Page 10 - MTM-MAG
P. 10
letter is sent out detailing the “For the many companies
medical travel benefit to the that could greatly benefit, the
employee. Co-pays are waived, experiences of early adopters WELLNESS
as well as deductibles, and all needs to be at the center of
travel expenses are covered ongoing informational and
for the patient and companion, educational campaigns,” said
including passports and McDonald. McDonald has
lodging. started sending proposals to
different countries around the DELIVERED
“For us, it’s a strategy to world in an effort to market
increase the quality of care and their medical provider services
reduce the cost. You get the best to self-funded employers in the
of both worlds,” said Norton. U.S.
“We are in a rural area so
access to world class medical According to McDonald, Willis
care isn’t readily accessible -- Towers Watson decided to Health Flights Solutions,
it’s a five-hour drive. So, if they start sending proposals like a Medical Tourism
take a seven or ten-hour flight, this in order to leverage the Association® partner,
have a co-pay and deductible double-sided revenue model. has offered a technology
waived, it’s a natural incentive In addition to self-funded U.S. platform for Medical Tourism
for employees to be interested,” companies investing in global Management since 2009. They
he added. provider networks to reduce now offer a platform designed
costs, there is an opportunity to specifically for self-insured
Getting Self-Funded Employers market foreign health providers employers – Health Centers
Interested directly to U.S. firms. Plus.
Even though the idea of saving
money may be appealing, often “I THINK THAT THE FUTURE OF According to a previously
times it is not enough to get THIS CONCEPT DEPENDS ON THE published MTM article,
employers interested. There SUCCESS AND ROI ACHIEVED BY Health Centers Plus has had
are a variety of factors that they THESE EARLY TRIAL EFFORTS,” success in reaching a broad WellHotel® Training and Certification provides a sustainable model for good
consider and at times they are range of employers through practice and excellence in serving health and wellness guests. The new traveler
still reluctant. SAID MCDONALD. “WITH THAT their partnership with Willis
SAID, IT SHOULD FOLLOW THE Towers Watson. seeks a contemporary Wellness Travel Experience that stimulates psychological,
Tom McDonald, Business GENERAL TRENDS IN MEDICAL spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of people in a collective manner.
Development Director for Willis TOURISM AS COMFORT LEVELS One of the main reasons WellHotel ® Training and Certification embodies this niche.
Towers Watson, who also spoke INCREASE ALONG WITH this platform was developed
at the WMTC, told MTM that was to inspire employee CREATE A VALIDATE A MARKET TO
risk of procedure complications, EXPERIENCE. GENERALLY, THIS IS engagement. As previously
post-care concerns, quality BELIEVED TO BE A 20 PERCENT mentioned, employee CULTURE OF COMMITMENT YOUR TARGET
and legal liability are some of OR MORE ANNUAL GROWTH,” engagement is a major WELLNESS OF EXCELLENCE EXPONENTIALLY
the major concerns holding he added. deciding factor in how
individuals back. On the other successful a medical travel
hand, employers realize that the program will become. This
medical travel benefit is not for platform allows employees
everyone. to view videos of patient
testimonials and doctors,
Part of what Willis Towers and it explains how medical
Watson offers is to serve as an travel works and provides
HR consultant to a broad range information on destinations, WELLHOTELCERTIFICATION.COM
of employers. hospitals, and procedures.
+001.561.791.2000
info@WellHotelCertification.com
62 September 2017 MedicalTourismMagazine.com 63
