Author Archive

Eric Muller-Borle

Eric Muller-Borle

Global Benefits Vision founder and expert in global compensation & employee benefits, global mobility and insurance at large. A former industry executive and management consultant, Eric leads a team dedicated to providing accurate, high value business information to today's practitioners.

Global Benefits Vision is proud to announce the release of the new Global Employee Benefits and Global Mobility Directory! Our vision is for the directory to be the core record of Employee Benefits and Global Mobility providers in the industry, and a one-stop shop for company data and contact details at your fingertips. We will be revising it periodically to ensure the data remain current and to add new

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) in August 2017 sold its Hong Kong-based subsidiary, MassMutual Asia, to Yunfeng Financial Group and other Asia-based investors for approximately $1.7 billion, including a 24.8% stake in Yunfeng Financial Group. MassMutual Asia owns a P/C insurer and MassMutual Trustees, which focuses on the Mandatory Provident Fund business, a compulsory pension plan for the retirement of residents in Hong Kong. According to the joint

After acquiring Norwegian insurer Gjensidige’s marine and energy portfolio in February 2016, U.K.-based Compre in August 2017 acquired its U.S. asbestos, pollution and health hazard risks, marking Compre’s fifth acquisition in 2017 and the 25th overall. At this time and according to its 2016 SFCR (Solvency and Financial Condition Report), Compre appears to be active in P/C risks only, including general liability, casualty, and marine, aviation and transport. Gjensidige

A woman from British Columbia, Canada, was issued a lifetime ban at the U.S. border after U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officials found an email conversation with her doctor on her smartphone that indicated she had survived a fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain medication that sometimes is illicitly manufactured and used as a recreational drug, causing many overdose deaths. The 28-year-old woman did not have

– “Are you prepared for the future of work?” This is the question addressed in the July 2017 issue of the Deloitte University Press Review, studying trends that are shaping the future of work – from new talent models, cognitive tools and augmented reality, to the gig economy and more – and how companies and employees alike can take action to define what’s next. “Future of Work” refers to

Total global fintech investment more than doubled quarter over quarter in Q2’17 to US $8.4 billion, up from US$3.6 billion in Q1’17, according to the KPMG Pulse of Fintech report. The fintech market rebound was helped by global M&A investment, with US$5.9 billion in deal value for M&A for the quarter. Comparatively, global VC funding to fintech companies declined slightly, with just over US$2.5 billion in VC funding raised

U.S.-based Wamberg Genomic Advisors and Global Healthcare Resources in July 2017 announced a new partnership designed to bring genomic testing to insurance professionals and employer groups. This partnership proposes to educate insurance professionals about the potential of genetic testing and integrating these tests into employee benefit packages, thereby creating a healthier workforce that is engaged in, and informed of, their health. Advanced cancer genomic profiling uses techniques such as

A July 2017 report by Research Nester indicates that the corporate travel insurance market expects to see robust growth from 2017 to 2024 at a rate of 8.6% per year (CAGR  – Compound Average Growth Rate) over the forecast period, thanks to an increase in business travel. The European region accounts for the largest market share in the global corporate travel insurance market, followed by Asia-Pacific, while Europe is

The 2017 Cigna 360o Well-being Survey of Globally Mobile Individuals, released in July 2017, shows that Britons’ sense of personal well-being has seen a sharp decline over the past three years, as financial pressures mount and put strains on family health. The U.K. has fallen from third to eighth place of the 13 countries in the study, and now lags behind India and China. Researchers looked at five main

Arthur J. Gallagher in August 2017 announced the acquisition of Michigan, U.S.A.-based Ballard Benefit Works, a boutique employee benefit and health care finance brokerage, consulting and insurance agency. Ballard Benefit Works, founded in 2009 by Justin Spewock, serves public, private and not-for-profit clients primarily throughout , Washington, D.C. and Florida. It specializes in the development of alternative models for healthcare delivery. Ballard will operate under the direction of John

Almost three-quarters of insurers believe the insurance sector has failed to show leadership in digital innovation due to regulations, reluctance, and cost, according to a January 2017 survey by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) with Mergermarket. The survey identifies where insurers see the biggest holes in their digital capabilities and reveals how they plan to close these gaps. The respondents cited cost as one factor affecting the lack of meaningful

More than 90% of C-suite executives and board members are making or are considering making changes in their supply chains and international footprints due to the current political and economic environment, according to a July 2017 A.T. Kearney Global Business Policy Council study. C-suite executives see challenges in rising political risks and increasingly populist and protectionist policies in democratic countries. For the second year in a row, respondents also

A rogue employee attempting to make a profit on the Dark Web in 2017 breached the data systems of Bupa, a U.K.-based international health insurer. The employee, who goes under the codename “MoZeal” and who offered the database for sale on Alpha Bay, one of many sites on the Dark Web, has exposed data for 108,000 policies and claims to have information for as many as one million customers.

