Companies seeking international health coverage for their employees traveling abroad on short-term assignments can enjoy greater peace of mind with Aetna’s (NYSE: AET) newly enhanced WorldTravelerSM global health insurance plans. Effective immediately for all new and existing WorldTravelerSM plans, Aetna has eliminated its annual maximum payout for prescription drugs.

Aetna also has lifted its annual medical maximum payout for employees covered by its Premier Plus plans. For all plans with a dependent care option, employees’ dependents are now covered through age 26, up from age 18. Additionally, as of April 1, Aetna has lowered employers’ minimum annual premium to $1,000 on new and renewed plans.

Available for companies in many parts of the world, WorldTravelerSM is stand-alone, short-term international health coverage for employees who travel overseas extensively – up to six months consecutively and nine months annually – but are not candidates for expatriate health coverage. WorldTravelerSM offers benefits rarely available with domestic health care plans or accident policies. Standard benefits include direct billing to Aetna by its global network of more than 70,000 hospitals, clinics and doctors outside the United States, 24/7 customer service, on-call nurses, and medical evacuation and repatriation services.

“We know that dealing with health-related issues can be stressful, especially when people are far from home,” said Eugene Marks, Aetna International’s general manager of the Americas Region. “That’s why we have enriched WorldTravelerSM. We want our customers to know they can count on us wherever in the world they might be.”

For employers, WorldTravelerSM offers an affordable way to provide international coverage for employees traveling on business. Premiums are based on a per diem cost and the number of projected travel days. Plan administration is easy too. All employees are automatically covered; no individual enrollment is required. WorldTravelerSM requires no deductible. The plans cover pre-existing conditions and dental injuries. Options include dependent coverage, business travel accident insurance and health care benefits during leisure travel in conjunction with business travel.

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.

Globality Health responded to the need for appropriate insurance for seafarers by partnering with Crewsure (crewsure.com) to offer clients innovative insurance products. From August 20th 2013 all vessels over a certain size have to comply with a new labour convention known as the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. New product, Crewsure Marine, supports the health and wellbeing of onboard crew and also fully meets the revised Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) regulations.

Crewsure Marine is a composite ‘no fault’ insurance policy, paid for by the Employer, providing personal insurance for seafarers. This includes medical care, personal accident cover, loss or delay of baggage and repatriation in the case of abandonment. Although the Crewsure product has been designed as a single solution, should a ship owner have sourced elements elsewhere the product can be separated as appropriate. “It is our firm belief that the best partners have joined forces to deliver first class care and the best insurance service to the maritime industry. We give Crewsure clients the strength of one of the world’s leading insurers and reinsurers, so crewmembers can feel safe and secure whatever ocean they cross.” Philip Wright, Chief Commercial Officer, Globality Health.

“Crewsure will work harmoniously with the maritime industry to give seafarers the security and benefits they deserve. Crucially, we engage with unions, shipowners, ship managers, manning agents and the insurance industry and will continue to do so to ensure that Crewsure remains evolutionary.” Robert Johnston, Crewsure Marine.

Crewsure Marine is underwritten by Globality Health and KA Köln.Assekuranz Agentur GmbH on behalf of Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC – all part of Munich Re.

About Crewsure

Managing Director Robert Johnson is a well-known figure in the maritime insurance world. He recently retired as Chairman of British Marine after 10 years as Managing Director, following his 25 years with the Steamship Mutual P&I Club.

About Globality Health

Globality Health is the international health insurer with a special focus on expatriates. People who study, live or work abroad are assured that their health is always in good hands, no matter where they are. As an integral part of Munich Health, with more than 5,000 experts at 26 locations, we offer innovative healthcare solutions for clients and partners all over the world. As a member of Munich Re, we give you the strength and security of one of the world’s leading insurers and reinsurers.

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