The long waiting list at the NHS means it has never been more important for employers to offer effective health cover, as companies seek to control costs by concentrating on prevention and early intervention.
This is according to Clare Dare, head of specialist consulting at PIB Employee Benefits (pictured) which won the award for Best Group Health Insurance Advice Firm at The UK Health & Protection Awards 2024.
Dare tells Health & Protection: “The NHS crisis means that for employees, having health cover through work is more impactful than ever.
“Rising costs mean that companies may be motivated to seek alternative ways of obtaining cover, and the role of brokers is to provide guidance around potential gaps and offer solutions.“
Dare adds that although PMI remains a popular choice, “companies shouldn’t assume awareness or education and must continue to communicate effectively with employees.“
“The focus is shifting to prevention and early intervention to ensure the health and wellbeing of employees as well as a means of controlling costs going forward,“ she continues.
“This may not be a quick win but one we are monitoring closely for clients to assess the return on investment of this practice.”
Very selective with awards
On the rationale behind entering the Health & Protection awards, Dare says: “We are very selective with the awards we enter, and only choose to enter awards which we believe hold meaning for our clients and the wider industry.”
Winners for the Health & Protection Awards 2024 were announced last October at a glittering ceremony at the London Hilton Park Lane.
“The Health & Protection awards have a great reputation, and is well-recognised for its integrity.
“Winning a Health & Protection award affirms our high level of client service and best-in-class benefits delivery; it symbolises to companies that they’ll be in capable hands, and its great recognition for our hard-working consultants and support teams.
“We have our awards on display in our main office – next to the coffee machine – so people get regular reminders.“
Entry strategy
And how does the firm handle it’s approach to awards entries?
Rowley explains: “In our entries we focus on macro trends and initiatives – such as our use of data to make decisions – combined with notable client success stories.
“The best advice would be: do great work and the awards will follow.
“We are very curious, and do individual meetings with our consultants about their best work over the past 12 months.
“It doesn’t take long to find gold if you ask the right questions.“
How to enter
Adviser entries to the UK Health & Protection Awards 2025 are open now.
The awards website includes the full list of categories and the criteria which advisers should address in their entries.
The closing date for entries is 23 May and these can be submitted through the awards website or by following this link.
Winners will be announced in a glittering gala ceremony at our new venue of the Park Plaza Westminster, UK on 16 October.
Health & Protection will continue publishing hints and tips and stories from past winners to help you craft entries to best tell the story of your success.
