Headline news

FCDO advises against travel to Ecuador

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all but essential travel to Ecuador, due to concerns about nationwide protests which began on 13 June

Travel insurance market to grow in coming years

The global travel insurance market reached a value of US$13.9 billion in 2021, according to a report from IMARC Group

AllClear establishes new Cardiff office

Travel insurer AllClear has announced that it is opening a new office in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, as it continues its post-pandemic expansion

Air connectivity recovery incomplete and uneven

Travel restrictions, war in Ukraine and a stop-start recovery suppress connectivity to Great Recession levels

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ITIJ reports from ITIC APAC 2022

Kim Yan Lim of Verisk Risk Rating speaks at ITIC APAC 2022

ITIC APAC Review: Mental health post Covid-19

As the world emerges from the pandemic, mental health support is in the spotlight; Kim Yan Lim of Verisk Risk Rating asks are insurers doing enough to provide their members…

John Spears of Global Excel speaks at ITIC APAC 2022

ITIC APAC Review: Is traditional medical assistance enough?

John Spears of Global Excel on the extra demands customers are making of their insurance and assistance providers, including high-risk evacuations, security services and legal assistance

Making Digital health solutions work - ITIC APAC 2022

ITIC APAC Review: Making digital health solutions work for the insurer and the customer

Asad Khan of Accenture and Dr Zubin Daruwalla of PwC Singapore on the ways in which health insurance companies could cater more effectively to consumer demands for digital health solutions

ITIC APAC Review: The future of travel in the APAC Region

Liz Ortiguera, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), shared insights about travel trends in Asia

ITIC APAC Review: International patient care

Hospitals around the world are seeing a resurgence in the number of international patients they are treating as tourists return to popular destinations and travel for treatment resumes

ITIC APAC Review: Digital healthcare, insurtech and innovation in Asia

Melisa Teoh of MyDoc shares her insights on the solutions that are available to health insurers seeking to boost their digital health service provision at ITIC APAC 2022

The changing face of insurance and assistance at ITIC APAC 2022

ITIC APAC Review: The changing face of insurance and assistance

Much has changed in insurance and travel medical assistance provision since Covid-19; experts at ITIC Singapore address key aspects of how the industry has adapted to meet new customer demands

Transparency in hospital billing

The practice of providing different price lists for locals and expats is widespread in hospitals around the world, but why does it happen, and is it fair? Tatum Anderson spoke…

Travel recovery in Asia

For the past two years, every road has been the one less travelled. But with restrictions finally easing across Southeast Asia, many are optimistic about a return to normality, according…

Malaysia’s travel insurance market – plenty of room for growth

The untapped potential of the insurance industry in Asia has been the focus of many a study; here, Mandy Langfield looks specifically at how the Malaysian market is developing, looking…

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ITIJ Speaks with Andrew Merrilees - BUPA

Interview: Andrew Merrilees, BUPA Hong Kong

Andrew Merrilees, Managing Director of Bupa in Hong Kong, spoke to Mandy Langfield about the insurer’s latest value-add proposition in Hong Kong, as well as market trends and challenges

Interview: Serene Neo, Chubb Singapore

Mandy Langfield spoke to Serene Neo, Division Head of Accident & Health for Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited, about her mission to push transformation in the company through products, operations and…

ITIJ Speaks to Jo McCauley - Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Interview: Jo McCauley, Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Jo McCauley, CEO of Southern Cross Travel Insurance, spoke to Mandy Langfield about recognition for personal and professional achievements, the adoption of new digital solutions, and why customers always need…

ITIJ Speaks with Stan Sandberg - Travelinsurance.com

Interview: Stan Sandberg, TravelInsurance.com

Clara Bullock spoke to Stan Sandberg, Co-Founder of TravelInsurance.com, about his mission to make it easier for travellers to understand and buy the right cover

IPMI growth in Asia

James McGrigor, MD McGrigor Group and Rhiannon Kerr, Editor of McGrigor Insights, shared the key findings from the Group’s latest research into the Asian international private medical insurance market, which…

Insuring expatriates in Asia

Diane Ricart of April International shares how local regulations increase operational challenges faced by IPMI providers

Going with the expat flow

While moving to any new country is a massive upheaval, expats moving to Singapore face particularly acute challenges, not least of which is navigating a new healthcare system, explains William…

