June 11, 2008 03:41 PM Eastern Time 

Mexico’s First Internationally Accredited Hospital Partners with Sekure Healthcare and IntelHealthGroup

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Responding to the growing US consumer demand for safe and affordable healthcare in Mexico, Sekure Healthcare announced an innovative agreement with CHRISTUS Muguerza and IntelHealthGroup. The agreement allows Sekure Healthcare Members to utilize their insurance benefits at CHRISTUS Muguerza Alta Especialidad Hospital in Monterrey - Mexico’s first hospital accredited by the Joint Commission International (http://www.jointcommissioninternational.org). Additionally, IntelHealthGroup, which facilitates access to quality medical facilities in Mexico, will provide its services to Sekure Healthcare Members and to those wishing to travel to Mexico for their health care needs. By joining forces, these three organizations are providing health care options previously lacking in the market.

The CHRISTUS Muguerza Alta Especialidad Hospital is located in Mexico’s third largest city, Monterrey. “Our philosophy for patient care and commitment to quality assurance has been demonstrated by the Joint Commission International accreditation,” said Arturo Garza-Buerón, CEO of Grupo CHRISTUS MUGUERZA. Garza-Buerón adds, “We are now focusing on building alliances to increase our visibility as a quality health care provider for consumers in Mexico as well as in the United States.” CHRISTUS Muguerza is affiliated with CHRISTUS Health, a US healthcare system based in Dallas, Texas with 40 hospitals, inpatient facilities and dozens of clinics in more than 70 cities in North America.

Sekure Healthcare is focused on delivering cost effective solutions to US employers who cannot afford traditional major medical insurance. “We have been at the forefront of developing affordable coverage using limited benefits insurance, which also allows beneficiaries to access their benefits in the US as well as throughout the interior of Mexico. The agreement with CHRISTUS Muguerza and IntelHealthGroup opens the door for a new stage of consumer choice and quality assurance,” said Jim Arriola, CEO of Sekure Healthcare. “74 percent of our members are Spanish-speakers. To better serve the Latino segment of our membership, we have expanded our California network of community clinics and also grown our cross-border network to include providers in more than 400 cities and towns throughout Mexico. Adding CHRISTUS Muguerza Alta Especialidad Hospital to our network coupled with the support of IntelHealthGroup gives our members the quality assurance in Mexico they are looking for,” adds Arriola.

IntelHealthGroup, a leading healthcare consulting and medical travel company, guides its clients to quality healthcare institutions in Mexico. “We provide personalized assistance to our client/patients throughout the process including their stay in Mexico,” says CEO Dr. Jaime Zozaya. He adds, “Our trained staff, which includes medical professionals, personally guide each customer every step of the way to ensure they feel at home while they get the medical attention they seek.”

The Sekure Healthcare, CHRISTUS Muguerza and IntelHealthGroup Accords also benefit English speaking consumers who are considering traveling to Mexico for medical care. “These types of alliances may have more Americans contemplating medical travel to Mexico,” says Dr. Enrique Ruelas, Surgeon General of Mexico. “If medical savings are significant and consumers are assured of demonstrated quality combined with ease of process, then more US consumers will view Mexico as a viable alternative.”

About Sekure Healthcare:

Sekure Healthcare is a California-based company that provides affordable health coverage to U.S. employers with special emphasis on Latino and part-time workers who cannot afford or are ineligible for health insurance. For more information visit the company Web site at www.MySekure.com.

About CHRISTUS MUGUERZA:

Grupo CHRISTUS MUGUERZA, part of the U.S.-based CHRISTUS Health system, is one of the most world-renowned private medical institutions in Mexico. A socially responsible firm recognized by its Catholic affiliation, it holds six hospitals in northern Mexico, including CHRISTUS Muguerza Alta Especialidad, the first hospital in the country accredited by Joint Commission International. In addition to serving its local community, CHRISTUS Muguerza provides treatment to international patients traveling to receive the highest quality health care at an affordable cost. With the advantages that come with its affiliation with a U.S.-based hospital system, investment in state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and the warmth and expertise of world class physicians and medical staff, CHRISTUS Muguerza is uniquely positioned to be the provider of choice to meet a variety of health care needs. www.christusmuguerza.com.mx

About IntelHealthGroup:

IntelHealthGroup is a leading healthcare consulting and medical travel company based in Monterrey, Mexico. The Company, through its IntelHealthTourism division, facilitates medical travel services to Mexico's best hospitals for international patients seeking high-quality healthcare at affordable rates. For more information visit the company Web site at www.intelhealthgroup.com.