Tag: International Medical Group

Indianapolis, IN Sep 10, 2015 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), a leader in the global insurance and assistance services market, has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by ABRY Partners (ABRY), a leading private equity firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
“ABRY is a natural fit for ownership as IMG continues to grow,” said IMG President and CEO Brian Barwick. “With decades of experience investing in high-quality companies, ABRY will complement IMG’s growth by providing capital to further expand our global presence.”
IMG’s operations will not be impacted by the ownership change, Barwick said, adding, “It will be business as usual for our employees, producers and clients.”
Founded in 1989 as a managing general underwriter, IMG has become one of the leading international insurance providers in the world, serving members in more than 200 countries.
“Over the years, IMG has developed a reputation for excellence in the global insurance and assistance services markets,” said ABRY Partner Brent Stone. “We are excited to welcome such a well-established company to our portfolio and look forward to working with the IMG team.”
IMG’s executive management team, Board of Directors and current private equity partners — Altaris Capital Partners and Galen Partners — approved the agreement.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Todd Hancock said, “ABRY shares our vision, energy and commitment to being there to protect and enhance the health and well-being of our constituents. We look forward to working with ABRY, and we are grateful to Altaris and Galen Partners for their support since August 2012.”

Indianapolis, IN Jun 11, 2015 – International Medical Group® (IMG®), a leader in the global medical and travel insurance market for 25 years, has released its Travel Risk Assessment Tool, or TRāT, a mobile travel app designed to assess and manage the risk of international travel.
“Traveling internationally can be very exciting, but there is an unpredictability that comes with travel,” said R. Brian Barwick, IMG President and CEO. “That’s why it became a priority for IMG to create a pre-planning mobile app to improve our members’ overall travel experience. TRāT provides comprehensive information to alleviate some of that anxiety.”
The app prompts users to provide basic information including age, destination, length of visit, frequency of travel to destination, trip purpose, currency familiarity and current travel medical insurance coverage. By answering 15 short, non-intrusive questions, users will receive a personalized Travel Risk Level score and recommended steps to reduce risk.
“TRāT is a complete source of preparedness for international travel, allowing travelers to feel secure and confident with Global Peace of Mind®” Barwick said.
To calculate risk, the app uses IMG’s proprietary algorithm that incorporates the company’s 25 years of service to more than 2.5 million international travelers. Answers are weighted according to values assigned to potential risk behaviors. Based on the unique Travel Risk Level score assigned to each user, IMG will recommend tools to reduce trip risk including credible online travel document resources, international travel guides, U.S. Department of State services, travel medical insurance options, language translation services and currency conversion tools among others.
Numerous variables affect millions of international travelers each year. Globally, international inbound tourists took 800 million trips in 2013, according to data published by the World Tourism Organization in the 2015 Yearbook of Tourism Statistics.
“Weather and attire are important questions for people planning trips abroad,” said Barwick. “But there are matters more critical that many travelers don’t realize until it is too late. TRāT is the perfect international travel planning companion to help protect and enhance the health and well-being our members.”

Indianapolis, IN Jun 2, 2015 – iTravelInsured®, Inc., a subsidiary of International Medical Group, Inc.® (IMG®) today announced enhancements to its travel programs available to U.S. family, student, business and other travelers.
The company designed the new travel products to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly diverse travel market. According to the U.S. Travel Association, Americans accounted for more than two billion leisure and business trips in 2014.
IMG President and CEO R. Brian Barwick said the enhancements to the company’s products builds upon a 25-year commitment to providing travel protection to all types of travelers.
“We’re constantly listening to our customers to learn how we can best meet their evolving travel needs,” Barwick said. “These new options reinforce our tagline, ‘Travel Protection Without Boundaries®,’ by widening the range of protection we are able to provide.”
The new iTravelInsured plans have insurance benefits underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company, and they were designed to fall into three tiers based on travelers’ needs:
Travel Lite: An existing plan that includes new benefits, such as reimbursement of miles and points, and rental car damage coverage
Travel SE: A new plan for families that provides coverage for children under the age of 18 at no additional charge per insured adult
Travel LX: iTraverInsured’s highest benefit level plan with ‘Cancel and/or Interruption for Any Reason’ coverage included within the base price
Amanda Winkle, Vice President of International Sales of IMG, believes the plans will be empowering to travel agents seeking to address their customers’ concerns about travel issues, from flight cancellations to medical emergencies, that often arise.
“Our plans account for many of the challenges our customers have faced in the past several years, and we are proud to roll out these plans in time for a busy travel season,” Winkle said.

