Vitality Health is removing underwriting restrictions and easing treatment limits as it expands mental health cover as part of a wider update to its private medical insurance (PMI) offering.
The provider is also increasing access to physiotherapy treatment and introducing a cancer support service, along with a Vitality Programme partnership with bike manufacturer Specialized.
The changes and the new partnership will go live in the coming months, the insurer said.
Mental health
Vitality is removing medical underwriting for access to talking therapies treatment and additionally, no medical conditions will be excluded for talking therapies.
The change expands access to counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for all members with personal healthcare, business healthcare and corporate healthcare plans after three months of cover.
Additionally, the annual limit on in-patient and day-patient cover will be significantly loosened for members who have Vitality’s mental health cover option as part of personal healthcare and business healthcare plans.
These members now have access to multiple episodes of acute care of up to 28 days of in-patient and 28 days of day-patient treatment at a time. The benefit limit is fully reinstated after 56 days without in-patient or day-patient treatment.
Physiotherapy and cancer care
All Core Cover members will now be able to receive six sessions of physiotherapy without the need for separate out-patient cover.
This means that all core Vitality Health members have access to comprehensive primary care support on their core cover, including Talking Therapies, physiotherapy and virtual GP, the insurer said.
A cancer treatment support programme is also being launched to provide members undergoing treatment for cancer with tailored guidance and one to one coaching to improve their quality of life and clinical outcomes.
The digital programme powered by Onko, will provide personalised, multi-disciplinary support to members undergoing surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It includes physiotherapy, mental health support, guidance on exercises and getting active for cancer patients, nutrition, and self-help techniques.
Members will be signposted to additional services and resources that could benefit their overall health.
And the insurer is enabling all health members to start a claim online, irrespective of their underwriting type, time on risk, or the condition they are claiming for to receive authorisation for onward care.
Dr Keith Klintworth, managing director at VitalityHealth, (pictured) said: “Today’s announcements include a rapid expansion in access to mental health services, providing the most holistic cover on the market, the introduction of a range of support pathways and services for people with cancer, and we have also set out how we will further harness the power of digital technology within our Care Hub so our members can all request care online.
“These are all areas which will make a significant difference to our members and where we see scope to have a bigger impact, further pushing the limits of what a health insurer provides.”
The new partnership with Specialized will mean Vitality members will be able to access up to 25% off a full priced Specialized bike and accessories.
