Can you share your professional journey and what inspired you to pursue this path?

My career has been shaped by a mix of aviation, healthcare, and international health insurance, each phase naturally leading to the next. I started with Lufthansa and United Airlines in passenger aviation before moving to European Air Ambulance, where I witnessed the complexity of medical repatriation. This experience highlighted the critical need for immediate, quality healthcare abroad, inspiring me to shift toward global assistance services and international private medical insurance (IPMI).

As I transitioned to IPMI, it became clear that healthcare for globally mobile individuals isn’t just about emergency care – it’s about providing continuous, comprehensive coverage, including preventive care and routine services. This view of healthcare resonates with Foyer Global Health’s mission, shaping and delivering quality care for clients worldwide.

Can you describe your role in international business development at Foyer Global Health?

My role is centred around identifying new business opportunities, expanding into new regions, and developing strategic partnerships. My experience across aviation, healthcare, and health insurance allows me to understand the intersection of these sectors and deliver comprehensive solutions for globally mobile individuals.

I focus on market development, product innovation, and building partner relationships to offer flexible, tailored insurance products. Whether supporting corporate clients, expatriates, or individual travellers, we aim to provide continuous access to healthcare, mental health support, wellness programmes, and telemedicine services.

How do partnerships enhance your services?

Partnerships with medical assistance and telemedicine providers, for example, are vital to enhancing the services we offer. These collaborations allow us to deliver comprehensive healthcare solutions to clients, especially those living far from their home healthcare systems. Through telemedicine services, clients can access remote consultations, prescriptions, and referrals from the comfort of their home or workplace, ensuring continuous care, no matter their location.

In addition, these partnerships extend to supporting clients’ wellbeing and mental health. Access to telehealth platforms for mental health counselling, stress management, and wellbeing consultations ensures that individuals receive the emotional and psychological support they need, even when they cannot visit in person. This holistic approach to health reinforces our commitment to caring for not just the physical, but also the mental and emotional wellbeing of our clients.

We have a comprehensive understanding of both the Swiss and French base insurance systems, which enables us to offer flexible, supplementary health insurance solutions for cross-border workers, particularly those commuting from France to Switzerland

Furthermore, our partnerships with medical assistance providers ensure that clients who require emergency medical evacuation or crisis intervention receive prompt and reliable support. This includes services like air ambulances, medical case management, and timely crisis assistance. These collaborations ensure that clients are never alone during emergencies, providing a safety net for those in critical need of medical care. Together, these partnerships strengthen our ability to offer seamless, full-scale healthcare assistance, giving clients the confidence and peace of mind that they will be taken care of when they need it most.

What challenges and opportunities do you face in international business development, particularly with expatriates?

One of the key challenges in international business development, especially with expatriates, is understanding and responding to the evolving needs of an increasingly mobile and diverse population. Today’s expatriates have unique healthcare expectations based on their home countries, work locations, and personal preferences. Offering health insurance solutions to meet these varied requirements is essential, particularly as expatriates become more dispersed and dynamic in their professional and personal lives.

Corporate groups and international corporations represent a significant opportunity. Many global businesses need IPMI for their employees, who are working in multiple regions across the world. These organisations require health insurance solutions that offer consistent, high-quality care that meets the needs of a globally mobile workforce. As companies expand their international operations, the demand for comprehensive, cost-effective IPMI coverage for expatriates, foreign workers, and travelling employees is rising. Providing tailored solutions that meet these needs – whether for individual expatriates
or large corporate groups – is a growing market segment.

There is a significant opportunity for Foyer Global Health to capitalise on the growing demand for tailored health solutions that combine flexibility, digital healthcare options, and global coverage. As expatriates and international corporations increasingly seek healthcare solutions that can adapt to their evolving needs, Foyer Global Health is in a prime position to provide innovative, scalable, and comprehensive coverage. Whether serving individuals or corporate clients, we have the chance to lead the way in offering solutions that evolve alongside the global workforce’s needs, helping businesses and employees navigate the complexities of international healthcare with ease and efficiency.

