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MEDEX Press Releases

Recent Releases

Tough Economic Times Call For Savvy Travelers

MEDEX Global Group Advises Protecting Financial Assets & Health While Abroad

BALTIMORE, Md. (November 5, 2008) – Tough economic times should encourage travelers to plan smarter, safer trips, according to MEDEX Global Group. As individuals look for the most economical and sensible travel options, MEDEX advises vacationers and business travelers to avoid major risks and costs associated with medical emergencies while overseas.

“Nothing can put a family or business at risk like an international medical emergency,” says Bruce Kirby, CEO of MEDEX Global Group. “However, travelers can make informed decisions in advance to protect their health and financial assets.”

For as little as two dollars a day, travelers can purchase international travel insurance that covers emergency medical expenses such as hospital and physician fees, medical evacuation and emergency dental expenses. Without this coverage, travelers could be forced to max out their credit cards, tap dwindling home equities, deplete savings accounts, or suffer treatment delays.

“Too many people equate travel insurance with lost luggage and trip cancellation,” adds Kirby. “The dangers and expenses of a medical emergency far exceed the costs of lost luggage, and you can add baggage and trip coverage to most medical policies.”

Some travelers mistakenly think they already have coverage through existing policies, when they do not. These groups include people over 65 using Medicare, which does not cover overseas medical needs; business executives of small-to-mid-sized companies that may not carry group travel policies or may only cover evacuation costs; and mission-based travelers on volunteer trips through churches or other nonprofits that may not provide medical coverage.

To be a savvy, safe traveler, MEDEX recommends the following:

  • Protect your finances by investing in a travel insurance package that includes comprehensive medical and evacuation coverage.
  • Understand that protection against trip cancellation and lost baggage is a minor cost compared to emergency medical expenses. Compare policies of $50,000, $100,000 or more to protect against costly evacuations and medical fees.
  • Make sure the insurance policy includes direct payment to the medical provider. Many international facilities and practitioners require cash up-front, and prior to treatment. Policies that reimburse individuals after they return home will not help when you need immediate cash and care.
  • Ask who provides the emergency assistance included in most travel medical policies. Some insurers outsource to a 24-hour call center that may not have experience with serious medical emergencies. When you need help fast, you can’t afford delays caused by transferring calls, verifying benefits, or waiting for claims approval from a different office.
  • Research your location before you go to understand what health risks are present at your destination and where to go for quality medical treatment. Preparing before you leave can go a long way in protecting your health and your wallet.
  • Be aware that some insurance companies have been affected by the current banking crisis. While investigating insurance policies, confirm that you are working with a credible, well-established company and underwriter to avoid further risks.

About MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX is the oldest and largest independently owned provider of global travel security and medical assistance in North America. For more than 30 years, MEDEX has served individual business and leisure travelers, corporations, scholastic institutions, government agencies and humanitarian organizations. MEDEX services range from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning

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Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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Online Resource Translates Common Medical Phrases, Provides Essential Information About Prescriptions and Medications Abroad

New MEDEX 360°m Enhancements Help Travelers Avoid International Medical Crises

Baltimore, MD (September 25, 2008) – Medical directors, risk managers and study abroad administrators can now resolve potentially dangerous healthcare mistakes abroad through the use of a new online resource. “Medical Phrase Translations” and “International Drug Equivalencies” have been added to MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor, a comprehensive website that provides vital and timely health risk and medical care information for specific international destinations.

Available from MEDEX Global Group, the new Medical Phrase Translation tool serves as an emergency dictionary that allows travelers to print out and bring with them 180 common medical phrases and translations in 24 different languages. By pointing to translated expressions, patients can communicate key information such as “I’m having difficulty breathing,” “I have pain in my chest,” or “I have a fever and chills,” in more than 200 countries and territories.

The new International Drug Equivalencies feature provides essential information about medications overseas. Using this online tool, travelers can search for their prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines to determine whether their medication – or a brand equivalent – is available.

“Language interpretation errors can lead to clinical mistakes in medical emergencies, and even routine prescriptions may not be available or allowed through customs in a number of countries,” says Bruce Kirby, CEO of MEDEX Global Group. “The enhanced MEDEX 360°m allows administrators to arm their travelers with important tools to overcome these issues so their people can receive the quality care they need, when they need it.”

Created in partnership with Harvard Medical International, MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor is the most robust and comprehensive online medical resource available today, providing MEDEX members with information for 236 countries and territories around the world, such as:

  • Immunization requirements and recommendations
  • The quality and availability of local care, including the names of recommended hospitals
  • Health alerts and updates
  • A unique one-to-five medical risk rating system reporting the primary concerns of each country

MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor is currently available to all corporate, scholastic, USAID and government clients. To learn more, visit http://www.medex360m.com or call (877) 654-3310.

