Headline News

InsureMyTrip adds IFAR to academic travel protection

The company has expanded its academic travel protection program to include interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage for inbound students

Europ Assistance expands in Asia-Pacific

The company has bought out several of AXA Partners’ assistance businesses in the Asia-Pacific region

The Geneva Association celebrates 50 years

The association is the insurance industry’s platform for research and dialogue

Lockton to offer parametric travel business protection

Broker Lockton Australia, in partnership with Munich Re, has created a parametric insurance product for the country’s travel sector

BA restarts flights to Beijing

The airline will now operate four times a week between Beijing and London

Canopius launches medical malpractice business

It will be led by Ashley Moulton as its Healthcare Underwriter

Travelex upgrades travel protections

Travelex Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Zurich, has launched a new line of travel protections with an enhanced cancel for any reason (CFAR) upgrade

American spending on summer holidays in 2023 to reach record levels

Allianz Partners USA projects spending to exceed $200 billion this summer

more headlines

June 2023 Issue

Digital health solutions are transforming the insurance landscape

Fiona Keating examines how digital transformation can enable travel insurance companies to create personalised user experiences

Battling prejudice in mental health policies

Sensitivity to the mental health needs of customers in Australia and New Zealand is the path to building greater trust, reports Fiona Keating

Building robust medical networks in Asia

Maintaining solid medical networks requires communication, access to high quality care and a mindful eye on cost. Experts discuss with Lauren Haigh what’s relevant in Asia, where challenges around remote…

Pride in our industry

We are delighted to celebrate and support Pride Month. We asked people in the industry what Pride means to them, and how inclusive they feel our community is.

Investigating accreditation considerations

International hospital accreditation programmes represent a reputable tool to evaluate and enhance healthcare quality. But what of national accreditation? Experts share with Lauren Haigh their thoughts on the development of…

THIA conference hits all the right notes in Music City

As media partner to THIA’s 2023 conference, ITIJ reports on the highlights of their 25th annual conference. Words by Jo-Anne Liburd, THIA Executive Administrator

EURAMI Update – June 2023

The latest update from the European Aero-Medical Institute (EURAMI) announces the progression of the CAME 2.0. Standards Committee

Blink Parametric June 2023 Travel Insurance

The Power of Parametric - Part 4

Carl Carter, Chief Commercial Officer of Blink Parametric outlines how an expert-led process supports easy and rapid integration of their parametric travel insurance solutions

Interview: Emre Dursun – A tailored approach

ITIJ speaks to Emre Dursun, CEO at Redstar Aviation, about the passionate staff in the business, their unique location, and plans for the future

Lodestone Solutions travel insurance advancements

Interview: David Phipson – Embracing technology in a digital world

ITIJ speaks with David Phipson, Managing Director of Lodestone Solutions, about technical advancement in the industry and the future for the business

Interview: Dr Attapoom Susupaus – When patient care is vital

ITIJ speaks with with Dr Attapoom Susupaus from the Bangkok Heart Hospital – a member of BDMS

Dr Jinhatha Panyasorn and BDMS hospital network

Interview: Dr Jinhatha Panyasorn – Facilitating the patient journey with AI

ITIJ speaks with with Dr Jinhatha Panyasorn, Director of Corporate Utilisation Management & Insurance Services at Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS)

Interview: Tomomi Takahata Steincamp – Knowing the customer

Emergency Assistance Japan speaks with ITIJ about why twenty years of travel assistance knowledge is so important to the success of the business

Interview: Justin Etzin – Special assistance in the Seychelles

ITIJ spoke with Justin Etzin about the growth of his business, challenges of working across an island region, and the beauty of the Seychelles

Erik Liedermooij of Auxilia with air ambulance

Interview: Erik Liedermooij – Innovation in the industry

Erik Liedermooij, Managing Director of Auxilia AeroMedical Assistance, speaks to ITIJ about working for a young, adaptable company

Serving patients with care in Indonesia

Siloam Hospitals Group provides essential and specialised care to more than four million patients in 41 hospitals across the region

Interview: Andrew Blomberg – International Citizens Insurance

Michelle Royle spoke to Andrew Blomberg, Director of Sales at International Citizens Insurance about their global reach, challenges they have encountered, and what’s next for the company

