Westfield Health has released a new group insurance covering non-urgent medical surgeries.
The product, Hospital Treatment Insurance, is seen by the provider as a move into the middle ground between health cash plans and more comprehensive private medical insurance (PMI), giving employers a more affordable way of providing employees with quick and easy access to private medical care.
To be sold through advisers, the product currently offers access to around 1,300 surgical and medical procedures, but Paul Shires, executive director - sales and marketing at Westfield, pointed out that the product's criteria was; any surgery requiring a general anaesthetic; any requiring a local anaesthetic and an incision; plus certain other specified procedures such as endoscopies.
"As such it is a movable feast," he added.
The product covers no surgery for heart or cancer conditions.
Jill Davies, chief executive of Westfield Health, commented: "This is the right product at the right time, as NHS cutbacks stretch their targets into longer waiting times for non-urgent operations.
"There is a gap in the market and, with the success of our surgery choices product , this is the logical extension of what we do - a middle market opportunity."
Cover starts from £1.24 per employee, per week and two levels to choose from, Hospital Treatment Insurance enables employees to receive treatment at any hospital in the UK where private treatment packages are available. Surgeries are capped on price.
Following referral from a consultant, employees are allocated a case manager who will source and arrange a private treatment package to suit their needs.
Hospital Treatment Insurance is available as a stand-alone product, or can be used in conjunction with a new or existing health cash plan.
