The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has revealed that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme’s (FSCS) fees are negatively impacting insurance brokers.

In a survey of BIBA members, 53% stated that they have either delayed or cut investment and 40% reported a reduction in expansion as a result of the fees. BIBA members have seen a fifty-fold increase in their FSCS fees during recent years, primarily due to mis-sold payment protection Insurance policies from secondary intermediaries.

Steve White, BIBA’s Chief Executive, said, “Members continue to report the unfairness of the FSCS fees particularly in light of the fact that defaults by insurance brokers are relatively uncommon and have not given rise to huge claims on the resources of the compensation scheme, unlike other sectors. This research is particularly alarming and demonstrates how restricting these fees are for members, 85% of whom have less than 10 staff. We will work with the Financial Conduct Authority on the review of its funding to find a more equitable system and we want to see a fairer separate sub-class within the FSCS for pure insurance brokers.”

David Sparkes, BIBA’s Compliance and Training Manager, said, “BIBA fully supports the concept of compensation; it is important for both customer protection and increasing confidence in the insurance sector, but the current model needs to change.”

Cigna (NYSE: CI) announced today it has completed its acquisition of Alegis Care, a portfolio company of Triton Pacific Capital Partners. Alegis Care is a multi-specialty, medical health services organization dedicated to creating a comfortable medical home experience for homebound Medicare and Medicaid patients. Alegis Care specializes in serving the chronically ill and elderly with physician services, comprehensive care coordination and a high level of patient care in the safety and comfort of a patient’s own home or place of residence.

“Improving the medical home experience by providing access to affordable and convenient health care is a growing essential service for our homebound senior customers, and based on the successful relationship and results we’ve shared with Alegis Care since 2009, I’m pleased to announce this acquisition that is highly complementary to our business strategy,” Cigna-HealthSpring President Herb Fritch said. “Together, we will make it easier for seniors to experience the full range of coordinated health care services, working with their own physician, and in the most appropriate setting for their needs.”

Alegis Care, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Chicago, will remain focused on chronic care management for severely ill individuals, and continue to serve its current clients and customers, including health care systems and other payers, as a Cigna company. In 2013, Alegis Care will provide services to nearly 31,000 seniors across 10 states, including Cigna-HealthSpring customers in Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Cigna plans to leverage Alegis Care capabilities and services for its broad base of Medicare Advantage customers with the goal of improving the quality of service while reducing cost.

“Cigna’s commitment to bringing quality primary care services directly to its homebound senior customers afflicted with multiple chronic conditions aligns perfectly with the mission and commitment of Alegis Care and its managed practices,” said Edmund Bujalski, CEO of Alegis Care. “Everyone on our team is pleased to be part of the Cigna-HealthSpring family. We see this acquisition as significantly enhancing our ability to serve our diverse customer base, supported by substantially deeper resources than we would have on our own.”

Organizations all over the world are leveraging the benefits of a globally mobile workforce. According to a KPMG International survey, 72 percent of over 600 respondents use global mobility programs to support overall business objectives. KPMG International’s 15th annual Global Assignment Policies and Practices (GAPP) survey provides a wealth of information for those responsible for or interested in global mobility. The detailed data found in these pages is an opportunity to compare or contrast one’s current practices to those of their peers or other types of organizations. Further, it allows for critical learning of best practices and new ways of thinking.

“A globally mobile workforce is as popular as ever,” says Achim Mossmann, Principal, KPMG’s International Executive Services, KPMG in the US. “Over the 15 years of this survey’s existence, in those companies where use of mobility is the norm, we have seen continued expansion and adaptation to the programs. We even see companies with headquarters in Nordic and Asia Pacific regions beginning to jump on the globalization bandwagon and needing to move their people to new strategic growth locations.”

Flexibility and adaptability of programs to address changing demands is strongly evidenced through the variety of assignment types offered:

• 81 percent offer short term assignments;
• 96 percent offer long term assignments;
• 47 percent offer permanent transfer/indefinite length assignments.

Surprisingly, given the current economic environment, and the noted desire to support the business, only 12 percent of survey participants say that cost control and assurance of an acceptable return on investment (ROI) are of importance.

According to Mossmann, “Having agreed upon metrics to demonstrate ROI helps any global mobility program demonstrate objectively their value to the broader organization and secure continued program funding. However, a notable amount of survey participants struggle to track ROI information as it relates to international assignments—27 percent do not know the percentage of assignees that leave the organization within 12 months of repatriation and 31 percent do not know why they leave.”

Encouragingly, survey participants, year-on-year, continue to exhibit inclusionary mindsets as it relates to the definition of a “family” within their policies for benefit purposes. Fifty-five percent include unmarried domestic partners/companions of the opposite gender and 49 percent include unmarried domestic partners/companions of the same gender.

