International Benefits

How Well Does Your Plan Handle Offshore Emergencies?

The International Benefits practice of Watermark assists Domestic and multinational companies of all sizes and in all industries in managing their benefits needs outside of their home country. We provide our clients both superior benefit advice and brokerage services. Working together in a seamless way to understand your business, culture, and values, we assist in designing, communicating, and implementing benefits programs based on their business needs, both globally and locally.

We provide our clients with superior benefit advice and brokerage services. Working together in a seamless way to understand your business, culture, and values, we assist in designing, communicating, and implementing benefits programs based on their business needs, both globally and locally. Watermarks Benefits Practice provides consulting service on a broad range of specialized services.

A single point of contact for your international needs:

Third country national
Expatriates
National coverage

Some of the specific international benefits services provided include:

Evaluation of benefits programs and market trends
Development of international benefits strategy and operational guidelines
Marketing and vendor selection for international benefits programs
Competitive analysis of country benefits plans and practices
Merger and acquisition consulting, both pre and post-acquisition
International account management services
Access to information on competitive best practices
Inpatriate consulting
Multinational pooling and financial management consulting
Assist in emergency medical evacuation/repatriation
Advise on non US And Canada practice issues
COBRA continuation
International policy provisions
Include take over provision for transferring employees from domestic to international plan and visa versa

We provide consulting advice in the following areas:

Plan Design

Review of current plan design
Recommend Best Practices and plan Benchmarking
Advise and recommend specific benefit strategies that meet your employee and corporate needs
Recommend options for all benefit programs
Review of contractual provisions
Review tax status of programs
Recommendations to efficient cost sharing arrangements
Merger and Acquisition Consulting

Benefit Plan Marketing

Preparation of RFP
Conduct Benefit Plan marketing
Analyze proposals
Vendor recommendation

Financial Review

Review financial agreements and costs
Evaluate financial performance including cost, design and setup
Recommend alternate financial arrangements

Employee Communications & Plan Administration

Assist in plan implementation including:
Development of enrollment materials, including customized letters and forms
Design employee surveys and moderate focus groups
Design employee communication packages
Corporate, government & legislative compliance
Assistance with federal, provincial and regulatory compliance issues

Product advice on:

Private medical insurance
Income protection (disability) insurance
Critical illness
Health, dental programs
Long term care
EFAP

Services and solutions for International Clients