Aug
31
Aetna Global Benefits Appoints New Head of Middle East Operations
Filed Under Aetna, Africa, Health Insurance, Medical Insurance, Middle East | 11 Comments
Stuart Leatherby has been appointed as the Managing Director to head up Aetna’s expatriate health insurance business, Aetna Global Benefits, in the Middle East and Africa.
Leatherby has been working with Aetna Global Benefits since 2000, and prior to his promotion he has been working as the head of Aetna Global Benefits’ International Markets Development team where he was responsible for expanding business across new, and preexisting geographical and market segments. In his decade of service at the company, Leatherby has worked in a number of diverse positions with a variety of responsibilities that have included areas such as compliance, technical claims, product development, workflow management, information technology, underwriting and portfolio management.
As the new Managing Director and Head of Aetna Global Benefits business in the Middle East and Africa, Stuart Leatherby will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with effect from September 1st, 2010.
David Corkum, Aetna Global Benefits Group Managing Director, said that “Stuart’s extensive international health insurance experience will serve us well in our continued efforts to provide world-class benefit solutions and service for our valued customers and members in the Middle East and Africa. This region is a strategically important market for our organisation, and Stuart and his team’s efforts will be instrumental in our continued successful growth and expansion.”
The current Aetna Global Benefits Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Mark Jardin also says that “Stuart possesses a unique combination of strong technical expertise and business experience that will be key to cultivating our consultant, broker and customer relationships, as well as market development activities in the region. I have greatly enjoyed my time in the region and look forward to continuing to assist in Aetna’s international expansion and growth upon my return to the United States.”
Insurance Companies Mentioned:
Aetna
Aetna is a leading global diversified healthcare benefits company head-quartered in the US, serving approximately 35.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their healthcare. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioural health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and healthcare management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labour groups and expatriates.
Aetna Global Benefits
Aetna Global Benefits, the international business segment of Aetna, is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health benefits and health management solutions worldwide. AGB’s expatriate business is one of the industry’s largest and most prominent US-based international health benefits providers, supporting more than 400,000 members worldwide. The organisation’s health management business collaborates with healthcare systems, government entities and plan sponsors around the world to design and build locally-applied health management solutions to improve health, quality and cost outcomes.
Aug
2
Health Plan Options Expanded in the Middle East by Aetna
Filed Under Aetna, Expat Insurance, Healthcare, Middle East, UAE Insurance | 1 Comment
The Regional Healthcare Plan (RHP) already offered by AGB to companies in need of healthcare cover for their expatriate employees living across the region has been expanded. There are now two Regional Healthcare Plans on offer: RHP Lifestyle Plus and the RHP Lifestyle plan, which have different levels of cover and benefits, and complement the portfolio of products for individuals and groups of all sizes offered by AGB.
Employers in the Middle East can look forward to an expanded choice of cost-conscious plans and options that can be customised to maximise their investment in employee benefits.
Benefits not normally offered under a local healthcare plan feature in the new Regional Healthcare Plan, in addition to covering both hospital stays and out-patient treatment, Regional Healthcare Plans include the following:
Access to the Aetna Global Benefits’ international healthcare provider network, consisting of over 750 hospitals, labs and medical centres in the Middle East, South-east Asia and Indian Sub-Continent countries;
Cover and evacuation benefits within the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC), Middle East, Southeast Asia and Indian Sub-Continent countries;
Out-of-area cover for accident and emergency treatment and for elective treatment in the country of nationality of a member, should the said country be outside the area of cover; and
Optional benefits including routine dental treatment, pregnancy and childbirth, chronic conditions and wellness.
Members of the RHP also enjoy access to AGB resources and services aimed at helping them achieve optimum health and productivity, including both the online Global Health Databank, and the online Health and Wellness Centre. The Global Health Databank provides a search tool for doctors and medical facilities, city profiles, medical translation services and worldwide safety and security information. The online Health and Wellness Centre contains a wealth of educational information and resources about the key, developing health conditions in the region.
