Medical Insurance Info

AXA PPP Appointments Mean Business

AXA PPP International have staked their claim and made some high profile appointments in order to become of the big three in international health insurance.  The appointments have come in Spain and in Africa and have been done so under the leadership the sales and marketing director, Kevin Melton and managing director, Andrew Coombs. 

Also joining AXA PPP International is Derry Andrews, who is the previous managing director of Clinicare, the domestic UK private health insurance provider, who were later acquired by Groupama; Mr Andrews’s role will be the regional manager for Spain.  Andrew’s was also the director for another international medical insurance provider, Aetna, for whom he was a regional director for their medical insurance provider.

Mr Andrews, who also has worked for Bupa and the Mutual of Omaha International’s UK health division, Health First, will report to the aforementioned Kevin Melton.  Mr Andrew’s will also be responsible for the AXA International’s sales operations in Morocco, Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula.  In addition to this appointment Ed Daniels has been appointed the regional director for the African arm of AXA PPP international.  Mr Daniels takes almost two decades of experience with him, working for the likes of Bupa and InterGlobal and will operate out of South Africa, reporting to Mr Melton.

These appointments signal AXA’s desire to become one of the biggest players in the international medical insurance market and breaking into the market which is currently monopolised by Bupa and Medicare.

 

Increase in hand hygiene decreasing cases of hospital superbug

A campaign aimed at boosting hand hygiene in both NHS and private health care hospitals across both England and Wales has aided in considerable reductions in the number of reported cases of superbug infections.  Information provided by the BMJ showed that throughout the campaign the amount of hand gels and soaps increased threefold; during the same period the levels of MRSA and C. difficile decreased. 

Although the results were encouraging, the government has since dropped the campaign in NHS care facilities but commented that it is still their intention to be rid of these infections.  These diseases were a very real fear for many patients a few years ago and the Department of Health introduced the Clean Up Your Hands Campaign in order to combat this.  The campaign had a strong focus on making sure proper hand care was taken for both healthcare professionals and patients and visitors alike.  Alcohol gels and soap were made widely available throughout the hospital with messages encouraging people to wash to keep their hands clean.  Since the campaign rates of MRSA have more than halved and C. difficile infections dropped by more than 40%.

It was estimated by Dr Sheldon Stone of the Royal Free University College London Medical School that around 10 thousand lives were saved because of this campaign drive.  The UK have gone from one of the worst countries for cases of superbug infections in Europe to world leaders.  He stated that we need to keep the current momentum up and stay at the head of world hand hygiene. 

A spokesperson from the Department of Health supported the project saying that it was very successful in showing the importance of good hand hygiene practices and that the evidence it has provided.  The challenge is not to embed these practices into hospitals in order to remove avoidable infections altogether.  In England MRSA bloodstream infections have dropped by 41% and C. difficile by 30% since 2009/10.

 

PMI television ad

Here at Medical Insurance Info, we like this ad. And thanks to the magic of YouTube, we're able to share it with you too...

 

Out in the New In

If you live within an area that with a park you might have noticed that large groups have taken over in an effort to get fitter.  Being out in the open air has certainly become more popular since the inception of army boot camps that are happening all over the country and peoples never-ending quest to look trimmer and feel fitter.

More people than ever are looking at quitting the confines and getting out in the open and embracing the fresh air.  Even in the less than 'hospitable' Scottish climates people are pulling on their trainers and sweatbands and heading down to their local parks where they can get exercise and some fresh air for free, no less!

Many employers are also encouraging their staff to organise walking and jogging clubs to gain exercise and this, of course, fits in with corporate healthcare schemes and wellbeing programmes.  These schemes help employers keep healthy, fit and happy staff and it also helps keep companies from having too many sick days. 

These schemes also help employers keep the costs down as forking out for discount memberships and building in house gyms.  And being outdoors helps people breath better, in the gym it is a case of breathing in and out circulated air and as opposed to the fresh air Scotland will provide you.

 

Social Networks and Your Health

The way in which patients and doctors are communicating.  As the internet is now in everyone’s pocket and the possibilities of having any information at you want at the touch if a button it was always likely the health industry was to get involved.  Social media and blogs are fast becoming a regular means of communication between patient and GP.

Many peer to peer sites now provide people who have ailments the opportunity to speak with someone with may have similar symptoms. Alternatively they may have already been diagnosed with an illness and they are able to talk it over with someone who is going through the same situation.  Sites like Patients Like Me provide a platform for people able to talk to each other and as ever having a large amount of information may provide comfort and understanding to a person.

Even search giant Google are getting in on the act, they provide search results based on symptoms entered into a search bar then goes off and pulls information from a number of sources for the person whom searched.  Many companies are in tune with their patients also, private medical insurer Health-on-Line have a blog platform on their website to inform their patients of the latest industry news and changes that may affect them.

Many doctors may see an opportunity to dismiss what is happening on line.  Many may see this as a non traditional means of learning but could open a lot of doors.  Learning how patients deal with their illnesses and sharing knowledge between health professionals can be hugely inspiring and must be taken quite seriously as the future, whether some like it or not, will be online.

