Toronto is named as the first site for an Aetna International office, followed by more offices “throughout 2017” and ongoing recruitment to fill key roles.
Richard di Benedetto, Aetna International’s president and chief executive, said: “Canada is a natural step for Aetna International as we look to grow and develop the organisation around the world.”
He added that it had a strong historical relationship with the Canadian health insurance industry “evidenced by the warm and positive welcome received from the brokers we are talking to”.
The company also cited research forecasting that 2.8% (1,615,800) of the 2017, worldwide expat population will reside in Canada, with those in jobs accounting for around 54% of the total and students around 10%.
The same source, research company Finaccord, also estimated that almost 300,000 people will emigrate away from Canada in 2017.
That’s in addition to the 2.8 million Canadians who already live abroad, according to data from Action Canada Task Force on Expatriate Engagement in 2011.
Aetna International’s recently appointed country manager for Canada, Carrie Chapman, said its “fully compliant international health insurance plans provide tailored cover for expatriate clients, whether coming into Canada or moving abroad”.
Tailored cover will be available for groups on a direct-sale basis, or through brokers or other intermediaries, the company said, adding that clients would have access to a large medical network in Canada through Aetna’s Ottawa-based partner, Cowan Insurance Group.
