Insurance without borders

Over 500 corporate clients  in Europe and the Middle East. More than 1,500 throughout the world. These figures sum up the success of CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB). "In all, we cover some 350,000 members, expatriates and their families, in our group healthcare plans”, says Kaï Mehnert, CIEB’s Regional Sales Director. Globalisation and the increase in international trade have led to a significant increase in the number of expatriates. And the figure is still growing. Thanks to its comprehensive services including an extensive provider network, local partnerships, medical assistance and more, CIEB has been able to turn the situation to its advantage. “The globalisation of the economy is obviously an opportunity, but it also forces us to be more adaptive and to constantly improve the quality and accessibility of our offer”, says Mehnert.CIGNA’s offer includes a wide range of care. "In most cases, our corporate clients establish for their employeesa plan that includes the reimbursement of medical and dental bills as well as expenses relating to eye care”, he says. The company’s efforts are directed in particular towards the adaptability of its offer since the expectations of the corporate buyer can vary considerably from country to country. "Our flexibility allows us to adapt our products to specific needs. This is one of our great strengths”, confirms Kaï Mehnert.High quality servicesParticular attention is also devoted to the assistance afforded to expatriates in terms of advice, expertise and information on their situation and the various health systems. Kaï Mehnert explains that “the task of an international healthcare provider should go far beyond reimbursement. An expatriate is always confronted with problems linked to being far away from the home country. In terms of providing healthcare and related services, our aim is to make the situation as comfortable as possible.”Small companies can also take up the offer. “Some of our corporate clients have only two expatriates”, says Kaï Mehnert. Guaranteeing easy access to first-class healthcare, on a global basis, is the challenge that CIGNA is facing. "Thanks to our provider networks, we can deliver that. Hospitals and medical centres  know our member card and the patient has nothing to pay. And we can of course also handle severe cases requiring a transfer to another country or a repatriation”, explains Kaï Mehnert.The beneficiaries are usually managers or employees at a high level in the hierarchy – and their spouses and children. "These are employees whose role abroad is very important to the company. Their mission is often very demanding and requires a high degree of professional availability. In such circumstances, it is vital to be able to offer them high quality services so that health insurance is no longer a worry for anyone in their family”, he adds. In the future, CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits hopes to continue its worldwide expansion with the aim of adapting even better to the specific needs of the markets.