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GeoBlue® is the trade name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. GeoBlue is the administrator of coverage provided under insurance policies issued by 4 Ever Life International Limited, Bermuda, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
South Dakota residents: GeoBlue is the trade name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and is made available in cooperation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in select service areas. Coverage is provided under insurance policies underwritten by 4 Ever Life Insurance Company, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois NAIC #80985 under policy form series 55.1301. 4 Ever Life Insurance Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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Location independent workers are individuals working for an employer who make a personal choice to work outside of their home country because they have the capability to connect and operate as if they were in their home country. Their travel and other expenses may not be covered because their desire to relocate is not related to any business purpose. You may also have heard these types of workers referred to as “digital nomads.” The distinction is that a person who wants to be location independent works for an employer who may or may not have the appropriate remote work policies to support them.
Those who are digitally savvy with a job function that can operate from anywhere are most likely to seek location independent status. Employers typically don’t provide travel medical coverage for “leisure” or vacation travel, which is how employers tend to view independent global mobility. Likewise, domestic employer-sponsored healthcare policies are not designed for international healthcare systems where, in many countries, the government pays for healthcare. Still, international providers expect to be paid for their services, regardless of whether the patient is a resident or not. With a domestic plan design that includes employee cost share—deductibles, copays and coinsurance—international providers are not able to collect payment. As a result, employees may end up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in unexpected health costs that may not be reimbursed, or worse, they may be denied care until payment is rendered.
International health plans for individual consumers, such as the suite of products GeoBlue® offers, provide international telecommuters with the protection and healthcare coverage they need when they live or work abroad for short or long periods of time. Benefits such as global telemedicine consultations, coverage for medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment, access to a worldwide network of providers in 190 countries and convenient mobile tools are included. GeoBlue is the only international health plan backed by the strength and security of Blue Cross Blue Shield®.
