Landmark Approval Allows U.S.-Based Assistance Services to be Sold in the People’s Republic of China for the First Time Ever
PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Assist America announced today that its global emergency services are now available in the People’s Republic of China through a licensing agreement with China Assist, a Chinese company based in Beijing. Assist America is the first U.S.-based assistance company to offer services within China through this unique partnership. A world leader in global emergency services offered through group employee benefit plans, Assist America supports members with an array of resources when they travel, including medical evacuation, repatriation, hospital admission guarantee, medical referrals, care of dependent children, return of mortal remains and much more. The Chinese government’s validation of the agreement with China Assist is a landmark approval in the country and a testament to the singularly high regard given Assist America worldwide.
China Assist has a dedicated operations center staffed with personnel who are fully trained by Assist America to handle emergencies quickly and efficiently. Worldwide emergency coverage is in effect 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whenever members travel more than 100 miles (150 kilometers) from home or outside their country of residence. As with all Assist America providers, China Assist will pay for all services rendered to its members without charge-backs, limits or exclusions for pre-existing conditions, adventure sports or geographic risk.
Last week, China announced that its economy grew 10.7 percent in 2006, its fastest rate in more than a decade and a double-digit increase for the fourth consecutive year. While more than 24 million foreign travelers are expected to visit China in 2007, the outbound travel statistics are even more impressive. More than 34 million Chinese traveled overseas last year, with tourists now permitted to visit 132 countries and regions.
"As a partner with China Assist, we are extremely pleased at the prospect of extending our global emergency services to a market that is experiencing such growth," said George W. Howard, III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Assist America. "The middle class in China is expected to account for 40 percent of the total population by 2020, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The huge purchasing power of that group, along with the booming economy and the potential for increased tourism and travel, creates many opportunities to put our global emergency services to work."
Founded in 1990, Assist America, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of global emergency assistance in partnership with employee benefit plans. Its worldwide network of professionals responds quickly to any eligible participant who becomes medically compromised while traveling more than 100 miles (150 kilometers) from home. From simple doctor referrals to complex intercontinental evacuations and more, Assist America saves lives every day. The company, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, serves more than 30 million members and over 300,000 enterprises through programs from the world’s most prominent group benefit providers. For more information about Assist America, visit http://www.assistamerica.com
