The insurer has teamed up with America’s largest health insurance group – the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) – to offer a range of five tiered international private medical insurance (IPMI) products.
In 2014, Bupa acquired a 49% stake in BCBSA’s subsidiary Highway to Health (HTH) in a bid to expand its global presence.
Describing the deal as “the biggest partnership the international health insurance market has ever seen”, Bupa Global’s head Robert Lang revealed at the time that between them Bupa and BCBSA, which still owns the remaining 51% in HTH, have more than 11,500 hospitals in more than 190 countries.
Bupa Global, which has operations in Hong Kong, Dubai and Latin America, said the five products – known as Select, Premier, Elite, Ultimate and Major Medical – will be jointly marketed under the Bupa and BCBSA banner.
Aimed at “globally-minded and globally-mobile” customers, the healthcare provider said the insurance will cover in hospital and out-patient care, health checks, mental and holistic therapies, evacuation, treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses, hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions as well as transplants and rehabilitation.
Bupa Global’s general manager, Dean Pollard, said: “This launch forms part of a joint commitment from Bupa Global and BCBSA, to deliver high quality health care products and services and highlights the global reach of this partnership. This combined strength, knowledge and expertise means customers can be confident in knowing that they have access to quality health care when and where they need it.”
“The coming together means consumers who require global coverage can now have access to the largest network of health care providers worldwide,” said Maureen Sullivan, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at BCBSA.
