We are pleased to announce the new service "Instant ring" which is now in place for UN members. Indeed, this new service was created to assist those members and providers who do not have access to the 'Web Call Back' online.

The UN staff members/providers will dial the number indicated below and after the second ring hang up, so that they will automatically be called back by one of our Client Services Officers during the regular office hours. The service is free of charge.

If you need to undergo a hospitalization, GMC can send you an SMS confirmation that the guarantee of payment has been issued. To enable us to do so, kindly provide us with your mobile phone number.

"For any hospitalization that is planned in advance (e.g. delivery, surgery, etc.), GMC has to be informed in due course to take necessary action […]".

Therefore, GMC kindly invites you to send us the Prior Agreement Application Form duly filled out by your doctor at least 5 working days prior to the date of admission.

A duly filled form should include: hospital contact details (email-phone-fax), medical diagnosis, admission & discharge dates and estimated cost.

As per MIP rules, the standard reimbursement rate of 80% of reasonable and customary medical expenses is increased to 96% if the total annual out-of-pocket costs for a staff member and enrolled dependants exceed the monthly net base salary for that staff member, or half the monthly net base salary at retirement (adjusted for inflation) for retirees.

Only dependants officially enrolled in MIP are eligible.

If a member retires during the year, he or she will be considered as retired for the entire year. There is no pro rata calculation.

GMC offers 24/7/365 services in English, French and Spanish, with many other languages also available. Please call your GMC Regional Client Services Team during the normal office hours indicated below.

Recent events in the Caribbean and Central America remind us that dengue fever is still highly prevalent in our members' lives and we would like to remind you what dengue fever is, how it is contracted, and how to prevent it.

Malaria is the most widespread infectious parasitic disease in the world, particularly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is responsible for the death of one million people a year, 90% of whom live in Africa. The fight against malaria has become a major public healthcare concern over the past few years in all African countries suffering from the endemic disease.
The international community has become active over the past ten years to develop programs to fight malaria, both through prevention and large-scale treatment.
Preventing malaria involves stopping the spread of the parasites.
Collectively, this includes:

• Draining wetlands
• Controlling mosquito larvae
• Mass distribution of mosquito nets treated with insecticide

On an individual level:

• Wearing long, loose, thick clothing which covers your arms and legs, particularly in the evening when the infectious Anopheles mosquito prefers to feed
• Using insect repellents on all uncovered parts of the body and on your clothes
• Sleeping under a mosquito net sprayed with insecticide

Preventative and curative treatment:

Treatment varies according to the parasite's resistance to the inexpensive chloroquine. Resistance is forcing many countries to change their treatment policy and use more expensive medications, including combined therapies.

• Zone I : Nivaquine
• Zone II : Certain zones of resistance. Paludrine - Savarine
• Zone III : Multiple resistances. Combined therapies used to maximize efficacy: Savarine – Malarone – Lariam – Doxypalu

Pregnant women must take particular care, as only chloroquine can be taken.
Treating malaria is essential to save Africa from the healthcare and economic scourge which remains a constant threat to society. Success in fighting malaria must be based on sustainable funding and continuing international support.

We are pursuing the development of our medical network. Since the beginning of the year we included some 1,800 new network providers in 26 countries. We encourage you to learn about the providers who have direct billing agreements with GMC by visiting our website www.henner.com/un/mip and logging into your account.
GMC strives to develop a global network including hospitals, clinics, doctors, laboratories, imaging centers and pharmacies, taking into account our Beneficiaries' needs and the local healthcare situation.
Each in-network provider is followed-up by a dedicated GMC Network Coordinator. Satisfaction surveys, audits and visits are regularly organized to strengthen our relationship with them. In 2010, GMC met with more than 200 providers.
In a few weeks' time, we will send a survey to all our Beneficiaries who have used an in-network provider in the last year. We count on your participation to give us your feedback on the providers thus helping us to improve the medical network.