Lloyds Bank is offering a cut down health plan for everyday treatment through VitalityHealth.
The Health Plan offers two levels of cover starting from £18 per month but requires a £7 fee for every GP, physiotherapy or mental health session booked through either level.
The Essential plan starts at £18 a month for ages 18-79 and offers GP, physio and mental health support. It also includes regular health assessments and savings on a gym membership. Members will be required to contribute £7 for each GP consultation or session.
Members can have eight sessions of talking therapy, and there is no limit to the number of GP consultations, or in-network physiotherapy sessions they can have.
The Plus plan offers the Essential plan elements plus access to diagnostics such as blood tests, MRI, and CT scans.
Members get up to £10,000 of cover each year but have to pay £100 each time they are referred for tests and scans covered by their plan. And only a Vitality GP or an in-network physio can refer them.
They will also have access to specialist consultations and a recommended treatment plan.
Prices are based on age, and start from £22.95 a month for an adult aged 18, with premiums starting from £42.95 a month for ages 25 to 79.
The plans will initially be available to Lloyds customers online and in app. They will later be rolled out to Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers as well.
This is the latest step in the bank offering health services to its customers.
In May it introduced Bupa’s Blua digital health services for free to its Premier customers – with the account being open to people with income or assets over £100,000.
This gives remote access to a range of services, including GP or nurse consultations, physiotherapy treatment, mental health treatment and other wellbeing services.
Delayed healthcare
Research from Vitality showed that one in three people in the UK had delayed or avoided a healthcare appointment in the past year due to long waiting times or difficulty getting an appointment.
Arun Thiyagarajan, CEO of VitalityHealth, (pictured) said the new plan offered consumers easier and quicker access to everyday care services.
“We believe this new product will further grow the health insurance market, reaching people who have not previously looked at or taken out health insurance,“ he said.
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Lloyds Banking Group and supporting better health outcomes for more people now and in the years ahead.”
Jeremy Ward, insurance director at Lloyds, said: “This is another bold move to help us deliver on our ambition to provide a financial safety net for UK families throughout their lives.”
