Kingdom’s premier health insurer in top ten out of 500 companies for third year running which marks a new milestone in the companies history Jeddah, February 2010: Bupa Arabia, the Kingdom’s first specialized company in healthcare insurance, is ranked 4th Best Work Environment of 500 companies.

This is the third year in a row that the company has been placed in the top ten, having moved up from 8th placed last year. “To be placed 4th in a list of 500 companies is an honour and I congratulate all at Bupa Arabia for their contribution in advancing our position in the top ten,” said Tal Nazer, Managing Dirctor of Bupa Arabia.

“A happy working environment means a happy staff and the management takes pride in bringing the same caring approach to its employees that we bring to the many thousands of Bupa Arabia members who trust us as their preferred health insurer.”

As an equal oportunities employer, the company gives high priority to its human resources, considering them to be one of its most valuable assets, and provides its employees with the best working conditions, generous benefits and every opportunity for career advancement within the organization. In addition, Bupa Arabia is a pioneer of empowering women, who now make around one third of their workforce that altogether includes more than 40 percent Saudi nationals. Adding to its growing list of awards the company was named Best Working Environment for Women in 2008.

The investment in its human capital as well as in pioneering user-friendly services is what makes Bupa Arabia the health insurer of choice for discerning companies throughout the Kingdom who want nothing but the very best health care for their employees.

To ensure that its members receive prompt medical attention, Bupa Arabia has introduced innovative, award-winning services. Bupa Arabia’s 24/7 Helpline was awarded with the Best Call Centre Award in 2007 and 2008 is one of the many userfriendly services.

In order to facilitate costumer approval enquiries the 24/7 Helpline is supported by the 24/7 approval centre. Members have further access to the Doctor on Phone.

This service is available to give Bupa members comfort through general advice or second opinions on medical conditions. Bupa has set a milestone by introducing its Basmah card which gives members instant access to their policy benefits and reduces waiting time at hospitals.

Basmah is an identification method based on biometric validation utilizing a simple swipe strip. It ensures the utmost security for members and their mediacal records, protecting them from fraudulent charges.

Although similar technologies are in use at airports, embassies and in some business sectors, Bupa Arabia is the first in Saudi Arabia and only the second company worldwide to use this service in the healthcare industry.

The Basmah service won Best E-Business award in 2009. In previous years, Bupa Arabia has won the Best E-Business award for its interactive online services and the innovative Msg.Bupa SMS.

Due to technological innovation and specialized staff Bupa Arabia has achieved an exemplary rate of response to approval requests with the majority approved in less than 15 minutes, ensuring that patients receive prompt medical attention and get well faster. In addition, Bupa Arabia operates an automated approval procedure that responds instantly in less than 10 seconds to requests concerning maternity, dental and optical services, chronic illness cases and in-patient cases for children under five years old.

 Bupa Arabia is a caring company, practicing excellence throughout the organization for the welfare of its members. In its efforts to provide its members with the best service Bupa Arabia held a series of swine flu awarness seminars for its members. Active in Saudi Arabia since 1997, the Bupa Group’s joint venture with the Nazer Group, renamed Bupa Arabia in 2008, is the is first company in the Kingdom dedicated exclusively to health insurance and is therefore able to focus on listening to its members and taking care of each one as an individual person.

As a result of Bupa Arabia’s steady growth and its commitment to excellence, the company was awarded Best Medical Insurer 2006 and 2008 and Fastest Growing Company in 2009. Bupa Arabia’s care for humanity extends to corporate social responsibility activities that include a role in the educational and career development of the Kingdom’s youth for the long term benefit of Saudi society.