U.S. insurer Country Financial in July 2017 published its tenth Country Financial Security Index survey. Ten years after the beginning of the 2007 financial crisis known as the Great Recession, nearly 30% of Americans believe they have yet to recover financially or that they never will, despite signals from the Federal Reserve that the U.S. economy is growing. The survey reveals that this is due in large part to

U.S. healthcare organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to transition from fee-for-service to fee-for-value care because of competing priorities and uncertainty over regulations according to a report released in July 2017 by Ernst & Young’s Health Advisory Services.  The survey queried 700 U.S. healthcare professionals. Among the findings are four key factors that challenge the shift to value-driven care: System inefficiencies that escalate the cost of care delivery Clinical

Lemonade, an U.S. property/casualty insurance company “powered by artificial intelligence and behavioral economics”, in June 2017 released two surveys conducted in April 2017 that appear to indicate it had overtaken Allstate, GEICO, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, State Farm, USAA and all other legacy insurers, when it comes to first-time purchasers of renter’s insurance in New York State. The first of two Google surveys (500 respondents) compared Lemonade’s market share in

Cigna in July 2017 announced it had acquired Zurich Insurance Middle East (SAL). The newly-acquired company will be called “Zurich Insurance Middle East, a Cigna-Owned company” in line with local regulations. Cigna’s strategy in the Middle East is to deliver group health products and services for small businesses and family-owned enterprises through to multinational companies. Arthur Cozad, former CEO of Cigna Taiwan, has been named as CEO for Middle

Managing regulatory and compliance risk in the face of constantly evolving rules and guidelines is a significant challenge for both the payers and the providers who make up the United States’ healthcare industry, creating a market need for systems that can consistently support regulatory, reimbursement and compliance professionals. A June 2017 white paper from management consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, The Increasing Challenge of Managing Regulatory and Compliance Risk,

Recognition of dedicated, long-term service is the most prevalent type of rewards and recognition program in place among Canadian employers. However, a Conference Board of Canada study published in June 2017 suggests that these programs may not appeal to younger generations who typically have shorter tenures. The Power of Appreciation: Rewards and Recognition Practices in Canadian Organizations summarizes the findings of a survey conducted between June and August 2016

The cost of medical care will continue to rise, according to Willis Towers Watson’s annual Global Medical Trends Survey for 2017, published in June 2017. The survey points out that while the trend has slowed in some countries, it is still mostly above inflation. It can be attributed to the overall cost of hospital and inpatient services, basic medical and outpatient services, provider and employee behavior, new medical technology,

Workers are getting better at balancing work and home life, according to a Robert Half Management Resources survey published in June 2017 that revealed that the majority of professionals (52 percent) believe their work-life balance has improved from three years ago. Employers and employees alike are emphasizing work-life balance, and managers contribute by giving their teams more freedom over where and when they work, if possible, and providing greater

Zurich’s International business (Zurich International) in August 2017 launched its Target Date Funds (TDFs) as part of the investment proposition available with the International Pension Plan (IPP), and International Corporate Investment Plan (ICIP). Zurich International claims it is the first financial services group to offer a US Dollar TDF solution in the International Pensions & Savings market. With their focus on simplicity, value for money and positive retirement outcomes

U.S. health insurance comparison platform HealthCare.com in June 2017 announced the launch of The CheckUp, a new online blog meant to equip Americans with the knowledge and insight to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare. More than one-third of Americans are unaware that “Obamacare” is another name for the Affordable Care Act, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult earlier this year. Led by Ronald Barba, a veteran

Private insurance claim lines with opioid abuse and dependence diagnoses were found in every age group from 13-18 years to over 80 years, and in urban areas, in every age group from 13-18 years to 71-80 years. Further, claim lines with opioid abuse and dependence diagnoses were more concentrated among middle-aged people in rural settings, and young and middle-aged people in urban settings. These findings are based on a

American International Group (AIG), IBM, and Standard Chartered Bank, in June 2017 announced they have successfully piloted the first multinational “smart contract”-based insurance policy using blockchain, a distributed ledger technology. The three parties chose to execute this initiative in one of the most complicated areas of commercial insurance – multinational risk transfer – to better understand blockchain’s potential to reduce friction and increase trust in other areas of the

Recently launched advocacy organization Cross Border Benefits Alliance-Europe (CBBA-Europe) in August 2017 announced plans to hold its inaugural conference in November or in December, 2017. CBBA-Europe’s purpose is to promote cross-border and pan-European employee benefit plans in Europe. To join the Alliance or for more information about the upcoming conference, contact CBBA-Europe’s Secretary General, Francesco Briganti. Phone +32 2 401 87 92, email francesco.briganti@cbba-europe.eu

The Provider Data Action Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit cross-section of healthcare leaders, in July 2017 began work on a wide-ranging effort to improve the accuracy of provider data for industry stakeholders and patients. The alliance, which represents health, dental and vision plans; provider organizations, health systems, government and health information exchanges, has developed a roadmap that articulates actionable strategies and vision for obtaining and sharing high-quality provider information that