People are now regularly using free services that come with their life insurance to get help from a GP, instead of going to their local NHS doctor, data from AIG Life has revealed.
The data found that Smart Health, a health service provided by AIG Life, had delivered 53,000 phone and video GP appointments since its launch in August 2019 to the end of April 2023.
AIG Life’s customers and their immediate families have used Smart Health services 85,000 times since launch and more than one in three patients (37 per cent) have used it more than three times.
The research also reported that virtual GP appointments are the most popular service in part because of the next stage assistance they provide as, by the end of April of this year, almost half (47 per cent) of people attending Smart Health GP appointments also got a prescription, sick note or a referral to a medical specialist.
The appeal of the services is that the insured customer, as well as their partner and children who aren’t themselves insured, can get immediate medical help or set their mind at ease if something is wrong, according to Alison Esson, health propositions manager at AIG Life.
“It allows them to take preventative steps that can help look after their long-term health, and can help ease pressure on our NHS, without people picking up extra living costs," she said.
The data included a survey of Smart Health users conducted by Teladoc Health which reported that 55 per cent of respondents used a virtual GP appointment instead of turning to their doctor which helped to “ease pressure on the NHS”.
It was also found that the service helped people return to work sooner as 33 per cent of people who were absent from work said they were able to get through their illness swifter following a phone or video consultation with a Smart Health GP.
The research additionally detailed that Smart Health’s reach extended past employees to their families, reporting that children and young people under the age of 17 were the beneficiary of over 10,700 virtual GP appointments, making up 19 per cent of all Smart Health GP appointments.
Esson stated that the primary purpose of protection insurance is to help individuals and members of employee benefit schemes financially if something goes wrong.
"That the services are used for children shows insurance now delivers vital and immediate preventative healthcare outcomes to them too – and helps advisers demonstrate the benefits and value of protection," she continued.
“Long-term, this can only be a good thing for families and for the ever-increasing demands on the NHS.”
tom.dunstan@ft.com
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