Rising medical costs and mounting duty-of-care obligations are pushing multinational employers to treat internationally mobile employee benefits as a governance priority rather than an administrative afterthought, according to WTW’s latest Internationally Mobile Employee Benefits Design Survey, published in September 2026. From Benefit Provision to Active Governance Though internationally mobile employees represent a small share of most workforces, their exposures can be outsized: a single medical event, evacuation or death

The rapid expansion of data centers could open a significant new growth avenue for the captive insurance market, according to Fitch Ratings. Speaking in September 2026 at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre reinsurance conference in Monte Carlo, Fitch’s head of EMEA reinsurance ratings, Manuel Arrivé, said data centers represent a major opportunity for the broader re/insurance sector. But he cautioned that the scale and complexity of these exposures mean capacity

Arboreum in September 2026 launched a multi-employer, whole-of-life collective defined contribution (CDC) pension plan in the U.K. designed to give members a target-based income for life. The firm, owned by Collective Pensions and majority backed by the Vestey and Timpson family businesses, developed the scheme with Hymans Robertson and CMS. The launch follows The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) decision to begin accepting applications for multi-employer CDC schemes on 31 July

MAXIS GBN in September 2026 released a whitepaper urging multinational employers to adopt a nuanced, data-led strategy for covering GLP-1 medications, warning that poor planning could drive up pharmacy costs without delivering lasting health gains. Building on a dataset that covers 52 insurance partners in 36 countries, more than 7.9 million insured lives, over 1.5 million unique claimants and approximately 50 million claim records, MAXIS GBN found that 38%

While workplace mental health awareness has dramatically increased since COVID-19, most employers remain “still in a transition stage” and haven’t fully integrated mental health into their leadership practices or business strategy, according to HR expert Pamela McGee, who spoke at the SHRM26 Conference in June 2026. Many organizations acknowledge mental health challenges but fail to move beyond basic offerings like employee assistance programs (EAPs). McGee notes that EAPs often

A new study by Gallagher, published in March 2026, of over 1,300 communications and HR professionals reveals a widening “Readiness Gap” between where organizations are and where they need to be to maximize performance in today’s volatile business environment. Gallagher’s 2026 Employee Communications Report, based on their 18th annual State of the Sector survey, identifies four critical priorities for communications teams: clarity and direction, workforce readiness, operational enablement, and

The adoption of AI in captive operations is a rapidly evolving topic, with AI tools advancing at a rapid pace: a major development every six months, while adoption rates vary greatly not only from one industry to another, but also between competitors within the same industry. It is therefore useful to take stock of the adoption of AI by captives and their managers in the first quarter of 2026.

Employee benefits captives have transformed from simple financing mechanisms into strategic platforms that deliver long-term financial value and support broader corporate objectives, according to International SOS Chief Risk Officer Franck Baron. Baron’s company has used its employee benefits (EB) captive to retain underwriting results, smooth volatility, and improve predictability across cycles while expanding into health risk management initiatives. The captive now addresses medical inflation, absenteeism, and long-term disability while

Group critical illness insurance is gaining traction as employers seek comprehensive benefits that demonstrate genuine commitment to employee well-being while supporting retention and productivity goals. The coverage provides lump-sum payments upon diagnosis of serious conditions including cancer, heart attack, stroke, and major organ transplants. Unlike traditional group life insurance, this benefit offers immediate value to employees without dependents, addressing a key gap in standard benefits packages. Financial security represents

In the U.S., MetLife expects group benefits and retirement and income solutions to remain key drivers of growth, supported by favorable economic and demographic trends, a senior executive said in March 2026. Speaking at the Raymond James 47th Annual Institutional Investors Conference, Ramy Tadros, regional president of MetLife’s U.S. business, said the company sees strong fundamentals in the employer benefits market, including high returns on equity and a rational

MAXIS Global Benefits Network has partnered with LearnLux to strengthen its global financial wellbeing offering, expanding access to structured financial guidance for multinational workforces worldwide.

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in September 2025 launched MAXIS+, an enhanced suite of health data insights and wellness services for its multinational clients. The MAXIS+ services have been designed to help multinationals drill deeper into their claims and truly understand their employee health. The new range of services includes a sophisticated new medical claims dashboard that has the most up-to-date data, allowing multinationals to generate bespoke reports and create

Generali Employee Benefits (GEB) network in June 2025 announced a new strategic partnership with AI-benefits innovator Euphoric. Euphoric has developed an AI-powered, all-in-one benefits management platform providing cutting-edge global benefits analytics for Global HR leaders and their employees. It is designed to help employees and employers navigate the complexities of corporate benefit plans. For employers, Euphoric has developed a Global Analytics Platform (GAP), providing one centralized view of the

Zurich and Further Group in May 2025 announced they would offer a new employee benefit – called Critical Care – designed to help those needing treatment for serious illnesses. Critical Care can provide life-changing well-being benefits for employees who have cancer, heart or neurological conditions, are in need of organ transplants, or require specialist treatment abroad at leading hospitals. It can be added to any Zurich International Group Life

