Interview: Patrick Schomaker, International Business Development at Foyer Global Health

How has Covid-19 shifted customer needs in health coverage?

The pandemic has highlighted an increased demand for comprehensive health coverage that extends beyond traditional physical care, focusing on mental health support and crisis management. Clients have sought more access to counselling, stress management, and emotional wellbeing services as they navigated the challenges of Covid-19. Additionally, the need for robust emergency services like medical evacuations and timely crisis interventions became more pronounced, ensuring that clients could receive the necessary care during uncertain times. These shifts reflect a broader trend toward more flexible, holistic healthcare solutions that address both physical and mental wellbeing.

As Covid-19 unfolded, customer needs in health coverage for Foyer Global Health evolved, with a marked increase in the demand for accessible and flexible healthcare options. The pandemic drove a surge in the need for remote consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups, particularly as travel restrictions and social distancing measures made in-person visits difficult. This led to a greater reliance on telemedicine services, emphasising the importance of virtual care in ensuring continuous healthcare, especially for clients living abroad or in remote areas.

Why is the Swiss market particularly important for Foyer Global Health?

The Swiss market is a key focus for us, due to its central location in Europe, multilingual and multicultural environment, and the high concentration of expatriates, cross-border workers, and international businesses. These factors create a unique opportunity for us to provide specialised health insurance solutions tailored to a diverse range of clients.

Foyer Global Health’s deep expertise in the Swiss healthcare system is one of its greatest strengths. We have a comprehensive understanding of both the Swiss and French base insurance systems, which enables us to offer flexible, supplementary health insurance solutions for cross-border workers, particularly those commuting from France to Switzerland. These products are specifically designed to complement local insurance coverage, ensuring that cross-border workers receive comprehensive care tailored to their needs.

In addition, Foyer Global Health excels in offering IPMI for expatriates, providing them with global coverage that meets their healthcare needs, both in Switzerland and abroad. This flexibility allows us to serve not only expatriates relocating to Switzerland, but also international professionals working in the country and diplomats stationed there.