Indianapolis, IN Jan 14, 2015 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®) launched its new GlobeHopperSM Senior product today, which provides seniors who are 65 years of age and older, with international medical insurance and emergency services while travelling outside the United States.
“GlobeHopper Senior is a unique addition to our short-term travel medical insurance portfolio,” said Amanda Winkle, Vice President of International Sales at IMG. “Applicants can select from two different plan options, Single-Trip and Multi-Trip, and can get instant quotes and apply online without medical underwriting.”
GlobeHopper Senior offers market leading, affordable travel medical insurance that bridges the gap left by other limited domestic plans that do not cover seniors when they leave the country. The product provides a range of benefits, including immediate access to emergency and non-emergency care, 24/7 customer service and support from anywhere in the world, and the option to select a hospital or doctor of the insured’s choice.
With more than 17,000 preferred physicians and medical facilities in more than 170 countries, GlobeHopper Senior ensures that seniors will not be stranded when emergencies strike. “One of our most important values,” says Brian Barwick, President and CEO of IMG, “is our dedication to protecting the health and well-being of our customers, wherever they are.”
The launch of GlobeHopper Senior kicks off the Silver Anniversary for IMG after 25 years in the international medical insurance business. “We are extremely excited to be celebrating 25 years in business, and IMG is thrilled to be kicking off the Silver Anniversary with the launch of GlobeHopper Senior” said Mr. Barwick.

Indianapolis, IN Oct 20, 2014 – Indianapolis-based, International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®) is further expanding its global footprint with a recent acquisition of Wales based company, Global Response Ltd.
With over 70 years of senior management expertise, Global Response provides emergency medical assistance and logistical support to travel insurance policy holders and corporate clients who become sick or injured while traveling overseas. “Global Response is one of the most innovative medical assistance providers in the world,” said R. Brian Barwick, President and CEO of IMG. “The expansion of our 24/7 emergency assistance and claims handling services will further strengthen IMG’s full service approach to being there for our members, wherever they are in the world.”
Since 1999, Global Response has been providing medical assistance on a global scale to leisure, corporate, and NGO members. As an independent, 24/7 assistance and claims company, Global Response caters to a diverse range of insurers and brokers within the U.K. travel market. Global Response was awarded the prestigious International Travel Insurance Journal Award for Claims and Assistance Company of the Year, in 2011.
“Global Response has been delivering brilliant, dependable medical assistance on a global scale for more than 15 years,” said Mark Somers, Managing Director of Global Response. “Becoming integrated with IMG’s family of companies will provide us with the resources to expand our global footprint.”
Both companies agree the ultimate goal of this acquisition is to provide support and service, which will overcome language, currency, time, and cultural challenges. “Global Response will retain their independence, but will now have access to IMG resources, including our significant in-house case management and cost containment expertise, as well as our buying power within the U.S. healthcare system,” finished Barwick.

Indianapolis, IN Aug 18, 2014 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), an Indianapolis-based insurance group, announced that Kristin Ash joined the company on August 6, 2014 as Director of Group Development. She will be responsible for new business acquisition, strategic planning, management of key accounts, and oversight of the employer group distribution channel.
Ash brings over 20 years of experience in client relationship management and international benefits. Ash has trained clients and brokers on international risk identification, management, and mitigation for the International Foundation of Employee Benefits. In her previous work as an MGA, Kristin was a top producer and a charter member of United Healthcare’s Global Solutions Advisory Council. She has been published in Employee Benefit Advisor and Acquisition International and has received nominations and awards from the Forum for Expat Management.
“Kristin is another great addition to the IMG team and she brings excellent industry experience to our organization,” said Vice President of International Sales, Amanda Winkle. “We are very excited about the best in class sales team we have assembled. Kristin brings a lot of insurance knowledge and has a proven track record of new business development. We expect great things from her in the international employer group segment.”

Indianapolis, IN Jan 13, 2014 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), an Indianapolis-based insurance group, announced that Brent Judge joined the company on January 6, 2014 as director of business development. He will be charged with strategic planning for key accounts, new business acquisition, revenue growth opportunities and oversight of the Marine, Mission, Latin America/Caribbean divisions. Judge was brought on to help IMG strengthen these divisions and achieve growth within that market segment.
Judge has over 13 years of industry experience and is a graduate of Butler University. He will join IMG after serving as executive vice president for Azimuth Risk Solutions, LLC for the past 5 years. According to IMG, this appointment positions the company for broader success and improves their sales force.
“Brent is an excellent addition to the IMG team and he brings years of insurance experience,” said vice president of international sales, Amanda Winkle. “IMG was built around an exceptionally talented group of professionals that has a passion for what they do. Brent should fit right in. With his knowledge of the market and proven track record of new business development, our Mission, Marine and Caribbean distribution divisions should be in an excellent position moving into 2014. ”

Indianapolis, IN Sep 4, 2013 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), an Indianapolis-based insurance group, announced that Amanda Winkle will join the company on September 16, 2013 as vice president of international sales. Winkle will help IMG to strengthen its market position and achieve growth by bringing a keen understanding of the solutions needed to create, deliver and measure success. She will be charged with strategic planning for key accounts, new business acquisition, revenue growth opportunities and oversight of the international sales team.
Winkle has over 13 years of insurance distribution and management experience, and a proven record for accelerating revenue growth globally. She will join IMG after serving as national sales director for the independent broker distribution channel at UnitedHealthOne, a division of UnitedHealthcare. She has been responsible for managing and leading the sales unit, and has developed strategic relationships with distribution partners that have been instrumental to the company’s success. Her other experience includes work as a health insurance agent, general insurance agency sales manager, and legislative and political action committee specialist.
According to IMG, this appointment positions the company for broader success.
“Amanda is a remarkable addition to the IMG team, and she brings years of experience in rapidly growing sales on an international scale,” said executive vice president of IMG, Todd Hancock. “Our company is built around an exceptionally talented group that has a passion for what we do. With her drive, commitment to our customers, and acute insight into the needs of the market, we are confident that Amanda will lead the success of our international sales team with innovation and improved service.”

