International Private Medical Insurance Magazine (iPMIM) is the ultimate Health and Medical Insurance Digital Media serving expatriate, corporate, health and travel insurance markets. Due to the nomadic nature of the international healthcare industry iPMI Magazine is an internet based news service, for worldwide healthcare professionals, who need to understand the impacts of healthcare and insurance policy, regulatory, and legislative developments. Combined with in depth health insurance industry analysis, best-in-class health insurance industry data, and exclusive, C-Suite Executive health insurance interviews and round tables, iPMI Magazine bridges an information gap between healthcare payor, provider and patient. Written by the health and medical insurance industry, for the health and medical insurance industry, iPMIM is supported and designed by leading international medical insurance companies and service providers.
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Published in iPMI Magazine Executive Appointments Movements News
Assistance, claims and travel risk management provider CEGA, a Charles Taylor company, has appointed Dr Carlos Fuentes Nieto to join its newly-established medical assistance team in Mallorca, Spain.
CEGA's multilingual Spanish office, which is fully integrated with its UK operations, was set up earlier this year to extend the company's services to international insurers and support UK clients with an overseas presence. Its development is integral to the provider's ambitious growth agenda.
Dr Fuentes Nieto adds over twenty years' experience of Spanish hospital directorships, general medical practice and global medical assistance to CEGA's international service offering. Trained in Spain and Germany, his specialisms include accident and emergency care and medical litigation. He will work closely with the provider's assistance team in the UK, reporting into its Chief Medical Officer Dr Lynn Gordon, in Chichester.
Commenting on his new role, Dr Fuentes Nieto says, "What attracts me to global assistance is the fact that I can use my skills to really make a difference to individuals who are feeling vulnerable, wherever they are in the world - and that no one case is ever the same. I look forward to providing the excellent standard of customer care for which CEGA is so well-known."
Jody Baker, commercial director for CEGA, a Charles Taylor company, says, "Recruiting high-calibre medical specialists is vital to our global service offering and we are therefore delighted to welcome Dr Fuentes Nieto to our in-house medical team.
"Having successfully supported UK travel and health insurers for over four decades, we are now able to offer our end-to-end insurance solutions to a wider range of clients than ever, both at home and abroad.
"Our European expansion is further fortified by the global presence of our parent company Charles Taylor, which employs about 3,100 staff in around 120 locations around the world. Together, we offer our clients truly international capabilities."
Published in iPMI Magazine Cost Containment News
Horwich Farrelly, the leading specialist insurance law firm, and LV= General Insurance (LVGI) have dealt a further blow to dishonest claims enablers by securing the committal of Haroon Karim, the former director of multiple claims management agencies/hire companies. Karim was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
These proceedings arose from a previous case conducted by Horwich Farrelly in conjunction with LV= where Judge Godsmark QC at Nottingham County Court ruled that a solicitor at the now defunct Asons had made "gross failures" in handling a personal injury claim in which key documents were found to contain forged signatures. Asons' conduct was described as "improper, unreasonable and negligent" in not verifying the documentation being supplied to them by Karim. In addition, the judge found evidence that Asons were responsible for "backdating [falsifying] correspondence to disguise non-compliance with court timetabling".
Karim (33), from Nottingham and formerly a director of, amongst others, ACA Claims Ltd, ACA Accident Claims Assistant Ltd, Medicals Elite Ltd, Easy Go Hire Ltd and Medical Healthcare Services Ltd, was one of Asons larger sources of work - his dishonesty has now been exposed and punished.
Karim had originally been found on the balance of probabilities to have forged a claimant's signature on various documents, including the Claim Form used to start proceedings without the claimant's knowledge. His and his families companies stood to gain financially from the claim had it succeeded. As a result of the original action, both Asons and Karim were jointly liable to pay LV='s costs of defending the action, which were ultimately assessed in the region of £50,000.
After the hearing, Horwich Farrelly and LV= proceeded a further case against Karim for contempt of court and he was found guilty on 5th July in the High Court in Nottingham and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
In his judgment, HHJ Godsmark QC said that Mr Karim made "fanciful and speculative assertions" and "he ran a CMC with substantial rewards." He also noted to Mr Karim that "forging court documents in line with your business must meet with a custodial sentence."
