International Group Insurance Products with Full Description:

Who helps you today to navigate international risk management and global benefits for expatriates, TCNs, foreign nationals and global travelers?

The 3 most important reasons to team with us for international group insurance needs are outlined below:

There is no cost to have McKinley International on "retainer" and we share advice with clients every day with no consulting fees.

If you employ expatriates and other international assignees, you never know what may cross your desk and you need a partner that can navigate ANY issue that may come your way.

Your current broker or consultant may lack international experience (99% do), and there is no conflict because we do NO U.S. domestic benefits.

For an in depth review of these international group insurance topics, please review each of the 4 white papers below:


Foreign exchange is one major factor in the decision to localize expatriates or pay them from the home country payroll.

Will the U.K. require expatriates to use a locally admitted U.K. insurance company in order to enter the country? Probably not, but most countries are moving in this direction and companies like CIGNA have a big advantage if they have a local operation inside the country already so admitted coverage becomes seamless to expatriates. Other companies will scramble for fronting partners that will add to costs.

This section discusses admitted insurance for expatriate employees and admitted health insurance for expatriates as well as the CIGNA Links plan or CIGNALinks.

CIGNA Links is a program that allows expatriates to access admitted insurance coverage in the host country.

Every year it seems more and more countries are requiring expatriates to obtain admitted health insurance in order to enter the country, obtain a work visa, or remain in the country. This means that staying with Kaiser Permanente or Blue Cross while you reside overseas may be downright illegal in many countries. They simply will force you to obtain health insurance with a locally admitted carrier.

CIGNA has CIGNA Links. Aetna Global Benefits is close behind with BUPA, and other carriers are way behind

Carriers that cannot offer their clients an admitted insurance solution in the following countries are at a severe disadvantage and cannot serve their clients properly.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Netherlands, Kuwait, Australia, Qatar, Switzerland, and the list of countries seems to grow each year. There is also a list of countries where having an admitted coverage may not be absolutely necessary to stay in the country, but expats with an admitted coverage are at a real advantage with benefits ranging from tax advantages to accessing hospital networks.

Make sure your expatriates can use a foreign or international health insurance plan vs. the need to use an admitted carrier.

Why do countries force expatriates to buy locally admitted insurance policies when they can prove they have good international medical insurance coverage? The reason mostly centers on protectionism, but it's also to ensure that the expatriate is fully covered and won't be a burden on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

From a protectionist viewpoint, countries what premium dollars for those working inside their country, to go to local insurance companies and not back to American or EU insurers. However, ensuring that expatriates have admitted coverage to keep their work visa means that, if they become uninsured, they won't become a "tax" on the system if they ill or injured while in the host country.

For more information about the need for admitted insurance for expatriates and admitted insurance for local nationals, please contact McKinley International Risk Management.