Global Benefits USA

What Global Benefits USA does

Global Benefits USA is a privately held international insurance brokerage founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a second office in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company distributes specialty insurance products from a panel of six major international carriers — Travel Insured International, BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions (GeoBlue), International Medical Group (IMG), Global Underwriters, WorldTrips, and Cigna Global — to individuals, expats, and organizations operating internationally. Its product portfolio spans trip protection and cancellation insurance, single-trip and annual multi-trip travel medical insurance, expatriate health insurance, international group health and employee benefits, Defense Base Act (DBA) workers compensation, foreign general liability, and specialty lines including kidnap & ransom, war/terrorism, and political risk coverage.

The company operates a sales-led go-to-market model that combines a website-based quote and purchase platform (with direct redirects to carrier portals) with phone-based assisted sales for complex enterprise needs. Pricing is structured around commissions earned on brokered policies, with travel medical priced by age/trip length and corporate plans offered across four tiered medical benefit maximums (from $100,000 to $500,000). Distribution is supported by a comprehensive resource library (brochures, forms, claim documentation) on the company's website. The core technology is a broker-facing distribution platform rather than proprietary underwriting or claims infrastructure — Global Benefits USA does not carry insurance risk itself.

The company serves three primary segments: (1) expats and international workers needing ongoing health coverage abroad, (2) individual travelers purchasing trip protection and travel medical, and (3) organizations — including U.S. government contractors, faith-based missions, NGOs, and multinational employers — requiring group travel, expat, and specialty risk coverage. Notable reference accounts include the Republic of Maldives (30,000+ government employees), the William J. Clinton Foundation, the University of Massachusetts, Relief International, Phelps Dodge International, Fiji Water, Heifer Project International, Kyocera Wireless, Ernst & Young, and COMO Hotels & Resorts. The company is wholly owned by CEO James D. Smith, holds certifications from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the National Association of Health Underwriters, and was recognized with a 2024 Travvy Silver Award for Best Travel Insurance Company.

Name

Global Benefits USA

Legal name

Global Benefits USA

Website

https://globalbenefitsusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Global Benefits USA is a privately held international insurance brokerage founded in 2010 that distributes travel, expat health, group benefits, and specialty risk coverage from six major carrier partners to individuals, expats, and organizations operating worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACAHAG

International Benefits Administration & Global Benefits Brokerage

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Employment / PEO Services

Keywords

• International insurance brokerage
• Travel medical insurance
• Expatriate health coverage
• Defense base act insurance
• Corporate travel insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: The company operates as an insurance broker/middleman, earning commissions from insurance carriers when policies are sold through their platform. They represent multiple insurance companies including Travel Insured International, BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions, International Medical Group, Global Underwriters, WorldTrips, and Cigna Global.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Global Benefits USA is an international insurance brokerage that distributes cross-border insurance products from multiple carrier partners for organizations, expatriates, and individual travelers. Its core product set includes trip protection and cancellation insurance, travel medical insurance (single trip and annual multi-trip), international expatriate health insurance, international group health and employee benefits, Defense Base Act workers compensation, corporate travel insurance, and specialty lines such as kidnap & ransom and war/terrorism coverage. The firm earns commissions from carriers when policies are placed through its website, phone sales, or referral.

Product overview

Global Benefits USA is an insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of international insurance products for organizations, individuals, and travelers. The core offerings include Travel Insured International branded trip protection plans (Platinum, Deluxe, Essential) and annual multi-trip coverage (Multi-Trip Protector, Trekker), travel medical insurance from partner carriers (BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions, IMG, Global Underwriters, WorldTrips, Cigna), international group health and employee benefits plans, DBA workers compensation, and specialty commercial lines including kidnap & ransom, war/terrorism risk, and political risk insurance. The company operates as a broker distributing these products rather than as a direct insurer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trip Protection Insurance
• Travel Medical Insurance
• Multi-Trip Protector (Annual Trip Protection)
• Trekker (Annual Travel Medical)
• International Group Health & Employee Benefits
• Foreign Commercial Insurance
• DBA (Defense Base Act) Workers Compensation
• Kidnap & Ransom Insurance
• International Expatriate Health Insurance
• Corporate Travel Insurance

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• Travel Insured InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel Insured International is a primary insurance carrier partner providing comprehensive trip protection and cancellation insurance products offered through Global Benefits USA. Products include Platinum, Deluxe, and Essential plans for single trips as well as annual multi-trip coverage.
• BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions (GeoBlue)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions provides travel medical insurance and expat health insurance products. Global Benefits USA distributes their Voyager (single trip), Trekker (annual multi-trip), and expat health plans.
• International Medical Group (IMG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Medical Group offers travel medical insurance and expat health insurance products. Global Benefits USA distributes IMG Patriot series, Globehopper (seniors 65+), and group travel medical plans.
• Global UnderwriterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal Underwriters provides travel medical insurance products including Diplomat International (abroad coverage), Diplomat America (coverage to USA), and Diplomat LT (long-term 3+ months). Also offers international liability coverage.
• WorldTripscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldTrips provides travel medical insurance products distributed through Global Benefits USA including Atlas Travel, Atlas Group, Atlas MultiTrip, and StudentSecure plans.
• Cigna GlobalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCigna Global provides expatriate health insurance plans distributed through Global Benefits USA's platform for organizations and individuals needing comprehensive international health coverage.
• One Call International (Emergency Assistance)supportTechnology or IntegrationOne Call International provides 24/7 emergency assistance and medical evacuation services for Travel Insured International customers. Contact: US/Canada 800.494.9907, Worldwide +1 603 328 1707.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Squaremouth: US travel insurance comparison marketplace distributing multiple carriers' travel insurance products. Comparable as a multi-carrier distribution platform, though focused more on US-domestic and consumer travel than expat/specialty.
• International Citizens Insurance: Online broker specializing in international health, travel, and expat insurance comparing multiple carriers. Direct competitor in the same niche of selling international insurance products to expats, travelers, and organizations, with a comparably multi-carrier distribution model.
• InsureMyTrip: Travel insurance comparison marketplace aggregating policies from multiple carriers. Comparable as a multi-carrier travel insurance intermediary competing for the same individual traveler customer segment.
• VisitorsCoverage: Online insurance marketplace for travel, visitor, and international health insurance, comparing multiple carriers. Direct competitor in international and travel medical brokerage, with similar self-service website distribution.
• Clements Worldwide: Specialty broker offering international insurance for expats, global mobility, government contractors, and high-risk regions. Closely comparable in product mix (expat health, foreign auto, K&R, political risk) and enterprise customer base.
• Expat Financial: Specialist broker for expatriate health and life insurance comparing top international carriers. Directly comparable in the international expat health niche with multi-carrier brokerage model.

Emerging players

• World Nomads: Travel insurance provider targeting backpackers and adventure travelers. Comparable in the international travel insurance segment but sells direct-to-consumer rather than via brokers.
• GeoBlue: International travel and expatriate health insurance provider (carrier) partnered with BCBS Global Solutions. Competes as a direct carrier for some of the same products Global Benefits USA distributes, partial overlap as both partner and competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Aon: Global insurance and reinsurance broker with international employee benefits and risk solutions practices. Competes at the high end of multinational employee benefits and specialty international risk placements, dwarfing Global Benefits USA in scale.
• Marsh McLennan: Global insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm serving large multinationals and government contractors. Overlaps with Global Benefits USA on enterprise international placements and government contractor (DBA) coverage, but operates at vastly larger scale across all commercial lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Benefits USA