Allianz Worldwide Care has launched into the corporate assistance market with a service developed for business travellers and expat employees of multinational companies.
The services include establishment and staffing of remote first aid stations or clinics, tele-medicine and medical evacuation/repatriation and related services.
Ron Buchan, chief executive of Allianz Worldwide Care said the corporate assistance market was "dominated by one large player, International SOS and if you have a market with one dominant player there is usually a opportunity for a challenger. We see that as an opportunity."
He added: "Our clients who would have health insurance plans with us have been asking us if this is something they would want us to consider. A lot of the infrastructure we already have in place as an insurer."
The service will also include case management of out-patient and in-patient treatment, shipment of prescribed drugs and a medical second opinion, as well as occupational health and wellness and health checks.
Allianz said it already had doctors based around the world and a 24/7 multilingual helpline, making the insurer "well-placed" to extend its offering to help clients overcome challenges they may face and mitigate health risks.
In remote locations, if medical care is not readily available, the insurer can establish static or mobile first aid stations, medical centres or clinics.
These new services are available from 1st January 2015 and the company said it has designed the offering to be very modular, flexible and convenient for clients.
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, Allianz said.
These new services can be purchased by any company, regardless of whether or not they currently have international health and life policies with Allianz Worldwide Care.
