UnitedHealthcare Global (UHG) is exiting the international private medical insurance (IPMI) market in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The move was revealed alongside confirmation that a deal has been reached to sell its membership in these regions to Cigna Global Health Benefits.
Health & Protection understands fewer than 100,000 members are covered by the decision but no financial terms of the arrangement have been released.
The agreement does not include UHG products, provider networks, service platforms or other operating assets.
A statement from parent company UnitedHealthcare Group noted that the UnitedHealthcare’s total commercial and individual plan membership is 30 million but “this transaction is non-core and includes fewer than 100,000 members”.
Health & Protection has asked UnitedHealthcare a range of questions about the changes including its timing, impact on members, intermediaries and the staff affected.
In its statement response, UnitedHealthcare continued: “We continually review the capabilities and services we offer to meet the growing and evolving needs of our businesses and the people we serve.
“We made the decision to withdraw from international private medical insurance across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, because it no longer aligns with our core product offerings.
“We believe this is a positive transition opportunity for our customers and members and selected Cigna as our preferred partner based on its ability to deliver quality service at scale.
“Customers remain free to consider Cigna or any other insurer and should evaluate available options based on their own needs and circumstances,” it added.
The insurer had been progressively expanding it’s offering across the regions over the last five years including the Netherlands, Germany and Qatar.
The deal appears similar to that struck between Aetna International and Allianz when the former also left the IPMI market in 2022.
In that case, a month after the announcement Aetna International began referring its IPMI customers to Allianz.
UHG to exclusively endorse Cigna to clients
Cigna Global Health Benefits (CGHB) said the agreement meant UHG would exclusively endorse it as the preferred international health insurer for UHG clients following its withdrawal.
It said the deal advances the insurer’s international health growth strategy and expands access to its global health capabilities for globally mobile populations.
CGHB added that UHG clients would gain access to its “deep global health expertise, personalised guidance and support, and compliant, locally relevant care worldwide”.
Wendy Sherry, CEO of Cigna Healthcare International Health Global Health Benefits, said the agreement “provides a clear pathway forward for UHC Global clients and broker partners”.
“We look forward to working closely with the UHC Global team to ensure a thoughtful, well-managed experience while earning the trust and confidence of UHC Global clients and brokers through our deep commitment to meeting the evolving needs of their globally mobile workforces,” she added.
Cigna Healthcare International Health president Jason Sadler added: “Today marks an important milestone in our growth strategy and is a testament to CGHB’s ability to provide support and solutions to meet the evolving needs of globally mobile populations.”