Part One – When Global Disruption Hits Home: Why Payers Must Act Now

From trade wars to border closures, global disruption is no longer a distant policy concern, but rather a direct threat to international healthcare delivery. For global payers, the consequences are not theoretical. They’re operational, immediate, and deeply personal to the people they serve. The return of protectionist U.S. trade policy¹ and ongoing geopolitical tensions, including tariffs and sanctions, are creating logistical nightmares for international payers and the people they insure.

This first installment of our three-part series explores why today’s geopolitical environment is putting unprecedented pressure on international payers and what’s at stake if the system doesn’t adapt. Because what was once considered macroeconomic noise is now a material operational risk. Between cancelled flights and rerouted patients, to billing chaos and disrupted covered individual experiences, international health coverage is under pressure like never before.

Global Turbulence Is Now a Healthcare Problem

Across the globe, international mobility is becoming less predictable. The convergence of conflict, trade restrictions, sanctions, and civil unrest has accelerated this shift. Recent developments include:

• Border closures and visa restrictions, particularly amid rising U.S. trade tensions with Canada, China, Mexico, and the E.U.²,  are delaying or outright blocking patient access to care
• Supply chain slowdowns, sparked by port strikes and regional instability, are interrupting access to medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, even in the U.S.
• Labor strikes have caused flight cancellations, creating added uncertainty for international patients trying to access care

For expatriates, students, and leisure travelers, the ripple effects are personal: delayed procedures, missed prescriptions, denied claims, and mounting stress.

Foreign tourism to the U.S. has already taken a hit, with international visitor spending projected to fall by $18 billion³ due to a “barrage of tariffs” and global instability. This suggests not only fewer visits, but also more uncertainty around travel and healthcare access.

The Human Cost of Global Chaos

The United States remains one of the most expensive and complex healthcare markets in the world, especially for those without local guidance. For international travelers, the system often feels stacked against them, and they’re faced with a unique set of challenges:

• High costs of care even for relatively minor procedures can be financially devastating without negotiated discounts or protection from overbilling
• A fragmented claims process often leads to confusion, missed documentation, or double billing, especially when providers aren’t familiar with international payer workflows
• No built-in navigation support means international covered individuals are on their own to find care, understand what’s covered, and advocate for themselves — often while dealing with language barriers or medical stress

For international payers, this creates a volatile environment. Every unexpected detour or escalation adds administrative burden, increases cost exposure, and erodes member trust. Add to that the effects of politically driven disruptions, and it becomes even harder for travelers to plan or afford care in the U.S.

Mounting Pressure on Global Payers

As global conditions shift by the week, international payers are being pushed to react in real time. But the reality is, most are operating with:

• Limited visibility into how U.S. providers are billing, how much is being paid, and where discounts are falling short
• Growing member dissatisfaction, driven by unexpected medical bills, opaque pricing, and denied claims
• Operational risk, as claims escalate, appeals mount, and provider relationships strain under financial uncertainty
• Reputational risk, when covered individuals share poor care experiences due to avoidable administrative issues

This is not just about navigating a healthcare system. It’s about navigating it under extreme pressure when global events, provider behavior, and regulatory uncertainty converge.

And as Oxford Economics points out, the U.S. is entering a new era of protectionism⁴, which is reshaping the global economic landscape and putting additional strain on cross-border industries like healthcare and insurance.

Plotkin Health Delivers Stability Where It Matters Most

In this climate, payers don’t just need help — they need certainty. Plotkin Health was built to provide exactly that.

As a Canadian-based partner with deep, decades-long experience in the U.S. healthcare landscape, we bring clarity to a system that often feels designed to confuse. Our role is to provide:

• Guaranteed Savings and Balance Billing Protection: 100% guaranteed savings on settled claims and 0% balance billing, ensuring financial predictability and peace of mind for both payers and covered individuals
• Direct Provider Negotiation with Proven Results: Over two decades of experience securing average savings of 35-40% through direct provider relationships, not indirect repricing
• Real-Time Transparency and Documentation: Clear pricing benchmarks based on Medicare, commercial datasets, and historical claims, supporting audit readiness and defensible settlements
• Streamlined, Hands-On Claims Support: Fast, efficient resolution of even the most complex cases, reducing administrative burden and avoiding costly escalations
• Member-First Advocacy and Protection: Proactive support to prevent overbilling, collections, and provider disputes, safeguarding member experience and payer reputation

Plotkin Health is here to help you deliver care with confidence, especially in a world that feels anything but stable.

Our team monitors global trends, anticipates pricing volatility, and adapts fast. When others delay or deflect, we deliver results that hold up under pressure. So, whether you’re managing claims from Canadian snowbirds in Florida or business travelers in California, our approach scales with precision, predictability, and empathy.

Let’s talk about how we can bring clarity, protection, and peace of mind to your U.S. claims. Contact us today to experience fairness firsthand with our personalized approach, streamlined settlements, and seamless outcomes.

In part two of our series, we’ll explore what it takes to stay agile in a volatile market, and why claims expertise in the U.S. is no longer optional.

Sources:

1. https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/tariffs-and-their-global-impact-a-note-from-the-desk-of-our-chief-economist/ ↩︎
2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-trade-war-us-tourism/ ↩︎
3. https://fortune.com/2025/03/17/foreign-tourism-us-forecast-trump-tariffs-trade-war-russia-ukraine-war/ ↩︎
4. https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/tariffs-and-their-global-impact-a-note-from-the-desk-of-our-chief-economist/ ↩︎