Group Global Health Insurance for Employers

2024’s Best Group International Medical Insurance Plans

Are you sending employees abroad to open new offices as your company expands globally? Maybe you’re heading a group of volunteers traveling to build housing in Haiti after a hurricane. Or perhaps you supervise a sales team working on a six-month project in Singapore.
Whatever your situation, if you’re sending staff out of the country or hiring international employees, protecting their health is a must. The best international group health insurance plans will cover your people so they can focus on doing great work in any country worldwide.

You might wonder why you should buy a group plan for your employees rather than letting them choose individual plans. Group plans have many advantages, from ease of administration to lower costs to less overhead. But with so many insurers, all with different requirements for their clients, it can take time to know which global business health insurance to choose. To help you get started, we’ve created a guide to the process and a list of the best international providers and plans.

What Is an International Group Health Plan?

Many employers provide health and other insurance to their employees under a group plan. This type of insurance policy covers several to many employees under a single plan, which spreads out the risk and makes the overall plan less expensive for the employer. An international group health plan is a group policy designed to cover employees in different countries.

Why Should I Consider Global Group Health Insurance for My Employees?

As an HR manager or administrator of your company’s insurance policies, you might need to cover employees working in several countries. Or perhaps you have employees who are foreign nationals and need coverage where you’re headquartered. Some companies have employees all over the world, or consultants who travel frequently to do business. All of these situations and more can be made easier with an international group health plan.

With a group policy, you also have the advantage of simpler and less costly administration of the plan. With everyone in your organization receiving the same level of coverage, you can very nearly “set it and forget it.”

What Does International Health Insurance Cover?

Global group health insurance plans can cover as little or as much as makes sense for your organization and budget. You might only want minimal coverage for accidents, acute illness and other emergencies if your workers are generally young and healthy. If your employees are older and/or have families who also need insurance, you might want to go with something more comprehensive.

The point is that international group medical plans range from basic to comprehensive, just like domestic plans do. The main difference is that global plans cover your people wherever they go — within whatever limitations the plan has.

How Do I Set Up a Group Health Insurance Plan?

The first step is choosing the right long-term plan for your employees. Our licensed brokers can help you sort through the options and see which plan is the best fit for your particular group’s needs.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, our agents can also help you navigate the process of setting up your plan. For more about what that looks like and what information you’ll need to gather, see our guide to choosing corporate international insurance.

Group International Health Insurance Companies

At International Citizens Insurance, we’ve researched and analyzed the top providers to bring you this list of the best corporate health insurance companies for your international employees. We ranked them based on the following criteria:

• Network size, including the number and quality of doctors and hospitals available to employees
• The breadth of benefits available
• Added features such as telemedicine, vision, dental, life and disability benefits
• Ease of filing a claim and overall customer service
• The ability to adjust your premium through copays and deductibles
• A.M. Best rating, which indicates the financial stability of each insurer

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What Makes a Global Group Medical Insurance Plan Great?

Just because an international group health insurance company is ranked doesn’t mean it’s the best for your organization’s needs. Every organization is unique and needs a plan that suits them best.

Perhaps your company wants to hire foreign nationals and provide them benefits in your company’s locale. Or maybe you are sending some of your local employees abroad briefly, and they’ll need travel medical coverage. You could also have employees who relocate to another country but continue to work for your company, in which case they’ll need expatriate coverage. Other companies are best for local nationals or workers you hire from another country but who continue to live and work there.

Our Picks for Global Group Health Insurance Plans

Each company below offers plans with specific strengths, making each a superb solution for specific scenarios. Here are additional details about them and what types of organizations they may be best for.

Cigna Global Health Advantage (GHA)

Best for Organizations Seeking a Large Worldwide Health Network

Do you want your employees to have access to one of the largest worldwide networks of healthcare professionals? Then Cigna GHA may be the right plan for you. The GHA plan is an international group medical insurance designed to cover groups of two to 20 employees living and working worldwide.

Benefits include:

• An extensive health network with more than one million doctors and hospitals around the globe
• Establishes guarantees of payment for customers with doctors and hospitals, ensuring access to care worldwide
• The service center and in-house medical team operate 24/7/365
• Plans that are fully compliant with regional requirements
• Quick claims payments and excellent customer service
• Mental and emotional assistance via the International Employee Assistance Program
• Optional benefits: dental, long-term disability, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and evacuation/repatriation coverage
• Additional services: remote second opinions from the Cleveland Clinic, international pharmacy fulfillment, and more

Eligibility:

• At least two eligible employees must be enrolled at all times
• US employers must have 50+ employees on a worldwide basis
• At least 50% of employees enrolled must be expatriates living outside of their country of residence

Cigna Global Health Advantage Plan

• International Employee Assistance Program
• Access to Cigna Global’s trusted network of hospitals and doctors
• The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service

GHA Brochure

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GeoBlue Expat Group Insurance Plans

Best for Organizations Based in the USA with International Employees

If your company is based in the USA and you have staff going abroad for six months or more, GeoBlue may be the right fit for your organization. This international group health insurance plan provides comprehensive global health benefits, including telemedicine, wellness coaching, evacuation benefits, alerts about safety and health, and more.