 

US Citizens Seeking Way Out of Recession

In the United States they have been facing the same challenges that many of the western worlds have, rising unemployment and no jobs to stem that flow.  However a new group of 43 million perma-temp workers are breaking from the mould and making money by permanently temping from job to job in order to weather the financial downturn that so many people are facing.  No longer can Americans rely on the stereotypical industries like the auto or the banking system.

The issue for many Americans will be that there is a distinct lack of benefits that come with being in a stable job.  Things like unemployment insurance will not be available through company schemes nor will they be able to rely on the support of an employer should they be feel that they have not been treated as an equal to other ‘permanent’ members of staff.  The temps would effectively give up their basic employment rights in order to float around the employment scene to pick up a wage.

One huge downfall to this particular employment method would be that of medical health insurance and having to search for an independent PMI provider which would cost more than if they had cover from an employer.  If they had to take a sick day they would certainly lose out on earning dollars as they would not be covered by an employment sick scheme.  There are certainly pro’s and con’s to this particular type of employment lifestyle and whether necessary or not those who opt to do must take the appropriate care when dealing with things as health insurance and basic working environment rights.

 

Private hospital dining

Private medical insurance covers more than just treatment. This clip gives an insight into catering within a private hospital environment:

 

Income Protection Incentives Require Tackling

Insurance companies are trying to come up with new ways to encourage insurance claimants back in to work. Agents from the insurance companies had warned that the current policies that were available were open to exploitation from the policy holders.

 There was a meeting amongst members of the Association on British Insurers on the 12th of January and amongst the issues discussed were matters such as IP. There were concerns that employees covered by IP were not active enough and felt there was no impetus to get back into work immediately.

 

The average group health insurance policy will pay approximately 80 per cent of an employee’s salary which will be joined to RPI.  Another choice would be to opt for own job definition which means that those who are claiming benefits could still be positive and take another position that would be more fitting, however there are those who are choosing not to.

It is publicly thought that that IP is costly but that is due to the level of cover and the policies which are too protected.  Having 60 percent coverage would mean that the employee would not receive expenses when they are not actively on the shop floor, so to speak.  Own occupation would be offered and after a distinguished period so would suited occupation.

The meeting meant that several key areas of the healthcare and insurance industries managed to get together to wade through matters which make up the health industry.  The conclusion of the event was that IP mainly brought more to the higher grossing salary bracket and more must be done to bring parity amongst those on a lower wage scale also.

This will involve a close look at the way these policies are built to ensure there is a fair and even value to those involved. Changes are not likely to be imminent as alterations to this kind of policy are often extremely complex.

 

 

Safety failure hospitals still receiving same number of patients

Issues regarding safety concerns at a number of public hospitals have not resulted in fewer numbers looking for treatment a new report has revealed.

The information has come out of a recent study undertaken by the Healthcare Commission that widely publicised a number of failures in NHS hospitals.  Although the report received a large amount of coverage in the press it did not seem to deter patients, with attendance figures staying the same or receiving only minor short term dips the Imperial College London investigation uncovered.

The report focused on three university hospitals: Leicester trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and Mid-Staffordshire foundation trust; all reported to have serious failings in the original report.  It was discovered that attendance at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells dropped by 12% over a three month period and 14% over six months before returning to normal after the release of the report however the other two experienced no major change to attendance.

Laverty, the lead author of the research believes that it is a risky practice relying on supplying information in the hope that a reaction from patients will drive up demand for change.  Changes to the way these hospitals operate are likely to come from internal pressure rather than external sources, hoping to improve the reputation rather than patients seeking the best care at hospitals.

The real power in publishing reports of this nature is to get a response from the managing bodies of the establishments as the standards of quality at the hospitals are their responsibility.  It is of course important to respect patient choice however it is unlikely to be a key driving force for improving the quality at these facilities.  

It is believed that patients when choosing their healthcare provider will make the decision based on location of the hospital in regards to their position geographically as well as recommendations from their peers, not in terms of information available on the quality of service.  Further to this information, a review of patient choice and competition was carried out for the BMJ that believes the topic still needs more analysis before any real conclusions can be made.

 

In the US all employers will be required to pay for health insurance which includes steralisation, contraception and and abortaficient treatment for all employees who would be eligible.

The action comes from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  In demanding this beaucratic information it is contravening the First Amendment of the US Constitution.  The ruling has been laid out like an act for womens health by the department whilst it clearly goes against religious beliefs.

In the UK too the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) pulled the plug on a campaign by a religious group which was offered "religous healing" of a sort.  The ASA decided to not let the campaign run because it was "irresponsible" and gave people "false hope".

There has of course, been unrest amongst religious groups.  They feel that the rule contravenenes the freedom of conscience.  Catholic hospitals, which carry out the Church's ministry to the ill.  By forcing these changes through it is hazying the lines, forcing catholic workers to have health insurance cover in which they would not use because of religious beliefs.

The HHS are playing with fire.  The action is unconstitutional and goverments should not be allowed to interfered with peoples beliefs.  More action can be expected in the coming weeks and months.