A new approach is needed to help employers and individuals take actions to reduce NHS backlogs, increase workforce participation and improve the health and wellbeing of the nation, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in a report released today.
In its report, Closing the evidence gap: how insurance supports good health and productivity, the ABI noted, “insurance plays a significant role in preventing ill-health, supporting a healthy workforce and reducing pressure on the NHS”.
The report added that although the insurance sector and government share the aim of improving workplace health to mitigate the risk of people falling out of work, “insurance is scarcely mentioned as a route to occupational health services and the tax and welfare systems discourage people from taking out insurance”.
To increase insurance take up, the ABI recommended “the Work and Health Directorate and HM Treasury should include health and protection insurance in the scope of the two consultations announced in the 2023 Spring Budget.
“Health and protection insurance offer an effective route to occupational health and should not be overlooked,” the report said.
“Ill health presents a significant and growing challenge for our society, causing our economy to fall far short of its potential,” the report continued.
“The estimated annual cost of lost output amongst working age people due to ill-health is £150bn per year. The estimated cost to the government is £70bn,” it noted.
The ABI collected data from its health and protection members to show how many people use insurer-provided health services and the outcomes through vocational rehabilitation. It was the first time the ABI had collected this information.
Key findings
One of the key findings from the report was that nearly nine in 10 people (86%) who accessed insurers provide vocational rehabilitation were successfully supported to stay in work or return to work following an absence.
Also approximately eight in 10 50+ year olds who used vocational rehabilitation services provided by insurers for musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) (84%), mental health (82%) cardiovascular conditions (80%) and cancer (75%) were either supported to stay in work or return to work after an absence.
According to the report, more than half of the customers (51%) who accessed rehabilitation services provided by insurers received support for a mental health condition. Approximately one in four remained well enough to work (24%) and two in three (64%) were supported to return to work.
The most significant increase was seen in usage of virtual GPs. “The number of people who accessed virtual GPs through insurance increased more than five-fold (440%) between 2019 and 2021. This upward trend is continuing beyond the pandemic as people look to more convenient ways to access primary care,” the report added.
In addition, over 1.6 million people used the health services available to them through insurance 5.5 million times in 2021.
Welcome call to action
Clare Lusted head of product proposition at Unum UK, said: “We very much welcome this call to action and are pleased to note figures within the report that suggest almost one in three people in the UK benefit from health services provided via protection insurance (e.g. income protection, life and critical illness cover), such as mental health counselling, virtual GP services
On the increase in the usage of remote GPs, Lusted said in 2022 the company’s own experience with Help@hand, its health and well-being app, showed similar rising demand.
“In December 2022, the number of booked appointments via Help@hand increased by 120% compared with January 2022; for remote GP appointments, the increase was even higher, at 156%.
“Although our customer base with access to the app increased in 2022, the increase in the number of booked appointments outstripped the cumulative increase in downloads and registrations of Help@hand,” she noted.