HCB has set its sights on extending services to all of sub Saharan Africa following its launch into South Africa (SA).
Earlier this week the Oxfordshire-based firm announced it had opened an office Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The office is being led by Dr Christoffel Grobler, chief medical officer of HCB South Africa.
It provides employee health, wellness and claims management services to employers, intermediaries, insurers and pension scheme trustees,
Elaborating on the reasons for the launch, an HCB spokesperson told Health & Protection that South Africa was a “major income protection centre in the world”.
“We are aware that, particularly in recent years, the SA protection insurance market has faced some challenges, exacerbated by Covid, and HCB feels well placed to support insurers and employers to help improve the experience,” the spokesperson added.
According to the spokesperson, Port Elizabeth was chosen as the office’s location as it is close to HCB’s local partners.
“We will of course consider opening other centres in due course, enabled by appropriate commercial growth. We plan to be able to provide services to pretty much all of sub-Saharan Africa in the fullness of time, but we anticipate this will take time, and depend on the success of the South African operations.”
HCB further revealed it has already had interest in a pilot of its early intervention service from two of the country’s largest income protection insurers.
“All the global reinsurers with interests in SA have also been approached with details of our intentions, and we intend in due course, working with the employee benefit consultants in SA to make them aware of our model, and how we intend to enable a real difference to South African employees,” the spokesperson concluded.