Howard Hughes shares some tips on selling PMI policies to individual clients

page 12

Back pain “presentees” bad news for businesses

page 19

Care for Corporates: benefits for companies with more than 50 employees

page 8

Essential news and information for our intermediaries Summer 2014

We’re now settled into our new Bristol offices that will support improved ways of working for you into the future. If you haven’t had the opportunity yet then why not drop by, have a look around and meet the team.

We’ve seen an unprecedented client demand this year for our Care for Corporates product. On page 8 we talk about the benefits of the policy for companies who have more than 50 employees to include in their cover. If your clients are looking for a quality healthcare solution that delivers more than just health benefits then it’s worth speaking to your Simplyhealth contact.

Andy Couchman returns as our guest blogger; he discusses how current concerns over NHS performance could increase sales of private medical insurance. Don’t forget you can sign up to SimplyAdmin to service your clients’ policies. It’s more efficient and will save you time. See opposite for details.

We’ve also started to work with record levels of new intermediaries which we’re delighted about and is an endorsement of our enhanced account management structure. We hope you’re feeling the benefits too.

Last but definitely not least don't forget to vote for us in the Health Insurance Awards, we would really value your support.

Raman Sankaran Sales Director

Welcome to Connect

2

SimplyAdmin It’s simple and easy to manage your schemes onlineMore and more intermediaries are signing up to manage their schemes with Simplyhealth online. If you haven’t already done so, join us today.

With SimplyAdmin you can:• Create and update your own account

• Add and cancel members

• Update member details

• Upload and view documents

• Generate reports, including production of P11d documents

• Download renewal documents

How do I sign up?You will need to sign the relevant Terms of Business Agreement, but once this is done you will be able to access our new, fast online management tool. Although we are sure you will find it an intuitive and simple to use business tool we’ll give you a brochure containing full instructions about using SimplyAdmin.

For more information and to sign up to use SimplyAdmin call: 0800 294 5654 or email intermediarysupport@simplyhealth.co.uk

Contents:

SimplyAdmin - the simple way to manage schemes online 3

Simplyhealth announces the opening of its new office in Bristol 4

Ageing Brits ignoring health warnings 6

Care for Corporates - our policy for companies with 50+ employees 8

Howard Hughes on selling private medical insurance to your individual clients 12

Formula 1 technology tackles obesity 16

Andy Couchman's blog 18

Back pain “presentees” bad news for businesses 19

3

Bristol opening

We’ve opened the doors to our new six storey office, Simplyhealth House, which overlooks the Clifton Downs in Bristol.

On opening day there was a secret waiting to be unveiled to employees: ‘The Five a Day Dog’, purchased by Simplyhealth last year at the Gromit Unleashed Auction for The Grand Appeal, the British Children’s Hospital Charity.

Many of the Gromits auctioned have now left the city so we’re proud to be able to keep this one, which was created by a local artist. The Five a Day Dog is a great representation of Simplyhealth with its health focused design that has already proved a talking point for guests coming to visit our new building.

The Five a Day Dog was inspired by the Renaissance painter Guiseppe Archimboldo, who, in the mid to late 1500s, painted portraits of himself as a combination of fruit and vegetables. I thought it could be fun to play on the national guidelines of five fruit and vegetables a day, in a “Laura Ashley meets Cath Kidson” type design. There was an underlying message or reminder of the need to eat well and healthily.

Laura Cramer, Gromit Creator

What makes Simplyhealth House unique?

The design Simplyhealth House has been designed as a space to encourage collaboration, openness and learning from each other for the benefit of our customers.

Locating teams to support one anotherWe gave careful consideration to the location of the different teams within the building. For example finance is located with our provider service and claims teams. If there is a difficult invoice query, everyone is instantly on hand to resolve the issue.

Flexible teams: formed to deliver Our customer service teams are multi skilled with flexible working practices; to mirror this they do not have a fixed desk. Customer service work stations are configured to provide personal access from any work station.

CreateCreate is a space dedicated to solution finding and problem busting.