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in April 2025 announced that it will be enhancing its MAXIS Global Pool Solution. Its updated solution, designed to support multinational employers at every stage of their pooling journey, includes a multi-employer pool (MEP) methodology, complementing its single-employer pool (SEP) offering. Under this new model, smaller MAXIS pool programmes will become part of the MEP, transitioning to a SEP if and when their

MAXIS Global Benefits Network in April 2025 released its 2025 whitepaper which looks in-depth at the growing impact of rising cancer rates on multinational employers and insurers. The whitepaper uses MAXIS GBN’s global claims data, drawn from standardized, anonymized data from millions of claimants around the world, to provide practical strategies for addressing claims trends. Cancer is a topic that has dominated discussions in the global health space in

According to a review conducted in the UK, 10% of full-time and part-time employees missed days at work due to financial stress. In the private sector, this meant that more than 2.5 million workers took time off due to financial wellbeing, and 13 million worker days were lost. A 2022 survey conducted in Asia found that those without emergency savings are 60% more likely to have difficulty concentrating at work compared with those who had emergency funds saved. According to Lyra Wellbeing’s 2023 US survey, 48% of employees cited financial stress as the top factor impacting their mental health.

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) has announced an exciting new initiative in partnership with Maven Clinic, the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health. On 1 October 2024, MAXIS GBN launched a comprehensive educational toolkit designed to help multinational companies provide essential support to employees experiencing menopause symptoms. The new service, available to MAXIS GBN’s multinational clients, aims to create a menopause-friendly work environment by providing

In a landmark move, IBM has redefined its retirement strategy, signaling a potential trend for corporate America. Our analysis reveals IBM’s pivot from traditional pension accruals to a novel approach, blending cash balance benefits with a pay increase and pay credit system. This shift, executed amid a climate of peak pension fund health, showcases IBM’s innovative use of surplus assets for future benefits. The new scheme phases out the

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) in December 2022 published a report on cross-border Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provisions (IORPs), i.e. corporate pension plans, in the European Economic Area (EEA). According to EIOPA, the number of active cross-border IORPs fell from 33 in 2020 to 31 in 2021. Such plans cover approximately 93,000 members and beneficiaries and manage assets worth around €13bn, up from 70,000 members and

Zurich Global Employee Benefits Solutions (ZGEBS) in October 2022 announced that Sompo Himawari Life Insurance (SHL), the life insurance company of Sompo Holdings in Japan, joined the ZGEBS network. Alan Chua, Director, Customer & Distribution Management APAC, ZGEBS, commented that “[…] Zurich will now offer SHL’s “Insurhealth” solutions to Zurich’s multinational customers in Japan. […]”. The Insurhealth group product, by combining the original functions of insurance and healthcare, “provides

Zurich Global Employee Benefits Solutions (ZGEBS) and GIG Gulf in July 2022 announced a new partnership designed to offer comprehensive pan-Middle East Life and Medical solutions. With the general level of inflation nearing double digits, businesses and individuals are feeling the financial pinch. Medical inflation is, in fact, more severe than general inflation as the cost of medical products and services tends to increase at a higher rate than

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in July 2022 announced a new partnership with Further Group, a global leader in the design and development of equitable and affordable health insurance solutions. Further will be offering its innovative Critical Advantage solution to MAXIS GBN’s multinational clients. By selecting to work with Further, multinationals will be able to offer their people treatment, outside of their home country, at medical centres of

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in June 2022 announced its partnership with HUMANOO, a Berlin, Germany-based provider of automated digital wellbeing solutions. MAXIS’ multinational clients will now be able to choose to work with HUMANOO and help improve the overall health, wellbeing and engagement of their people. According to the company, “HUMANOO’s app is designed to help improve employees’ physical and mental health with customised, on-demand fitness, physio,

Insurance disruptor Insured Nomads in June 2002 announced the acquisition of Peanut (www.TryPeanut.com), an innovative digital tool “that removes stress from booking travel”. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Peanut is a free Google Chrome extension that reveals travel and destination details as users search the web’s most popular travel sites for flights and hotels. It reduces risk during the booking process by revealing up-to-date information about

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in May 2022 announced a new partnership with MindCo Health, a digital health company which specializes in virtual reality (VR) programs focused on mental health and smoking cessation. Based in San Jose, California, MindCo joins several other suppliers which make up MAXIS’ wellness technology marketplace. MAXIS GBN will offer multinationals and their employees MindCo’s MindCotine service, a VR-based smoking cessation programme. MindCotine helps

Global broker Gallagher and employee benefits management software provider Cobee in February 2022 announced a new partnership agreement. Founded in 2019, Cobee operates in Spain for companies such as Ogilvy, Group M, Booking, Avis, TripAdvisor or Glovo. In January 2021, it expanded its services to Portugal. Under the agreement, Cobee will offer bespoke brokerage and administration solutions in Iberia to Gallagher’s Multinational Benefits & HR Consulting (MBHRC) practice clients,