Companies mentioned:
Aetna Global Benefits, the international business segment of Aetna, is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health benefits and health management solutions worldwide. AGB’s expatriate business is one of the industry’s largest and most prominent US-based international health benefits providers, supporting more than 400,000 members worldwide. The organisation’s health management business collaborates with healthcare systems, government entities and plan sponsors around the world to design and build locally-applied health management solutions to improve health, quality and cost outcomes.
Aetna is a leading global diversified healthcare benefits company head-quartered in the US, serving approximately 35.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their healthcare. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioural health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and healthcare management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labour groups and expatriates.
Jul
22
Blue Cross Blue Shield Has Highest Brand Equity in USA Insurance
Filed Under Aetna, Blue Cross, Health Insurance, Healthcare, USA Health Insurance | 36 Comments
Blue Cross Blue Shield, the major American health insurance provider, has been rated as having the highest brand equity in the USA’s national insurance market according to a recent report released by Harris Interactive, a leading international market research company.
During Harris’ 2010 EquiTrend survey, the company found that Blue Cross Blue Shield has the highest brand equity in the industry. The report discovered that Aetna and United Healthcare rank second and third, respectively. This is the first year in which Harris Interactive has looked at the American Insurance industry during the annual study, which has previously been limited to major financial services companies.
The study follows in the wake of recent developments in the American health insurance market, including the recent legislation passed by President Obama in an attempt to reform healthcare in the USA. As such, American consumers are expected to be more discriminating with their choice of health insurance plan, which could be a major boon for Blue Cross Blue Shield in light of the company’s higher visibility in the market.
Insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, who have focused on, and actively managed their brand identities, will be better able to capitalize on the extraordinary influx of potential business in the coming months, according to Harris Interactive Vice President Debra Richman. However, Harris has also noticed an increasing trend of consumers switching to cheaper insurance cover from 2008 – 2009 with 11% of all health insurance purchasers, up 3% from the previous year, opting to obtain a plan that was less expensive.
This increase in price-conscious consumers means that despite Blue Cross Blue Shield having the most visible brand within the USA’s insurance industry, there may be more factors to consider than simply being noticeable; policy benefits, renewability, and international portability will all affect the decision of the aware consumer to purchase a medical insurance policy.
One of the reasons that Blue Cross Blue Shield may have the best brand equity within the US insurance market is due to their overwhelming market share. The company, its subsidiaries, and partners have the largest share of the health insurance market in 36 states according to a June 2009 survey released by the Center for American Progress.
Mar
29
Aetna Global Benefits enhances links to its International Members using Social Networking Tool
Filed Under Aetna, Healthcare, International Healthcare | 5 Comments
An additional online resource for the more than 400,000-member worldwide base of Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) has been made available for them to easily navigate their benefits and achieve optimal health. The international business segment of Aetna has launched its presence in Facebook with the aim of enhancing the level of service experienced through the Internet.
Initially AGB will focus its efforts on creating an online community comprising of not only its diverse and geographically-dispersed members but prospective individual customers as well. AGB has already been offering members online access to the secure portion of their website.
The Facebook Wall of AGB will include frequently updated information on its international provider community of more than 61,000 health care providers outside of the U.S. and approximately 900,000 in the U.S., answers to frequently-asked benefits questions, news feeds and videos, and health and wellness information and resources provided as an extension of the Aetna Global Health Connections programme.
Existing Facebook members can access the resources described above by becoming fans of “Aetna Global Benefits.”
AGB plans in future to include content specifically targeted to employer customers and brokers.
Insurance Companies mentioned:
Aetna Global Benefits, the international business segment of Aetna, is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health benefits and health management solutions worldwide. AGB’s expatriate business is one of the industry’s largest and most prominent U.S.-based international health benefits providers, supporting more than 400,000 members worldwide. Our expatriate offerings include medical, dental, vision, life, disability and emergency assistance. The organisation’s health management business collaborates with health care systems, government entities and plan sponsors around the world to design and build locally-applied health management solutions to improve health, quality and cost outcomes.