It will have a different look and feel from a traditional meeting room to help generate a more creative approach to problem solving. The space has “graffiti walls” to capture ideas immediately. There is also a smaller hub to provide a breakout zone for further thought and development. The create pod can be booked by any member of the team who wants to explore new or improved ways to enhance Simplyhealth's delivery to customers.

4

The building

The build

The

bui

ld

Lambretta (motor scooter) found in the ground when excavating the site

Suppliers providing building materials

Different companies, organisations and institutions involved in the project from the very start of the process

750

Maximum number of contractors on site at any one time

The

bui

ldin

g

Meeting rooms

Bricks used to build the building 125,000

19

Drying room, activity room, first aid room, large meeting and briefing space on the top floor

Square footage of building

Photo voltaic cells (solar panels) on the roof to harvest energy from the sun

Cycle racks

Self contained toilet cubicles each with individual washing and hand drying facilities

Simplyhealth House is built on the site of a derelict building that had been empty for some years. It’s designed to minimise energy use and carbon emissions and has targets for using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.

Simplyhealth House has been designed as a space to encourage collaboration, openness and learning from each other for the benefit of our customers.

5

Ageing Brits ignoring health warnings

We all know that health problems become more common as we age but when it comes to wellbeing, thousands of Britons are putting their head in the sand and avoiding GP visits, according to new research published by the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel (ShARP).

The poll of 1,000 people between 40 and 75 found that most had noticed deterioration in their health, with joint problems (59%), weight gain (57%) and low energy (51%) the most commonly reported changes they had noticed with age.

57+43+G59+41+G 51+49+G59% 57% 51%

joint problems

weight gain

low energy

6

One in four people (28%) said they were seeing their GP more frequently, while one in six (16%) is actively staying away from the GP surgery, the research for ShARP has found. Those aged over 55 years were the most likely to have medical issues but also the most likely to avoid checks, with one in five (20%) seeing their doctor less often, compared to one in ten (11%) of the 40 to 45 year olds.

Of even greater concern, is the fact that one in four (26%) of those questioned admit they turn to the internet first when they have a medical problem, with all age groups showing a similar reliance on the web.

Whilst there are many trustworthy websites such as NHS Choices and those run by high profile charities like Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, there are many online health pages which provide dubious advice.

Self care has never been more important. GPs around the country are warning that falls in funding will make it harder to get an appointment, NHS Direct has closed and experts are predicting a crisis in emergency care.

The report from ShARP sets out the latest science on ageing and explores the health and wellbeing of older Britons, that should serve as a wake-up call to us all.

Download the full report from our newsroom

newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk

26%One in four (26%) turn to the internet first when they have a medical problem

One in six (16%) is actively staying away from the GP surgery

7

Care for Corporates

Benefit Cover

Out-patient specialist consultations Full cover

High cost scans including CT, MRI and PET scans

Full cover

Out-patient services Full cover for specialist referrals

Hospital charges for in-patient and day-patient treatment

Full cover

Surgeons’ and anaesthetists’ fees Full cover

Oncology including radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Full cover

Specialist physicians’ fees Full cover

Oral surgery Full cover for specific conditions

Psychiatric benefits Full cover

NHS cash benefit £100 per day or night

New child payment £150 per birth

Parent accommodation charges Full cover

Private ambulance Full cover for specific conditions

Home nursing Full cover

Hospice benefit £100 per night

Emergency in-patient treatment overseas

£100,000 policy lifetime limit per person

Advice lines and counselling services

Full cover for telephone services

Here we talk about the benefits of this policy for companies who have more than 50 employees to include in their cover.

Care for Corporates is the complete package offering the flexibility and level of service that you might expect is available only from private medical insurance policies designed for larger companies. If your clients are looking for a quality healthcare solution that delivers more than just health benefits then it’s time to discover Care for Corporates.

It has been specially designed for companies wishing to include more than 50 employees in their policy and want to tailor their cover to meet their business needs. Our policy comes with the flexibility to adjust the benefits or build in an excess arrangement.

