Aetna has launched a suite of international healthcare plans (IHP) for organisations with globally mobile employees.
Employers select from one of four base plans, then choose from a menu of up to 49 additional benefits and limits. The plans are available in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong, and will be rolled out over the coming months in China, Jakarta and Singapore.
The basic plan features: accident and emergency cover outside the designated geographic area that provides full refund for in-patient emergency hospital treatment for new conditions when using an provider in Aetna’s network; innocent bystander cover for members injured as a result of conflict, civil unrest or terrorism; congenital anomalies cover which has been extended to include conditions identified in child dependents up to 12 months old; and improved waiting periods for dental and pregnancy cover.
Optional benefits include: infertility treatment; routine or restorative dental, and orthodontic options; extended emergency evacuation; routine pregnancy; wellness and vision options; and traditional Chinese medicine.
Many of the above options can be flexed. While all plans cover complications of pregnancy, employers opting to include routine pregnancy can choose from eight benefit limits.
IHP plan members also have access to Aetna’s wellness resources and services, including the online wellness centre, cancer outreach programme, and a health risk assessment tool available in 12 languages and customised to fit cultural differences.
Donna Otten, head of Aetna Global Benefits (AGB), the organisation’s international benefits segment, said: “We recognise employers need a comprehensive level of core health benefits and flexibility in plan design in order to meet the needs of their varied employee populations.
"We have re-designed our health plans to provide a richer level of base benefits to work with different budgets and included wellness features to help employees make positive changes that can lead to lasting healthy lifestyles.
“At the same time, we have provided the most flexible selection of add-ons and limits yet, so employers can purchase the features they need to tailor benefits packages to cater for regionally diverse needs and make the most of their healthcare investments.”
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