These broader definitions are most evident in European and Asia Pacific-headquartered organizations, and also within the financial services and high technology industries. In circumstances where organizations may offer incentives for assignees to accept international opportunities, many survey participants also take into consideration dual-career couples and their children.

For instance 21 percent provide job search support in the host country and 21 percent reimburse education expenses for the spouse/partner. Forty-one percent offer language training and 37 percent offer cross-cultural training to the assignee, spouse and their children.

Overall, the use of international assignees will remain the same amount or more for 86 percent of survey participants.

Cigna Global provides international health insurance for Expatriates living abroad. Cigna combines years of experience in private medical insurance with an understanding of the service and customer care you need.

Our International Health Plans Explained

With Cigna you can create a health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family by offering you the reassurance of comprehensive core cover, and the flexibility of adding as many extra benefits as you want.

Our Core Cover:

International Medical Insurance - your essential core cover, for all inpatient, day case surgery and accommodation costs. In addition, essential cover for cancer, maternity and psychiatric care on an inpatient, outpatient day case basis.

Our Optional Benefits:

International Medical Insurance Plus - additional and more extensive outpatient cover that protects you for any treatments that don't require a hospital stay.

International Emergency Evacuation - peace of mind cover for transport and repatriation costs for you and a family member if you need treatment in another country.

International Health and Wellbeing - allows you to manage your health in your own way with cover for screenings, tests, examinations and other wellbeing activities.

International Vision and Dental - complete cover for all your vision and dental costs.

Our experience

Cigna has worked in international medical insurance for more than 30 years.

Today, we have 60 million customer relationships around the world. Looking after them is an international workforce of 30,000 people, plus a network of more than 900,000 hospitals, physicians, clinics and health and wellness specialists.

Our full-time, clinical team is led by physicians. We have years of experience in dealing with varied and unique clinical and service situations worldwide.

Our vast experience means we provide high standards of healthcare, regardless of where you are in the world.

Why Cigna:

Our customers choose us for their international health insurance because only Cigna Global Health Options gives you all the following benefits:

• Access to our global network of trusted hospitals, clinics and doctors
• The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
• The convenience and confidence of Cigna customer care
• The reassurance of our experience in delivering international healthcare
• Globally compliant healthcare plans

Company: Cigna Global Health Options

Address: 220 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 5SG

Phone: +44 (0) 1475 492119

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: www.cignaglobal.com

GeoBlue is a leader and innovator serving the needs of world travelers. GeoBlue Expat® and GeoBlue Traveler® group health plans combine unsurpassed service and mobile technology to help you access trusted doctors and hospitals all around the globe. GeoBlue offers expatriate and traveler products in cooperation with participating Blue Cross Blue Shield companies. Select a state below to view a list of Blue companies and learn more about the expatriate and traveler product offerings.

Company: GeoBlue

Address: One Radnor Corporate Center Suite 100 Radnor, PA 19087 USA

Phone: +1 610 254 5300

Fax: +1 610 482 9953

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: https://www.geo-blue.com

Health plans from Integra Global allow your staff complete freedom of choice for doctors, specialists and hospital providers, worldwide. Let international medical insurance cover your staff while they are temporarily back in the U.S. and Canada. Our network of hospitals and doctors serves as a passport to the largest health network in North America. For our international health insurance customers, our global support service means that your staff can rely on the best care, worldwide: when the need it, where they need it, in some of the world's leading centers of medical excellence. While your staff members are assigned abroad, you don't want to worry about what their international health insurance policies cover.

Plan 1 members have access to 5,200 hospitals and 650,000 health care professionals through the UnitedHealthcare Network. All treatment in the U.S. must be pre-certified. Make sure your provider pre-certifies your medical treatment. Utilizing the UnitedHealthcare network simplifies your pre-certification process and claims filing.

Company: Integra Global

Phone U.K: 0808 101 3483 (toll-free)

Germany: 06221 825 650

North America: 1 888 753 1377 (toll-free)

Worldwide: +1 888 753 1377

Fax International: +1 800 774 3608 (toll-free)

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.integraglobal.com

Download the Brand New Prima Healthcare Plan guide launched by ALC Health recently. 

For over 10 years, ALC Health has been looking after and protecting the health of individuals, their families and international companies from across the world with a range of flexible and innovative international health insurance plans that reflect the lifestyle of today's expatriate international traveller and global citizen. With many of our advisors having been expatriates themselves, we really do understand what it's like to be living far away from home or in a country where healthcare treatment may not always be readily accessible.

