HCI Group

What HCI Group is

HCI Group, short for HealthCare International, is a managing general agent and insurance intermediary, not an insurer. It designs, sells and administers international health plans for expats, seafarers and aircrew under its own brands, while a French mutual insurer carries the risk. The homepage footer states: "HealthCare International is a Managing General Agent ["MGA"] with insurance policies underwritten by the leading 'A' rated French insurer, Mutuelle Générale de l'Éducation Nationale ["MGEN"]." It adds that the UK branch "is an appointed representative of HealthCare International Global Network Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 314761."

The disclosure documents say the same in other words. The Health Protect document states "We are a general insurance intermediary" and "HCI has a contractual relationship with one insurer: Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN), based in France." The Integra Global document says it offers "international health insurance underwritten by MGEN." The Integra Global page describes the German company, HealthCare International Europe GmbH, as "an independent insurance intermediary" registered "in the insurance intermediary register in accordance with § 34 d para.1 Gewerbeordnung," and says the group was "established in 2004."

The homepage sorts the products into land, sea and sky: plans "for people living and working away from home," "Marine-specific cover for crew," and "Cover built for aviation professionals."

Integra Global

Integra Global is the main expat brand. The Integra Global page explains that "HealthCare International Europe GmbH has purchased the policy book of Integra Global Health Deutschland GmbH from Integra Global and taken on responsibility for administering your policy," and that "MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale) will remain the insurer on this policy." The divisions page dates the purchase: "in the summer of 2022 we acquired Integra Global and MarineSure Health."

There are three tiers, each with a family version. InCare Life is "Comprehensive cover for inpatient treatment and rehabilitation. Day patient treatment." YourLife adds "Outpatient treatment." PremierLife is the "Most comprehensive level of cover." The published wellness limits show the step: adults get "N/A $500 $750" per policy year across InCare, YourLife and PremierLife, so InCare carries no adult wellness benefit. The comparison table marks each benefit on each tier as insured, insured with limits or not insured, across rows such as a managed transplant program, organ transplants, hospice care, "Security and Natural Disaster (SAND) assistance," an expatriate assistance program, mental health benefits, "HIV / AIDS treatment," "Chronic conditions" and a "Dental plan option."

The FAQ answers the questions most expat pages leave to the policy wording:

• Pre-existing conditions: "If you qualify for cover, pre-existing conditions are covered as any other medical condition. We do not exclude pre-existing conditions." Where an enrollment form is required, they "must be declared."
• Out-of-pocket cap: after the annual deductible, covered expenses "will never exceed $1,000 individual/$3,000 family in any plan year." Most benefits are paid at 100%, and "a few benefits at 90%, with the member covering the remaining 10%."
• Deductible: it "is applicable to the annual year of your policy, not to each claim," and "One annual deductible can be shared by a family in the event of multiple claims." Wellness and vision benefits are exempt from it.
• Maternity: "there is a 12 month waiting period for Maternity Benefits on our plans with Maternity."
• Area of cover: "Worldwide coverage including the US and Canada" or "Worldwide coverage excluding the US and Canada."
• Policy length: "All of the Integra Global policies are annual policies," payable annually, semi-annually or quarterly. Shorter needs go to a Short Term Plan "for up to three months" or a Short Term Plus Plan "for between three and six months."

Buying and claims

Quotes are online and "give an indication of your policy premium," and enrollment "only asks a maximum of 6 medical questions." The FAQ says "In many circumstances we can get you covered and your policy documents delivered to you the same day." The homepage enquiry form asks for an age band from "18 or younger" to "Over 70."

Members can use "any hospital or doctor you want," with a Direct Billing Network run through "our third party administrators, Medical Administrators International." The FAQ sets a pre-authorisation rule: hospital stays, outpatient surgery, medical transport "or any medical procedure over $500 must be pre-authorised." On reimbursement, "reimbursements can be expected within five to seven days through a bank transfer." The homepage promises "Global emergency assistance, every day of the year" and "A named advisor who knows your policy, not a call queue."

The Health Protect disclosure document covers renewal: annual policies renew automatically "unless you give us prior written notice," while student and short-term policies do not. It also says HCI is paid "through commission from the insurer, which is a percentage of the total annual premium," and that "your insurance cover is unaffected in the event of our insolvency." The Integra Global document sets out a Financial Ombudsman route and says "We have up to 8 weeks to render a final decision" on complaints.

Other brands

The homepage features Nimbl Asia with the line "$1m of cover from $680.46 a year, no deductible," for people "living and working across Asia," and a Student Health plan "built around university timelines and visa requirements." PilotCare, for pilots and cabin crew, covers "Inpatient treatment, including hospital stays, surgery, specialist fees, nursing care, and prescribed medicines" and "Cancer care, from diagnosis through treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy," with add-ons for outpatient, dental, evacuation and, on group schemes, maternity. Its page says buyers "can choose from different annual benefit limits," and cover can be "regional coverage or worldwide coverage, with or without the United States." MarineSure covers seafarers and yacht crew.

Who it suits

HCI Group suits an expat who wants an MGEN-underwritten plan through an FCA-regulated agent, and especially one with a pre-existing condition, since Integra Global says it does not exclude them for applicants who qualify. The published $1,000 individual out-of-pocket cap and the stated reimbursement time of five to seven days suit a reader who wants to know their worst case. Seafarers and aircrew get dedicated plans. It suits a reader less well if they need cover shorter than a year under Integra Global itself, which is annual only, or maternity within the first 12 months.