All Healthcare and wellbeing articles – Page 250
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Opinion
Teresa Rogers: Local support is key to health
In recent years, we have heard a lot about the UK’s evolving economic climate. It is no surprise that organisations, large and small, are considering new horizons for their manufacturing as well as their markets. So employers need a wider spectrum of benefits to support their employees overseas.Foreign assignments can ...
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AnalysisInternational PMI must follow local rules
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Local regulations may dictate what an international private medical insurance scheme must cover in some regions.International insurers may not be able to operate in some countries because of licensing rules, so must partner a local provider.The benefits that employees expect or require will vary ...
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Case Studies
Complementary health perks at Dennis Publishing
Some employees have also opted for additional partner cover at their own cost.The cash plan was launched to run alongside a private medical insurance (PMI) scheme. HR director Alison Hunter says: “When the Health Shield cash plan was introduced, we saw a 30% drop in PMI take-up, but only about ...
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Opinion
Sally Hart: International PMI has its challenges
Employers must balance cost and benefits. International health insurance is expensive, and costs can be managed by introducing individual excess amounts or by limiting cover where appropriate.Size matters to providers. Organisations with more than a few expatriates may be able to have medical history disregarded; those with more than 100 ...
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AnalysisCheck health cash plans' small print
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Small print may restrict cash plan claims.Employers should read cash plan terms and conditions carefully before implementing a scheme.Employees need educating about the terms and conditions of their plan.Employers’ need for valuable employee benefits has never been greater, so it is important to ensure ...
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Analysis
Quirky requests for health cash plan cover
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Traditional health cash plans have come to include benefits such as aromatherapy massages, hypnotherapy and reflexology.Some cash plan providers have been asked to cover laser tattoo removals, breast augmentations and pet insurance.Quirkier requests are more often made by individual employees than by employers, and ...
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AnalysisWhat's on offer in the health cash plan market?
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Cash plan providers cover myriad benefits.Costs start from £1 per employee per week.Not-for-profit health cash plan providers dominate the market.Dental and optical are the most common benefits on which providers pay out.There has been an increase in corporate health cash plan subscribers.Health cash plans ...
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AnalysisHealth cash plans versus private medical insurance
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Health cash plans can be offered to employees for as little as £1 a week.Private medical insurance (PMI) is usually more expensive than a health cash plan.PMI and health cash plans can be run alongside each other.The health cash plan market has grown phenomenally ...
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Article
Health cash plan report 2013
Employee Benefits’ Health Cash Plans report highlights the mains topics and issues employers should be aware of around health cash plans.The report (download pdf) covers:Health cash plans versus primvate medical insuranceCheck out the providers and what they offerUnusual requests challenge cash plan providersThe devil can be in the detail for ...
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Article
Ladbrokes to launch healthy living programme
Ladbrokes is to launch a healthy living programme for its 15,000 employees.The programme enables employees to set personal health goals and access information about healthy living, as well as monitoring health risks, including diabetes, heart diseases and stress.Employees register with the site and then complete a health risk assessment (HRA). ...
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Article
Denplan to launch discount network
Denplan is to launch a discount network, designed to allow employers to offer staff access to dental treatment at discounted rates.The network will enable employers to promote dentists that are close to their place of work.The dental provider has offered its 6,500 member dentists the opportunity to join the network, ...
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Case Studies
Freshfields GP service reduces absence
The service, which offers two afternoon doctor clinics and two afternoon prescribing nurse clinics each week, was introduced to meet employees’ emergency/acute needs, which were not being met by their own doctors, often because of delays in getting an appointment.The law firm has seen an increasing number of international employees ...
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AnalysisIn-house doctors can help reduce sickness absence
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…An in-house doctor service may reduce short-term sickness absence by offering staff earlier GP intervention.An in-house doctor service is particularly useful for employees who have long commutes to work.Good communication between employers and local doctors can positively impact sickness absence levels.Job cuts and recruitment ...
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Article
Simplyhealth launches new cash plan
Simplyhealth has launched a new employer paid health plan.This includes free child cover for up to four children under 18 years old, discounted gym membership, online health risk assessments and a dental accident benefit as part of the new plan.Alongside the core plan, employers can also choose from six additional ...
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Article
Absence management is top priority
Absence management is the top priority for employer respondents, according to research by Best Doctors.The annual Best Doctors/Canada Life survey found that, with regards to workplace health, respondents are also prioritising communications (18%), cost mitigation (15%) and return on investment (6%).The main objective for respondents’ workplace health benefits programmes was ...
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Article
Government to tackle long-term absence
The government is to implement a new independent assessment and advisory service aimed at getting people back to work and away from long-term sickness benefits.The scheme, which was announced by the minister for welfare reform Lord Freud, is intended to save employers up to £160 million a year in statutory ...
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Article
William Russell enhances global PMI products
William Russell has increased the options available on its international private medical insurance (PMI) products.From January 2013, members of its gold and silver plans will be able to claim back the cost of health checks and vaccinations of their choosing. Gold plan members will also be able to claim an ...
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Article
PMI popular for expatriate employees
When considering benefits packages for staff overseas, private medical insurance (PMI) was the most popular option, cited by nearly a third (32%) of respondents to research by international healthcare provider Expacare.Its research, Anatomy of an international business, found that share options (30%) and relocation allowance (24%) were also popular benefits ...
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Article
O2 adds health cash plan to flex
O2 has added a health cash plan to its flexible benefits scheme following a review.The cash plan is offered on a voluntary basis to the telecommunications company’s 12,000 employees.The plan, One Fund, provided by Engage Mutual, offers a choice of six premiums, which provide an annual fund of up to ...
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Case Studies
Daisy Group health cash plan covers PMI excesses
This means employees can use the plan to offset the cost of any excesses incurred when claiming on the employer’s PMI policy, which is provided by Bupa.Rebekah Tapping, group HR director at Daisy Group, says: “One of my frustrations with PMI plans is the hoops you have to jump through ...