Benefits Include:

• Primary major medical plan offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUPA International
• Worldwide coverage or coverage by country of assignment
• Rich benefits that cover everything from medical evacuation to maternity care and wellness visits
• Flexible coverage for U.S. employees outside the U.S., foreign nationals on assignment in the U.S., and third-country nationals, as well as their families

Eligibility:

• Available to groups of two or more
• Must have headquarters or an office in the U.S.
• Must meet a minimum threshold of global employees

GeoBlue Expat Group Insurance

• Rich medical benefits plus evacuation, maternity care, and well visits
• Flexible coverage for international employees of U.S. corporations
• Customizable benefits, premier global network of Doctors and hospitals, excellent customer service

Brochure

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GeoBlue also offers a group travel insurance plan for short-term coverage and trips abroad: GeoBlue Traveler (PDF) | Request a Quote.

Aetna Ascent Group Medical Insurance Plan

Best for Smaller Organizations Seeking Simplicity

Aetna Ascent international business health insurance plans are designed for groups of two or more expatriate employees. The company offers comprehensive, global healthcare coverage and innovative wellness programs wherever your employees go. Plans are global and can cover international residents residing throughout the world.

Benefits Include:

• Simple plan administration and implementation, with annual renewal dates
• Compliance with fronting arrangements and local requirements
• Member access to their network of more than 1.1 million global providers
• Comprehensive member services are available 24/7
• Convenient web and mobile tools for people on the go
• Access to the CARE Team, a team of clinicians available to support members pre-trip, post-trip, and anytime in between by helping get prescriptions filled, coordinating urgent medical care, and more

Eligibility:

• At least two eligible employees must be enrolled at all times
• The employer must have 51+ employees worldwide
• Must have headquarters or an office located in the U.S.

Aetna International Ascent

• Member access to our network of more than 1.1 million global providers
• Simple plan administration and implementation, with annual renewal dates
• Compliance with fronting arrangements and local requirements

Brochure

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United Healthcare Group Plans

Best for a Full Array of Solutions

One of the largest insurers in the world, United Healthcare provides an array of plans that can cover your staff, no matter their needs. They offer coverage for assignments of 6 months or more, as well as shorter assignments and business trips. And if you have concerns about employee safety and security in remote areas, United Healthcare offers solutions for that, too.

Benefits include:

• Short-term, long-term, travel and security coverage
• Options to include Inpatient care, outpatient treatment, prescriptions, maternity vision and dental, accidental death & dismemberment, long-term disability, life insurance, evacuation, orldwide cover
• Support before, during, and after staff assignments
• Large global provider network
• Medical and security intelligence to help you support your staff

Eligibility:

• Available to groups of two or more
• Must have a tie to a U.S. organization, a U.S. headquarters or local office, and a minimum number of employees worldwide

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Unisure Group Global Medical

Best for Remote Teams of Local Nationals (Inpats) With Some International Travel

Unisure offers plans with a modular system, which allows you to create a benefits package that covers only what you need. It has plans specific to the energy and mining sectors and great options for staff in many other industries. This is a great option for smaller companies with large numbers of local nationals in more than one country and expatriate employees globally.

Benefits include:

• Multiple package options to choose from and combine
• Benefits modules include inpatient and outpatient care, family/maternity, health and wellness, and vision and dental coverage
• Flexible excess (deductible) options
• 24/7 multilingual call center to help with treatment, claims, or plan questions

Eligibility:

• Groups as small as two people may be covered; however, Unisure may require a minimum percentage of staff to be enrolled to qualify
• The plan can cover local nationals, along with expatriates, in most countries

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International Medical Group

Insurance and Security for the Budget-Minded

Suppose you have two or more international employees and want to balance your benefits against your budget. In that case, IMG offers customizable plans that can include telemedicine, dental, disability, life insurance, travel assistance, and more. They also provide security solutions for staff overseas and compensation case management for employees injured on the job.