Ronan McCann, Managing Partner at Horwich Farrelly, said: "This ruling highlights Horwich Farrelly's commitment to always working alongside the industry to ensure fraudsters and professional enablers receive the punishment that they deserve. This case sends a clear message to professional enablers that insurers will not stop in their efforts to stamp out fraudulent claims, and ensure that honest customers do not suffer from the dishonest actions of others".
Clare Lunn, LV= GI Fraud Director, said: "This is a fantastic outcome and will hopefully serve as a stark reminder that those in positions of trust should uphold the professional standards that are expected of them. Mr Karim abused his profession and let down his clients by forging documents and potentially landing them with large legal bills. We're glad to see that he will now be serving time behind bars, as well as paying back every penny we accrued in costs. As an industry, we need to continue to take a tough stance against such conduct which will act as a deterrent to stop underhand practices like this."
Published in iPMI Magazine Information Technology News
First Stop Health is releasing the Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine, helping employers combat the ever-increasing costs of healthcare by implementing virtual care solutions. The guide provides guidance for finding high return on investment (ROI) virtual care that delivers savings, as well as tips to help employers choose the best possible telemedicine solution for their company.
The Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine comes as many employers and their employees continue to cope with the rising cost of healthcare. Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $19,616 in 2018, up five percent from 2017[1]​. Additionally, the average price of an emergency room visit has risen 176 percent from 2008-2017[2]. Telemedicine helps to reduce costs by allowing employees to talk to a doctor via phone or video rather than choosing a more expensive care option, such as the emergency room, urgent care or primary care visit.
More employers are implementing telemedicine benefits. Telemedicine has been one of the fastest-growing healthcare benefits, according to the results of the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM's) 2019 Employee Benefits survey[3].
But telemedicine only works when employees choose to use it instead of a more expensive option. Currently, most telemedicine programs only deliver utilization rates of one percent to 10 percent. The Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine suggests that employers should look for a solution that achieves at least 25 percent usage and guarantees employer savings.
"The majority of HR professionals we spoke with at the SHRM 2019 Annual Conference and Exposition already had telemedicine, but weren't seeing much, if any, value," said David Guttman, president of First Stop Health. "The HR professionals rarely knew their telemedicine utilization rate and when they did, were routinely underwhelmed by their results."
"The goal of the Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine is to help employers choose a telemedicine solution that reduces medical claims and overall healthcare costs while delivering a convenient, quality experience for employees," he said.
When employers download the Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine, they get:
● Top Reasons to Provide a Telemedicine Benefit to Employees
● Five Key Criteria for Buying a Telemedicine Solution
● Tips to Secure Internal Buy-In
● Checklist for Choosing the Right Solution
Learn more by downloading the free Buyer's Guide to Telemedicine.
Collinson continues to enhance its medical assistance capability with the appointments of Marianne Jackson as Chief Medical officer and David Spicer as Nurse Consultant. These strategic hires follow the appointment of Dr Simon Worrell as Global Medical Director earlier this year.
Marianne, a qualified Surgeon, A&E Consultant and General Practitioner, has over 30 years of experience in Emergency Medicine. Formerly holding the role of Regional Medical Director at AIG, Marianne had responsibility for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, amassing a wealth of knowledge relating to the medical risks and life-threatening scenarios faced by travellers.
As Chief Medical Officer, Marianne will manage Collinson's clinical cases, liaising between administrative and medical staff to ensure customers receive the highest standards of medical advice and care globally. Marianne will report to Dr Simon Worrell, Collinson's Global Medical Director.
Marianne commented: "Collinson is recognised worldwide for its high-quality medical assistance, a field I am enormously passionate about. I am delighted to join as we continue to enhance the medical assistance services we offer to our clients, supported by an ever-increasingly experienced team to ensure we provide travelling employees with the right level of medical care."
As Nurse Consultant, David is responsible for leading, teaching and mentoring the nursing team. David joins from Healix, where he managed a team of nurses and cared for patients from a diverse range of clients within the insurance industry, banks, media companies, as well as some of the largest multinationals in the world. In addition, David has significant experience of managing the healthcare of the 27,000 crown servants worldwide under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office healthline contract and was seconded in-house at the FCO for two years.