Aetna is a leading global diversified health care benefits company headquartered in the U.S., serving approximately 36.1 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioural health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labour groups and expatriates.
Mar
22
CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits adds to African Network
Filed Under Aetna, Africa, CIGNA, Expat Insurance, Healthcare, Insurance Company, International Healthcare | 4 Comments
CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits has broadened its African healthcare network with 47,000 healthcare facilities on March 17, 2010.
The new additions to CIGNA International’s healthcare facility network is part of its unveiling of CIGNALinks Africa which opens in Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa; taking their network of health facilities outside the United States to about 140,000 international clinics, doctors and hospitals.
CIGNALinks is a program that aims to facilitate expatriate’s experience with international healthcare by establishing contractual alliances with local insurers and healthcare administrators, which allow CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) customers to get provider discounts, cashless services and streamlined claims procedures. The CIGNALinks Africa network integrates the global coverage of CIEB with South African company, Medical Services Organisation (MSO), and their joint-venture company Global Access Health Network’s local African healthcare network and services.
This continues a trend in international insurance companies expanding business and services in new markets, as seen by CIGNA’s expanded provider base in Russia and Aetna Global Benefits rolling out their Online Wellness Center in the Middle East and Africa.
Companies Mentioned:
For more than 125 years, CIGNA has been helping people lead healthier, more secure lives. The company provides health care and related benefits offered through the workplace. Key product lines include health care products and services (medical, pharmacy, behavioural health, clinical information management, dental and vision benefits, and case and disease management); and group disability, life and accident insurance. In addition, CIGNA also provides life, accident, health and expatriate employee benefits insurance coverage in selected international markets, primarily in Asia and Europe.
The international health insurance arm of Aetna, AGB is able to cater to the needs of expatriates located around the globe. With innovative policies, and dedication to service, Aetna Global Benefits exemplifies the commitment to the customer shown by their parent company.
Medical Services Organisation
Medical Services Organisation SA (Pty) Ltd., registered in 1995 in South Africa, is a wholly owned subsidiary of South African Druggist Ltd. Group. Medical Services Organisation provides healthcare industry related risk management services, specializing in Hospital and Disease Management.
Global Access Health Network
Global Access Health Network is a joint venture betweek Medical Services Organisation and Axihealth. It works with other companies, namely international insurance companies and self-insured corporates, by giving them access to local in-country Third Party Administrator healthcare networks.
Feb
25
4th Quarter Results show Allianz profits up as Aetna’s slide
Filed Under Aetna, Allianz | Leave a Comment
Results are out for the financial period ending December 31 2009, and insurers Allianz and Aetna have had different fortunes.
After reporting their results for 2009 Allianz, based in Munich, Germany, posted a 4th Quarter net income of 1.09 billion euros (US$1.47 billion), a well received change over the 145 million euro loss during the same period in 2008. This was helped greatly by Allianz’s Life and Health insurance unit posting a net income of 432 million euros in Q4 2009 after losing 505 million euros in Q4 2008.
Allianz’s net income for the 2009 fiscal year was 4.74 billion euros, up 13.2% over 2008, prompting Allianz to raise their dividend from 3.50 to 4.10 euros per share as they seek to attract new investors.
Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna on the other hand reported a Q4 2009 net income of US$165.9 million, down about 14.8% from US$194.7 million during the same quarter in 2008. Despite an increase in yearly revenue from US$30.95 billion in 2008 to US$34.76 billion in 2009, Aetna’s year long earnings are down with net income for 2009 at US$1.276 billion, approximately a 7.8% drop from 2008’s US$1.384 billion.
Aetna’s operating earnings per share fell from US$0.96 in 2008 to US$0.40, which the group said was due to lower operating earnings in the Group insurance business, a lower Commercial underwriting margin due to increase costs, and an increase in pension expenses as well.
