50 Most Trustworthy Companies of the Year 2021
The Silicon Review
“What sets VUMI® apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to VIP service.”
VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group (VUMI®) was founded in 2012 as an integral part of a global management group that draws upon more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Under the leadership of founder and CEO David Rendall, the VUMI® enterprise group has grown by double digits every year for the last eight years. With his experience of 20+ years as an industry leader, Mr. Rendall has a proven track record of providing the vision and decisive leadership necessary to lead the startup and emerging companies to global prominence. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the group has ten offices around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Panama, Ecuador and Dubai, and is staffed by 450 employees.
VUMI’s mission is “To deliver the best healthcare worldwide through an unparalleled VIP service experience.” This mission statement dictates the group’s forward-focused strategies, as well as its day-to-day interactions with the insureds and every member of its diverse team. VUMI® has been expanding around the globe to fill a critical need.
Access to acceptable healthcare options in many countries is sorely lacking. People are facing a critical shortage of qualified doctors, having to deal with antiquated technology and treatment protocols, a shortage of necessary medicines, and excessive and life-threatening wait times, to list but a few. For these reasons, VUMILATINA was formed in Ecuador in 2015, VUMI® Canada and the Panamanian partnership LRDS VUMI® in 2019, and VUMI® Global in 2020. In each case, VUMI’s worldwide coverage plans have been carefully adapted to the specific needs of each market. Insureds can select a plan based on geographical location, lifestyle and age. Whether they are single professionals, growing families, couples beginning to plan for an active retirement or seniors, there is a VUMI® plan that’s right for them. Corporate clients, from small groups to multinational corporations, can also find solid plan options.
What sets VUMI® apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to VIP service. VIP is embedded in the company’s name, and treating the insureds as VIP’s is at the heart of the group’s mission. VUMI prides itself on providing service with a human touch and for taking a holistic approach to each patient and their individual cases.
“We are also committed to our communities, and indeed, our corporate social responsibility is a tenet upon which the company is built,” said Mr. Rendall. As an organization, the group has contributed $2 million to Miami’s Jackson Health Foundation in 2015, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing financial help to individuals who cannot afford the urgent care they desperately need. More recently, when twin hurricanes Eta and Iota decimated much of Central America in 2020, VUMI® made a significant contribution to the local Red Cross agencies.
“We are well aware that medical emergencies can happen at any time in the day or night. Therefore, our medical team is available 24/7/365, standing ready to provide multilingual support through all stages of medical treatment,” explained the CEO. During emergencies, the team coordinates with hospitals across the globe to ensure that treatment can be administered and initiated immediately.
VUMI® has also gained a sterling reputation for its Second Medical Opinion VIP®, available at no additional cost in all its plans. Obviously, a serious diagnosis can compromise a policyholder’s peace of mind, especially when it necessitates that key decisions must be made that will impact their health and possibly affect their financial stability. All policyholders have access - from the comfort of their homes - to the opinion of top-tier medical experts who can help them understand the scope of their condition and find the best treatment options for their case.
Once VUMI® has received all related medical tests and case documentation, the information is reviewed by a specially selected high-level panel of experts. They review and debate, and then form a conclusive opinion on the diagnosis and the recommended treatment. Experience has shown that an increased number of expert eyes results in a better outcome for the patient. These numbers tell the story:
By using Second Medical Opinion VIP®:
Stepping Up in Times of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to terrorize countries all over the world, having the ability to protect one’s family in this never-before-imagined crisis became a global priority. VUMI® quickly undertook the necessary steps. Firstly, to safeguard the wellbeing of their team, VUMI® moved its entire workforce to a remote workplace situation in a nearly seamless transition. Next, understanding that pandemic-related information was changing each day, and to combat the massive amount of misinformation and rumor-mongering, VUMI® began sharing news with team members and insureds through frequent communications, videos, and messaging on every social media platform. Webinars were also set up to help team members deal with the “new normal.”
Experts in diverse areas provided critical information, such as family psychologists who spoke on “Helping Children Cope with COVID-19-Related Anxiety,” and renowned motivational sales experts who shared tips on “Ways to Keep Moving Forward Professionally during the Pandemic.”
“Our agent network communicated to each of our insureds, letting them know VUMI® was there for them during these dark days. From the onset of the pandemic, VUMI® has covered claims on more than 1,000 COVID-19 related illnesses in countries across the globe and processed more than US$5 million in paid claims,” commented Mr. Rendall.
As the COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more widely available, the world is starting to look forward. VUMI® sees a strong future and is planning for it, charting a bold course. During the pandemic, the management team took the opportunity to review and improve many operational functions, streamline procedures and make key processes even more accessible to its insureds. In addition, a new pharmacy benefits management company was added to the group to provide much-needed transparency in this critical area where costs continue to spiral upward and out of control. “Our next project, set to launch in the coming months, will focus on medical cost containment and offer clients unique solutions and savings,” added Mr. Rendall.
Always innovating, always growing, VUMI’s highly motivated global team is committed to bringing their VIP service to more and more people across the globe. The company truly never forgets that treating each one of its insureds as VIP’s is the cornerstone of the group’s continued growth. As people continue to seek ways to expand their access to top medical care, protect their loved ones and their assets, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can trust your health plan, they know that VUMI® is with them.