Benefits include:

• Custom plan designs offer the flexibility to choose the level and type of coverage desired
• Optional add-ons include telemedicine, dental, disability, and life insurance
• Emergency travel assistance
• A network of over 18,550 physicians and facilities outside the U.S. that offer direct billing — meaning less paperwork for you and your employees
• Options for groups such as marine crew members, schools, volunteer organizations, and more

Eligibility:

• Some plans have a minimum of two or more employees
• Specialized plans may require proof of eligibility

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William Russell

Best for Organizations Seeking Seamless Benefits

William Russell offers health, life, and income protection plans so you can seamlessly provide all employee benefits. They combine a personal touch with an extensive global network. This is a good option if your group is larger than ten people. In that case, you can easily add new staff to your insurance with Medical History Disregarded underwriting, which allows you to enroll employees without providing their health records.

Benefits include:

• Inpatient treatment, day-patient treatment (when the person has a hospital procedure but does not stay overnight), cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, transplants, and basic Medevac
• Option to include pre-existing and chronic conditions with Medical History Disregarded underwriting
• Network of over 40,000 hospitals around the world, many of which offer direct billing — meaning your staff will never see a bill
• Options to add maternity cover, optical and dental coverage, enhanced medevac services, and more

Eligibility:

• Must have three or more employees needing coverage to qualify
• No more than 50% of individuals living full-time in their country of citizenship

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Now Health International

For Budget-Conscious Organizations

If your budget is tight, but you want to provide international benefits to retain your employees, Now Health’s group plans may be the right solution. Your organization can choose anything from basic plans that cover emergency scenarios to full-fledged plans that will take care of every eventuality. Now Health has solid plan options in Africa, China, Singapore, and Dubai.

Benefits include:

• 24/7 multilingual customer care
• Network of over 1 million medical facilities and providers
• Claims may be submitted online
• Choose a level of benefits appropriate to the needs of your organization and your budget level

Eligibility:

• Groups as small as three people may be covered; may need a minimum percentage of staff receiving coverage to enroll

Request a Quote for Your Group

Allianz Group Plans

Best For Coverage in Africa, Asia, Central, and South America as well as Local Nationals

Allianz offers group international health insurance with many different geographic options. It is especially strong in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. If your staff is likely to travel, you can opt for Worldwide coverage. If they’re likely to stay in one country or region, Allianz also offers geographically limited plans, so you only pay for the coverage area you need.

Benefits include:

• Telehealth portal for arranging medical treatment abroad
• 24/7 customer service with multi-lingual support call center staff
• Network of full-time medical staff offering day-to-day and emergency medical support through their internal worldwide assistance company
• Second medical opinion options
• A simple pre-authorized claims process so staff won’t have to wait long for reimbursement or treatment
• Summit Plans that cover staff for in-patient, out-patient, and wellness benefits, with optional add-ons (Dental, Optical, Maternity, and Repatriation)

Eligibility:

• Groups as small as three people may be covered; however, Allianz may require that a minimum percentage of staff participate

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WorldTrips

The Best Business Group Travel Medical Insurance for Single Trips

If you are looking for a plan for your group going on a trip or for a set of employees traveling to different countries, the Atlas Travel Insurance Plans from WorldTrips are the top choice. These travel plans are available to all nationalities, which makes them stand out from many other insurers and is especially helpful for international organizations. This is a short-term international travel medical plan for trips as short as five days to as long as a year.

Benefits include:

• Medical coverage for any urgent medical need
• Emergency medical and political evacuation
• Trip interruption, travel delay, and lost baggage coverage
• Optional crisis response add-on for groups going to unstable parts of the world

Eligibility:

• Must be traveling outside of the employee’s home country
• Available in monthly or 15-day increments
• The maximum coverage period is 12 months

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Review Your Options for Global Benefits With a Licensed Group Broker

Once you request a quote, you will be assigned a licensed agent expert in global benefits. Your agent will work with you to determine your specific needs, budget, and relevant insurers who can provide you with a customized quote. We will then work with you to refine your benefits and quote, compare group coverage options, and secure coverage. As your brokers, we work for you and will be able to assist you throughout your policy period to ensure you get the level of service you desire.

Global Benefits for Organizations

• Offering group plans for international health, life and travel
• Request a quote from the leading insurers around the globe
• A licensed agent will provide quotes and expert advice

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Author: Andrew Blomberg is the Vice President of Global Benefits at International Citizens Insurance. Andrew is a licensed insurance broker with expertise in the areas of international group travel, global health, life, and disability insurance. Having worked and traveled throughout the world, he has the experience to provide personal insight along with his industry knowledge. Andrew is dedicated to providing group benefits to organizations, large and small, for today's global workforce. Connect with him on LinkedIn.