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| Allen Koski Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Region Pennsylvania, Delaware, Southern Virginia Contact Information: |
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| Allen is responsible for sales growth in the Eastern region, which includes the eastern United States as far west as Michigan. Allen manages and mentors the sales staff throughout this region. | |
New Legislation Update: Australia
Effective September 14, 2009, Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (“DIAC”) implemented a new proof of insurance requirement which applies to all non-Australian citizens coming from non-reciprocal countries who require a 457 Business Long Stay Visa.
This requirement mandates that all applicants for the 457 Business Long Stay Visa obtain a minimum standard of health insurance for themselves and their dependents at the time they apply for the visa and maintain it for the duration of their visa. This means that applicants must submit a letter of certification to show they meet the health insurance requirement. If your clients have employees who are in Australia for less than three months, then they will most likely need a different visa, such as the 456 Short Term Visa. For more information, please visit the Australian government’s website at http://www.australia.gov.au/.
Subsequently, this requirement of showing proof of meeting the minimum health insurance requirement in Australia now applies to non-Australian citizens who require access to the Australian Medicare System and Australian citizens who are repatriating to Australia whose Medicare status has expired.
How Can CIEB Help?
CIEB offers CIGNALinks® Australia to employers who have expatriates working and/or living in Australia, as well as Australian citizens who are working abroad. CIGNALinks allows expatriates and their covered dependents to receive care in Australia through our relationship with Grand United Corporate Health Fund (Grand United). We coordinate with Australia's national sponsored health plan (Medicare) through this relationship with Grand United, which meets the new plan requirements.
If You Are A CIGNALinks Customer
If your clients have employees who are currently CIGNALinks Australia customers, then they already have a compliant health care solution through our relationship with Grand United. To ensure new CIGNALinks customers receive the necessary proof of compliant coverage, Grand United will automatically issue a letter showing proof of coverage for all new CIGNALinks Australia expatriates (both employees and dependants) eligible for a 457 visa, as well as those expatriates requiring access to the Australian Medicare System. This letter must accompany the expatriate’s visa or Medicare Card application. This also allows Australian citizens who are working abroad to meet Australian health coverage standards and avoid tax penalties.
Those who were issued a visa prior to September 14, 2009 will only be affected when renewing or extending their visa. Expatriates will need to contact Grand United directly to request a certification of coverage letter in order to renew or extend their visa.
Grand United Contact Information | |
Calling from within Australia |
1.300.794.624 |
Calling from overseas |
+61.3.8682.4100 |
If You Are Not Currently A CIGNALinks Australia Customer
If your clients have employees who are living or working in Australia and have not been enrolled in CIGNALinks Australia, they are not in compliance with Australian law. However, by participating in the CIGNALinks Australia program, their employees will be covered by a compliant plan through CIEB’s relationship with Grand United. CIGNALinks is of no cost to employers.
Please contact your CIEB New Business Manager for more details, or visit our website, www.CIGNAexpats.com, for more details. Click the “Health Networks” tab and then click the “CIGNALinks” link in the navigation menu.
What is a Compliant Plan? |
| A compliant plan must meet certain requirements, including that it must cover at 100%; few exclusions are permitted by Australian law. For more information, contact your CIEB New Business Manager or visit the Australian government’s website at http://www.australia.gov.au/. |
CIEB in the News
Allen Koski, Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Region, was recently interviewed by the Philadelphia Business Journal and was consulted, along with other experts, in “H1N1: Is Your Business Ready?”
Allen has more than 20 years of international experience. He is a frequent participant in industry panel discussions for organizations such as the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). A long-time member of Penjerdel Employee Benefits Association, he is currently PEBA’s International Committee Chairman. Allen is responsible for sales growth in the Eastern region, which covers all of the eastern United States as far west as Michigan. He also manages and mentors CIEB’s sales staff throughout this region.
Allen has written various articles for publication in trade journals, notably “Culture, Infrastructure and International Benefits Delivery” for Benefits Quarterly, “Expatriate Benefits for a Changing Global Economy,” for Benefits & Compensation Solutions, and “Critical Conditions – Seeking Suitable Health Care in China,” for Mobility. Visit CIGNAexpats.com and click on the “Newsroom” tab to read more CIEB publications.
DISCLAIMER: “CIGNA” refers to CIGNA Corporation and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates. CIGNA International and CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (“CIEB”) refer to these subsidiaries and affiliates. Products and services are provided by these subsidiaries, affiliates and other contracted companies and not by CIGNA Corporation. “CIGNA” is a registered service mark.
References to non-partnered organizations or companies, and/or their products, processes or services, do not necessarily constitute an endorsement or warranty thereof.
CIEB’s web-based tools, such as CIGNA Envoy®, are available for informational purposes only. CIEB’s web tools are not intended to be a substitute for proper medical care provided by a physician. This material is provided for informational purposes only. It is believed accurate as of the date of publication and is subject to change. Such material should not be relied upon as legal, medical, or tax advice. As always, we recommend that you consult with your independent legal, medical, and/or tax advisors. Products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions and are expressly excluded where prohibited by applicable law.
Copyright 2009 CIGNA Corporation.