Westfield increases reimbursement on popular benefits
Westfield Health has increased reimbursement levels on its most popular benefits following a comprehensive review of its core health cash plans.
The review of Westfield’s Advantage and Good4you Plans has resulted in new additions, improvements and changes. These became available from June 1 for new policyholders and companies, and will come into effect on September 1 for existing policyholders and companies.
In response to policyholder research, optical, dental and dental trauma benefits have each been increased by an average of five per cent and the daily allowance on the day surgery benefit has been increased by an average of 10 per cent.
Additionally, the hospital in-patient benefit allowance has been reduced from 30 to 20 nights to reflect the decrease in the average length of hospital stays.
Advantage and Good4you Plan premiums have increased for the first time in almost four years in order to sustain viability. The price rises are modest with, for example, level 1 of the Advantage Plan increasing by 6p per week and level 1 of the Good4you Plan increasing by 13p per week.
Westfield has brought reimbursement rates on level 5 in line with levels 1 to 4. This means that 100 per cent reimbursement is available on the most valued benefits – optical, dental and dental trauma, while 75 per cent reimbursement is available on the chiropody, consultation, therapies, homeopathy, home care, surgical appliance and health screening benefits.
Westfield Health Chief Executive Jill Davies said that the changes reflect Westfield’s commitment to continuous improvement and to providing the best possible value for money.
Jill said: “Westfield recognises that these are difficult times for our policyholders and companies. We have therefore looked to improve the benefits they value the most, and keep premium increases to a modest level.
“We have resisted price rises for as long as possible, however, the recession has accelerated the trend of rising claims as people rightly look to their cash plans to help them budget for their everyday healthcare.
“We are now paying out more money to more policyholders than ever before and, as a not for profit organisation, we have had to increase premiums to maintain viability.”
Westfield is taking this opportunity to encourage employers to pay premiums for their employees, by introducing significant new benefits to the corporate paid Advantage Plan.
The Advantage Corporate plan includes a scanning benefit, which provides quick access to MRI, CT and PET scanning facilities (levels 2 to 5) and a full Employee Assistance Programme, which provides access to a 24-hour counselling and advice line and up to six face to face counselling sessions (levels 2 to 5).
With the corporate paid Advantage Plan, immediate cover is available (except for the maternity benefit) and all pre-existing medical conditions are covered (except for the maternity and personal accident benefits).
In addition to this, corporate paid companies with 10 or more employees will have the option to purchase Westfield’s innovative Surgery Choices benefit for their staff. For an extra £1.24 per employee, per week, this product covers employees for 60 different surgical procedures normally classed by the NHS as non-urgent. These include operations for conditions that can commonly cause long absences from work, such as slipped discs, joint problems and hernias.
Jill Davies summed up: “Westfield Health is committed to encouraging employers to take more responsibility for their employees’ health. These new benefits on our corporate paid Advantage Plan not only help to deliver increased employee motivation and productivity but also work as an excellent risk management tool and help to reduce workplace absence.”
Westfield will be contacting all existing policyholders during the next few weeks to notify them of the changes.
www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/chamber/index.asp
© Westfield Health Insurance 2012
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