposed travel itinerary.

Healix International Chief Medical Officer, Dr Adrian Hyzler explained: "We know that in this incredibly challenging time, all businesses need to be supported in resuming operations and providing an increased duty of care to their travellers. This tool allows any organisation to have the confidence to deploy employees safely and with the knowledge that those travelling do not pose a high medical risk of severe disease."

The 'COVID Travel Safe' tool works to protect employees and organisations as follows:

LAYER 1: 'COVID Travel Safe' online tool

The platform experience begins with the user answering a number of questions about their intended trip alongside a COVID-19 specific medical questionnaire. The 'COVID Travel Safe' tool will then generate a medical risk assessment. This assessment combines information about an individual's medical risks with data around the local pandemic conditions and logistical factors in the country of destination. This information is incorporated into an instantly available risk assessment document that the traveller can download.

Healix International's unique methodology measures a range of sub-risk factors including pandemic trend and COVID testing access, alongside practical concerns such as travel bans and curfews. Developed in-house by the Healix International panel of medical experts, the online tool calculates a medical 'risk score' for each individual. Behind the scenes, Healix International's team of medical and risk professionals closely monitor the science, government restrictions and logistical risk environments around the world. This ensures that the information driving 'COVID Travel Safe' is up to date and representative of the pandemic's evolution.

The online tool will provide an automated summary assessment of whether the traveller should proceed with their intended trip. This determination is delivered in the form of a 'traffic light' system of Red, Amber and Green. In the event that the traveller receives a Red assessment, risk factors warrant the individual reconsidering their need to travel. 'Green' indicates that the tool has not identified any major concerns with the intended trip, therefore booking can proceed. In the case of an 'Amber' result, a follow up consultation with Healix International's medical and/or logistical risk teams is recommended.  

LAYER 2: Personal Assessment

For those travellers who flag as 'Amber' there is the option to automatically integrate an escalation to the Healix International in-house medical and logistical risk teams for a personal assessment. The company's experts can review the report and provide customised advice on the associated risks. This advice then enables the traveller to make a more informed decision about the medical risks and the potential logistical complications. If required, Healix International can also work with employees to arrange pre-deployment COVID-19 tests and navigate unique logistical complexities. This layered approach provides the convenience of an easy-to-use online tool, seamlessly integrated with a more personalised expert service.

Further Customisation

The 'COVID Travel Safe' tool is highly customisable and able to sit on an organisation's own systems, conveniently integrating the risk assessment and trip approval workflow. Risk managers are given access to a separate login that allows them to track the requests and manage traveller support services where required. Healix International is also able to integrate travel policy rules, manager approvals, security information and ground support request forms to ensure that travellers can transition through the entire risk assessment and approval process in one efficient visit.

Employers can schedule a demo by contacting Healix International at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The U.S. insurance industry’s overall holdings of structured securities rose for a third straight year, by nearly 7% in 2018, and now top the $1 trillion mark, according to a new AM Best report.

The new Best’s Special Report, titled, “Insurers’ Structured Securities Holdings Continue to Rise,” states that all three U.S. insurance segments grew their structured securities holdings in 2018, with property/casualty holdings up by 14.3%; life/annuity holdings by 4.1%; and health by 22.2%. Market issuance of structured securities declined marginally in 2018, by 3%, but was up 4.9% in 2017, after rising 11% in 2016 and 16% in 2015. Collateralized loan obligations (CLO) issuance dropped by nearly 5% in 2018 to $280.7 billion, but between 2016 and 2017 had more than doubled. Insurers continue to add to their CLO allocations, with industry holdings climbing consistently each of the last five years, up 28% in 2018 to $82.2 billion. The life/annuity segment holds roughly 80% of industry CLOs, and its holdings increased by 25% in 2018 to approximately $65 billion.

Other report highlights include:

• Since 2016, the life/annuity segment has reported a decline of 7.2% in residential mortgage-backed securities, but increases of 13.1% in commercial mortgage-backed securities, and 14.9% in other asset-backed securities.
• New issues of student loan-backed securities (SLABS) increased by 18% in 2018 to $18.9 billion, following a decline of more than 2% in 2017.
• The life/annuity industry was the only major U.S. insurance segment to reduce its SLAB holdings in 2018, but all three increased their SLAB holdings substantially in 2017, with the life/annuity segment increasing its holdings by almost $2 billion (31%).
• Insurers’ holdings in auto loan-backed securities remain modest, at $16 billion, as are holdings in credit-card backed securities. Exposure is minimal, and over 98% are investment grade.

Structured securities can provide bond portfolio diversification, and AM Best views allocations to various types of structured securities as it would many other traditional asset classes, and expects companies to be able to discuss their investments in detail as part of the rating process.

To access the full copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=288181.

With the International Travel Insurance Conference Global 2018 just wrapped up, it is time for the European Aero-Medical Institute (EURAMI) to review what has been a very successful event for the whole EURAMI team.

We are pleased to say that the EURAMI booth has proven to be a great meeting place for existing and new members and has once again shown that the interest in high quality accreditation is still on the rise.  EURAMI accreditation has clearly gained traction and importance as evidenced by the numerous new providers who expressed interested in applying for recognition. 