Scott Sunderman, Head of Assistance at Collinson, added: "We pride ourselves on offering clients the highest standards of protection when their staff travel abroad, so we employ only the finest medical talent. Marianne and David have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and bring significant capability to what is already an extremely strong global team of doctors and nurses."
Collinson recently entered into a strategic joint venture with Drum Cussac, the global risk and security specialist, to offer a 24/7/365 integrated TRM solution to help organisations fulfil their duty of care and enhance the wellbeing of employees travelling abroad. Collinson also partnered with worldwide healthcare leader, Aspen Medical, providing the capability to deliver medical services in remote, challenging or under-resourced locations.
For further information please visit www.collinsongroup.com
Published in iPMI Magazine Risk News
According to a new report from Marsh, the world's leading insurance broker and risk adviser, use of transactional risk insurance significantly increased in 2018. Policy limits in excess of US$1 billion are now available for single transactions as private equity firms and strategic investors increasingly use insurance to reduce the risks associated with mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
In its latest Transactional Risk Insurance Report, Marsh reports that it placed transactional risk insurance on behalf of clients on 1,089 transactions in 2018, up 31% compared to 2017. Aggregate limits placed also increased, rising 35% in 2018 to US$36.5 billion, driven by the size and number of transactions across large and mid-market deals in which insurance is used.
Regional findings of the report include:
North America - In 2018, total transactional risk insurance limits placed by Marsh in the US and Canada grew 53% over 2017 (to US$16.56 billion). Pricing reductions, larger transactions, and increased utilization by corporate/strategic buyers has spurred an increase in limits purchased and the number of transactions covered.
Latin America - Marsh reports increasing investor interest in transactional risk insurance even though average premium rates are significantly higher than in other regions.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa - Marsh placed transactional risk insurance on 479 transactions in 2018, an increase of 31%. Marsh reported an increase of 26% in total transactional risk insurance limits placed in EMEA in 2018 to US$15.93 billion. Average premium rates increased despite a significant increase in new capacity.
Asia – Last year saw notable growth in the use of transactional risk insurance in South Korea and Greater China, especially warranty and indemnity and tax insurance for real estate transactions.
Pacific - In 2018 there was a significant increase in limits placed over the previous year reflecting a 36.4% increase in deal count and an increase in the number of large transactions using insurance.
"Transactional risk insurance is now firmly established in the M&A marketplace as an important tool that can help mitigate deal risk, evidenced by its widespread adoption among private equity firms and strategic investors globally," said Karen Beldy Torborg, Global Leader, Private Equity and M&A Services Practice, Marsh JLT Specialty. "Demand for these solutions is on course to remain high throughout the rest of 2019 and we expect the insurance market, now supporting very large limits, to be ready to respond."
You can find the full report here.
iPMI Magazine Provider Network Directory e-Directory July 2019: iPMI - Assistance - Air Ambulance - Funeral Directors - Cost Containment - Claims Management + MORE
Published in iPMI Magazine Breaking News
You can tell a lot about a business by the company it keeps and iPMI Magazine is proud to present the leading international medical insurers and providers that assist with the cross border medical requirements of the global citizen. Uniting industry leaders under 1 roof the brand new iPMI Magazine payor and provider network directory delivers all the pertinent company intelligence your business needs to navigate the complex world of IPMI.
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The IPMI industry use the iPMI Magazine Provider Network Directory to source the best information and data on international private medical insurance payors and providers. They may be searching for a new partner, looking for a contact number of a current provider, or researching the payor and provider market for future cross border network development.
Classifications include: IPMI, Assistance, Air Ambulance, Cost Containment And Claims Management, Funeral Directors, Ground Ambulance, Healthcare Insurance Management and Pharmacy Benefits Management.
