Corporate Assistance Service For Expats Is Launched

expat network

Corporate Assistance Service For Expats Is Launched

A new corporate assistance service for business travellers and expatriate employees of multinationals has been launched.

Allianz Corporate Assistance from international health and life insurer Allianz Worldwide Care aims to mitigate health risks. Multinationals operating in remote environments, for example within the mining, oil and gas industries, often face challenging conditions. For their employees, health and security risks can be high, while local medical support may be limited or non-existent.

Ron Buchan, chief executive of Allianz Worldwide Care, said: “We have many clients in industries such as mining, construction, oil and gas, who need to establish operations where those natural resources or opportunities are located. This can include some fairly inhospitable environments. Our clients want to ensure that there is adequate medical care and support for their teams.

“We already have doctors based around the world and a 24/7 multilingual helpline, so we are well placed to extend our support offering to help clients overcome some of the challenges that they may face and mitigate health risks.

“For example, in remote locations, if medical care is not readily available, we can establish static or mobile first aid stations, medical centres or clinics, with state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies”.

Allianz Corporate Assistance services include:

– Establishment and staffing of remote first aid stations or clinics

– Tele-medicine

– General health and medical provider information

– Medical evacuation/repatriation and related services

– Case management of out-patient and in-patient treatment

– Shipment of prescribed drugs

– Medical second opinion

– Occupational health and wellness

– Health checks

There is a base package of standard medical assistance services which companies can then supplement from a list of additional services, selecting only those that are of interest to them.

Services such as the establishment of remote clinics and tele-medicine facilities, which by their nature need to be tailored to each client, can be purchased on an individual basis, regardless of whether or not the client has selected the base package.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.