ITIC Global 2026 Agenda

Global variations in medical expenses limits on travel and health insurance policies are causing headaches for travellers, assistance companies, and the healthcare organisations tasked with providing medical help to travellers. Low-cost medical limits may adhere to regulatory requirements – e.g. a Schengen visa can be secured with travel insurance with €30,000 medical expenses coverage – but for someone in a private hospital in Spain with a severe cardiac issue, this coverage is simply not sufficient. With mandatory coverage also now a requirement for many expats in GCC countries, are these policies fit for purpose?

This session will bring in experts in different regions to compare how regional variations in cover are challenging the assistance companies and medical providers.

The differences in cover and benefits in IPMI and travel insurance policies require a deeper level of understanding if patients are to be treated in line with their coverage. Emergency medical care that allows the patient to travel back to their home healthcare system is for travel customers, but, for IPMI beneficiaries, the in-depth investigation and treatment could be different. For hospitals treating these patients, it is vital that a clear line of communication is established with the insurer from the start of treatment, so as to manage patient expectations and insurance coverage benefits.
This session will bring awareness and clarity to the differences between the two types of policy our industry is offering, discussing the different values of the policies, the different premiums, and the needs of customers.
It will also bring in the issue of ethics, and how insurers can stand by their policy wording while also not treating customers the same if one has travel insurance and one has IPMI.

This session will begin with a presentation from a psychologist who will inform the audience about why the industry is seeing such a vast increase in utilisation of mental health benefits and coverage, with a particular focus on expatriates and the specific needs they have.

Following this, industry panellists will seek to answer the question: is our industry appropriately equipped to deal with the increase in demand for mental healthcare from travellers and expats?

During the session, we will explore the cost of failed deployments for expats, taking a close look at the typical benefits in an IPMI policy that are being used, and how these can be augmented to support clients more appropriately through the use of technology.

Furthermore, the panel will consider the increase in claims and medical assistance cases the industry is seeing related to senior travellers. This would cover those with mental health concerns themselves, in addition to those who may be travelling as a carer for someone with dementia/Alzheimer’s – we will consider what happens in the scenario that the carer falls ill, leaving the insurer with two claims instead of one, and a potentially very vulnerable secondary customer.

To set the scene for this in-depth discussion, data from climate scientists will highlight how travel destinations are being affected by climate change, considering extreme weather events, travel during peak summer months when the risk of heat-related illness (and therefore claims) is increasing, and an evolution in destination preferences.

The panel of insurance industry experts will be examining the real claims data – hard facts that back up whether or not more claims are being made for disruption or cancellation due to adverse weather conditions, and also whether or not there really are more medical claims being made by travellers due to heat-related illness.

Another aspect of climate change that is materially changing the risks posed to travellers is how diseases are spreading – mosquitoes that would previously have only been found in Africa or South America are travelling northwards. With the changing risk profile for dengue or malaria, are travellers aware of the risks of bites from mosquitoes, and taking the necessary precautions to minimise the risk of infection, such as vaccinations? An infectious diseases expert will give the audience all the latest data.

An opportunity for a deeper dive into global tourism trends, both leisure and business travellers, looking at demographics, destinations, climate dynamics and sustainability.

By knowing how and where travellers are going to their various business trips or leisure activities, insurers can gain a deeper understanding of the risks their customers might be facing and price their policies accordingly. For the assistance companies in the audience, preparedness is key – with an increasingly unstable world and destination preferences changing fast, medical networks need to be in place before the traveller numbers increase beyond the capacity of the local healthcare systems to ensure that customers are getting the care they need, when they need it.

This session will aim to uncover the reality of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in insurance companies – not just ‘blue sky’ thinking – but the harsh reality of return on investment. Everyone has AI in their companies in some way now, but how is it really being used by your teams, and is it providing a genuinely useful service? How is agentic AI really functioning for insurers – and for customers? Our panel will investigate real-use examples of where AI is working to create value, and where it is falling short.

For assistance companies, using AI platforms to read medical records, unravel complex medical reports, and translate documents could save a great deal of money on staffing – one senior physician can review the AI findings rather than a whole medical team – but is this really providing sufficient oversight?

