New Health Plan Covers Employees Abroad

Duke has introduced a new medical insurance benefit for faculty and staff who travel abroad on Duke business.

The coverage is offered at no additional cost to full-time, benefits eligible staff and faculty and will cover an individual, spouse or same-sex partner and his or her dependents for up to six months abroad. The coverage also includes up to seven days of personal travel when taken in conjunction with a business trip.

"Navigating health care in a foreign country can be extremely stressful, as well as expensive," said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration. "As Duke expands its global reach, this new coverage offers our faculty and staff who are traveling on Duke business some peace of mind that they have someone to turn to for assistance and limited out-of-pocket expenses."

The Cigna Global Health Benefits' Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA) offers eligible employees and their dependents up to age 26 supplemental medical insurance coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses while traveling abroad. Only one of Duke's regular health insurance plans covers anything other than emergency care abroad, and then employees often must pay out of pocket and arrange for reimbursement later.

Using the MBA coverage eliminates the need to pay up front if an employee uses a provider under the Cigna International plan. If a health care provider is not affiliated with Cigna, the MBA program can help arrange necessary payments.

Missy McCollick, director of Human Resources for Duke's Fuqua School of Business, said the international insurance is a valuable benefit for Fuqua staff and faculty. With a presence in Russia, London, China, India, Dubai and Kazakhstan, Fuqua often sends staff and faculty abroad for program residencies, admissions, business development, consulting, marketing and teaching.

"I'd guess about 25 percent of our staff travel internationally each year," McCollick said.

In recent years, McCollick helped untangle insurance reimbursements for an employee who had appendicitis in India and another who had back injuries from a taxi crash in China.

"In many countries, you have to pay your bill before they will discharge you from a hospital," she said. "Having the Cigna coverage should mean that people don't have to scramble to find that money."

The MBA program is intended as supplemental medical coverage. Employees must also have primary health insurance through Duke or another insurance provider. The MBA plan covers hospital admissions, surgeries, outpatient medical care and ambulance service for emergency medical treatment. It also includes routine outpatient care and will cover the cost of replacing prescription drugs lost while traveling. Cigna also coordinates with International SOS, Duke's travel assistance program, for medical evacuations when necessary.

No enrollment is necessary to receive the coverage. Employees need only visit the Human Resources website and download a group identification card for the MBA program with Duke's policy number and phone numbers for Cigna's 24-hour international customer support line.