CIEB is committed to providing concierge-level service to you.  To improve our resources, services, and programs, CIEB continually looks for feedback from you, our customers.

CIEB has started a monthly survey initiative to gain feedback to identify areas of opportunity to improve customer service. The new surveys will sample via email a subset of customers who have had a recent service interaction with CIEB to determine how likely they’d be to recommend CIEB to a friend or colleague. 

With ePayment Plus, you can receive direct deposit of claim reimbursements into your international bank account in local currency within 48 hours of approval of your claim. The electronic banking system is available to customers who have bank accounts located in Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  Cross-border Automated Clearing House transactions are also supported in the following currencies: Australian dollar; Canadian dollar; Danish krone; Euro; Hong Kong dollar; Norwegian krone; New Zealand dollar; Swedish krona; Singapore dollar; U.K. pound; U.S. dollar. 

CIEB offers podcasts to expatriates on a range of topics, and now they’re available in seven languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Swiss-German, Chinese, and Japanese.  Multilingual podcasts are one more way that CIEB is demonstrating its commitment to its international customers.

Ken Vaughan, senior vice president of Global Sales, Client Management, and Marketing at CIEB says, “While some may say that the language of our business is English, we argue that the language of health care is universal." 

Expatriate assignments have the potential to cause stress to mental and emotional health and on family or spousal relationships.

One of the best ways to control stress is to take care of your body. Sleep, physical activity, and nutrition are essential to your overall health and well-being.  Consider exercising or other stress-reducing activities such as breathing and muscle relaxation exercises, aromatherapy, or yoga.

Studies indicate that regular exercise has psychological benefits.  Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in the body; as a result, improved self-esteem is a known benefit of physical activity.  Studies show that exercising 30 minutes four to five times a week is best (1). 

A diet rich in nutrients may also help combat stress.  Some particular foods may also produce stress-relieving chemicals in the brain, like serotonin, while others may reduce levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline.  Complex carbohydrates found in whole-grains prompt the brain to produce serotonin.  While simple carbohydrates and sugar also help the brain in producing serotonin, they are digested more quickly than complex carbohydrates, so the stress-relief is only short-term.  Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish and can prevent stress hormone spikes.  Skim and low-fat milk both contain enough calcium to reduce muscle spasms and soothe tension (2).  Check out more stress-reducing foods on WebMD.com’s Diet for Stress Management Slideshow.

Recent research suggests that people following a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, and fish (also known as a traditional Mediterranean diet) may reduce the likelihood of developing depression (3). 

27 January 2010: CIEB Expands Sales and Service in Canada
CIEB expanded its Canadian staff early this year to provide outstanding support to clients and advisors.

15 February 2010: CIEB Adds 4,000 New Hospitals and Clinics to Network in Russia
CIEB added 4,000 health care facilities to its network in Russia.  They are located in areas with high expatriate concentrations, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.  Since the network facilities will offer discounts on care and direct pay, the relationships may reduce out-of-pocket expenses for expatriates who receive care at these hospitals or clinics. 

17 February 2010: With Support from CIGNA & CMC, Construction Begins on School in China
CIGNA participates in Project Hope, an initiative in China that provides education to poor regions of the country.  The Yi He primary school in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province was leveled in the May 12, 2008 earthquake that struck the region.  CIGNA and CMC are supporting the rebuilding of the school through charity events.