GeoBlue(SM) to offer Zurich's Group Life and Long Term Disability Benefits for Expatriates

RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GeoBlue, a leader and innovator serving the medical needs of expatriates and world travelers, today announced a group employee benefits offering through its relationship with Zurich American Life Insurance Company, a part of Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich). Zurich Expatriate SolutionZ™ offers life and disability coverages designed to help today's businesses provide a cost-effective and comprehensive employee benefits package to satisfy the diverse needs of a globally mobile workforce that includes expatriates and third country nationals.

"To help attract, insure and maintain the best staff possible, employers need to provide a superior employee benefits package," said Sherif Zakhary, head of Corporate Life & Pensions for Zurich Global Life North America. "The addition of group life and long term disability benefits provides a critical element that rounds out the coverage needed in an international benefits package."

"GeoBlue brings exceptional value and service to group health plans for expatriates and is pleased to join forces with Zurich to distribute group life and long term disability," said Angelo Masciantonio, Chief Executive Officer of GeoBlue's parent company, Highway to Health. "Zurich has the experience to design global products that are highly competitive and backed by solid financial ratings^[1]."

Zurich's specialized Corporate Life & Pensions team in North America worked with GeoBlue and designed the offerings to meet the specific needs of multinational organizations.

Zakhary added, "With Zurich being one of the world's largest insurance groups and one of the few to operate on a truly global basis, we understand the unique nature of international benefits programs and work to help our customers understand and protect themselves from risk."

In addition to group life and long term disability, Zurich coverages available for expatriates, third country nationals and key local nationals include:

• Multinational pooling and captive fronting services providing greater financial and risk management advantages
• Pension solutions ranging from efficient and cost-effective domestic schemes to flexible and portable solutions for globally mobile employees

For more information, visit geo-blue.com.  

The information enclosed is intended as a general description of certain types of insurance and services available to qualified customers. Certain products, contract terms, and services may not be available in all states or may vary by state. Not available in New York. GeoBlue is the trade name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About GeoBlue

GeoBlue is the trade name for the international health insurance programs of Worldwide Insurance Services, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Setting the industry standard, GeoBlue's mission is to provide peace of mind to long- and short-term global travelers by offering competitive insurance protection and technology-powered assistance, including an elite community of thousands of carefully selected, contracted doctors and hospitals in almost every country in the world as well as its signature destination databases, mobile tools and concierge-level services. The scope of GeoBlue's services and technology creates a complete, reliable, convenient way to keep international travelers and expats healthy and productive. For more information, visit geo-blue.com.

About Zurich

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurance provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as well as other markets. It offers a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, mid-sized and large companies as well as multinational corporations. Zurich employs about 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. The Group, formerly known as Zurich Financial Services Group, is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt program which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com.

In North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors. Life insurance offered in the United States is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company, an Illinois domestic life insurance company. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world, go to http://www.zurichna.com/zna/aboutzurich/zna-home.htm. 2012 marks Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees. Further information about Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America is available at http://www.zurichna.com/100.

[1] Zurich American Life Insurance Company's financial ratings include A (Excellent), Stable Outlook by A.M. Best (Effective July 2012), A- (Strong), Stable Outlook by Standard & Poor's (Effective November 2011) and A3 (Good), Stable Outlook by Moody's (Effective January 2012). Visit www.zurich.com for updated information on Zurich ratings.

Contact: Moira Bishop
610-254-8710
[email protected]

SOURCE GeoBlue