Engage Health Group

Author: Nick Hale

  • Engage Health Group Offers Free Health Cover to Local Charity Employees

    Engage Charity Health Fund extends free health cover to all employees of young people’s charity, Starr Trust.

     

    Funded by local employee benefits specialist, Engage Health Group, the cover includes dental and optical care, physiotherapy, health screening, private consultations, scans and a 24/7 counselling and support line.

    Employee benefits provision is commonplace in the private sector and has become a big area of focus in recent years, with many companies designing its benefits strategy specifically to attract and retain the best calibre of staff. An attractive benefits package has also been proven to improve productivity and morale, and to drive higher levels of employee engagement and loyalty.

    Nick Hale, Engage Health Group’s founding Director and who developed the Health Fund commented,

    “We are delighted to be extending this initiative further, which sees a greater number of truly deserving people receiving free healthcare provision.  The purpose of the fund is to remove the financial barriers that exist with everyday healthcare costs, ensure speedy access/treatment when needed, and enable the recipients to spend their disposable income in other areas.  Starr Trust is a fantastic local charity and we are thrilled to support them in this way”.

    Rob Starr, founder and chairman adds,

    “Providing free healthcare benefits to our staff is so generous and kind, and I am really so very grateful that Engage Health Group has chosen to support us in this way. Their kind initiative enables us to use our own funds to help the young people we champion and yet it means our staff can realise how valued they are.  On behalf of the Starr Trust team a huge thank you!”

    The contribution follows an announcement last summer to sponsor the team working at Brighton-based children’s charity, Rockinghorse. Engage Health Group has selected Starr Trust as its second recipient of the fund. If you are a small charity and would like your team to be considered, please email enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk

     

  • First class service and tenacity from Engage Health Group

    First class service and tenacity from Engage Health Group

    “I am immensely proud of our team this week in resolving a complaint for one of our corporate clients, which has been ongoing for 11 months. This is a great example of the unsung work we do for our clients, which many don’t realise is included as standard when you work with Engage.” – Nick Hale, Director.

    Engage Health Group had been looking after the Private Medical Insurance policy for one of their small corporate clients for two years.  This involved managing the renewal process each year, negotiating with the incumbent insurer around benefits and premium, and delivering employee presentations to ensure the benefit was well communicated.

    An employee of the client called their Private Medical Insurer to begin a claim in December 2017, but was misadvised, resulting in the employee having to pay £4,500 towards their treatment. This was naturally a surprise to the employee, but confused by policy terms & conditions, the claims process in general, and not wanting to delay essential treatment, they went ahead and paid.

    When this was discovered by Engage Health Group, they insisted upon a review of the claim which included listening to all calls between the insurer and employee, liaising with the specialist consultant and piecing together what was a complex number of interactions.

    Following this process, Engage’s view was that the insurer hadn’t acted in an appropriate way and they therefore submitted a formal complaint to the insurer on two separate occasions, citing that the employee should be reimbursed. Both of these attempts were declined outright by the insurer who felt the claim had been managed adequately.

    Having been dissatisfied by this response and the lack of urgency from the insurer in question, Engage escalated the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and after several months of back and forth dialogue, their entry level complaint assessors also sided with the insurer.  The insurer did concede at this point, however, that it had taken an exorbitant amount of time to assist the claimant at the time, and as a gesture of goodwill, offered the employee £250 compensation to close the complaint.

    Undeterred and buoyed by the belief that they were in the right, Engage made a final attempt and escalated the complaint further to a senior ombudsman at the FOS.  Another three months of dialogue took place and Engage insisted that the senior ombudsman listen to the numerous telephone call recordings between the insurer and the employee, as they had.  They also supplied an itemised breakdown of how the interactions unfolded, coupled with their own analysis of where the service failure had occurred.

    After 11 months of rejection, Engage (and the client) were delighted to receive a call from the FOS in November 2018 confirming that they had reviewed the situation, listened to all calls, considered the detailed analysis and as a result, had agreed with Engage that the employee was misadvised by the insurer.

    The FOS were apologetic for the difficulty faced during this time and admitted that very few complaints are pursued in this way, but that the final result was the correct one.  From here, they instructed the insurer to immediately reimburse the employee the full amount, along with 8% interest for the 11 months the employee was unjustly without their money.

    Word from our client…

    “After handing the matter over to Engage Health Group, I asked if they could raise a complaint with my insurer after being given substandard information which had resulted in me paying approx. £4,500 in hospital fees. Despite their best efforts, all attempts to resolve the matter directly with the insurer were unsuccessful.  Not one to give up easily, Engage suggested that I take the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which I agreed to. They then prepared and submitted my complaint to the FOS. Over the next 8 months, Engage was constantly chasing the complaint to ensure it was progressing. At one point a junior investigator at the FOS issued a decision in favour of the insurer, however the rationale behind the decision indicated that she clearly had not understood the complaint. Engage insisted that the complaint was fielded by a senior person who finally agreed with the complaint and ordered the insurer to refund the entire contribution to me.

