Gene plays a critical leadership role in the design of leading-edge benefits programs and health care initiatives for Wal-Mart's over 2 million associates. Her 20 years of experience has equipped her to identify innovative solutions for complex benefits challenges around the globe. Gene serves on Global Health Benefits Institute Board and is a member of American Benefits Council and the Council on Employee Benefits. Internationally Wal-Mart operate in 15 markets, serving 49 million customers weekly.
Mr. Naresh Jadeja : What do you think are challenges and barriers for Medical Travel industry's growth ?
Gene Ann Stillwell : The major factor would be fear. Fear of unknown, fear of surgery, fear of being away from home country, which is scary enough by it self.
For an average consumer going to an unknown place could make it worse, its only if he/she is familiar with international or domestic travel then that fear of unknown vanishes.
Other fear they have is that they don't have their family members and their family doctor with them.
Mr. Naresh Jadeja : Wal-mart has its offices in 22 countries and its US employees are travelling to different destinations. In case of emergency, do these associates get treated in respective countries facility? Does this means that Wal-Mart is aware about the world class quality treatment provided by these facilities? If yes, will Wal-Mart consider these medical facilities for its associate's medical travel?
Gene Ann Stillwell : Yes we could consider from benefits perspective, but when you think about our associates, if we know certain hospital abroad and consider it better, that does not necessarily means that our employee also know the quality of the hospital. But for emergency situations before sending our associates to these world class medical facilities we are partnering with Medex and other agencies to figure out
What are these world class facilities?
What quality of treatment they deliver?
Where can they provide emergency service to our associates?
For all these and other necessary data to judge the medical facilities, we rely on our in country experts as this also assures comfortably managing emergency situation.
But in medical travel the scenario is completely different.
Mr. Naresh Jadeja : Does Wal-mart health plan gives its associates the liberty of getting treated anywhere?
Gene Ann Stillwell : The current health plan offers complete liberty to our associates for getting treated whenever and wherever they want.
The protocol remains the same be it for check ups or whether to get second opinion or treatment, our associates are free of all restrictions. We also have our transplant coverage with John Hopkins, Mayo clinic and other facilities and Wal-mart is using them as center of excellence but that is limited to transplants, for rest of the treatment and elective surgeries we are aware that some people are going out of their home town to get treatments but other then that we don't promote medical travel.
Mr. Naresh Jadeja : Is Wal-mart considering Medical Travel as an option to reduce healthcare cost and to provide better coverage ?
Gene Ann Stillwell : We at Wal-mart are thinking it as an option . We are trying to find ways to keep employees and our cost low but provide the best coverage at the same time. It is certainly one of the strategies Wal-Mart is considering but it is not what we are offering right now.
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