ABOUT MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX is the oldest and largest independently owned provider of global travel, security and medical assistance in North America. For more than 30 years, MEDEX has served corporations, scholastic institutions, government agencies, humanitarian organizations and individual business and leisure travelers. MEDEX services range from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case management and complex emergency evacuations.

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Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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Study Abroad Programs Present Educational Opportunities and Hidden Risks

As Students Gear Up for Back-to-School, Parents and Administrators Must Ensure Safe Semesters Abroad

BALTIMORE, Md. (August 27, 2008) — An unprecedented number of students are participating in study abroad programs this semester and they are choosing to study in more remote and diverse locations than ever before. This trend is increasing the demand these students have for adequate medical and security resources.

MEDEX Global Group, a travel assistance and medical and security evacuation company has noticed a significant uptick in the problems that students are facing when they travel abroad. MEDEX reports a 53% increase in the number of countries where 18 to 23-year olds have required emergency assistance when comparing the first half of this year to just two years ago (from 49 to 75 countries). Approximately one in five medical cases required inpatient treatment versus outpatient care, according to MEDEX data from January through June of 2008. Many of these cases occurred in countries where well-trained medical staff is scarce and local standards for cleanliness are questionable. In other locations, foreigners are often targeted by criminals and security issues may arise amidst volatile political landscapes.

A recent report from the Institute of International Education found that more than 223,000 Americans are currently studying abroad — a record number that educators expect to see double by the end of the decade. They are also noticing that study abroad programs in China, Africa, and the Middle East are becoming increasingly popular. While these destinations are rich in cultural opportunity, they can present a number of challenges in the event of a medical or security emergency. According to MEDEX Global Group Director of Client Relations, David Mair, many scholastic administrators have to look for more sophisticated preparation strategies and more elaborate comprehensive medical and security programs for their students.

MEDEX Global Group, which provides medical and security services to many of the nation’s top schools and universities, recommends that parents and students look for the following components in a study abroad program and insurance package:

  • Destination intelligence services that will provide students with the latest information and guidance about health considerations, personal security concerns, and social or political instability.
  • A list of pre-screened hospitals and other medical providers verified to have quality diagnostic and treatment options meeting international standards for care.
  • Multilingual, 24/7 travel assistance services that can help students when they experience any travel, medical or security emergency.
  • Evacuation coverage, up to $100,000 or more, for emergency medical, security and political evacuations. Also look for the bedside companion benefit that pays for a family member to join a loved one who is hospitalized and alone.
  • Medical insurance that will provide coverage for international emergencies and even routine medical care performed outside of the U.S. Examine the fine print to make sure that there are no exclusions related to drugs, alcohol and suicide ― these exclusions may exist in programs that are not specifically designed for students.

“Nobody plans to break a bone or to spend their semester in the middle of a war zone ― but it can happen. Just ask the student who fell off of the Great Wall of China, or those who were caught in Beirut when bombs started to fall,” said Bruce Kirby, CEO of MEDEX Global Group. “Parents and school administrators share the concern and responsibility for the wellbeing of their students, so naturally they want to arm their students with everything they need to stay safe and healthy.”

About MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX Global Group is North America’s leading provider of international travel, medical and security evacuation and assistance services. For more than 30 years, MEDEX has served individual business and leisure travelers, corporations, scholastic institutions, government agencies and humanitarian organizations. MEDEX services range from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case management and complex emergency evacuations. MEDEX recently partnered with Harvard Medical International to create MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor, the most robust, country-specific medical information website available. For more information, visit www.medexglobalgroup.com.

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Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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MEDEX Acquires ASI Group, Inc.

Creates North America’s Largest Global Provider of both Medical Travel Assistance and Risk Management Services

Baltimore, MD (May 15, 2008) – MEDEX Global Group announced today that it has formally completed the acquisition of ASI Group (formerly Air Security International). In operation for more than thirty years, MEDEX is the oldest and largest independently owned provider of global travel security and medical assistance in North America.

Based in Baltimore, MEDEX provides 24/7/365 support for business and individual travelers, including pre-trip intelligence, contingency planning, real-time medical case monitoring, and complex emergency evacuations.

ASI Group, founded in 1989 and based in Houston, is a leading provider of global risk-management services. These services include business intelligence and investigations; personal and asset protection; global ground transportation; emergency evacuations; aviation security management; travel security management; and crisis management; as well as response, training and education services.

ASI works with eight of the Top 10 Fortune 500 companies and shares the same diverse range of clients as MEDEX Global Group, including U.S. based, international and multinational corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, insurance companies, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations. ASI Group has been a security partner of MEDEX for more than ten years.