    This was a tremendous result, and entirely down to Engage’s tenacity and determination.  From start to finish the service provided by Engage Health Group has been extremely professional and personable, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.”

    Final thought…

    As a relatively small client, some might argue that the work put in here over 11 months was not commensurate with the clients’ “value”, and many may have given up at the first hurdle.  Every client who chooses to work with Engage gets first class service, irrespective of whether they have 3 employees or 300, and when we make a commitment to offer great service to our clients, it’s imperative that we fulfil that promise when the time comes.

    As an independent brokerage/consultancy, we work with and value all of our insurer partners, but importantly, we work for the customer.  This is the great benefit of an independent intermediary and one that many perhaps don’t appreciate when sourcing their employee benefit provision via other channels.

    Many customers utilise our service because they want to review their employee benefits packages and ensure they are getting the best possible value and coverage, but the ongoing service and continued advocacy we provide on their behalf is what really sets us apart.

    At Engage Health Group, we work across the health and wellbeing marketplace to ensure you find the right policies at the right price, and ensure your whole benefits package provides prices from across the market.

    Contact our expert team at enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk or call 01273 974419 for FREE no-obligation advice and support.

  • 2018 Sussex Business Awards Finalists Announced

    2018 Sussex Business Awards Finalists Announced

    The shortlist for the 30th annual Sussex Business Awards has been announced and hundreds of applicants have been whittled down to just fifty-one finalists. Engage Health Group is delighted to have been nominated for the Business in the Community Award.

    Representatives from sixteen towns across the county make the shortlist and after a record-breaking number of nominations, judges had an enormously difficult task as the entries were of such a high standard.

    The judging panel, chaired by Mike Herd, executive director of Sussex Innovation Centre, included representatives from Allied Irish Bank, HSBC, Mazars, Gatwick Airport, University of Sussex, Red7, Coffin Mew, Clearline Recruitment, CountyClean Group, Vantage Professional Risks, LMS Group and Rockinghorse.

    Commenting on this year’s shortlist, Mike said:

    “Each year the standard of entries gets better and better and this year was no exception.

    “This year’s finalists are a stimulating mix of established businesses and new entrepreneurial ventures with a common thread running through them all – resilience and determination to succeed. Congratulations to all the shortlist!”

    Winners will be announced at The Grand Brighton on November 29th.

    Over 500 of the county’s leading businesspeople are expected to attend giving guests the perfect opportunity to network with peers, celebrate with colleagues and find out those all-important results.

  • Engage Health Group Appoints Former Head of UK Intermediary Distribution at Bupa Global

    Engage Health Group, the Brighton based health insurance and employee benefits consultancy, has appointed Ian Abbott who joins the business as a Director.

    Abbott will lead the organisation’s global health insurance broking arm, Engage International, with focus around managing Engage Health Group’s existing international client base and driving growth through strategic partnership and acquisition.

    Prior to his new role, Abbott has spent 11 years in the healthcare market, seven of which with leading IPMI insurer, Bupa Global in a senior sales roles across the Corporate, SME and Individual business channels. Most recently Abbott’s role of Head of UK Intermediary Distribution, assumed responsibility for a range of duties including strategic broker management, proposition development and establishing Bupa Global’s preferred provider (PPA) proposition.

    Nick Hale, Engage Health Group’s founding Director, commented: “Strengthening our global presence has been a key ambition for the group as the world becomes a smaller place and international businesses take the opportunity to harmonise their global benefit provision where possible.  Ian brings a wealth of experience and is highly respected within the industry.”

  • Employee Assistance Programmes – A powerful employee benefit

    Employee Assistance Programmes – A powerful employee benefit

    Why choose Employee Assistance Programmes?

    With the cost being relatively low and with such an array of benefits for both the employee and employer, it’s easy to understand why more businesses are incorporating an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) as part of their overall benefit strategy.

    An EAP (Employee Assistance Programmes) is often positioned as a highly valued employee benefit that promotes wellbeing and a strong work/life balance, but is also proven to:

    • Greatly reduce absenteeism (34% reduction on average – source CBI absence survey)
    • Improve productivity in the workplace
    • Reduce stress in staff members and colleagues
    • Improve staff retention
    • Demonstrate a caring approach towards employees
    • Add value to an organisation (a return of £14 for every £1 invested – source CBI absence survey)

    There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to employee health and wellbeing, but an EAP can certainly tick a lot of the boxes and help employers to gain a better understanding of the risk factors which exist within their business. Furthermore, by providing a tangible tool to help employees navigate any personal issues they may be facing, employers can drive higher levels of engagement, and can have a meaningful and genuine impact when an employee needs it most.

