This mini-serie features a cosmopolitan family, with a Dad living in Switzerland and two sons, one of whom lives in the USA and the other in the UK. Each country, of course, has its own health system. (read the first episod : Episod 1 : the father )
What sort of coverage do each of them need? What are their personal views on health insurance? And how important are health costs to them? Here, in episode two, we talk to Nicolas, a serial entrepreneur who lives and works in the United States.
“Even before moving overseas, I travelled a lot for work (which I still do) and therefore needed health insurance to cover me wherever I was in the world.”
This was what led to Nicolas opting for health insurance that was not just local, but also international.
After completing his studies in Switzerland, Nicolas chose to leave the country and move to the United States to set up his own company. What he came up against was a complex bureaucracy, a very different insurance culture, and an ocean of diverse options to choose from. How was he navigate this ocean to find the right solution? Furthermore, his work took him out of the United States, which also brought with it the stress of not knowing where to turn if he had any health issues while overseas. Not to mention the fact that, with a brother living in the UK and his parents in Switzerland, he also travels for pleasure several times a year to see them.
“I first heard about Opal from my father. Because of my very international (without saying ‘global’) lifestyle, on both a professional and personal level, I was looking for a single solution, one service provider, that would meet all my needs (if I needed treatment for a health condition in or outside of the USA, or hospitalisation or emergency care, the insurance had to cover me everywhere). The truly 360° service offered by Opal, both geographically and in terms of the types of services covered, has really made me feel more secure. And that is a big plus when you move abroad, when you have to get your bearings, and on top of that – as in my case – set up your own company!”
Speaking of business, Nicolas explained the importance of the USA’s ‘Benefits Season’, a crucial time during which all employers choose insurance for their employees. “It’s a critical time of the year, a period of a few weeks during which employers negotiate healthcare contracts for their teams.”
And for the very mobile teams working for Nicolas, many of whom are expatriates, Opal seems to be the perfect solution!
