Bupa Global and Blue Cross Blue Shield international private medical insurance for Jersey, Guernsey
Back in 2014 Bupa Global and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced they were teaming up to give access to the largest network of healthcare providers worldwide. Now, From June 2016, they have launched their first jointly branded range of tiered international private medical insurance (iPMI) products for those living in Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar.
The launch involves five product options – Select, Premier, Elite, Ultimate and Major Medical. The range is tiered on coverage and price, which the organisations say is based on an ‘extensive international customer insight exercise’, which was carried out over a 12 month period.
Across all the plans benefits include:
In hospital and outpatient care.
Health checks (so helping prevent as well as cure).
Mental and holistic therapies.
Evacuation – transporting the customer and one other person to a suitable emergency treatment centre if one is not available locally.
Treatment for cancer and other serious illness for as long as needed.
Hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions.
Transplants and rehabilitation.
The above is a generalisation and may not be available on all plans (i.e. some of the benefits do not apply to Major Medical plans). The corporate portfolio is scheduled to follow the partnership model soon too.
Comment: The coming together of two of the best known names in international healthcare is a key development, especially as many expats and their employers look for and demand the security of working with major players. Getting such partnerships up and running can take time however, which is why this development covers only a relatively small geography.
That said, extensive research looks to have led to the launch of a comprehensive range of benefits, with options to ensure most needs can be met in a simple way, without the complication of add ons.
Hoe the new plans are regarded should give the two organisations good feedback too to help the next stages of the partnership.
Will these plans necessarily be the best ones for customers in the islands? Not necessarily – but they are likely to appear on a great many shortlists at the very least.
Plus points: Comprehensive tiered benefits without the complexity of a myriad add on options; Part of the rolling out of a potentially very existing partnership; From two of the world’s best known healthcare providers; Launches are being rolled out to cement the new partnership.
Not so plus points: A lack of adds on could mean some needs cannot be met exactly; Relatively slow roll-out given that the partnership was announced back in 2014; Only available for three small islands initially; Some may be concerned that the new partnership is too big a brand.
Website: www.bupaglobal.com.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 8. Overall: 8. Gold