     

    Some of the key benefits of an EAP are as follows:

    • Confidential support services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
    • Face-to-face counselling with fully qualified professionals
    • Stress related support
    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
    • Support for substance abuse, domestic abuse, debt problems, bereavement
    • Family support services
    • Serious illness and accident support
    • Critical incident Support (in the event of a critical incident in the workplace)
    • Medical helplines (for general medical advice)

    These benefits can be invaluable to staff who mightn’t have an alternative channel available to them, and who also mightn’t be comfortable raising any personal concerns directly with their employer.

     

    Mental health awareness and early intervention

    Additionally, with the upward trend in mental health awareness, more and more employers are working hard to intervene where appropriate to do so, and assist employees in managing mental health conditions. Mental health is one of the greatest causes of sickness absence in the UK, and whilst the overall rate of sickness absence has fallen by 15%-20% since 2009, absence due to mental health reasons in this period has actually risen by around 5%.

    Stress Related Absence has a significant impact on productivity and the below chart, recorded over a 10-year period by a major Income Protection provider, demonstrates the important role that early intervention plays.

    The table shows that when an episode of stress related absence receives intervention at week four, the average total length of absence is 24.3 weeks.  Where intervention is received between 21-25 weeks, the average total length of absence is over 55 weeks.

    Many EAP providers will aim to assist employers to intervene within the first seven days, prompting early discussion and support, and facilitating a faster return to work for the employee.

    Mental Health Index during the pandemic by Morneau Shepell
    Covid impact on expats mental health

     

    Is just providing an EAP enough?

    It’s certainly the important first step, but if employers wish to get the most return on their investment and genuinely improve the lives of their workforce, promoting the service in the right way is key.

    All EAP providers will make supporting literature available, such as posters and leaflets, which can be displayed in common areas to spread the word, but employers can go further still. Many employers now incorporate the EAP service as part of their management training, and ensure that staff are continually reminded of its features during performance conversations/121’s. Direct managers are often the first to notice a change in employee behaviour and are usually best placed to guide people to the service.

    Finally, whilst the use of an EAP by employees is confidential, many EAP providers offer meaningful Management Information to the employer, which can assist in understanding which risks are most prominent within their business. This is extremely useful as it empowers the employer to deploy resource more appropriately, ensuring that any health and wellbeing budget is being spent in the correct areas.

    Investing in the right health insurance policy for you, your family or your employees is a great way to ensure that you’re prepared should anything negatively affect your health, which could be out of your control.

    At Engage Health Group, we work with the UK’s leading health insurance providers to find the best policy for you, at the right price. Get in touch for a no obligation quote.

  • Engage Health Group Offers Free Health Cover to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity Employees.

    Engage Health Group Offers Free Health Cover to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity Employees.

    The newly founded Engage Charity Health Fund pledges free health cover to all employees who work for selected local Brighton-based charities, and to the employees’ families.

    Entirely funded by local employee benefits specialist, Engage Health Group, such cover is to include dental care, optical care (including glasses and contact lenses), physiotherapy, health screening, private consultations, scans, homeopathy and a 24/7 counselling and support line.

    Employee benefits provision is commonplace in the private sector and has become a big area of focus in recent years, with many companies designing their benefits strategy specifically to attract and retain the best calibre of staff. An attractive benefits package has also been proven to improve productivity and morale, and to drive higher levels of employee engagement and loyalty.

    Nick Hale, Engage Health Group’s founding Director and who developed the Health Fund commented,

    “At Engage, we manage the employee benefits provision of many businesses, both in the UK and overseas, including some of the larger charity organisations. We started to wonder whether more could be done to help those employees of smaller charities, where funds are sparse and employee benefits and perks are not able to be a priority.”

    The fund will also provide an online discount portal, enabling employees to enjoy generous discounts with numerous retail sectors including automotive, entertainment, shopping and travel, all of which are designed to save money in areas where employees already spend their disposable income.

    Ryan Heal, Chief Executive at Rockinghorse, commented,

    “We are absolutely delighted by Engage Health Group’s generosity and to be the first recipient of the Health Fund, which has been warmly received by our staff.  As a small charity committed to so many ongoing projects at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and beyond, it simply isn’t possible for us to engage in these types of staff benefits ourselves.”

    Engage Health Group has selected Rockinghorse as its first recipient of the fund and will be looking to add more organisations on a regular basis.  If you are a small charity and would like your team to be considered for inclusion, please email enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk, declaring your interest.

    Engage Health Group specialises in UK and international health insurance as well as the broader Employee Benefits landscape as an independent as whole of market brokerage and consultancy.

    For more information contact: nick.hale@engagehealthgroup.co.uk 

    Press enquiries: stuart.box@engagehealthgroup.co.uk

    Picture shows L-R, Ryan Heal, Chief Executive at Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and Director Nick Hale from Engage Health Group.