”In Germany, we are already supporting a large number of individual expatriates and are now starting into the SME market”

Matthias, APRIL International has been present in Germany since 2022. In which markets do you support your brokers and policyholders?

Through our network of partner brokers or directly via digital channels, we distribute health insurance products to internationally mobile individuals (students, employees, self-employed people, digital nomads, retired people) and to companies with international operations and employees on every continent. Germany, which borders France and is at the heart of Europe, has a number of economic and geostrategic advantages. Despite a slowdown in economic growth, the number of individual expatriates is increasing, whether on long or short-term assignments, and the brokerage market is very dynamic, with several thousand local intermediaries.

How is the market for IPMI, international health insurance, faring in Germany?

The individual market is growing strongly, especially among digital nomads who are becoming IPMI customers. There is also a trend among professionals to move away from group contracts to individual policies. The corporate market, while stable in terms of volume, is evolving in terms of approach (more prevention initiatives and medical services to support employees) and is increasingly price-sensitive, particularly for SMEs.

How would you assess the situation 2 years after the opening of the office you manage in Cologne?

The results are positive! We are well positioned in the expatriate segment, and our team is recognised for the quality of its support and customer service. Although we currently offer standard European products that meet the market’s expectations in terms of long-term and short-term cover, we are actively working on a specific offer for Germany in order to serve the local market even better. In terms of momentum, our growth is sustained and more and more brokers are identifying APRIL and asking us how we can help them.

What makes APRIL different for expatriates on the German market?

APRIL International is recognised by its clients – in Germany and elsewhere – for several reasons: our availability, our medical network and our tools that simplify policy and claims management.  In terms of accessibility, our German-speaking medical and in-house assistance teams and our telehealth services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with prescription delivery anywhere in the world. Our medical network includes 2 million providers. In terms of tools, our Easy Claim app simplifies the claims process for our customers. As for the Easy Pay card, a new digital payment solution that has been launched at the end of 2023, it enables policyholders to pay their medical expenses by pre-authorised means, without having to pay in advance. This card has been used for treatments ranging from €50 to over €50,000.

What about German broker partners in terms of network dynamics?

Our distribution network in Germany is multi-faceted: firstly, we work with brokers specialising in IPMI. Our products are also distributed by major broker pools. We are preferred partners of the main intermediaries in the corporate market. We also have strong links with SME associations and are in discussions with a SHI* to offer international solutions to their members. We offer brokers a fully digital experience in German, with solutions that improve pre- and post-sales processes. These tools include multiple quotes, e-signatures, real-time tracking of applications and portfolios, tracking of outstanding payments and commissions, policy brochures and training materials.

*Statutory Health Insurance

APRIL International Gmbh is now recognised on the German market…

In fact, we have just been ranked by the ‘Germany’s Best’ study as one of the best players in the insurance sector! The study analysed more than 65 million mentions of nearly 14,000 companies between 2022 and 2024. We are very proud of this result, which reflects the commitment of the entire local team.
More broadly, APRIL International’s efforts to simplify access to healthcare have been recognised with more than 20 industry awards over the past two years: Insurance Awards in France, MGA of the Year at the British Claims Awards, 5-star rating for the 3rd year running in Health & Protection’s IPMI 2024 report, Service Provider Award at the Insurance CX Awards, etc. These recognitions underline our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction in the IPMI market.