Should an employee leave the policy it is possible for us to transfer their cover to our Simply Personal Health individual policy. Full details are provided in the policy document.

8

Choice of Hospital network

Your clients have a choice of three hospital networks to best suit their needs.

Metropolitan provides cover for premium hospitals located in central London

National provides extensive coverage of private hospitals

Connections provides a more limited list of hospitals for which we have negotiated superior rates to allow your clients to make savings on their premiums

With our Connections network, which is directive care, we agree treatment over the phone, help patients find a suitable hospital and take care of payments.

1

2

3

Continued on pages 10 and 11

Rapid access physiotherapyOur rapid access physiotherapy service is run in conjunction with Nuffield Health; with no need for a GP referral this saves the patient both time and worry. Patients receive a personal bespoke self help programme. This distinctive approach allows patients to receive rapid advice and support and, in many cases, removes the need for subsequent treatment.

Managed partnershipsManaged in partnership with Priory Hospitals, our mental health management service puts the patient in touch with a trained psychotherapist for a telephone assessment. There is no need for GP referral and the patient finds help with the right level of care without delay.

Dental network The Simplyhealth Denplan Network allows patients, where appropriate, to choose to have treatment for certain oral procedures at an accredited dental practice. All clinicians are selected and monitored by Denplan, Simplyhealth’s specialist dental business.

Innovative networks: enhancing service and lowering costs

Care for Corporates comes with Simplyhealth’s special networks

9

MyPlan: secure online service putting your clients in control of their policies

Simplyhealth has developed an online secure service to allow clients to view and amend membership details and run simple claims and membership reports. MyPlan also provides the facility to add new members to a policy.

MyPlan is also available for members to view their membership details and their own claims.

These reports are available for download from MyPlan:

• Employee summary

• Membership summary by age

• Payment summary

• Claims summary

• Membership listing

A better account management service; real insight into how your client’s policy is performing

Every Care for Corporates scheme has a named account manager, supported by a client relationship executive, to help with any day to day queries. The account manager provides an essential link to ensure the smooth implementation and ongoing running of the policy. Simplyhealth’s account managers are amongst the most experienced in the market.

Account Management activities include:

• Meeting regularly with relevant stakeholders

• Identifying opportunities for cost reduction

• Maintaining or improving quality and adding value

• Providing meaningful management reports and recommending appropriate actions

• Monitoring service levels against our KPIs providing contract performance visibility and taking swift action to resolve any trouble spots

• Recommending and implementing solutions, which evolve in line with developing business needs

• Continually monitoring the external market and healthcare initiatives to understand and contribute to the development of your wider health and wellbeing strategy

10

Your Care for Corporates private health policy document

Emergency in-patient treatm

ent

overseas

You must call the Overseas Assistance Helpline for

authorisation before any treatment or repatriation begins

so that we can advise you if the treatm

ent is covered

and within your policy limits.

Your Care for Corporates policy provides you with health

cover here in the UK. Its range of health benefi ts is intended

to work within the UK healthcare system and the costs of

cover refl ect claims for treatm

ent within the UK system. If

you unexpectedly fi nd yourself in a medical em

ergency whilst

overseas, it will provide cover for emergency in-patient

treatment, em

ergency evacuation and emergency

repatriation up to a combined lifetim

e policy limit of

£100,000 each person for acute conditions covered by the

policy. Please read the sections ‘What we will pay for’ and

‘What we will not pay for’ for full details.

This overseas assistance does not replace the need for

travel insurance to ensure you are fully covered for medical

emergencies. The costs of treatm

ent overseas can

signifi cantly exceed the costs of treatment within the UK,

we would therefore encourage you to m

ake other provisions

before travelling abroad, as you will be liable for any costs

where you have exceeded the lifetime £100,000 policy lim

it.

Any claims that w

e pay for emergency in-patient treatm

ent

overseas will also be subject to any maxim

um policy year

limit that applies to the policy.

