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|||| Vol. III Issue 1

EXPATRIATE INTERVIEW
Ann Trousdale Clapper, Director

FEATURE ARTICLE
Five Tips for a Global Professional’s Health Plan

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Healthline Asia

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
GlobalCare Health Insurance Program

DID YOU KNOW
Clements Welcomes Lloyd Yavener

ON A GOOD NOTE
A word from our clients

|||| Expatriate Interview

	Expatriate  Question & Answer Name:  Ann Trousdale Clapper Nationality:  United States of America Current Residence:  Korea Occupation: Director at the Korea International School
Where do you currently reside? How many years have you lived there? I currently reside in Bundang, Korea, a planned, satellite city just south of the center of Seoul. I’ve lived here almost two years. How many years have you lived away from your home country? About 5 years all together. What other countries have you lived in? I’ve lived in the Netherlands and Germany. How do you stay in touch with other expatriates? I work at Korea International School, so nearly everyone I work with is an expatriate! I also spend time with friends who are expat parents of our students and I connect fairly often with expats who work for other international schools in the area.
What helped you decide to work and move abroad? Timing and an adventurous spirit contributed to my decision. When I got the offer to come to Korea, my husband had recently retired after 30 years of working with the United States Department of Agriculture so we had the freedom to seek other opportunities and I was ready for an adventure. What do you like most and least about living abroad? The best part about living abroad is the opportunity to really experience a different culture. Seoul is an exciting city and Korea is a beautiful country and we have really enjoyed getting to know the people, sights, and sounds of this amazing place. Korea is also a great jumping off point for travel to other interesting Asian destinations so that has been an added bonus to living here. The hardest part is being away from family. Differences in time zones prevent you from just picking up the phone and calling a loved one any time you want so sometimes that makes it hard to stay close. Email helps!		Korea International School

What was the biggest adjustment you had to make?
Initially, I felt very helpless because I had to have someone help me find a grocery store, figure out how to use the bank (I still need help with that!), find a medical clinic, get my driver’s license, etc. It’s definitely a loss of independence and feelings of control over your environment but after awhile, you start to figure things out for yourself and do things on your own which makes you feel really good!

What aspect of life remains constant no matter where you have lived?
I’ve learned that there are good things and not so good things that happen in life no matter where you live. Life isn’t perfect anywhere.

What advice would you give someone who is moving abroad?
Be patient, stay flexible, and maintain your sense of humor. On those inevitable bad days, it also helps to tell yourself that some day this is going to make a really good story!

My grandmother used to say, “If you go somewhere and you don’t have a good time it’s your own fault!” I think she was right!

Where would you like to go next?
Thailand! My family and I vacationed there last December and we fell in love with the place!

For more information on Ann Trousdale Clapper and the Korea International School, please visit the KIS website at www.kis.or.kr.

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|||| Feature Article


Five Tips for a Global Professional’s Health Plan
By Emilie Udell, Clements International

Whether you work in the corporate world, government world, or just the real world, one aspect of your job is certain--you won’t be spending your entire career sitting comfortably behind your desk. Chances are a new job assignment could require you to relocate abroad. Since that plane seat is no comparison to the safety and security of your swivel desk chair, it is important find comprehensive health insurance coverage before you start your journey.

There is a lot to consider when finding the right coverage. The five tips below will help you narrow your search, and understand what to look for in the fine print.

Worldwide Coverage
Your typical coverage does not extend beyond the borders of your home country, so when you travel abroad, you might not be as protected as you think. Some insurance companies offer specialized global health insurance for frequent travelers or people relocating abroad. If you are moving due to a corporate relocation, check with your Human Resources Manager regarding the exclusions in your current plan, and if changes will be made to accommodate your new destination.

Emergency Evacuation
Occasionally, job assignments take you to areas where advance medical practices are not prevalent. An emergency situation is not the time to find out your health plan will only pay for local medical assistance. With emergency evacuation, you would be transported to a suitable medical facility locally in order to receive advanced medical care. Some policies even include a clause where your family can be flown to the location where you are hospitalized.

Pre-existing Conditions
If you are being treated for a medical condition before you begin a new insurance plan, check to make sure there are not exclusions for pre-existing conditions. When a plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, it means you will be paying out-of-pocket for continued treatment of your medical condition in the future.

