PruHealth is to launch new business and corporate healthcare plans on 1 March 2011.

This will be its first product launch since the company acquisition of Standard Life Healthcare in August 2010.

The new plan will enable employers to take out core cover and then choose from a range of enhancements, such as hospital lists and underwriting options.

The core cover includes full cover with access to the latest drugs and treatments available, no specialist fee limits and costs paid in full.

The plans also include PruHealth's existing Vitality programme which provides healthy meal plans, the use of a pedometer, and discounted health screenings. Members can also collect vitality points which can be used at a range of reward partners, such as health resorts.

Members will also receive reduced gym membership fees at Virgin Active and LA Fitness.

Employers that take up the new business healthcare plan can also enhance cover by including a Personal Health Fund, which can be used to help employees pay for everyday healthcare expenses that are not traditionally covered by health insurance, such as optical and dental treatment, health screens, self-referred physiotherapy, and the cost of prescription pre-payment certificates.

Members of the Personal Health Fund can also choose to increase their gym discount from 25% up to 50%.

Organisations can also choose to have their excess linked to the Vitality programme. This entitles everyone covered by the scheme to a £250 excess as standard, while the employer receives an appropriate premium discount.

Neville Koopowitz, chief executive officer at PruHealth, said: “Fostering a healthy workforce aids morale and productivity and reduces sickness absence. When it comes to health and wellbeing programmes in the workplace, we are seeing a turning point in UK businesses.

“The provision of these programmes and investment in employee health are no longer peripheral issues, they are core concerns. This new product has been designed to offer employers and their staff an innovative programme that not only provides for them when they are ill and gets key staff back to good health work quickly, but also rewards them for making an effort to be healthy.”

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