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Aviva UK Health My Health Cash Plan
Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance group, serving 50 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. In the UK it is the largest general insurer and the group has over 20 million customers. Aviva UK Health (previously Norwich Union Healthcare) is one of the largest health insurers in the UK.
November 2009 Product Reviews
PRODUCT
Aviva has re-entered the health cash plan market with a new product that brings its successful modular concept to the market.
CORE HEALTH COVER GIVES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
■ 100% reimbursement (up to £250 a year; £125 for a child) for dental and optical cover, with a shared pot between the two.
■ 80% reimbursement (up to £150/£75) for therapies (physiotherapy; osteopathy; chiropractic; homeopathy, and acupuncture).
■ 80% reimbursement (up to for £50/£25) for prescriptions and GP charges.
■ 80% reimbursement (up to £100/£50 every two years after an initial 12 months) for health screens.
■ £200 for each baby born (12 month initial waiting period).
■ GP helpline, stress counselling helpline and gym discounts).
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO INCREASE COVER IN A NUMBER OF WAYS:
■ Increased reimbursement. 100% core reimbursement on all core benefits.
■ Hospital extras. £15 per night/day (£7.50 for children) inpatient/day-patient benefit; 80% reimbursement on x-rays and scans as a private patient; 80% reimbursement on a specialist private second opinion, and child support benefit of £15 a night. Maximum combined total benefit is £250 a year (£125 for children).
■ 80% reimbursement on chiropody; podiatry; dietician and allergy testing up to £200 a year (£100).
OR THEY CAN REDUCE COVER AND COST BY CHOOSING:
■ Reduced reimbursement. 60% reimbursement of core health benefits, but dental and optical remain at 100%.
■ Dental and optical only. This is a cut down version of the plan that only pays a maximum pooled benefit of £250 a year (£125 for children) for dental and optical. This option still includes the GP helpline, stress counselling helpline and gym discounts.
RATING
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
Modular approach | Expensive if you add all the options |
Flexibility to increase or decrease benefits | One month initial qualifying period for all benefits |
Combined dental/optical pool with 100% reimbursement | Children’s cover costs extra |
LITERATURE
Full information is available online including a downloadable claim form.
EXAMPLE
A 30 year old living in rural Gloucestershire would pay £17.99 a month for Core Health Cover. 100% reimbursement would take that to £20.49 a month, then adding Hospital Extras would take it to £24.99 and Health Enhance to £31.99 a month. Reduced Reimbursement would reduce the premium down to £16.49 a month and Dental and Optical Only to £11.99.
WHAT THEY SAY
Rebecca Freebody, head of propositions management and market development said: “Aviva’s recent research showed that over 60% of people would be worried about their finances if their child or partner required medical attention and over 40% of people often neglected eye checks and dental checks to save money. This, together with our market research highlighted the need for low cost health benefits that complement the services offered by the NHS. We have developed My Health Cash Plan to meet this need. With its modular benefit structure and the ability for customers to choose how they allocate their benefit funds, we believe My Health Cash Plan is the most flexible, cost effective product on the market today.”
WHAT WE SAY
This plan offers a good choice of benefits although, unlike many cash plans, it is not possible to choose larger or smaller benefit pots in most cases. We like the plan’s flexibility and the ability to tailor cover to need and having a combined dental and optical pot will benefit those with good eyesight (or no teeth…).
However the plan can be expensive, especially if all the family is covered and all benefits options chosen.
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