WPA Swift Diagnosis, HCP, April 2013
HCP
WPA has extended its NHS Top-Up concept by adding a new tier of cover, which sits between its existing NHS Top-Up and more traditional PMI (private medical insurance) plans.
The new group health cash plan offers premiums for most employees from just £12.61 a month (£151 a year) and total benefits of up to £2,000 a year. The plan’s benefits are (maximum per person covered, per year):
Consultations with a specialist and diagnostic tests on GP or specialist referral. Diagnostic procedures carried out by a specialist (excluding angiograms): £1,500.
Specialist charges for a colonoscopy as day or out-patient: An extra £500.
Employee assistance programme. Includes phone based employee support, line manager support and organisational support. The service is provided by Validium.
Discounts on gym membership and health screens, through Nuffield Health and Wellbeing.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered and, for companies with less than ten employees, a 90 day qualifying period applies.
Premiums depend on employees’ ages and range from £5.14 a month for those aged 0-17, to £12.61 for those aged 18-49 and £26.14 a month for those aged 50-120 (which is bad news for all firms with even older workers!). If Swift Diagnosis is bought on top of WPA’s NHS Top-Up, a 5% premium discount applies.
Comment: This plan sits neatly between WPA’s HCP and PMI offerings and essentially covers consultations, diagnostics and an EAP. It’s reasonable value for money, especially for younger workers, and we don’t envisage many workers will be too old to be covered. One major downside is the 90 day qualifying period for smaller schemes.
Plus points: Gap filling or tier product at reasonable cost; More employees will be able to benefit from this plan than a plan that just covers in/day patient treatment; EAPs are valuable to employer and employee alike.
Not so plus points: Limited benefits; Bad news for 121 year old employees...
Website: http://www.wpa.org.uk
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 7. Overall: 8. Gold.