Canada Life has added free treatment sourcing to its income protection and critical illness covers.
The insurer’s service will be provided by medical service companies Medical Care Direct and Red Arc.
Key Features:
It matches consultants and hospitals with a patient’s diagnosis or treatment based on price, locality, or hospital or consultant expertise.
Suitable for those who cannot get a prompt diagnosis or quick referral from their GP, as they can see a private consultant before possibly moving back into the NHS system at a later date.
Jan Lawson, chairman of Medical Care Direct, said more people were preferring to pay for more routine operations like hip and knee replacements rather than wait for NHS operations.
She added: “With the UK economy picking up, many more people are now finding themselves in a position to ‘go private’ as they consider it more of a viable option now.”
Background
Earlier this year, the Income Protection Task Force launched its Seven Families campaign, which aimed to get support from insurers and advisers to help show the public how good protection and good employee benefits can help people back into work.
According to founder Peter Le Beau, the project has already received a good response from the industry, including from Red Arc and Best Doctors, who will be providing the rehabilitation and case management services. He said: “We do hope to be able to help some people get back to work, whether this is their own job, on a part-time basis or into another role.”