This means that if the m

aximum

policy year limit for the

policy is less than £100,000, benefi t payable in each

policy year will be limited to the lower am

ount. For the

lifetime of the policy the total benefi t payable under

emergency in-patient treatm

ent overseas across all policy

years will be limited to an overall m

aximum

of £100,000 for

each person.

We w

ill pay for:

• emergency overseas in-patient treatm

ent for

unexpected acute conditions when travelling overseas,

where you require imm

ediate hospitalisation out of

medical necessity in order to treat an acute condition

covered by the policy and where treatment could not,

in our opinion, have been reasonably anticipated or

delayed. All admissions for in-patient treatm

ent must

be authorised in advance by our Overseas Assistance

Helpline

• medical evacuation of the patient (but not anyone

travelling with the patient) to an alternative hospital

abroad if, in our opinion, the facilities at the original

hospital are not able to provide suitable treatment

of your acute condition. The evacuation must be

approved and organised in advance by our Overseas

Assistance Helpline

• repatriation of the patient (but not anyone travelling with

the patient) to the UK when authorised in advance by

our Overseas Assistance Helpline if, in our opinion, the

original travel arrangements are unsuitable

We w

ill not pay for:

• costs associated with a medical condition that, in

our opinion, does not require emergency in-patient

treatment and im

mediate hospitalisation out of m

edical

necessity

• claims not norm

ally covered by the Care for Corporates

policy as set out under ‘What is not covered?’ For

example, any treatm

ent of a medical condition

related to a personal exclusion as detailed on your

mem

bership correspondence, or repatriation/ transfer

from an oil rig or cruise ship

• any claim for repatriation to a country other than the UK

• any treatment or repatriation that is not authorised in

advance by our Overseas Assistance Helpline

• treatment, evacuation, or repatriation where the total

costs claimed for Overseas Assistance for the lifetim

e of

the policy have reached £100,000

• any treatment which is not provided as an in-patient

in the UK, for example day-patient adm

issions,

consultations with the overseas equivalent of a GP and

out-patient treatment such as drugs, m

edicines and

dressings prescribed as an out-patient or on discharge

from hospital following an in-patient adm

ission

• treatment received abroad where the purpose of

the overseas trip is wholly or in part to obtain that

treatment

• treatment of any condition overseas where you are

fi t enough to travel to the UK for treatment. In these

circumstances w

e will only pay for treatment if you

have it in the UK

• the costs of hotel accomm

odation or travel (for you

or other people who are travelling with you) and other

related costs

• treatment in or repatriation from

a country where the

Foreign & Comm

onwealth Offi ce have advised against

all travel or essential travel only at the time of your

departure from the UK

• repatriation of your body if you die outside the UK

10

Your Care for Corporates private health policy document

Benefi t

Level of cover for

each personNotes

Treatment as an

in-patient or day-patient Paid in full

We will pay hospital charges for:

• accommodation and nursing (including intensive care)

• operating theatre charges

• drugs and dressings prescribed for use while you are an in-patient or

day-patient• diagnostic tests

• physiotherapy• prostheses: - we pay in full for prostheses implanted during an operation, for

example hip or knee replacements

- we will pay up to £5,000 for an external prosthesis, for example a

false leg or eye (we will pay towards one prosthesis only for each

body part this is replaced)

We will not pay hospital charges for drugs and dressings related to

treatment as an in-patient or day-patient that you take home from the

hospital.

Specialists’ and

anaesthetists’ feesPaid in full up to

the limits in our fee

schedule We pay specialists’ and anaesthetists’ fees up to the maximum

amounts set out in our fee schedule. You can fi nd the Simplyhealth

fee schedule at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/feeschedule or call us on

0800 980 6248.

Specialist physicians’

fees for in-patient and

day-patient treatmentPaid in full up to

the limits in our fee

schedule We pay specialist physicians’ fees up to the maximum amounts set in

our fee schedule.You must be under the regular care of a specialist and, in respect of

in-patient treatment, we would not normally pay unless the specialist

attends you on at least fi ve days each week.

Paid for up to 91 days in any one policy year.