How has Covid-19 shifted customer needs in health coverage?

The pandemic has highlighted an increased demand for comprehensive health coverage that extends beyond traditional physical care, focusing on mental health support and crisis management. Clients have sought more access to counselling, stress management, and emotional wellbeing services as they navigated the challenges of Covid-19. Additionally, the need for robust emergency services like medical evacuations and timely crisis interventions became more pronounced, ensuring that clients could receive the necessary care during uncertain times. These shifts reflect a broader trend toward more flexible, holistic healthcare solutions that address both physical and mental wellbeing.

As Covid-19 unfolded, customer needs in health coverage for Foyer Global Health evolved, with a marked increase in the demand for accessible and flexible healthcare options. The pandemic drove a surge in the need for remote consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups, particularly as travel restrictions and social distancing measures made in-person visits difficult. This led to a greater reliance on telemedicine services, emphasising the importance of virtual care in ensuring continuous healthcare, especially for clients living abroad or in remote areas.

Why is the Swiss market particularly important for Foyer Global Health?

The Swiss market is a key focus for us, due to its central location in Europe, multilingual and multicultural environment, and the high concentration of expatriates, cross-border workers, and international businesses. These factors create a unique opportunity for us to provide specialised health insurance solutions tailored to a diverse range of clients.

Foyer Global Health’s deep expertise in the Swiss healthcare system is one of its greatest strengths. We have a comprehensive understanding of both the Swiss and French base insurance systems, which enables us to offer flexible, supplementary health insurance solutions for cross-border workers, particularly those commuting from France to Switzerland. These products are specifically designed to complement local insurance coverage, ensuring that cross-border workers receive comprehensive care tailored to their needs.

In addition, Foyer Global Health excels in offering IPMI for expatriates, providing them with global coverage that meets their healthcare needs, both in Switzerland and abroad. This flexibility allows us to serve not only expatriates relocating to Switzerland, but also international professionals working in the country and diplomats stationed there.

What advice do you have for professionals looking to build a career in international health insurance or medical assistance?

The international health insurance industry is dynamic, so professionals must remain adaptable and proactive. My advice is to build expertise across multiple sectors, such as healthcare, technology, insurance and assistance, as these industries are increasingly interconnected. A broad understanding of how these sectors work together will provide a competitive advantage.

Professionals should focus on building relationships with key stakeholders to keep a good understanding of the industry and stay ahead of market demands

It’s also essential to stay attuned to customer needs. As more people work remotely and travel more frequently, their healthcare needs are evolving. Professionals should focus on building relationships with key stakeholders to keep a good understanding of the industry and stay ahead of market demands.

What is Foyer Global Health’s strategic goal for the next few years?

Looking ahead, Foyer Global Health is committed to expanding its global footprint while continuously innovating the way healthcare services are delivered to globally mobile populations. The core objective is to develop more flexible, agile, and tailored health insurance solutions that meet the evolving needs of individuals who live, work, or travel abroad for extended periods.

We plan to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) powered claim processing to improve efficiency, speed, and accuracy in handling claims.

To enhance the health and wellbeing of our clients, we are placing a significant emphasis on integrating digital healthcare solutions. This includes expanding our offerings in wellness and mental health support, as well as leveraging telemedicine for prevention – enabling clients to proactively manage their health, no matter where they are located.

Digital transformation also extends to the operational side of the business. We plan to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) powered claim processing to improve efficiency, speed, and accuracy in handling claims. This will allow us to better meet the demands of globally mobile populations who need quick, reliable support. We are committed to offering seamless policy and claims management through cutting-edge technology and innovative tools, making it as simple as possible for our clients to manage their healthcare needs, from policy enrolment to claims submission, all through easy-to-use digital platforms.