The panel will also consider the role that embedded insurance through travel booking platforms and airlines is playing in the widening scope of distribution of travel insurance – is this still a valuable proposition for insurers, or are other ancillary revenue streams more attractive to the travel sector? The profitability of embedded insurance versus selling seats and baggage will be under scrutiny during the session.

Relevant to all providers of medical assistance and repatriation services, this session, hosted by Dr Winston Jong of EMA Global, will offer deep insights into the intricacies of the medical assistance services provided around the world. It’s not just for medical directors – it’s for the nurse medical escorts flying patients around the world on commercial airlines, for the air ambulance teams taking critical care patients home or to a higher level of care, and for the coordinators on the ground who work around the clock to ensure the logistics of these missions are flawless.
In a world where disruption to travel can come in many forms, these teams are coordinating complex cases of medical repatriation all over the globe – and this session provides the perfect forum to explore challenges, provide solutions, and share best practices.

This Air Ambulance Forum discussion will examine how digital information-sharing platforms are reshaping the quoting and booking of air medical transport missions. As operators, brokers, and healthcare providers increasingly rely on real-time data exchange, expectations around pricing transparency and demonstrable fair value are evolving. The session will explore how access to standardised operational data – such as aircraft availability, medical configuration, routing, and regulatory constraints – enables more consistent and comparable quotations. It will also address the challenges: data integrity, platform interoperability, and the risk of commoditisation in a highly specialised service.
Panellists will consider whether greater transparency leads to better outcomes for patients and payers, or whether it introduces new commercial pressures that could impact quality. The discussion will highlight emerging best practices, the role of technology in reducing friction across the booking lifecycle, and what stakeholders must do to ensure pricing mechanisms remain both competitive and clinically appropriate.

The ITIC Provider Network Forum offers a dedicated platform for payers and healthcare providers to engage in structured, solutions-focused dialogue. As healthcare delivery becomes increasingly complex and globally interconnected, alignment between funding mechanisms and service provision is critical. This session will bring together key stakeholders – international health and travel insurers, assistance companies, and healthcare providers – to explore shared challenges, including network adequacy, cost containment, quality assurance, and cross-border care coordination.
Through open discussion, participants will identify operational pain points and examine practical strategies to address them, from contracting models and reimbursement frameworks to communication and data-sharing practices. The forum will also consider how evolving patient expectations and regulatory environments are shaping provider networks. By fostering collaboration and transparency, the session aims to move beyond problem identification toward actionable resolutions that enhance efficiency, strengthen partnerships, and ultimately improve patient outcomes across the care continuum.

Crisis response and resilience are being tested in an increasingly volatile and interconnected risk landscape. Geopolitical crises are not only accelerating in pace but expanding in scope, with localised conflicts generating complex, far-reaching consequences for travellers, organisations, and supply chains. These dynamics are driving renewed scrutiny of preparedness, leadership, and the effectiveness of existing emergency response frameworks.
This session will explore the growing need for insurers and assistance providers to adopt a more holistic, intelligence-led approach to crisis planning – one that integrates real-time risk monitoring, coordinated response networks, and clear communication strategies. It will also examine how rising expectations for rapid, responsive travel assistance are reshaping operational models. Are current systems agile enough to adapt, and do organisations have the resilience required to manage the next wave of global disruption? Panellists will share insights on strengthening readiness and delivering effective support when it matters most.

This travel risk management session will focus on shifting from reactive response models to proactive, intelligence-led strategies. Against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical instability and its cascading effects on travel safety, organisations are under increasing pressure to anticipate and mitigate risks before they escalate. The discussion will explore how real-time intelligence, pre-travel risk assessments, and dynamic monitoring tools can support more informed decision-making.
Panellists will also examine the importance of clear communication, traveller tracking, and duty of care frameworks in enhancing organisational resilience. By embedding proactive risk management practices into travel programmes, companies can better protect their people, maintain continuity, and respond with greater agility to an increasingly unpredictable global environment.

Please note that the conference spaces will close at 12:30 to prepare for the ITIC Farewell Dinner and ITIJ Awards.