à la carte healthcare (ALC Health) is an award winning international medical insurer who for over 10 years has been protecting the health of private clients, companies and organisations across the globe. The company continues to grow and develop on a philosophy of ensuring that every policyholder whether as a private individual or a member of a corporate group is assured of the highest level of personal service and support.

It is this experience that has enabled ALC Health to stand out as an international medical insurer that is able to bring together a range of quality products supported by the highest level of service, at a very personal level and has long been seen as a preferred choice of international expatriates looking for a more personalised and caring approach to their healthcare needs.

Click here to read more about ALC Health in the iPMI Magazine Medical and Health Insurance Company Guide and Directory.

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and iTriage®, one of the market leaders in consumer healthcare technology, today jointly announced the launch of a customizable employer enhancement to the iTriage consumer health app. Nearly 4,000 Aetna mid-sized employer clients can now offer their employees a company-specific, enhanced version of the iTriage app.

The iTriage employer-customized app: Customizes information for consumers based on their specific health benefits plan; Helps employees understand how using an in-network health care provider can be more affordable, which can also create cost savings for employers; and Reduces administrative work for health care providers, who will benefit from informed patients who have selected the right physician, facility and level of care based on their individual needs.

“The launch of the iTriage employer-customized app solution to Aetna’s mid-sized employer clients supports our shared vision of creating a better health care experience for our customers and their employees,” said Vibha Jha, vice president and head of Key Accounts for Aetna. “For the first time, employees and their families are able to use all of the unique features of iTriage with information based on their specific benefits plan.”

Founded in 2008, iTriage’s free consumer health care app has been downloaded nearly 10 million times, with 50 million uses each year, helping connect consumers with answers to “What could be wrong?” and “Where can I go for care?” With the launch of the new customizable app, employers can also now guide their employees who are looking for care within their network.

“iTriage is using innovation to change the health care delivery landscape,” said Dr. Peter Hudson, CEO and co-founder, iTriage. “We believe consumers and their employers are uniquely positioned to sculpt the next horizon of health care, and our products are focused on accelerating that change. Working with such a large group of employers and members is a huge milestone that underscores our mission to help consumers make better health care decisions.”

Helping Employees, Employers and Providers

With millions of Americans using smartphones to access health care information, the iTriage® app educates members about health conditions and where they can be treated – about two people every second. The employer-customized version of the iTriage app then encourages employees to consider in-network, clinically appropriate, lower-cost care through information about health care costs and care alternatives. Pop-ups alert members if they’ve chosen an out-of-network health care provider. Employers can help engage their employees and their families at the time of their health care decision through the customized app.

Through increased use of in-network health care providers and reduced cases of avoidable ER visits, employers can see an overall reduction in health care costs. The employer-customized version of the iTriage app will also help health care providers by providing a platform to reach potential patients at a time of need. In certain locations, once a patient identifies a health care provider in their network, they can book an appointment conveniently through the iTriage app.

For more information, visit http://about.iTriageHealth.com.

About iTriage

iTriage LLC, an Aetna subsidiary headquartered in Denver, Colo., is a global healthcare technology company founded in 2008 by two emergency medicine physicians. The company’s market-leading platform and mobile/website applications offer a proprietary Symptom-to-Provider™ pathway that empowers consumers to make better health care decisions. iTriage helps people answer the two most common medical questions: “What could be wrong?” and “Where can I go for care?” Millions of consumers around the globe have downloaded the free iTriage mobile app through the iTunes App store or Android Market, or used the iTriage website at www.itriagehealth.com. In addition, thousands of health care providers already use the iTriage platform to reach more consumers and increase patient engagement.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

Dubbed as one of the hardest working Health Insurance Brokers in the business, International Private Medical Insurance Magazine speaks with Mr. Olivier LE FAOUDER. Olivier is a certified European insurance broker and the Managing Director of AOC Insurance Broker, a leading Private Medical Insurance Broker with offices in Europe and Asia. AOC Insurance Broker help expatriates and travelers compare the best private medical insurance and international health insurance. AOC Insurance Broker is a member of Groupe Cadre, ranked 18th Insurance Broker in France and represents more than 25 Overseas Insurance Companies.

A graduate of Toronto’s Ryerson University, Kim joined Global Excel in 1995 and was one of the original members of the Managed Care team. She first worked as a front-line negotiator for in-patient cases, and then served as the Coordinator of Hospital Networks developing Global Excel’s extensive provider network.

Kim played a key role in the creation of the Corporate Client Services department where she was the Director from 2003–2006. She also served as Director of the Managed Care department between 2005–2008. Following this, Kim became the VP Managed Care Contracting where she was responsible for network performance analysis, network expansion and development, evaluating corporate client network needs and managing provider relationships.

In 2011, Kim moved into the business development role, focusing predominately on expanding GEM’s expat product offerings.