London Aug 28, 2013 – IMG Europe Ltd, an award winning leader in the international and expatriate travel medical insurance market, announced the launch of GlobeHopperSM, a short-term international travel and expatriate medical insurance plan range for individuals, families and groups. The plan range provides cover worldwide for eligible travelers and expatriates of all nationalities when they are traveling, or temporarily living outside of their home country. Applicants have a choice of GlobeHopper Single-Trip, Platinum and Multi-Trip plans, and can get instant quotes and apply online without medical underwriting.
“GlobeHopper is a unique and competitive addition to our product portfolio,” said managing director of IMG Europe and chairman of the Association of International Medical Insurance Providers, Carl Carter. “It’s a very flexible plan range that meets the short to medium-term travel medical coverage needs of expats and travelers worldwide. We have seen exceptional demand as it fills a very large gap in both the expatriate international medical insurance and travel insurance markets.”
Some plan highlights include:
– Available worldwide to local nationals, foreign nationals and expats
– Trip durations from five days up to three years, or multi-trip coverage for unlimited trips of 30 or 45 days duration in a year
– Choice of GBP, USD or Euro premiums and schedules of cover
– Sums Insured from $50,000 up to $8,000,000 from an assortment of coverage options, each with specialised covers
– A wide range of excesses from nil to $25,000
– Wide range of optional add-ons including high risk/adventure sports, enhanced personal accident and evacuation endorsement options
– Coverage can be purchased after departure (or arrival)
– The period of insurance can be incrementally extended if insureds are unsure of their duration of travel
– Incidental Home Trip Coverage allows insured’s to return home mid-travel for a short time during their period of cover
– Expats returning home can request home country coverage at the end of their trip so as to give themselves a short time to arrange local healthcare insurance
– If coverage ends during a course of covered treatment overseas, cover can be extended without paying additional premium for up to 12 months
– Freedom to choose any medical provider within area of cover backed by global network access
– No upper age limit
Access to MyIMGSM, an online customer portal that allows instant document retrieval, online claims status checks and more
Carter further added, “The plan range is also online quote and fulfillment enabled. This allows our intermediaries around the world the ability to add these plans to their websites to easily and securely generate sales, or email sales links to customers 24/7. Additionally, because the plan range is flexible and cover is available after departure, intermediaries no longer need to ignore travel insurance enquiries from expats or their relatives who have departed and arrived somewhere without cover, or who need short-term cover.”

Indianapolis, IN Aug 22, 2013 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), a worldwide leader in designing, distributing and administering global medical insurance benefits, announced it enhanced its flagship marine group medical insurance program, International Marine Medical InsuranceSM (IMMI). According to IMG, the enhancements enable ship owners to provide their crew comprehensive coverage for eligible medical expenses, which is increasingly important with the enactment of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006).
The MLC, 2006, which took effect August 20, 2013 and became binding in international law, establishes minimum working and living standards for all seafarers on those ships. As such the MLC, 2006, requires ship owners to provide health protection and medical care to seafarers on board their ship. According to IMG, the IMMI program can help alleviate some of the challenges that owners may face in finding the appropriate medical care coverage for their crew.
“We have provided specialized international medical insurance programs to marine professionals for more than 20 years,” said vice president of IMG’s marine division, Al Wallace. “We understand their unique needs and recognize their mobile lifestyle. That’s why we designed a group insurance program that offers continuous comprehensive medical coverage and helps provide ship owners peace of mind that they can provide quality, dependable protection for their crew.”
Some of the benefits and optional riders offered under this program include:
– $5 million maximum benefit per insured person per period of coverage
– Primary to the vessel’s Protection and Indemnity Insurance (P&I)
– Crew Member Return – Provides reimbursement of transportation expenses to reunite insured persons with the ship in the event they received eligible inpatient medical stay that didn’t require emergency medical evacuation, and there assigned ship leaves
– Optional Maritime Rider – Provides additional benefits for sudden and unexpected recurrence of pre-existing conditions. Provides for the reimbursement of transportation costs for the insured person’s return to the designated city/country in the event that crew member is deemed medically unfit for duty.
– Coverage for eligible dependents available
– Amateur Sailboat Racing
– Adventure Sports Rider – Provides coverage for certain adventure sport activities that would normally be excluded
Additionally, when seeking treatment outside the U.S., IMG works closely with insured crew members to assist them in locating, requesting and coordinating information for care in order to obtain the most efficient and cost-effective care available. IMG also provides international utilization management, comprehensive case management, transplant network provider access, out-of-network claim negotiation and medical claim review.