Policy features and benefits that reduce reliance on the NHS – 5 things you should read
Where in the past protection insurance policies may have done little more than provide a core benefit, covering the client against the risk of death, major illness or inability to work due to sickness, increasingly insurers are providing a whole range of complementary support benefits and services. These have often been referred to as ‘added value benefits’, but that doesn’t really do justice to the range of features and services insurers now include and indeed the central role those benefits can play in giving clients access to healthcare services they may otherwise have to pay for or rely on the NHS for.
We’re certainly very fortunate in the UK to have access to healthcare free at the point of delivery and the hardworking NHS doctors and nurses do an incredible job. Having said that, Covid-19 has placed unprecedented pressure on the NHS and led to increased waiting times and a lack of availability for certain services. In this ‘5 things you should read round-up’ we bring you five recent insights, looking at policy benefits and services that give clients access to healthcare services that mean they don’t need to rely on the NHS.
WHICH INSURERS OFFER THE BEST COVER FOR OVERSEAS TREATMENT?
We are used to the NHS being able to deal with whatever condition we present them with and it does a marvellous job. However, plenty of research and innovation within the healthcare sector happens outside the UK. But if pioneering treatment is available exclusively overseas, it is expensive – prohibitively so in many cases. So, what would clients do if more effective or lifesaving treatment for themselves or their children was only available outside the UK? Would their finances stretch to the cost of travel, accommodation and the treatment itself? In this insight we look at how insurers help clients or their children to get the best medical care from overseas.
HOW CAN CLIENTS GET FASTER AND EASIER ACCESS TO A GP THROUGH THEIR PROTECTION POLICY?
A significant number of insurers now include access to GP services, so being aware of who offers what could help advisers highlight a very valuable benefit to their clients. Support benefits such as GP services are also increasingly becoming integral to protection plans, and in many cases give client’s access to services they’ll use more frequently than the core cover. In this insight we examined in more detail which insurers offer GP services and how they differ.
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2021 – WHAT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BENEFITS DO INSURERS OFFER?
World Mental Health Day, which took place on Sunday 10th October, is supported by the World Health Organisation “to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health”. To mark World Mental Health day, in this insight we looked at what mental health support is available to clients, through their protection insurance policy.
LEGAL & GENERAL UNVEIL NEW UNIQUE SUPPORT BENEFIT
Back in July Legal & General announced two major additions within their new Umbrella Benefits: Fracture Cover and Private Diagnostics Cover. The latter being a unique new service that creates something of hybrid of private health and protection insurance. In this insight we looked at the new products in more detail.
WHICH INSURERS CAN HELP WITH LATER LIFE SOCIAL CARE COSTS?
In this insight we looked at the government’s proposed social care reforms in more detail, which were unveiled in September and consider which insurance products can enable clients to meet their own contributions to their care costs, without depleting their own assets.