Click a company name below to visit their micro web site on iPMIM and learn more or download the brand new e-directory using the above link. To add your business to the e-directory and launch a micro website please write to David Bond, CIO, iPMIM on ipmi[at]ipmimagazine.com
PAYORS AND PROVIDERS IN FOCUS:
Cigna Global IPMI
Generali Global Health
Geoblue
Integra Global
Pacific Cross International
UnitedHealthcare Global
Athens Assistance
CEGA
Goral Assistance
GMMI
Healix International
Rowland Brothers International
Awesome Air Evac
FAI Air Ambulance
Jet Executive
Quick Air
Tyrol Air Ambulance
COST CONTAINMENT AND CLAIMS MANAGEMENT
HEALTHCARE INSURANCE MANAGEMENT
Global Reach Rx
Inside: iPMI Assistance Air Ambulance Funeral Directors Cost Containment Claims Management + MORE
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Download iPMI Magazine Provider Network Directory eDirectory June 2019
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Cigna Opens Headquarters For African Operations In Nairobi, Kenya
20th June 2019 and Cigna officially opened a new office in the One Africa Place building in Nairobi, Kenya.
Arjan Toor, CEO of Cigna International Organisations & Africa comments, "We are delighted to reach another milestone in Africa with the opening of our new headquarters in the One Africa building in Nairobi. Growing our Kenyan team will enhance our local and regional presence and bring us closer to the people we serve. We believe that investing in local knowledge and talent and serving Africa from Africa sets the right foundation to offer personalised and sustainable health care plans and to deliver excellent customer service."
This expanded office will serve as headquarters for African operations and is a symbol of theirlocal commitment to the continent. Africa is a key strategic region for Cigna in their global strategy. They have invested heavily in the continent and will continue to do so.
RELATED READING: iPMI Magazine Speaks With Arjan Toor, CEO International Organisations, Global IPMI & Africa, Cigna
The move to Cigna's new African headquarters marks another milestone in its operations. The 8,300 sq ft premises is a fully-fledged office space, accommodating more than 80 Cigna employees across the company's group health solutions. The expanded team puts Cigna in a prime position to deliver effective personal and local health services in the region.
A first wave of over 40 new colleagues has already joined the existing Cigna team in Nairobi, Kenya. Cigna will continue to hire and develop local talent, enhance local and regional presence and create long-term value for their partners and customers in the region. In addition to the team in Kenya, they also have staff members in South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In keeping with their mission "to improve the health, wellbeing and peace of mind of those we serve," the new office space has been designed to promote employee health and wellbeing, as well as efficiency and productivity.
To further improve easy access to care in Kenya, they also recently opened an office in the Aga Khan hospital. This office presents a new opportunity to personally engage customers. Patients have easy access to speak directly to Cigna staff with local knowledge about payment options and eligibility. This approach is in line with their focus on personalised and outstanding customer service. Being able to speak with a Cigna employee at the hospital will help patients be confident they are receiving the correct treatment at the best price.
Cigna IPMI news
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Arjan Toor, CEO of Cigna International Organisations & Africa
Video: In 2019 The Definition Of An Expatriate Is Obsolete
Published in Articles Case Studies
The definition of an expatriate is obsolete because more people, including local nationals and expats, regularly travel internationally, due to their lifestyle, income and careers: a view shared by Ian Youngman, author of the brand new IPMI report, International Health Insurance 2019 and Generali Global Health CEO Marco Giacomelli.
In the video Generali Global Health CEO Marco Giacomelli explains why IPMI is so important for globally mobile people and why the traditional concept of expatriates is becoming outdated.
IPMI report author Ian Youngman adds, "International private medical insurance (IPMI) was traditionally considered an exclusive health insurance plan for expatriates. Now, the definition of an expatriate is obsolete because more people, including local nationals and expats, regularly travel internationally, due to their lifestyle, income and careers. These people need international medical insurance irrespective of their national status or residency. Local nationals, expats, and global nomads are driving demand for IPMI products well beyond any residency classification.
The globally mobile population has grown dramatically along with the increased global business. There are 66 million expatriates, and by 2020 this will be 87.5 million. 260 million people now live away from their country of birth and within a decade the total number of expatriate workers and international students will be 100 million.
IPMI as health insurance without borders is the future of health insurance for all people irrespective of their country of nationality, residence or current domicile. The domestic health insurance market is changing and expanding in many markets around the world. Technology, innovation in health treatment and digitisation of processes are also powerful shapers of the future of health insurance."
