Covering special risks is hard enough in domestic settings, but this can prove near to impossible when trying to arrange international private medical insurance (IPMI) for individuals.
Policies where medical history is disregarded (MHD) offer one potential solution for those with pre-existing conditions.
So too does more proactive management of risk – meaning individuals will not have to rely on local domestic healthcare systems.
Though it is also clear that flexibility has to be at the core of product design to create offerings that cater for every eventuality.
However for some occupations and expected activities it really can prove an intense challenge for advisers to find cover.
Toughest health situations
“The toughest health situations tend to be pre-existing conditions, rare diseases, high-risk pregnancies or anything that might require emergency medical evacuation,” Michelle Bishop, global practice leader, multinational benefits and mobility at Gallagher, tells Health & Protection.
Furthermore, Marcia Reid, non-executive director at Sherwood Healthcare, points to other challenges.
“One of the key challenges historically has been covering individuals who have been sent on sporting scholarships,” Reid explains.
“That’s always difficult because there is a special risk in terms of the sport involved as well.
“But I don’t know whether since then there is an insurer that can cover that.”
Possible solutions
However, according to Chantal Leprêtre, client adviser at SIP Medical Family Office, there are solutions on offer.
“It is more possible to get things like loading on an IPMI policy for certain medical conditions,” Leprêtre says.
“I had one client who was looking for cover for him and his wife, but they had a couple of pre-existing conditions.
“They ended-up setting up a small family group on MHD terms simply so they wouldn’t have any headaches and have complete serenity that they were MHD and they were covered.”
But Leprêtre adds for other medical conditions – particularly anything degenerative – it is a different story.
“For those medical conditions, you’ve got to hope that you’re either moving to a country where there is a local system that you can integrate into and would cover existing conditions,“ she continues.
“The NHS would, French social security would, the Spanish system would, but for an IPMI policy, there is a vast list of medical conditions where it is just not possible to get cover for.”
Gallagher’s Bishop agrees – adding that different healthcare systems, regulatory frameworks and varying access to quality medical care all have to be factored in.
“To make it work, insurers need robust global medical networks, strong local partnerships and policies that are flexible enough to respond to unexpected situations, while still providing meaningful protection to clients wherever they are,” Bishop adds.
Shift to proactive risk management
Helen Love, vice president of networks and partnerships at UnitedHealthcare Global, explains domestic coverage for special risks is often constrained by local infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
“That’s why insurers must build in flexibility and ensure access to specialised care,“ she says.
“UnitedHealthcare Global’s strategy includes pre-deployment health screenings and tailored support for international assignees.”
The good news is that insurers are alive to such concerns and Love’s colleague Raymond Linnartz, sales director at UnitedHealthcare Global, reports an industry shift from reactive to proactive risk management.
“Insurers are investing in intelligence, infrastructure, and partnerships to enable faster and more effective responses,” Linnartz explains.
“In response to emerging risks, insurers and advisers are innovating not only in product design but also in service delivery.
“The focus is shifting toward integrated solutions that combine health intelligence, medivac and security logistics management, and clinical expertise.”
But ultimately when it comes to covering special risk, it is important for insurers to prepare for every eventuality.
That means anticipating needs before they arise and managing logistics to ensure cases are handled both sensitively and efficiently.