Interview: Daniel Durazo – Changing the game

Daniel Durazo, Director of External Communications at Allianz Partners USA, speaks to Michelle Royle about his career at the company and how the pandemic changed everything for insurance providers

Industry voice: Customer connections

Michelle Royle spoke to Michel Etienne, CTO at Foyer Global Health, about the use of technology to serve IPMI customers effectively in all matters – from policy purchase to claims…

Industry voice: A doctor on demand

Easy access to virtual healthcare is here to stay, Joe Thomas, UK Managing Director of APRIL International UK, tells Michelle Royle

Partnerships with travel insurers and assistance companies

Travel insurers and assistance companies have various deals with hotels, banks, credit cards and airlines to engage with their audience. Mario Pierobon reached out to industry experts to assess opportunities…

Assistance during Hajj

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca involves millions of people – so what measures are taken to keep them safe, and how do assistance companies make sure they can operate effectively…

High hopes for medical tourism

Tatum Anderson examines cost containment and international management for MEA-based patients crossing borders for healthcare

Seasonal price hikes for medical care

Carrie Dunn examines the issue of medical price escalation during peak tourist seasons

Interview: Sid Mouncey – Tailoring solutions and unpicking problems for travellers

Sid Mouncey, CEO of Blink Parametric, speaks to Michelle Royle about changes in the industry and why parametric insurance is so important in today’s climate

Interview: Bilge Bora – Disaster management missions

Bilge Bora, General Manager of marm assistance, spoke to ITIJ about the earthquake devastation in Turkey, cost containment, and what’s next for the business

Zakaria Bouhlel Interview, Air Rescue Group

Interview: Zakaria Bouhlel – Saving lives from Mission Control

ITIJ spoke with Zakaria Bouhlel, Business Development Director at Air Rescue Group, about his passion for the industry, his new role, and what’s next for the business

Interview: Eve Jokel of Luz Saúde on Patient expectations

Mandy Langfield spoke to Eve Jokel, International Director at Luz Saúde about global healthcare systems, trends in the Portuguese system, and patient expectations

Interview: Chris Carnicelli, Generali Global Assistance

The CEO of Generali Global Assistance for North America tells Megan Gaen about his customer-focused passion for the travel insurance industry

Interview: Dr Gene Delaune discusses both medical and military frontline experience

Dr Gene Delaune tells Megan Gaen about how his first-hand experiences of the emergency room and the warzone have aided his career in medical assistance and evacuation

EURAMI Update – May 2023

The latest update from the European Aero-Medical Institute (EURAMI) announces the first EURAMI conference at ITIC Global, Barcelona, in November

Industry voice: Proactive protection

Alex Laidlaw, Technical Product Director of World Travel Protection, talks to Michelle Royle about the use of technology in the delivery of travel medical assistance services

Industry Voice: Taking off in a new direction

Adapting international healthcare benefits for a remote workforce is a key talking point, says Lynn Pina, Chief Marketing Officer, GeoBlue

ITIC Americas: Attracting and retaining staff in insurance and assistance

Lauren Gumport and Daniel Durazo discuss the current best practices on attracting talent, retaining staff and employee wellbeing

ITIC Americas: Hospital billing best and worst practice

On the second day of our ITIC Americas conference, Serge Avice du Buisson, Victor E. Navarro and Diane Lynn discussed in-depth the process of hospital billing – both good and…

ITIC Americas 2023 Disaster Preparedness Panel

ITIC Americas: Disaster preparedness

In the second of our ITIC Americas sessions, Jose Marchand, Yanni Jota and Edmund Santiago discuss what have we learned from the pandemic

ITIC Americas: Cruise assistance

In the first of our ITIC Americas sessions, Federico Tarling, Thomas Lescot and Sergio Abril discussed the availability and quality of care in popular cruise destinations

Untying the knots: legal issues after Brexit for insurers

Stefan Mohamed looks at the legal issues for UK insurers, asking what options are available for those seeking to recover costs incurred within the European Union

Best practice makes perfect: Smooth communication with the Financial Ombudsman Service for UK insurers

When insurers are unable to solve a dispute, the UK Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is there to mediate. How can insurers ensure a smooth working relationship with this key body?

