Aviva enhances health insurance for SMEs

Launched last year to large corporate private medical insurance clients, rehabilitation service BacktoBetter has treated employees with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions without the need to see a GP, while also reducing claims spend for the client.

Its introduction as a standard benefit for SME clients with Aviva's private medical insurance is one of a number of enhancements that will come into effect from 1 December 2014.

Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva UK Health, said: "We're delighted to extend our successful BacktoBetter service as standard to our SME clients. Our PMI claims data shows that over a quarter, 27%, of our SME clients' claims are for musculoskeletal conditions such as back, neck, muscle and joint pain."

The enhancements to Aviva's Solutions private medical insurance for SMEs include:

• BacktoBetter as standard with core cover
o No need to see a GP and a shorter claims journey
o No excess on physiotherapy treatment
o No impact on out-patient limit for physiotherapy treatment
o Choice of over 1,500 clinics throughout the UK
• Member excess choices to now include £250 and £500 excesses
• Increased out-patient psychiatric benefit as standard on all policies from £1,000 to £2,000
• Increased out-patient limit choices to include £0 and £1,500 limits
• Introduction of NHS cash benefit of £100 a day for cancer treatment, with no limit on the number of days that can be claimed.
• Enhanced ‘Routine and GP referred services' option, including cover for claims for consultations and diagnostic tests for a chronic condition, and follow up consultations after treatments have finished to monitor an acute condition.

Wright added: "The value of the service will be significant for SME clients, helping them to maintain productivity and reducing the impact of MSK related absence on both the organisation and their other employees."