Prescription Drugs
This is especially important if you take routine medications, which may not be available in your new country. Ultimately, the best option is coverage provided for mail-order drugs, so you are able to get exactly what you need to maintain your routine.

Direct Payment vs. Reimbursement
When you are able to find a health plan that encompasses all of your global insurance needs, there is one final thing to check. Many health plans will only reimburse you for the expenses paid when medical services are rendered, meaning you will pay out-of-pocket, and then have to submit a claim form for your insurance company to reimburse you. This might be an agreeable arrangement for you, but in the event of an emergency which requires surgery or long-term hospitalization, you may be bearing a large financial burden. Be sure to discuss how claims are handled with your insurance provider before purchasing the policy.

Understanding the medical coverage options available will ensure your experience overseas is safe and rewarding. Luckily, the key to finding the best coverage available can be as simple as knowing the right questions to ask.

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|||| Partner Profile

Healthline Asia* and Panoramic Insurance Brokerage (Beijing) Co Ltd
Healthline Asia* is the brand name of Panoramic Insurance Brokerage (PIBB).  They were originally established in 2001 to service the medical insurance needs of expatriates in China. In 2006, PIBB became the only specialty medical and life Insurance brokerage to be fully licensed in China.  In addition, they provide a specialized 24-hour assistance line to help with all insurance and emergency related issues.

Healthline Asia* maintains a staff of foreign and Chinese nationals with a wealth of knowledge regarding living abroad and the insurance issues faced by expatriates.  Their specialty resides in medical insurance, specifically claims and support. They have extensive links with all of the major medical facilities within mainland China both foreign and Chinese, as well as an extensive library of the best facilities throughout the region for treatment. A cooperation agreement has been developed with The Wellness Travel Company which services clients needing treatment across Asia giving access to the best treatment centers away from the Mainland.

Directors of Healthline Asia* work closely with Clements International to develop insurance solutions to meet individual clients needs.

For more information on Healthline Asia, please visit their website www.healthlineasia.com.

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|||| Product Spotlight

GlobalCare Health Insurance Program
Clements International is pleased to announce an enhanced solution to meeting the health insurance needs of those living and working abroad - GlobalCare Health Insurance. GlobalCare provides comprehensive medical and dental coverage throughout the world and includes emergency evacuation coverage at no additional cost.

This year, we have added a suite of health and safety tools to assist members with locating and obtaining quality medical coverage throughout the world, including:

• International Physician Network
• Direct Payment through contracted hospitals
• Medical translation guides
• Health & Safety city profiles

Program Guide - For more information, please visit our website by choosing from the links below:

GlobalCare - Worldwide medical, dental and evacuation coverage for those living outside the U.S.

GlobalCare Plus - GlobalCare extension which allows you to receive treatment anywhere in the world including the U.S.

GlobalCare USAID - Worldwide medical, dental, evacuation and accidental death coverage for USAID contractors and their families.

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|||| Did you Know?

Clements Welcomes Lloyd Yavener

Meet Lloyd... Clements International is pleased to welcome Lloyd Yavener as Vice President of Marketing. He will work closely with senior leadership and his department to build marketing strategies to support the agency’s aggressive business goals. Yavener, previous President of Bankers Independent Insurance Company, is a seasoned veteran of the insurance industry, and successfully led a strong business development effort.  In addition to over two decades of insurance experience, Yavener holds a juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore, and is a licensed attorney in Maryland and Washington, DC.  Most recently, he has served as General Counsel for American Independent Companies and Omni Insurance Group, as well as Chairman of the Maryland Insurance Guarantee Board.  “Lloyd is a top-notch leader as proven through his tenure at Bankers Independent.  His innovative ideas and energetic drive are welcomed additions to our creative marketing team, " said Tony Palumbo, President & COO for Clements International.

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|||| On a good note...

Here is what our clients have to say...

Dear Clements,

Thank you, Sir. 

Have a Wonderful Day, and understand that I REALLY APPRECIATE the personal touch of interacting with you regarding this.  Other companies send out generic form letters with no "actual person" behind them.  It has been a refreshing and positive experience to be treated like a Real Human!!

Very Respectfully Submitted,
Commander
American Embassy, Islamabad Pakistan

Dear Clements,

"...The insurance world is big and very hard to deal with for an individual so it is really nice when there is someone that knows how to handle the bumps in the road."

Best Regards,
International School School Director
Dakar, Africa


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