Straight Answers on International Benefits — From People Who Place These Plans

The right structure depends on your group size, claims history, budget tolerance, and how long your employees will be overseas. Our articles on fully insured, self-funded, and level-funded plans walk through the key variables. If you'd like a direct conversation, our team models each group's position individually before recommending a structure.

Duty of care is the legal and ethical obligation an employer holds to take reasonable steps to protect employees working in their name, including overseas. It applies to virtually any US company with staff living or working abroad long term. Our duty of care articles explain what this means in practical terms and how an international group health plan addresses it.

Travel medical insurance is designed for short-term trips and typically covers acute illness or injury during travel. International group major medical is a comprehensive health benefit for employees living overseas long term — it functions more like a domestic group health plan and is appropriate when the assignment extends beyond a few weeks or months. Placing the wrong product for the situation is one of the most common and costly mistakes we see.

We do. ESI has served the missions and nonprofit community since our founding in 2004, and a dedicated cluster of articles addresses the specific coverage questions this community faces — furlough periods, stateside returns, small-group structures, and budget planning for ministry organizations.

Articles are written and reviewed by our principals, who are actively placing international group plans and working with carriers daily. When plan structures, carrier offerings, or compliance requirements change, we update the relevant content. If you're making a decision and want to confirm current details, the fastest path is a direct conversation with our team.