Boots launches private medical insurance

Boots, the UKs leading health and beauty retailer has a new partnership agreement with PruHealth to launch private medical insurance (PMI) in its 1,500 Boots stores.

Recent research by Boots highlights that around 80 per cent of people believe they are precluded from taking out private health insurance due to its cost. In addition, 36 per cent of people would consider taking out PMI if they felt they were offered a competitive rate.

This health insurance offering is being introduced as part of the first anniversary celebrations of the Boots Health Club, which offers its 1.5 million members personalised health information, advice and money off health-related products and services.

By joining the Boots Health Club by 31st October, customers will qualify for half-price health insurance premiums for the first year, with all customers encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle in order to continue to enjoy lower premiums.

This is the latest Boots initiative designed to help the nation towards a healthier lifestyle, encouraging policyholders to actively manage their health and wellbeing in return for potentially lower premiums. The policy will deliver rewards to those who make no or low claims and take part in its Vitality programme, a concept originally introduced into the UK PMI market by PruHealth. Customers will collect Boots Vitality points by taking advantage of a range of current offers such as completing an online health review or stress test, having an eye test (available from September) or downloading online meal plans. These points will count towards a vitality status and could mean substantial no claim bonuses of 25%, 50%, 75% or, with enough effort, even 100% of this years premium towards the cost of next years cover.

Boots PMI offers three levels of cover which include the following as standard:

    Access to every registered private hospital including Nuffield and BUPA hospitals
    Access to every NHS private patient unit in the UK
    Access to over 13,000 consultants and specialists
    Full cancer cover at every stage of treatment
    24-hour access to the CallADoctor service

In addition, the free-to-join Boots Health Club is also offering members 50 per cent off the price of over 50 best-selling products including Boots Paracetamol, Cod Liver Oil capsules and Multivitamin tablets.

Kevin Johnson, Head of Boots Insurance services, comments: “Boots recognises the vital role it can play in improving the nation's health by rewarding our customers. It is a great opportunity for us to use our position on the high street to offer the public greater access to private healthcare through our partnership with PruHealth. It was important for us to not only launch a health insurance product that encourages people to take care of themselves through the Vitality programme, but also one that is genuinely excellent value."

Boots Health Insurance is available in its 1,500 stores from April 25th.

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