Healthcare Plan News

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare, the recent healthcare plan in the United States, is affecting the international superyacht industry, according to yacht insurance expert Eva Maria Karlsson of Superyacht Insurance Group (SYIG). Maria, who is president/broker at SYIG, said, “The biggest challenge presently is Obamacare. Interestingly enough, it’s actually affecting the international marine industry, in that we now have to cope with tighter guidelines regarding time spent in-and-out of the U.S. waters. Most underwriters require that the yachts spend at least six months outside the U.S. in a 12-month period. It doesn’t matter that the yacht is registered outside the U.S. and the crew are non-U.S. “Some underwriters can’t even provide coverage for U.S.

Global health insurer Allianz Worldwide Care say they have launched a new plan which offers a compliant solution for on-shore health care to shipping companies affected by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), commonly known as the “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights”. MLC 2006, which came into force in August 2013, requires shipping companies to provide comprehensive rights and protection to the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, including the provision of a minimum level of healthcare cover.