Since October 2025, Intermac has had Sabemi Seguradora as its underwriter. That is the same ecosystem behind Asteroid Assistance — with one fundamental difference: who actually delivers the assistance.
Same Underwriter, Different Operators
Sabemi may be the engine, but the TPA is the one driving. MDabroad for Asteroid makes sure you are never left on the side of the road.
Sabemi as insurer is the financial backend. The real question is not who underwrites the risk — it is who answers you at 3 a.m. in Amsterdam while you are being admitted to a hospital.
Intermac uses an external TPA to run the assistance. Asteroid uses MDabroad — founded by the operators who spent years running TPA services for major international insurers. Same financial source, a completely different operational level.
What the Rankings Show About Intermac
Intermac shows an 8.0 score in some travel-insurance rankings — considered good. But the detail matters: of the 81 claims registered in the period analyzed, most involve reimbursement and slow assistance.
"Reimbursement and slow assistance" — that is the phrase that appears again and again. It is not insolvency, it is not fraud. It is the model: you wait, you prove, you fight.
Intermac's Reimbursement Model
Like most traditional insurers, Intermac operates mainly on reimbursement. You receive the care, pay the bill, and then start the recovery process.
For anyone traveling without a significant emergency fund — which is most travelers — that model creates real risk.
Asteroid: MDabroad coordinates directly with the hospital. You do not need USD 40,000 on hand to treat an appendicitis in Orlando.
No Parametric
Intermac has no automatic flight-delay payout. Asteroid does — via Blink, no forms, no claim.
For Brokers: The Tooling Difference
Intermac has a presence in the broker market with standard commissions. Asteroid's LAUNCHPAD offers 28-35%, a white-label portal under the broker's own brand, and a real-time dashboard.
Same insurer on the backend (Sabemi), a completely different level of product and tools.
Comparativo
| Intermac | Asteroid Assistance | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer (underwriter) | Sabemi (since Oct/25) | Sabemi |
| Executing TPA | Third party | MDabroad — integrated specialist |
| Public complaint board | 8.0 — 81 complaints (reimbursement/slowness) | N/A — MDabroad track record |
| Payment model | Reimbursement (primary) | Direct to the hospital |
| Parametric | ❌ | ✅ Via Blink |
| Broker commission | Standard | 28-35% + LAUNCHPAD |
Coverage and Sub-Limits
Both have Sabemi as insurer — the financial solvency is equivalent. The difference is in the contractual sub-limits and the operational speed. Always check per procedure. USA: USD 250,000 minimum. Europe: USD 100,000.
FAQ
Do Intermac and Asteroid have the same coverage because both use Sabemi? Same underwriter, different coverage. Asteroid offers parametric (Intermac does not), direct hospital payment via MDabroad (Intermac uses an external TPA), and superior broker tools.
Why does Intermac score 8.0 while the complaints are about reimbursement? An 8.0 score means the company responds and resolves — but the complaint themes show the pattern: slow reimbursement and difficult assistance. The score reflects complaint management, not the absence of complaints.
How does Asteroid use the same Sabemi yet deliver more? Sabemi is the financial layer. The difference is MDabroad — a specialized TPA that coordinates the assistance, pays the hospital directly, and has Blink integrated for parametric. It is like having the same engine in a completely different car.
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