It has been a particularly exciting week for EURAMI as the EURAMI Board elections were held during the 33^rd General Assembly on Thursday, November 1^st 2018. A very diverse and highly competent selection of candidates was presented to the members with different approaches and ideas for the further development of the association.

Sergio Abril and Mark Chapman were newly elected for their first term on the Board whereas Franziska Hollenstein was confirmed for her second term on the EURAMI Board. Philipp Schneider, Dr. Cai Glushak and Lisa Humphries will remain on the board to complete their term.

The selection of officers was done shortly after the election and EURAMI is delighted to announce that the Board has selected Dr. Cai Glushak as President, Philipp Schneider as Vice President and Mark Chapman as Treasurer. Dr. Glushak expressed heartfelt thanks to Dr. Laurent Taymans and Pascaline Wolfermann, outgoing president and vice-president respectively, for their extraordinary leadership and efforts to bring EURAMI to a new level during their tenure. 

A great end to a busy conference was the last evening with the Gala Dinner and the ITIJ Awards on November 1^st. EURAMI is proud to announce that five EURAMI companies were among the finalists.

In the category of Air Ambulance Provider of the Year 2018 all three finalists – REVA, SARPA and Air Alliance Medlflight - were EURAMI accredited providers with Air Alliance Medflight winning the award for the second time in a row.

Air Ambulance Worldwide was able to win the Award of Best Marketing Campaign of the Year whereas fellow EURAMI provider CEGA took home the award for Assistance Company of the Year. A great achievement from our members!

The EURAMI Board & Head Office would like to thank the ITIC organizers, conference participants and of course its members for such a successful ITIC and would once again like to congratulate all ITIJ Award finalists and winners. See you in 2019 in Malta!

Now Health International Group, has announced the launch of a new mid-tier, completely digital product that is designed to cater for a new generation of expatriates and upper-affluent local nationals.

The company has launched its new SimpleCare plans in response to the growing number of digitally savvy millennials and younger executives moving abroad for work, who still demand the protection of international health insurance but at a more affordable price point to the traditional corporate executive expat. Now Health International also believes the plans will appeal to the growing base of upper-affluent local nationals in the emerging markets in which it operates.

To cater to this new generation of expats SimpleCare has been developed to be a completely digital proposition, with members only able to access their plan documents and make claims via a paper free, seamless online customer experience. This environmentally conscious product leverages Now Health International’s award winning digital tools including its smartphone App and secure online portfolio, as well as new mobile pass membership cards which can be downloaded into members’ smartphone wallets.

The new product offers core protection for all major health incidents including hospitalisation, surgery, cancer treatment, and evacuation and repatriation, which are often the main concern of younger expats. Customers can then choose to add low or medium levels of coverage for out-patient treatment, including physiotherapy, dental and medication if desired.

Designed for the more cost conscious consumer, the SimpleCare product offers multiple options to help customers further reduce their premium. This includes eight different levels of annual deductible for all types of treatment (in, day and out-patient) as well as risk management tools such as a co-insurance and per visit excess. Default regional geographical restrictions of coverage are also available for members located in certain countries of residence, providing a more affordable option for those that want to access top quality medical facilities but do not need worldwide coverage.

The product will be launched in key markets first, including Europe, Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore, and then be rolled out to other markets in Asia and the Middle East in the coming months.

Martin Garcia, Executive Chairman commented, “SimpleCare is designed to meet the needs of a new generation of expat - the growing numbers of younger people moving abroad, 2 most of which end up on local employment contracts. We set out to create an international health insurance solution which caters to these cost conscious, digitally literate expats while still providing them with access to world class medical facilities and the high standard of service that Now Health International is known for”.

Zahir Sharif, Managing Director for Now Health International added, “The clue is the name; SimpleCare is meant to be simple to understand and use – offering the vital health protection that our customers desire, with easy to use digital tools, access to the best quality private medical providers, and all with an affordable price tag. We understand that many expats and companies looking for executive health plans want more comprehensive, worldwide coverage, and our benefit rich WorldCare plans will continue to cater for those needs. However, we are confident our innovative new product will enable us to reach out to the growing base of younger expats globally, as we continue to consolidate our position as the leading IPMI provider worldwide”.

With many global organisations expecting to grow their global workforce in the coming years, new research from international health insurer Bupa Global reveals that businesses are adapting their approach to international health and wellbeing employee benefits.

Sheldon Kenton, Managing Director of Bupa Global, commented, “The fact that more and more employees are becoming globally mobile means that international private medical insurance is something of a non-negotiable for businesses. Companies are waking up to the fact that health and wellbeing benefits can be a real differentiator when it comes to recruitment and retention, and can meet this demand by partnering with an insurer which has a network of world class facilities, giving them access to the right care at the right time and place.”

Bupa Global carried out two extensive pieces of research with 150¹ HR Directors and 1,851 globally mobile employees to understand what businesses are experiencing when it comes to the changing requirements and demand for international health and wellbeing benefits.

The research shows that a third of HR directors (32%) expect their global workforce to increase over the coming five years, with employees most likely to travel to Europe (80%) and North America (53%), followed by Asia (44%), and the Middle East (35%).

Correspondingly, there has been increased demand in the quality and quantity of health and wellbeing benefits by those who work regularly overseas. Half (52%) of HR directors report a rising demand from these employees for international private medical insurance over the past five years. A third (32%) of HR directors have also had to improve the quality of health and wellbeing benefits offered to globally mobile staff over the last decade.

International private medical insurance (IPMI) and flexible working hours are among employees’ most desired benefits, with a quarter (25%) of staff expecting more from their employer in these areas than they did five years ago. 

The research also shows that it is even more crucial that adequate health cover is in place as people progress in their career, with mental health becoming an increasing workplace concern as people climb the career ladder. When asked what health and wellbeing issues employees are likely to face as they become more senior within an organisation, HR directors listed increased stress (39%), depression (36%) and anxiety (33%) as the biggest concerns.

Despite the increasing demands and expectations, the research also highlights that there is still confusion amongst employers on the benefits that IPMI can bring. Of those who don’t provide any IPMI at all to their employees, almost half (44%) say they weren’t familiar enough with the options and requirements.

The main reasons for employers providing health cover to staff is recruitment and retention, followed by actively wanting to look after employee health and wellbeing. 79% of HR directors said providing private medical insurance is an important differentiator versus their competitors.

^{1 All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from Bupa Global and YouGov. Total sample size was 150 leading HR professionals across large UK-based multinational businesses and over 1,800 employees that regularly work abroad. Fieldwork was undertaken in January-February 2017. The survey of employees was carried out online and HR directors were interviewed by telephone.}

You are excited about a recent or upcoming development in the business and wish to announce it to the entire global international private medical insurance and health care industry: A new recruit; product upgrade; new service; attendance at an event - these are all developments iPMI Magazine readers wish to know about.

You have limited budget to distribute a press release article globally with photo, back links and promotional copy - in order to educate the industry about this important development in the business. You want front page coverage, social media promotion plus inclusion in an industry-wide email newsletter. You need to see the article everywhere.

At iPMI Magazine you are well covered as we have been providing international payors and providers with an exclusive front page news distribution service for over 5 years. Supported by our always-on global digital content delivery system, content goes further much quicker with iPMI Magazine.

Pay-As-You-Go On Demand News Distribution - Pay Online By Credit Or Debit Card

Designed for the fast-moving ever changing global IPMI industry, you may now access this service on-demand and pay as you go.

You can use a credit or debit card to settle your bill immediately meaning no waiting around for payments to clear. This leaves us to work hand-in-hand on the correct placement of the article whilst providing a space for you in the hearts and minds of our readership.

Features:

• 1 Press Release;
• To Include Your Company Bio;
• To Include A Photo;
• To Include Up-To 3 Back Links To Your Web Site;
• Complete Meta Description And Meta Tags;
• Front Page Coverage With Photo;
• Hosted For Life;
• Complete And Ongoing Social Media Promotion By The iPMIM Marketing Machine;
• Emailed To Over 40,000 Active Subscribers;
• Your Own Dedicated Content Manager;
• Pay Online With Credit Or Debit Card.

Rate Card: Only £129-99 per article.

Black Friday Sale 10/11/2017: Only £99-99 per article.

Get Started

Write to ipmiATipmimagazine.com and one of our news specialists will contact you directly to discuss your media requirements.

(Replace AT with @)

International Private Medical Insurance News

You are excited about a recent or upcoming development in the business and wish to announce it to the entire global international private medical insurance and health care industry: A new recruit; product upgrade; new service; attendance at an event - these are all developments iPMI Magazine readers wish to know about.

You have limited budget to distribute a press release article globally with photo, back links and promotional copy - in order to educate the industry about this important development in the business. You want front page coverage, social media promotion plus inclusion in an industry-wide email newsletter. You need to see the article everywhere.

At iPMI Magazine you are well covered as we have been providing international payors and providers with an exclusive front page news distribution service for over 5 years. Supported by our always-on global digital content delivery system, content goes further much quicker with iPMI Magazine.

Pay-As-You-Go On Demand News Distribution - Pay Online By Credit Or Debit Card

Designed for the fast-moving ever changing global IPMI industry, you may now access this service on-demand and pay as you go.

You can use a credit or debit card to settle your bill immediately meaning no waiting around for payments to clear. This leaves us to work hand-in-hand on the correct placement of the article whilst providing a space for you in the hearts and minds of our readership.

Features:

• 1 Press Release;
• To Include Your Company Bio;
• To Include A Photo;
• To Include Up-To 3 Back Links To Your Web Site;
• Complete Meta Description And Meta Tags;
• Front Page Coverage With Photo;
• Hosted For Life;
• Complete And Ongoing Social Media Promotion By The iPMIM Marketing Machine;
• Emailed To Over 40,000 Active Subscribers;
• Your Own Dedicated Content Manager;
• Pay Online With Credit Or Debit Card.

Rate Card: Only £129-99 per article.

Get Started

Write to ipmiATipmimagazine.com and one of our news specialists will contact you directly to discuss your media requirements.

(Replace AT with @)

International Private Medical Insurance News