Hollard Cigna Health
Hollard Cigna Health is an international private medical insurance (iPMI) plan designed for those living and working in the African continent. Cigna says the plans are aimed at key local nationals, regional expats and globally mobile staff of corporations with a footprint across Sub-Saharan African countries.
In order to best meet local requirements, plans are ‘fully admitted’ health insurance plans, so should be accepted in most territories.
There are six different plans: Core Care; Standard Care; Select Care; Essential Care; Executive Care, and Elite Care. Maximum annual benefit per member per year of insurance ranges from $50K (Core Care) up to $6m (Elite Care). Plans include medical evacuation and repatriation.
In addition, dental and vision cover can be added on a Standard (up to $500 pa) or Extra (up to $1K) basis with the benefit being paid in full , or at 80% or 50% depending on the benefit. For lenses, frames and prescription sunglasses an annual limit of $100 or $200 applies.
Five pricing options are available ranging from Africa only (area of cover 1); adding Pakistan, Sri Lank, Bangladesh and Lebanon (area 2); Europe including Africa (3); worldwide excluding US (4), and worldwide (5).
There is a Cigna Health Benefits app where customer can get information or they can do so, or claim, online.
Comment: Who is Hollard? Hollard is South Africa’s largest privately owned insurance group, with turnover exceeding R15bn. That makes it a good choice of partner for Cigna in Africa, offering local expertise and knowledge. Indeed, such partnerships are now common in the iPMI space – it simply makes sense and can give customers real world benefits.
The collaboration has launched a range of six products and, with five geographic areas and optional dental and optical cover too, there is a wide range of solutions whilst avoiding over-complexity.
Benefits are typical rather than revolutionary, with most treatments paid in full, although there are annual limits on many benefits. One neat marketing feature is that members get a personal membership card, which includes all contact details, and claims can be made 24/7.
All in all this is a useful range of plans designed to meet the needs of a growing African market.
Plus points: Purpose built iPMI for Africa; Combines the global reach of Cigna with the local knowledge and expertise of Hollard; Good choice of cover options (six plans; five regional pricing options).
Not so plus points: Some benefit limits, even on the top of the range plans; Relatively limited market (Africa); Limited cancer cover on lower price plans; Little that is innovative; Just two optional add-ons.
Website: www.hollardcignahealth.com
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 7. Overall: 8. Gold
Tags: iPMI; Cigna