Interoperability: connecting health and travel pass apps

Robin Ingle discusses the challenges of connecting all the different apps travellers are now being asked to download and run, which store their valuable personal data and allow them touchless…

Assistance & Repatriation April 2022 Cover

Assistance for high-net-worth clients

The lifestyle of the rich and famous – or high-net-worth (HNW) individuals – often includes a lot of travel. In addition to the risks that all travellers face, however, from…

Kidnap and Ransom risk - Security on the front line

Kidnap and ransom risk (K&R) has changed a lot, with express kidnapping and ransomware demands now more typical industry risks. Clara Bullock spoke to assistance providers and insurers to find…

Adapting customer service to the post-Covid world

The pandemic has changed the way assistance providers work in a myriad of ways – from travel restrictions to Covid-safe transports. But has it affected the way they deal with…

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Hospitals & Healthcare news

Saudi moves all healthcare services into National Health Holding Company

The Saudi Cabinet has established the Health Holding Company, and is aiming to approve the charter of the National Health Insurance Center

Diego Fernández appointed President and CEO of GeoBlue

GeoBlue, a provider of high-tech, high-touch health insurance solutions for the globally mobile, has announced the appointment of Diego Fernández as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 13 June

Hospital and health leaders to gather in Dubai for the IHF World Hospital Congress

ITIJ is pleased to announce a media partnership with the 45th IHF World Hospital Congress, taking place in Dubai in November 2022

Gen Z employees seeking better benefits and wellbeing support

Research from global benefits and rewards platform Perkbox reveals that more than three-quarters of Gen Z employees have thought about moving jobs in the last six months

Directional care, indirect and direct cost containment at your fingertips

Penfield is proud to introduce its new Directional Care Finder platform, a program that ensures high-quality care at the best possible price throughout the US

Meeting the needs of expats in the UAE

Tailoring health insurance cover for expats is imperative in an increasingly globalised world. The focus should be on designing the perfect health insurance plan that improves affordability, predictability, and simplicity…

Sanctions and their effect on international payments for insurers

Western Union Business Solutions shares their insights on how travel and health insurers are managing payments in light of the sanction imposed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in…

Travel health screening and corporate responsibility: how do you create resilient solutions?

Juliane Kause from Anvil Group shares a theoretical case in which as pandemic travel restrictions are coming to an end, a company is planning to enhance their duty of care…

EURAMI accreditation update

The board of the European Aero-Medical Institute shares its latest news with ITIJ, detailing which air medical providers are demonstrating their committment to quality care in the air through undertaking…

Directional care, indirect and direct cost containment at your fingertips

Penfield is proud to introduce its new Directional Care Finder platform, a program that ensures high-quality care at the best possible price throughout the US

Using Artifical Intelligence to improve health insurance

Niels Thone, Co-Founder & CEO of Sprout.ai, discusses applying AI to the health insurance value chain

Six value-adding trends that insurance brokers need to know about

William Cooper discusses ways insurance brokers can leverage the latest trends to bring more value to their customers

ITIJ Speaks with Luis Felipe Arango Pardo

Interview: Luis Felipe Arango Pardo, Cedars Sinai Medical Center

Luis Felipe Arango Pardo spoke to Mandy Langfield about providing services to international patients at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, US

Interview: Steve Paraboschi, IMG

Steve Paraboschi, CEO of IMG, speaks about how Covid has changed travel insurance and how IMG is adapting to meet consumer needs in a rapidly changing world

Interview: Dr Hemal Desai, Aetna International

Dr Hemal Desai, Global Medical Director for Aetna International, talks to ITIJ about telemedicine, ‘long Covid’ and how his clinical experience influences his career in insurance

Interview: Anna Gladman, nib Travel

Mandy Langfield spoke to Anna Gladman, CEO of nib Travel, about how the company has coped with the challenges of Covid, and her hopes for the future of the Australian…

Interview: UNICAIR leadership team

The leadership team of UNICAIR shared more details about the merger of Air Alliance Medflight and Jetcall and their plans for the future

Interview: Cory Sobczyk, VP of Business Development, Arch RoamRight Travel

Cory Sobczyk, Vice President of Business Development, Arch RoamRight Travel, tells Mandy Landfield spoke how travel insurers can use data to address issues before they become problems

Interview: Elena Edwards, CEO of Allianz Partners USA

Elena Edwards, CEO of Allianz Partners USA, told Mandy Langfield about regulatory change, enhancing engagement with customers and employees through technology