Accessing medical treatment in the UK

What help can assistance companies provide to travellers to the UK? And what are the solutions for repatriated clients returning to the UK after becoming unwell overseas, asks Jane Collingwood

Go to issue

EURAMI Update – April 2023

The latest update from the European Aero-Medical Institute (EURAMI) covers the success of Quick Air and the successful reaccreditation of ProJet

Interview: Elliott Draga – Innovation equals success at NIS

ITIJ speaks to Elliott Draga, Chief Commercial Officer at Nordic Insurance Software (NIS), about technology trends, new solutions, and the importance of THiA

Interview: Edmund Santiago – Clear-vision planning in the Caribbean

Edmund Santiago, Chairman and CEO of Redbridge Holdings LLC, spoke to Michelle Royle about disaster preparedness, supporting young artists, and what’s next for the company

The Power of Parametric - Part 3

Carl Carter, Chief Commercial Officer of Blink Parametric, shares about their Global Lost Luggage solution and protecting data on the move

Building an ecosystem of excellence

While customer service is everything, its effectiveness comprises many different parts, as Sheldon Kenton of Global Benefits Group explains

Future-proofing the market

Lawrence Buckler, VP Sales at Sprout.ai, on why a customer-centric approach will define the future of insurance

Tackling market volatility

Life insurers will turn to younger demographics by offering next-gen products and customised digital CX says James Kruger, Head of UK Insurance at Capgemini Financial Services

Interview: Lara Helmi of CONNEX Assistance

CONNEX Assistance Managing Director, Lara Helmi, can offer an in-depth perspective on assistance in the Middle East and Africa – and her outlook is undeniably positive

Interview: Shannon Lofdahl of Travelex

Empowered to deliver and innovate: As Travelex CEO, with 26 years of travel insurance experience, Shannon Lofdahl understands better than most what makes our industry tick

Interview: Dr Shoba Subramanian of UnitedHealthcare Global

Ensuring quality of care is critical: Dr Shoba Subramanian of UnitedHealthcare Global can offer a unique insight into global medical treatment, assistance providing and future trends

Geopolitical chaos: The European response

Megan Gaen investigates how air ambulances and assistance companies were affected by Brexit, Covid-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Wing-to-wing transfers and the need for strong partnerships

Wing-to-wing patient transfers are sensitive, complex missions – and success relies on partnerships that are exceptional in every way. Air ambulance operators share with Lauren Haigh the crucial considerations when…

Can I get a quote? Providing accurate quotes to clients for time-sensitive missions

Oliver Cuenca talks to members of the air ambulance community about how they provide accurate quotes to clients when responding to time-sensitive missions

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NEW | Air Ambulance Case Studies

Case study: Malteser AeroMedical face challenges in Mombasa

As with many cases received by the operations team at Malteser AeroMedical, this case started rather harmlessly, but quickly turned into a mission full of challenges and difficult decisions.

Case Study: Unicair on providing High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen on long-distance, international fixed-wing aeromedical transport

Noninvasive ventilatory support with High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen (HFNC) is increasingly popular across the age continuum in patients with respiratory compromise, in whom intubation and mechanical ventilation should be…

European Air Ambulance case study header

Case study: European Air Ambulance Challenger 605 raises the bar

A little more than a year after its start of operations, Luxembourg-based European Air Ambulance (EAA) is more than pleased with the overall performance of its first longrange aircraft, the…

Case study: Redstar Aviation on a double transport from Turkey and Greece back to Germany

It was early October on a beautiful afternoon at Redstar Aviation’s headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, when the operations centre received a call from a client in Germany, enquiring about a…

All things Air Ambulance

Hospitals & Healthcare news

Canopius launches medical malpractice business

It will be led by Ashley Moulton as its Healthcare Underwriter

Fire at Vienna hospital kills three

The blaze in the four-person room is believed to have been caused by a smoking patient

UAE conducts drone medicine delivery trial

Fakeeh University Hospital, UAE, has successfully trialled the delivery of medication via drone from a hospital to a patient’s home

World Hospital Congress to be hosted in Rio de Janeiro in 2024

This is the second time the city will host the event