The International Insurance Perspective

Companies like CIGNA International and Aetna Global Benefits have been providing international healthcare to clients for years. At this year’s World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress, those involved in the developing medical tourism industry were able to hear from two people highly experienced in the expatriate healthcare field, both about their own profession and their perspective on medical tourism.

Michele Lerow, Senior Network Manager at Aetna Global Benefits, opened her presentation by stating that the goal of her company is to “make accessing health care seamless and easy for all individuals, regardless of where they live, work or travel.” She addressed their priorities next, listing them as accessibility, quality, information, affordable coverage choices, direct settlement, kindness, care and compassion.

Though the goals and priorities of international insurance and medical tourism are significantly similar, Lerow clarified the differences between the two.

“When you think about medical tourism, you think about episodic care. When we talk about international insurance, we need to ensure a consistency of wellness,” she said.

George Zahorcak of CIGNA International also mentioned that there exists a precedent of international insurance, adding that the notion of global consumerism is not as foreign as many think.

Despite separate timelines and purposes, the medical tourism and international insurance industries share many of the same challenges. Ensuring accessibility for the patient, as chele Lerow, Senior Network Manager at Aetna Global Benefits, opened her presentation by stating that the goal of her company is to “make accessing health care seamless and easy for all individuals, regardless of where they live, work or travel.” She addressed their priorities next, listing them as accessibility, quality, information, affordable coverage choices, direct settlement, kindness, care and compassion.

Though the goals and priorities of international insurance and medical tourism are significantly similar, Lerow clarified the differences between the two.

“When you think about medical tourism, you think about episodic care. When we talk about international insurance, we need to ensure a consistency of wellness,” she said.

George Zahorcak of CIGNA International also mentioned that there exists a precedent of international insurance, adding that the notion of global consumerism is not as foreign as many think.

Despite separate timelines and purposes, the medical tourism and international insurance industries share many of the same challenges. Ensuring accessibility for the patient, as well as service and information can sometimes be problematic in certain scenarios. Medical care availability, provider flexibility and effective international financial transactions are all factors that must be taken care of effectively and satisfactorily to the patient or client.

“Pre-trip planning from the medical tourism perspective is very similar to the international perspective,” Lerow said.

Ultimately, the main difference arises in the product being sold, as Zahorcak explained.
“From the U.S. perspective, the medical experience is a medical experience,” he said. “It should be a good one and competent, but it typically doesn’t involve mountains and beaches. We are selling benefits, we are selling results.”