Aviva Solutions for SMEs
Aviva has added its BacktoBetter rehabilitation service (originally only available through its corporate plans) to its SME Solutions private medical insurance (PMI) plan. The service treats employees with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions without them having to see their GP first. MSK is the third most common cause of long term absence in the UK, with around 7.5 million days lost each year, and Aviva says 27% of its claims are MSK related.
BacktoBetter is supported by a strategic partnership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and with clinical healthcare providers HCML and Nuffield Health.
Long term, BacktoBetter should lead to cost savings as employees get fast, effective and targeted assistance, so minimising time off work (also, wo0rkers do not have to take time off to see their GP in the first place). Aviva says that through BacktoBetter, 25% of its MSK claims now result in referral to a specialist, compared to 60% for unmanaged MSK claims. The service results in a shorter claims journey, no excess on physiotherapy and a choice of over 1,500 clinics throughout the UK.
Other changes have also been introduced to the plan, including:
Outpatient psychiatric benefit has been increased from £1,000 to £2,000 as standard.
There are now more outpatient limit choices – zero and £1,500 limits have been added.
Member excess choices now include £250 and £500 excesses.
The NHS cash benefit is £100 a day for cancer treatment, with no limit on days.
The ‘Routine and GP referred services’ option includes cover for consultations and diagnostic tests for a chronic condition. It also covers follow-up consultations after treatments have finished monitoring an acute condition.
The plan is aimed at employer schemes with 2-249 members. Cover includes up to 90 days abroad a year and there are five underwriting options:
Full medical underwriting.
A 5/2/2 year rolling moratorium.
Continued medical exclusions.
Continued moratorium.
Medical history disregarded (only available if the scheme has at least 20 employees).
Comment: Aviva’s BacktoBetter service has an easier customer journey for employees with MSK conditions and has now proven itself on the insurer’s corporate plans, with over 20K people treated through it. As well as quick focused treatment (or simply advice if that is what is needed) outcomes should be better and costs better controlled. Indeed. Aviva reports average cost savings of 15% with some firms seeing a 30% benefit.
Add in other, smaller, changes and the result is a plan with wider appeal and the prospect of better controlled costs (and so premiums) in future too.
Plus points: Aviva has added its BacktoBetter rehab service to its SME PMI plan; This should benefit employees and help keep costs under control too; Other changes and improvements have been added too.
Not so plus points: Some may prefer to keep the GP gatekeeper role; Some employees could feel the insurer has too much control and may fear cost overrides the patient interest.
Website: http://www.aviva.co.uk.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 8. Overall: 8. Gold
Tags: Aviva; PMI