VitalityHealth announces financial support for PMI members with Covid-19
20 March (London) – VitalityHealth today introduces a special cash benefit to all their members covered with private medical insurance (PMI) in the event they are admitted to hospital as an NHS patient as a direct result of infection by Covid-19.
Any VitalityHealth member hospitalised in the NHS due to Covid-19 will be eligible for a £250 payment per day, for the first eight days, rising to £500 from the ninth day onwards, subject to a maximum of £5,000. If the member contracts Covid-19 whilst already in hospital, the benefit will be paid from the point the infection was diagnosed.
The approach is informed by research* from the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team, which indicates that the average duration of stay for admissions not requiring critical care is eight days. For longer durations of stay, it is likely that critical care will be required, and a larger daily cash benefit is appropriate.
This applies to all current members who have a Personal Healthcare (PHC), Business Healthcare (BHC) or Corporate Healthcare (CHC) plan with the benefit of Core Cover, until 30 June 2020. It’s also available to new customers subject to a one-month waiting period.
Dr Keith Klintworth, Managing Director of VitalityHealth, commented: “As the situation with COVID-19 evolves at pace, this additional benefit will support our members who find themselves in hospital, by providing financial support at what would be a very challenging time. This is part of our commitment to providing members with additional support at this time, when they may need it most.”
VitalityLife
Separately, VitalityLife has confirmed that its members will be able to make a claim relating to Covid-19 on Vitality Life, Serious Illness and Income Protection plans**.
Notes to editors:
*Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand, Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team, 16 March 2020 https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf
**Subject to the terms and conditions of their plan
For further information, please contact:
Alexa Chaffer, Head of PR, Vitality
About Vitality – positively different health insurance, life insurance and investments
Vitality is part of Discovery Limited, a worldwide insurer and investment manager protecting more than eight million members in 18 countries worldwide, across Europe, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada and China.
Vitality pioneered the ‘shared-value’ insurance model, a unique approach based on the scientifically proven principles of behavioural economics. Through this model, Vitality helps members take a more active role in managing their own wellness, encouraging them to develop healthy long-term habits that are good for them, good for the company and good for society. The effect is positive for all stakeholders – members benefit from better health, financial rewards and additional incentives; employers benefit from healthier, more productive, and more engaged employees; and Vitality benefits from a healthier membership base.
Vitality Ambassadors Jessica Ennis-Hill, Heather Knight, Ellie Simmonds, Jos Buttler, Maro Itoje, Joe Root and Jonny Wilkinson are role models who embody the company’s values. They use their passion for living a healthy, active lifestyle to motivate others to make positive changes, promoting the message that taking small steps today can dramatically improve wellbeing over the long-term.
In the UK, Vitality operates as three distinct businesses: VitalityHealth, VitalityLife and VitalityInvest.
About VitalityHealth
VitalityHealth is one of the UK’s leading private medical insurers. Through applications of the shared value model to health insurance, VitalityHealth incentivises members to get healthy and make better lifestyle choices. All VitalityHealth members receive Core Cover, giving them access to private GP video consultations within 48 hours and a Full Cover Promise. For more information, visit www.vitalityhealth.co.uk
About VitalityLife
VitalityLife is one of the fastest growing life insurers in the UK, offering award-winning cover to thousands of members. VitalityLife is unique to the UK protection market, with a suite of products including Life Cover, Income Protection Cover, Serious Illness Cover and Business Protection. By recognising people's efforts to look after themselves, VitalityLife offers a more comprehensive set of benefits than traditional insurers, and at highly competitive prices. For more information visit www.vitalitylife.co.uk
About VitalityInvest
VitalityInvest is a revolutionary investment proposition designed to prepare customers for the retirement of tomorrow. It brings the shared value insurance model to the long-term savings market. The proposition consists of three products - a stocks and shares ISA, a junior ISA and a retirement plan - available through financial advisers. The products incorporate features aimed at generating economic value for all stakeholders through positive, long-term behaviour change. For more information, visit www.vitality.co.uk/investments