60 years of insurance abroad
Small office, big idea: It was in the 50s when Dr. Siegfried Walter, while looking after foreign guests for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), noticed that this group of people was not offered any opportunities for adequate insurance cover in Germany. The visitors from abroad were not protected by their home country insurance - as is still today - and were not included in the German statutory health insurance system.
In an improvised office in his small apartment, Siegfried Walter set about closing this gap. He registered a business for this purpose and, together with an insurance company, designed a "world policy" for foreign guests in Germany. Over the years, he also made a name for himself insuring au pairs. Dynamics and continuous growth of the global cultural exchange demanded a constant expansion of the business areas. Dr. Walter GmbH advanced from a specialist to an expert and today develops and brokers coverage concepts for all types of foreign assignments: among others, for pupils spending a school year abroad; for au-pairs in and from Germany; for students completing semesters and internships abroad; for internationally active companies sending employees all over the world; for development workers and volunteers operating in crisis areas; for people from abroad learning and working in Germany. Dr. Walter GmbH, which is not only known in the travel insurance industry for its experience and competence, cooperates with more than 40 different insurance companies.
Since 1998, the website reiseversicherung.com has been online, one of the first, by the way, to offer direct insurance purchase via the Internet. In its anniversary year, the insurance broker is introducing its new online booking tool for "employees abroad". This allows companies to cover their employees in and out of the country with just a few clicks (www.mia-versicherung.de).
With the growing tasks the number of employees was constantly increased, the company headquarters in Neunkirchen-Wolperath was successively enlarged. Shortly before the business premises were bursting at the seams, a modern office building was opened in the industrial park of Neunkirchen in 2006.
In 2019, the company celebrated its 60th anniversary and with it its success story. From a one-man operation, DR-WALTER GmbH has grown into one of the leading providers in Germany of insurance for private and business travel and stays abroad, with around 100 employees.