“As the increase in global travel continues, individual and institutional consumers demand comprehensive security intelligence and protection,” said MEDEX CEO Bruce Kirby. “By adding the international security resources and expertise of ASI Group to MEDEX, we can provide our customers with an enhanced, fully-integrated travel protection solution.”

Kirby added, “We have taken two companies with great global reputations and client retention and created the premier, best-in-class international source for medical, security, and travel assistance services available today.”

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. ASI Group will retain its name and location under the direction of President Charlie LeBlanc and the ASI management team. It will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary and the combined company will total close to 200 employees. “This is an outstanding fit for ASI both strategically and operationally,” says LeBlanc. “Becoming part of MEDEX Global Group will only strengthen our position in the marketplace and provide our clients with a truly robust set of services. We can leverage our unique product offerings like our Worldwatch ™ Intelligence Software with MEDEX 360ºm Global Medical Monitor. Our culture and business philosophy has always been closely aligned with MEDEX. We look forward to a smooth transition and a successful future together.”

Since 2000 MEDEX has been under the direction of CEO and President Bruce Kirby, CPA, FLMI. Under his leadership, MEDEX is on target to more than quadruple its revenue by the end of 2008. Last year MEDEX's centralized 24/7 MEDEX Emergency Response Center handled nearly 30,000 cases in over 200 countries and had a 98% client retention rate.

For more information contact: Josianne W. Pennington, Chief Marketing Officer of MEDEX Global Group at 410-453-6300 jpennington@medexassist.com

MEDEX Global Group has been assisting travelers with medical and security emergencies for more than 30 years, providing international travel, security and medical support for corporations, government and humanitarian organizations, and leisure travelers. MEDEX services include everything from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case monitoring, complex emergency evacuations and virtually every contingency in between. The MEDEX Emergency Response Center handles nearly 30,000 cases a year in over 200 countries.

ASI Group is a trusted name in global risk management services for corporations (including eight of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies), major international organizations and government agencies at home and abroad. Founded in 1989 in Houston, Texas, ASI Group employs intelligence analysts, security consultants, investigators, training specialists and a global agent network that helps clients mitigate and respond to the complex challenges of the 21st century.

Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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Increase in Travel to China Creating New Health and Security Risks

New China White Paper from MEDEX Global Group Offers Tips for Travelers

Baltimore, MD (April 23, 2008) — Infectious disease, poor sanitary conditions and substandard healthcare are among the serious medical concerns found in China, according to a new white paper recently released by MEDEX Global Group, a worldwide provider of international travel, security and medical insurance.

“This year, China expects 150 million foreign tourists, which is a 14 percent increase over 2007,” said Bruce Kirby, CEO of MEDEX Global Group. “This paper is intended to prepare the rapidly growing number of travelers for the unexpected by arming them with well-documented, critical health information.”

“What You Should Know Before Traveling Abroad: Health and Security Risks in China” captures the results from a series of 300-point, onsite evaluations of medical care and health facilities throughout China. To compile the evaluation, MEDEX experts examined a variety of factors including the country’s quality of healthcare, blood supply and disease risks. The full report is available for free download at www.medexassist.com/travelguides.

Overall, on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the lowest rating, MEDEX gave China a score of “4”. Training for doctors and nurses may not be up to international standards, and in rural areas of China, medical care is more rudimentary than in urban areas. Hospitals may not have modern equipment or even plumbing. In fact, only 28% of the population in rural China has access to adequate sanitation facilities.

The MEDEX report offers a number of health and medical-related tips for travelers:

  • In case of emergency in China, private clinics are recommended over public hospitals. Public hospitals are overcrowded, patients will likely wait hours and most often payment is expected in cash and prior to admission. Foreign health insurance plans are not accepted.
  • Ambulances are not reliable in an emergency. Private transportation, even in an emergency, is often the fastest alternative.
  • Blood supply in China is not safe. The AIDS virus is a significant concern in China and there is a risk of exposure to unsafe blood and blood products.
  • Six to eight weeks before leaving for China, visit a travel clinic to receive necessary vaccinations, including: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies and the flu vaccine.

Upon entering China, all visitors are required to complete a Health Declaration Form to notify authorities of any existing health conditions. Travelers with certain infectious diseases may not be permitted to enter the country.

Additional details and rankings are included as part of MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor reports, a medical information service created in partnership with Harvard Medical International. It provides the most robust and comprehensive online medical resource available on China as well as 236 other countries and territories.

About MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX Global Group has been assisting travelers with medical and security emergencies for more than 30 years, providing international travel, security and medical support for corporations, government and humanitarian organizations, and leisure travelers. MEDEX services include everything from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case monitoring, complex emergency evacuations and virtually every contingency in between. The MEDEX Emergency Response Center handles nearly 30,000 cases a year in over 200 countries. For more information, visit www.medexassist.com.

Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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MEDEX Global Group Hires Industry Veteran Mike Roban as Vice President of Sales

BALTIMORE, MD (April 14, 2008) – Mike Roban has been named Vice President of Sales of MEDEX Global Group, announced Bruce R. Kirby, president/CEO of the worldwide emergency assistance and insurance company. A respected veteran with more than 20 years of sales experience in health and travel assistance services, Roban will add further depth and expertise to the senior leadership team of MEDEX.

Prior to joining MEDEX Global Group, Roban was the senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas Region with International S.O.S. Inc. He has held key executive positions at Health Management Corporation (Wellpoint Inc.) and Matria Healthcare. Additionally, Roban has served in various leadership positions at Coca-Cola Company, where he headed several sales teams and programs.

“Mike Roban’s impressive level of sales expertise, background in international travel assistance, and commitment to quality service make him the ideal choice for MEDEX—particularly as we work to continue the double-digit growth momentum that we have experienced over the last six years,” said Kirby.

Roban is pioneering a new role at MEDEX, overseeing the expansion of international and domestic sales for corporate, scholastic and USAID clients.

“I believe in the quality products, level of service and competitive pricing that MEDEX offers it’s corporate, USAID and scholastic clients,” explained Roban. “I’m incredibly excited about products like MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor and the depth of resources it provides our customers.”

In September, MEDEX Global Group and Harvard Medical International (HMI) launched MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor, the most comprehensive health information website ever developed for international travelers.

About MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX Global Group has been assisting travelers with medical and security emergencies for more than 30 years, providing international travel, security and medical support for corporations, government and humanitarian organizations, and leisure travelers. MEDEX services include everything from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case monitoring, complex emergency evacuations and virtually every contingency in between. The MEDEX Emergency Response Center handles nearly 30,000 cases a year in over 200 countries. For more information, visit www.medexassist.com.

Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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MEDEX / Harvard Partnership Now Offers Affordable, New Intelligence to Individual Business & Leisure Travelers

MEDEX 360°m Collaboration with Harvard Medical International Provides Comprehensive and Vital Global Health Information

BALTIMORE, MD January 29, 2008 – MEDEX Global Group and Harvard Medical International have extended the reach of their groundbreaking MEDEX 360°m partnership with the launch today of a new version created specifically for individual business and leisure travelers.

Like the original MEDEX 360°m website recently introduced for corporate, scholastic and government clients, this individual-traveler edition of the MEDEX 360°m Global Medical Monitor provides vital and timely health risk and medical care information in an easy-to-read report format.

MEDEX 360°m Monitors cover 236 countries and territories with destination-specific information on diseases / health risks; immunization requirements / recommendations; the quality / availability of local care; health alerts / updates; travel health prevention / advice; and health risk ratings. The unique one-to-five rating system allows travelers to quickly see what the primary concerns are for each country – whether medical infrastructure, remoteness to quality care, or cultural barriers, such as language or local medical practices.

Priced at only $8.95 each, MEDEX 360°m Monitors are an easy add-on during the purchase of any individual emergency evacuation or international medical insurance plan; which are priced as low as $2.00 per day or less. The coverage and destination report combination are only available through the MEDEX website: www.medex360m.com.

MEDEX 360°m Monitors are delivered via a live web link that is active through the last day of their coverage period, so travelers can view their report upon purchase, before and during their trip. Travelers are encouraged revisit their reports to benefit from the up-to-date alerts maintained by MEDEX and Harvard Medical International.

About MEDEX Global Group

One of the world’s leading emergency medical and security assistance / international medical insurance companies, MEDEX Global Group provides 24/7/365 support for corporations, organizations and individual travelers. Their extensive services include everything from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case monitoring, complex emergency evacuations and virtually every contingency in between.

About Harvard Medical International

Harvard Medical International is a self-supporting, not-for-profit subsidiary of Harvard Medical School. HMI’s role is to extend internationally, the School's tradition of improving the quality of health care through excellence in clinical medicine, medical education, and biomedical research.

To view a sample MEDEX 360°m destination report visit www.medex360m.com.

Media Contacts:

Josianne Pennington at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6364
Nicole Beach at MEDEX Global Group - 410-453-6391
Gillian Pommerehn at Crosby Marketing Communication, 410-626-0805

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Media Contacts:
Nicole Beach
410-453-6391
Email Nicole

Josianne Pennington
1-410-453-6364
Email Josianne

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