Are You Getting What You’re Paying For? The Hidden Value in Your International Group Health Insurance Plan
In the face of rising premiums and tighter budgets, many international schools and globally-mobile employers are looking for ways to cut health insurance costs. But here’s a smarter first move: before making cuts, make sure you’re maximizing the employee health insurance benefits you already have. Most employers are sitting on underused services – from mental health support to virtual care – that can deliver far more value if leveraged correctly.
At One World Cover, we often find that a lot of the more valuable parts of many international health insurance plans are effectively going to waste — not because the benefits aren’t good, but because staff don’t know about them, don’t understand them, or don’t know how to access them.
Here’s how to change that.
What You’re Already Paying For (But Might Not Be Using)
Most international employer-sponsored group health plans – especially those from major international insurers – already include built-in services such as:
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) (also known as IEAPS – International Employee Assistance Programs)
Free access to confidential counselling, financial advice, and mental health support. - Second Medical Opinion services
Global specialists reviewing complex or serious diagnoses. - Virtual care and telemedicine
Doctor consultations via video or phone, often cheaper and more convenient than in-person visits. - Chronic condition coaching and wellness tools
Digital platforms or nurse helplines to help manage diabetes, hypertension, and more. - Vaccination and check-up coverage
Often available annually – but rarely promoted.
You’re already paying for these services in your premiums. The problem is they’re underutilized, which increases claims on the parts of the plan that are used frequently – driving up renewal costs. And the beauty of nearly all of the above listed value-added services is that all of them can drive better health outcomes and/or increased employee wellbeing.
Why Aren’t These Benefits Being Used?
No onboarding
New employees get a booklet (maybe) — but no walk-through of their plan or services.
Complex, jargon-heavy documents
Staff don’t know what “psychosocial support via IEAP” means — or that it’s available in their language.
No reminders
If people don’t use a service within 90 days of joining, they often forget it exists.
Disconnection between HR and insurer
HR teams may not be fully briefed on what’s included — and can’t promote what they don’t know.
How to Unlock the Value in Your Current Plan
Here are a few practical ways our team at One World Cover helps clients improve plan utilization (without increasing spend):
Simplified benefits guides
Custom 1-page summaries and welcome packs in plain English — and translated where needed.
Staff/faculty onboarding sessions
In-paerson or Zoom briefings to explain what’s included, how to claim, and what’s often forgotten.
Quarterly staff wellness comms
Timely reminders that EAPs, mental health resources, and virtual doctor access are available – with simple access links.
Plan utilization reviews
We analyze what’s being used vs. what’s available – and show clients where the gaps are in awareness and access.
Results That Matter
One of our international school clients saw EAP usage increase from 2% to over 10% in just 12 months after a focused campaign of benefit education and reminders — with zero increase in cost.
Another client identified underused check-up benefits and moved from “passive availability” to a fully booked annual health check-up campaign – resulting in early diagnosis and lower downstream claims.
You don’t have to slash benefits to manage your health insurance budget. Sometimes, the smartest move is to shine a light on the benefits already sitting in the dark.
At One World Cover, we help employers get the best possible value from their health insurance investment – by supporting HR teams, educating staff, and tracking what’s working.
Want to know if your plan has hidden value? We’ll help you find it — and put it to work.
To learn more please get in touch: [email protected] or click here to contact us.