Companies Mentioned:
Founded in 1853, Aetna is one of the leading health insurance companies in the USA. Continually working on innovating and improving healthcare and services for their policyholders, Aetna is committed to providing comprehensive insurance coverage for American citizens.
Founded in 1890 as an accident and transport insurer, Allianz has grown into an international group doing business in asset management, banking and insurance, including their international health insurance brand, Allianz Worlwide Care. Allianz Group has over 75 million customers in approximately 70 countries around the world.
Feb
17
Expats in Japan to comply with updated visa regulation
Filed Under Aetna, International Healthcare | 1 Comment
As per information contained in a recent release by the Marketing arm of Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) about Regulatory News in Japan, an existing regulation will be given new emphasis by the Japanese Immigration Bureau in regards to resident visa applications by foreign nationals living in Japan.
The existing requirement for Expatriates living in Japan to provide proof of current or future enrollment in the country’s national health insurance system to renew or apply for a visa with validity longer than one year will become compulsory starting from the 1st of April, 2010.
The Japanese Immigration Bureau made public their “Amended Guidelines for Change of Qualification of Foreign Residents and the Renewal of Visas”. According to these guidelines, it will be compulsory for Expats living in Japan to show proof of insurance in Japan’s national health system in order to apply for or renew their visa.
Foreign nationals can continue enjoying the coverage provided by international private health insurance companies, such as the overseas coverage offered by AGB. This coverage intends to supplement, instead of being a replacement for the coverage offered by the national health insurance system.
Insurance Company mentioned:
Aetna Global Benefits (AGB), the international segment of Aetna Inc., is a provider of comprehensive health benefits solutions and health management services for multinational employers, high-net-worth individuals and government entities. AGB’s health benefits offerings include medical, dental, vision, life, disability and emergency assistance for employees and high-net-worth individuals who live, work or travel internationally. With the acquisition of Goodhealth Worldwide, AGB is one of the industry’s largest and most prominent U.S.-based international benefits providers, supporting approximately 400,000 members worldwide from offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Feb
8
Aetna Global Benefits Targets Middle East and Africa Wellness
Filed Under Aetna, Africa, Insurance Company, International Healthcare, Middle East, UAE Insurance | 26 Comments
In an effort to provide more comprehensive levels of coverage and support to policyholders located in Africa and the Middle East, Aetna, a leading international health insurance company, today announced that it would be launching its Online Wellness Center to support plan members in the region.
Aetna Global Benefits, the international arm of the Aetna insurance company, created its Online Wellness Center to help combat some of the more serious health risks throughout the Middle East and Africa. With a higher preponderance to risk of coronary artery disease, cancer, and serious heart conditions, expatriates and local nationals throughout these regions may often be unaware of the serious health risks posed by everyday life. Aetna has designed their online tool with the aim of educating and informing their policyholders, as well as giving them the resources which they need to find adequate and comprehensive care in the event of a serious illness or untoward accident.
Mark Jardin, the Managing Director for Aetna Global Benefits in Africa and the Middle East stated that the company wants “to engage, educate and motivate members through the AGB Wellness Centre.” Mark was appointed MD of the company’s Africa and Middle East business in May 2009.
One of the primary reasons for the deployment of Aetna’s Online Wellness Center is the preponderance of Cancer throughout the region. Currently, cancer is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, and responsible for a third of deaths in the United Arab Emirates. Aetna’s Online Wellness Center now gives policyholders in the Middle East and Africa the ability to actively manage their healthcare in light of worsening health trends; something which Aetna hopes will promote healthy lifestyles and living throughout the region.
Insurance Companies Mentioned
Founded in 1853, Aetna is one of the leading health insurance companies in the USA. Continually working on innovating and improving healthcare and services for their policyholders, Aetna is committed to providing comprehensive insurance coverage for American citizens.
Aetna Global Benefits:
The international health insurance arm of Aetna, AGB is able to cater to the needs of expatriates located around the globe. With innovative policies, and dedication to service, Aetna Global Benefits exemplifies the commitment to the customer shown by their parent company.