Health Shield
Health Shield has introduced a number of changes to its health cash plans to refresh them for 2015. The changes include:
The introduction of a PERKS reward website. This offers discounts and cashback on shopping, entertainment, travel and days out. A typical family of four could save over £1,500 a year and there are up to 4,000 offers available on the website, Health Shield says.
An online GP service (Virtual GP Surgery) via a webcam. Members can book a webcam consultation from 8.30 to 6.30 weekdays only. GPs can raise an electronic private prescription and, where appropriate, a copy of the consultation notes can be sent to the member’s own GP. The service is in addition to the existing GP 24/7 helpline.
A private prescription service linked to Virtual GP Surgery can enable medication to be delivered to the member’s door. This can be achieved by the GP sending a private prescription to a pharmacy, authorised by a digital signature, which then fulfils the order.
A redesigned Employee Assistance Programme has also been added. This includes increasing the number of face-to-face counselling sessions from six to eight on the Essential Plus, Elements Plus and Tailored plans.
An improved online health assessment and personal coaching website now offers more services around stress management and personal coaching.
Increased allowances on core benefits such as dental, optical and physiotherapy.
Comment: Health cash plans have a long tradition of annual updates, although probably less so now than at some points in the past. It is a good technique to refresh existing plans and to help keep customer engagement high (an issue on many life and health policies).
GP helplines are becoming increasingly valuable, given the pressures on NHS GP and hospital A&E services, so adding a video option could be invaluable for some, not least because, where appropriate, the doctor can now see what the patient is talking about. This will not replace seeing an NHS doctor though – not least because private prescriptions mean paying the full price for any drugs prescribed (which can be expensive in some cases).
Discount packages are also becoming increasingly popular, although some customers will already have access to such ‘clubs’, so their value can be mixed and care needs to be taken to ensure you really are getting a good deal anyway. Health Shield’s estimated savings are substantial though and could well exceed the cost of the plan in many cases, which makes the case for having a health cash plan even stronger.
In fact, the sector does look to be facing a brighter future than it has for many years and it is one of the few insurance products where customers can expect to claim regularly and to see very clearly where they are getting value.
Plus points: Additional new for 2015 benefits; Updates to some existing benefits too; In some cases, taking advantage of the available discounts could more than pay for the HCP itself; A video link to a private GP could be invaluable and avoids NHS waits and access issues (and waiting rooms full of infectious people!) .
Not so plus points: Privately prescribed drugs can be expensive; Some customers may already be a member of a discount club; Video lines only available during weekday normal working hours; GP helplines are not a full alternative to seeing an NHS GP.
Website: http://www.healthshieldco.uk.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 8. Overall: 8. Gold
Tags: Health Shield; HCP.