Treatment for cancer

Paid in full

We pay for cancer treatment in line with the rules for other benefi ts on

this policy - for example hospital charges are paid according to the

hospital charges benefi t, specialists’ fees in line with the specialists’

fees benefi ts.We will pay for:

• surgery - we will pay hospital charges, and specialists’ fees up to

the limits in our fee schedule

• we will also pay for one reconstruction operation within fi ve years of

surgery for cancer, and in the case of breast cancer:

- one operation to reconstruct a breast that has been removed

(mastectomy)

and - one further operation to improve symmetry of your breasts.

We will not pay for further cosmetic operations to a reconstructed

breast• radiotherapy in a hospital in our hospital list within your scale of cover

6

Robust service levels and award winning customer care

Care for Corporates comes with Simplyhealth’s world class service as recognised by the Institute of Customer Services.

We do not use interactive voice response, we only operate teams in the UK, we do not impose time limits on calls and we measure our team on how good the caller felt after speaking with us.

Bespoke literature and a health & wellbeing microsite: making it your client's policy

Simplyhealth have developed a health and wellbeing microsite, which is branded to each client. This is where scheme members can find benefits of the policy and how to claim, as well as further information to help manage their health and wellbeing.

Literature can be branded with your client's company name and logo at no additional cost.

Effective from 1 March 2014

Care for Corporates private health coverYour group policy documentNational and Metropolitan networks

A Company Name Ltd.

Going the extra mile for you

For more information about Care for Corporates and how it can benefit your clients contact your Simplyhealth Consultant or ring 0800 294 7303 or email for intermediaries@simplyhealth.co.uk

11

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is an important healthcare product but is it being overlooked by too many consumers?

Howard Hughes, Head of Marketing Communications at Simplyhealth, shares some tips on selling PMI policies to your individual clients

Private Medical Insurance for individuals

More people than you might think benefit from private medical insurance (PMI) with over six million people1 in the UK enjoying the peace of

mind of access to the best in private treatment in

comfortable surroundings.

A further four million people1 also have a health cash plan, a type of insurance that helps households to budget for the costs of everyday healthcare such as the costs of visits to the dentist, new glasses, or courses of ongoing therapies such as osteopathy or chiropody.

With the economy improving and, for the first time in years, wages growing ahead of inflation now is a good time to recommend the peace of mind that a PMI policy can bring to your individual clients.

1Source: Laing & Buisson

Explaining private medical insurance

Of course I don't need to tell you how to suck eggs but demystifying PMI will help you persuade your clients of the value of a personal policy. These are the traditional reasons why your individual customers buy PMI. When was the last time you revisited them? And what would you add that you know to be important?

12

Helping your clients decide whether private medical insurance is right for them

Ultimately only your clients can decide whether a private medical insurance policy is a necessity or a luxury. However there are a number of points you can discuss with them to help them come to a decision.

There is no good time to be illWhen someone falls ill they will want to be treated as soon as possible. The waiting standard for treatment from GP referral to consultant appointment in the NHS is 18 weeks, this is currently achieved with a success rate of about 90% 2. If surgery is required there will be a further wait for treatment. Your clients will need to weigh up these waiting times, for themselves or their families, against a private medical scheme that will give prompt treatment, at a convenient time, not dictated by a local waiting list.

Healthcare built around themYour clients will be treated under the direct care of a specialist and be able to discuss their treatment in a relaxed and unhurried environment. They will have continuity of care and will see the same consultant throughout their treatment.

Comfort and cleanliness of a private hospitalDuring their recovery your clients will have the peace and comfort of their own en-suite room, an à la carte menu and the home comforts of TV and Wi-Fi. Importantly the relatively small patient numbers of private hospitals and individual rooms make hospital acquired infections such as MRSA and C-diff extremely rare.

Choose an excessThere is a wide range of excesses available. For example on Simplyhealth’s Simply Personal Health policy your clients can select an excess up to as much as £5,000.

Heart and Cancer coverYour clients can cap some areas of benefit. For example if they decide to include the Heart and Cancer option in their Simply Persona Health policy they can cap the level of benefit.

