In 2004, the story of Laura Afrasine with MediHelp International started with the first serious interview of her life, when she received the most complicated question: where do you think you are going to be over 5 years?

What followed after this question and how it was, in fact, the experience with MediHelp, she herself tells us even after 13 years.

At the age of only 25 years and without ever hearing of the international health insurance, Laura joined MediHelp as a Customer Service Representative, a team of two other people where both she and the company grew up with.

The relationship with MediHelp

"At the time, I would not have predicted that my future would be in the insurance, along with MediHelp. At the moment I was interviewed, I was actually preparing for the summer vacation. I did not know anything about medical insurance, and my expectations were not too big.

I did not have a summer vacation.

Instead, in 2005, after a year of Customer Service, I was already Office Manager. Since 2009, two more years have been followed by the Operations Manager, 3 by the Customer Care Manager and 2 by the Sales Manager.

In 2016, after 12 years, I became the Executive Manager of the company. Today we have our own health insurance plans according with the highest international standards, a sales subsidiary and a top Customer Care department.

As I said at the beginning, I have never imagined then, but looking in the past, I cannot see myself doing something else.

The most important moments along with MediHelp

"MediHelp was the first insurance broker that has created its own international health insurance plans, and the impact on the markets we are presenting was remarkable.

The most important moment took place in 2009, when the company started expanding internationally, and our team turned from one of 2 employees to one of 40.

In the 13 years, our courage has brought us instead of the 2-room apartment, a 12-room villa, in which we have unveiled a number of awards from our partners for "The Best Health Insurance Broker in Central Europe and East "and three more international headquarters".

The Route Romania -> Bulgaria -> Hungary -> Poland

"The most difficult was to overcome the prejudices related to the status of a Romanian company that dares to expand beyond the borders. At that time, it was normal for foreign citizens to invest in the market from us and not the other way round.

It has been quite difficult for us to find reliable, dedicated people, to form a stable team. From Zahal Levy, President of MediHelp Group, I learned that in the recruitment process, excluding the best and the worst option is the key to a successful team.

Then we hit the law of foreign countries, the insurance procedures, and the process of creating insurance plans in line with local needs. It was a tricky process, but it worth it. Today we are present in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland and we have retained our leading position in CEE on the international health insurance market.

In Romania, we have built a solid Customer Care division. From here we handle all cases and, with the help of the entire team, we manage to optimize our settlement processes for all our customers. In an emergency, we know that logistical details should be our ultimate concern and we are continually focusing on improving all the processes involved. "

"Gather people near you who want careers, not jobs"

Mr. Levy was, for me and my colleagues, the best mentor that a novice like us might want. From him I learned the most important rules of a successful broker: to look at every consumer equally and to rely on lasting relationships based on trust, not to exaggerate with praise, to build a team of people who want and build carriers, not a simple job, and then everything will be easier.

Moreover, each of us has, with the help of MediHelp, understood the importance of medical prevention of routine medical checks, financial stability when it comes to medical costs and the importance of access to any day, at any hour, to the best doctors from the world".

On May 18, Laura Afrasine courageously and share her story with MediHelp International at the Top of the World Networking event organized by Business Woman Forum Romania and the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce. Here is, below, how it came out: