Insurers go global

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) is the latest insurer, and the first in the state, to offer international coverage.

Richard Greenhalgh, vice president of Ancillary Benefits for BCBSMA, says many members have expanded business operations internationally for years and wanted to offer coverage to expatriate employees and business travelers.

“We’ve heard this from large customers, consultants and brokers representing smaller employers alike,” he says.

GeoBlue, a new insurance product made available to companies through a partnership with Highway to Health Worldwide, Inc., will provide global health plans services to BCBSMA members. It includes a network of hospitals and English-speaking doctors in nearly 200 countries, a feature that will help schedule doctor visits with no out-of-pocket costs, and a multilingual concierge service that can help employees navigate the healthcare system in foreign countries. It also coordinates outpatient care and provides access to emergency case management and evacuation, if necessary.

“Massachusetts businesses are demanding these types of products,” Greenhalgh says. “Eighty percent of the top 40 Massachusetts-based companies report having international operations as part of their business. Most of these companies operate in multiple locations around the globe and roughly 50% are our current customers. Now, with the launch of this new product, those companies will have a local option to provide global health coverage.  That will make their benefit management more streamlined and efficient, and helps to them to provide a more complete package for protecting the health of their employees.”

GeoBlue products will be marketed and sold in Massachusetts through Indigo Insurance Services, LLC, a subsidiary of BCBSMA.

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