Select a hospital networkHospitals are willing to provide a discount for greater patient numbers. Simplyhealth has negotiated special discounts with a number of hospital groups which are included in our Connections network; choosing this can bring savings for your clients.

Continued on pages 14 and 15

If cost is a concern there are ways your clients can reduce their monthly payments

2Source: NHS England13

Private medical insurance is designed to provide cover to diagnose and treat acute conditions.

Out-patient consultation

If a GP recommends an out-patient consultation an important advantage of private medical insurance is that your clients will be under the direct care of a consultant specialist, throughout their treatment. They will have time to discuss their treatment in a relaxed and unhurried environment at a convenient time. They will have continuity of care with their specialist and not different members of the consultant’s team, as is often the case with treatment on the NHS.

Surgeons' and anaesthetists' fees

Surgeons' and anaesthetists' fees are also covered. Private medical insurers will work to a fee schedule, based on historical fees data combined with advice from medical experts. This publishes the maximum payment for a particular operation. The vast majority of surgeons and anaesthetists adhere to the fee schedules published by insurers. In Simplyhealth's experience the small number of consultants who choose to charge more than these limits are very clear in explaining to patients why they choose to do this.

Hospital accommodation and theatre charges

Hospital accommodation and theatre charges are included too. Private medical insurers agree these charges in advance with hospitals and these substantial costs are typically fully covered by private medical insurance.

What is covered by Private Medical Insurance ✔

14

What isn’t covered by Private Medical Insurance ✗

An important point to mention is the cost of certain common procedures that would be paid for by a PMI policy, for example:

Typical average costs of treatment for common private procedures

Coronary angioplasty £13,000

Hip replacement £10,500

Cruciate ligament repair £6,300

Gall bladder removal £5,200

Hernia surgery £2,500

These prices are used to demonstrate some of the typical costs. Costs could vary and should not be relied upon as a quotation of treatment prices.

GP servicesAlthough some plans may make a payment towards private GP services, family GPs are still likely to act as gatekeeper for treatment.

Emergency treatmentAccident and emergency remains the provenance of the NHS, private hospitals are simply not equipped to meet these needs.

Cosmetic treatmentPMI will not cover this.

FertilityThe costs of fertility investigations are not normally met by PMI.

MaternityRoutine pregnancy and maternity care are typically not covered.

Chronic conditionsRecurring conditions that have no known cure such as asthma or diabetes are not covered once diagnosed.

You should make it clear to your clients that private medical insurance is not designed as a complete replacement for the NHS.

15

We are delighted to support an innovative and unique healthcare

collaboration as part of the Heath Change Study.

The collaboration is between McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT), Stowhealth (a GP Surgery based in Stowmarket) and academics at University Campus Suffolk to test whether technology developed to win races on the Formula 1 track could help tackle the problem of obesity.

The Health Change Study, which highlights the role technology can play in developing healthy futures, aims to educate individuals about the relationship between the energy in their food versus the energy that their body burns through physical activity. This is intended to help them make healthier lifestyle choices to prevent long term health issues from developing.

The cutting edge weight management programme, aims to recruit 90 patients within Stowhealth medical practice. A sample of individuals will be given a MAT device that will monitor their physical movements and calories burnt. During the research programme participants will receive exercise advice and help with healthy eating habits. Their progress will be analysed by researchers at University Campus Suffolk.

The project hopes to demonstrate that a partnership of diverse organisations with fresh perspectives on healthcare challenges can help address significant issues, hopefully inspiring the formation of further innovative projects in the future.

124% of men and 26% of women, Office of National Statistics2Horizon Scanning, Health and Safety Executive3CIPD Absence Management Survey Report 2013, in partnership with Simplyhealth

Formula 1 technology

tackles obesity

16

Simplyhealth view

“We’re pleased to have played a role in helping bring together this unique partnership and opportunity. As obesity continues to pose as a barrier to good health and the future health of many individuals in the UK, now is absolutely the right time to explore how technology can support weight loss. At Simplyhealth we want to inspire people to better health and this project seeks to do that by explaining the relationship between food and physical activity through facts and not just estimates. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of the pilot and how it informs research in the area.”