Download a copy of International Health Insurance 2019 here: https://ipmimagazine.com/medical-health-insurance/en/reports/item/5590-international-health-insurance-2019-the-definitive-report
For more details about Generali Global Health International Private Medical Insurance (iPMI) plans, please visit www.generaliglobalhealth.com/our-plans
To learn more about Generali Global Health and their range of IPMI plans and services please visit their micro website on iPMI Magazine, click here.
Generali Global Health providers
Generali Global Health CEO Marco Giacomelli
IPMI report author Ian Youngman
Rising Medical Costs And Shifting Health Drivers Fuel Innovation In Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
According to the Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB) 2019 Medical Trends Around the World report, medical costs continue to outpace general inflation by close to 3x with the global average 9.7% in 2018.
A similar increase is expected for 2019 and even higher for 2020. As the cost of health benefit programmes continues to rise globally, employers have the opportunity to contain cost through smarter plan design and employee access to quality-focused healthcare.
In its fifth year, this latest report surveyed 204 insurers across 59 countries*, assessing how health conditions, supplier factors and consumer habits are driving cost, as well as providing insights into how insurers are responding.
Globally, the top three health risk factors influencing medical cost remain metabolic and cardiovascular risk, dietary risk and emotional/mental risk. On a regional level, there is variation in the top risk factors (see also Table 1):
Latin America: dietary risk (85%)
Europe: emotional or mental risks (61%)
Middle East and Africa: occupational risks (59%), childhood and maternal under-nutrition (24%)
Asia: environmental risks (52%) - as the effects of high pollution levels in many of the region's major cities take their toll
In response, the number of insurers investing in initiatives to enable quality-focused care, to better guide members to the right care options for them more quickly, has more than doubled. Globally, 29% now name this type of investment as a top strategic priority. Insurers are responding by helping members make smarter healthcare choices with 63% of insurers providing education, tools and incentives to drive positive behaviour. The Middle East and Africa had the highest rate of adoption of programmes of this type, with 71% of insurers proactively using such consumer focused tactics with plan members. Globally, 78% are now considering or already support virtual health consultations.
Hervé Balzano, Mercer Marsh Benefits International Leader, observed: "Rising medical costs show no signs of abating. Indeed, according to our research a majority of insurers globally now believe that in 2020 medical inflation will either remain constant or increase.
"The future of work demands healthy and engaged employees. As the cost of providing medical benefits continue to rise, employers should assess how to make the most of plan design, including giving access to quality based care to drive better outcomes. Plans should be reviewed with both cost optimisation and employee engagement lenses."
Nick McClelland, UK Commercial Leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits, added: "In the UK, growing recognition of mental health disorders has led to diagnoses surpassing the limitations of NHS provisions, meaning employers now face unprecedented decisions about their role in relation to employees' mental wellbeing. The impact of poor lifestyles in the UK is also increasing, with obesity driving a rise in the incidences and severity of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
"As a result, preventative wellness is gaining significant attention for organisations in the UK, but we know they are struggling to establish measurable programmes. By focusing on embedding wellness in the organisational culture, companies will have a much better chance of achieving this."
To download a copy the report, please click here.
Rising Medical Costs And Shifting Health Drivers Fuel Innovation In EmployerSponsored Health Plans
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Due to the nomadic nature of the international private medical insurance (IPMI) industry, iPMI Magazine is an internet based news service for worldwide insurance and assistance professionals who need to understand the impacts of insurance and healthcare policy, regulatory, and legislative developments. Over 40,000 senior level business decision makers, in over 120 countries, rely on iPMI Magazine to stay 1 step ahead of the risk and on the inside track of international PMI. Covering business travellers, high net worth individuals, expatriate and leisure travel markets, iPMI Magazine is the only international news source covering the most exciting sector of international health insurance: international private medical insurance.
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AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings Of Austral Resseguradora S.A. And Austral Seguradora S.A.
Written on Friday, 01 February 2019 08:24
RGA Elects New Member To Board Of Directors
Written on Saturday, 26 January 2019 08:20
Hurricane Michael Likely Will Take Bigger Toll On Reinsurers
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Qatar Reinsurance Company Limited Cease Writing New And Renewal Business From Branch Office In Singapore
Written on Thursday, 26 July 2018 09:37
A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Munich Reinsurance Company and Most of Its Subsidiaries
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