Jelf Employee Benefits reveals top ten international healthcare insurance claims

International healthcare claims with the highest value have been revealed by Jelf Employee Benefits. The list includes a number of different types of diseases as well as more general injuries, burns and more regular outpatient treatment. The information is based on Jelf's claims experience of their top clients.

Conditions most claimed for by value (in alphabetical order)
1. Complication of Pregnancy & Childbirth (eg: Ectopic pregnancy, c/sections)
2. Diseases of the Circulatory System (eg:Coronary Artery Disease, Angina)
3. Diseases of the Digestive System (eg: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis)
4. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs (eg: Sciatica, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease)
5. Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System & Tissues (eg: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Osteoporosis)
6. Diseases of the Respiratory System (eg: Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Lung Cancer)
7. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (eg: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, Eczema)
8. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (eg: Cellulitis, Dengue Fever, HIV/AIDS)
9. Injuries and Burns
10. Symptoms, Signs and ill-defined conditions (regular outpatient)

Jelf research revealed that only 5% of employers said that they felt they completely understood the rules for international healthcare in all the countries in which they had employees deployed. However not having adequate cover for employees can have huge financial implications for employers as Sarah Dennis, director of international healthcare at Jelf Employee Benefits explains:

"Employers who do not put the necessary cover in place for their overseas employees, or who do not regularly review their requirements, are failing their employees. The top ten most-often claimed conditions abroad illustrate the importance of getting the right international cover in place. Costs of treatment abroad can be incredibly high, and the bill for these can fall to the employer if they haven't secured adequate cover."

Average surgery costs when uninsured for various conditions around the world:
• Kidney Transplant in the USA: £101,351
• Heart Bypass in Singapore: £10,800
• Brain Tumour in Germany: £15,000
• Knee replacement in Mexico: £7,770

Sarah Dennis continued: "It should be remembered that the costs associated with the surgery are just one component of the overall bill for the longer-term rehabilitation of a patient. If a member of staff is taken ill when abroad it is not unreasonable for them to expect their employer to cover these costs too.

"The rules governing international healthcare vary from country to country and are constantly changing, making it very complicated for even the most rigorous of HR or employee benefits teams to keep abreast of everything, we urge employers to seek expert advice."