Romana Abdin, CEO Simplyhealth

Did you know?

Around a quarter of adults in the UK are obese1

Obese workers are likely to encounter difficulties at work2

Obesity may affect an employees’ mental health3

17

Andy Couchman is a recognised industry expert and publisher of the Protection Review. As a guest blogger he reports and comments on key news and information affecting the world of health insurance.

Contingency planningLike most people, I’m a huge fan of the NHS and, though some of its founding principles have been diluted I’ll defend it passionately.

That said, I’m also aware that the NHS has its problems, and some look to be growing.

Recently, NHS England’s chief operating officer, Barbara Hakin, apologised because in February less than 90% of patients were admitted to hospital within the 18 week target. That was only just missed (89.9% is pretty close) but, she warned it may take ‘several months’ to get back on track. Hospital waiting lists are still significantly below what they were just a few years ago – but it is the trend that’s a concern.

Add in concerns hospitals overall may have ended up in deficit in 2013/14 and continuing worries over care quality and it’s clear good management and a lot of hard work will be needed to give us the NHS we want.

So what should we do in the meantime?? What actions should we take so we, our family or employees get the best treatment when needed.

For many the answer is health insurance, such as private medical insurance, health cash plans or dental benefits. Each provides specific benefits so its value to any individual will vary - there is no ‘one size fits all’. Instead, each offers ways to insure against health issues, whether one-offs or more regular events.

A growing debate around the NHS will lead many people to look again at their need for health insurance. Some will have decided previously it was not for them but may want to reconsider and to explore what’s the best solution for them now. Think of it as contingency planning – protection against what we know today and what we don’t know about tomorrow – the very essence of what insurance is all about.

That’s where Simplyhealth can help and it’s where medical insurance intermediaries provide such a valuable service. So, just because a potential client had ticked the ‘No’ box in the past, doesn’t mean they always will, and now is a good time to find out if their thinking is changing.

See www.england.nhs.uk/2014/04/17/waiting-times

Blog

18

An incredible 84 percent of 18-24 year olds have admitted to suffering some incidence of back pain in the last 12 months, according to the CIPD Absence Management Survey 2013. Whilst colds and flu will have workers signed off for a day or two of bed rest, a quarter of companies say their employees often brave the office with a bad back, contributing to a worrying trend of “presenteeism”.

The rising use of new handheld technology and a decline in the awareness of good posture has led to a workforce on the point of a back pain epidemic. Almost all age groups surveyed spend as much time in front of a PC, laptop or tablet screen in total as they do asleep in bed.

Experts are warning that this new “iPosture generation” is developing bad habits that could lead to worrying increases in workplace back problems across the nation’s workforce in the coming years, as well as lost productivity, unless action is taken now to combat it.

Back pain “presentees” bad news for businesses

Simplyhealth view “Whilst employees who come into work no matter what may seem like

a positive asset for any employer, “presenteeism” has a potentially damaging effect on organisations’ effectiveness and productivity as well as the associated negative effects on the individual.

Ill employees are not only less productive, but take longer to recover, can make costly mistakes and negatively affect their organisations' reputation. It also has become increasingly clear in recent years that “presenteeism” is a sign of anxiety and may have longer term consequences if not addressed.”

Remember

We have lots of tools to help you and your clients tackle back pain, including a back care pack, a website full of information and advice at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/backcare, an app developed with the charity BackCare and now a video demonstrating the basics of good posture.

19

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Simplyhealth Access is registered and incorporated in England and Wales, registered no. 183035. Registered office, Hambleden House, Waterloo Court, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1LQ. Your calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality assurance purposes.14

0202

0

Simply Employee HealthThe policy from Simplyhealth for small to medium sized businesses which is:

Flexible

Affordable

Sustainable

Simply Employee Health it’s as simple as that.

For more information call us on 0800 294 7303

email forintermediaries@simplyhealth.co.uk

or visit us online at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/intermediaries

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