Engage Health Group

Tag: healthcare

  • The Future of Dental Care & How Your Business Can Benefit

    The Future of Dental Care & How Your Business Can Benefit

    From teeth whitening to crowns, and dental emergencies to extractions, a wide range of support can be included in a Group Dental Insurance plan. But like any area of healthcare, dentistry continues to evolve as new technologies and techniques improve the way in which services are offered.

    In this article, we summarise the importance of Group Dental Insurance plus look at how BUPA Dental Care has adapted to the pandemic, including some of the fascinating technological advances they have been working on.

    If you need professional advice and support navigating the world of employee benefits, contact us at Engage Health Group +44 (0)1273 974419. We’re here to help you find and implement the right scheme for your business.

     

    What is Group Dental Insurance?

    Group Dental Insurance offers cover for a wide range of dental treatments, such as check-ups, fillings, crowns, bridges, and X-rays. It can be provided as part of a wider Private Medical Insurance scheme or through a Health Cash Plan.

    Costs vary depending on the level of cover offered, but it is mostly paid for either by the employer, as part of a flexible benefits scheme, or by the employee (at a discounted rate) through a voluntary benefit scheme. The scope for flexibility makes it an accessible benefit for most businesses.

     

    What are the benefits of Group Dental Insurance for your business?

    53% of employees believe an organisation offering dental insurance cares more about the wellbeing of staff, according to Unum Dental.
    Here are some examples of why Group Dental is good for your business:

    • Shows support of employee health & wellbeing
    • Reduces absenteeism
    • Lower in cost compared to most forms of health insurance
    • Oral care is directly linked to overall health (such as heart disease), so can help protect overall health of employees – improving productivity/lowering presenteeism.
    • Improves staff retention & recruitment
    • Partners/dependent children can be included

     
    Are you looking to find the best employee benefits that addresses all your employees’ health and wellbeing needs? Get free one-to-one advice by using the chat feature in the bottom right or call +44 (0)1273 974419.

     

    What’s new with dental care according to BUPA?

    Covid has been responsible for increased waiting lists and restricted availability for face-to-face appointments. Like many businesses, BUPA Dental Care has been forced to adapt and innovate.

    BUPA has been developing a new type of hybrid dentistry which focusses on bringing oral care to the homes of patients. Meanwhile, routine appointments are now being delivered more conveniently via video consultations, helping to free up backlogs in the process.

    BUPA’s new advances target four different areas of the patient experience.

    #1 Remote assessment

    Remote ways of working became the new norm in the face of Covid. But could dental care really operate that way? Being such a closely physical task, it would seem impossible to digitalise or perform from a distance.

    Yet, BUPA worked to find the answer.

    After an initial consultation BUPA is giving its patients access to a ‘scan-box’ for their smartphones. These take photos of their mouths which are sent to a dentist to monitor remotely.

    The company has developed ‘Intraoral Scanners’ which record 3D impressions of a patient’s mouth and teeth. The digital 3D images are then used to create prostheses (i.e., implants, crowns, dentures etc) and guide procedures.

    These developments save time (by reducing travel time to the clinic) and lessens the risk that may be posed by physical interaction.

    #2 Dental maintenance and care

    BUPA has introduced smart toothbrushes which measure how effectively patients brush their teeth, collecting data as they go. Data is then passed onto a dentist, enabling them to create a tailored care plan. This information can also be shared with insurers to develop ways of rewarding good oral care – if the individual gives their permission.

    Dental maintenance is one of the key factors in oral health. This leads to reduced claims and protects employees against more serious conditions like heart disease and dementia.

    Poor maintenance can also lead to agonizing tooth pain. It can be disruptive and stressful, putting strain on mental wellbeing and the ability to focus. Poor oral health might seem like an isolated problem, but its impact goes much further for sufferers.

    #3 Convenient access

    BUPA is one of the largest UK dental networks with 488 dental practices and more than 2,500 dentists! Such a wide reach means that most employees will have access to at least one local dental practice, reducing workplace absences and travel time.

    Improving access further, BUPA are moving all their forms to online platforms. Patients can then fill out paperwork ahead of their appointments, reducing the chance of a backlog.

    #4 Real-time appointment schedules

    BUPA has developed a new cloud-based patient management system, promoting convenient and effective care. The digital database offers current information, remote virtual appointments, and streamlines appointments to reduce face-to-face time.

    An intelligent booking system will send out reminders of appointments as normal, but also react to delays by giving patients an updated appointment time. Access to this information at the touch of a button reduces time away from the workplace.

     

    Can your team benefit from innovations in healthcare?

    New advances in healthcare provides businesses with exciting opportunities to better protect the health and wellbeing of their teams. Improved services which are easier to access are ideal for employee and employer alike – in essence achieving maximum support with minimum hassle.

    As employee benefits consultants, we’re fascinated by how insurance products and offerings continue to evolve to better serve their customers. We keep abreast of these trends to better serve businesses and the employees who stand to benefit.

    Related reading: The 3 Pillars of Corporate Wellbeing: What Do Employers Need to Offer?
     

    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.

  • 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.

  • Improve Your Health at Work

    Improve Your Health at Work

    According to a recent report Britons spend 12 years of their lives working (plus eight years shopping, 30 hours crying and 368 days in the pub). It’s no wonder time spent at work can take its toll on our mental and physical well-being – from eye strain to back problems to piling on those extra calories each time a birthday comes around. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and well whilst at work.

     

    Conscious Snacking 

    Whether it’s the communal table that houses the office treats or that week in July when everyone seems to have been born, the treats on offer in the workplace can soon add a couple of hundred calories to your daily intake. Snacking regularly on healthier options can help you to stay full in between meals, keep your metabolism up and dissuade you from reaching for the Maltesers every time you pass by on your way to the loo.

     

    Staying hydrated

    Eight to 10 glasses of water a day can help you to keep hydrated and many foods are a good source of water too; watermelon, oranges, grapes and apples can all keep you healthy and your hydration up. Bring a water bottle into work and try to fill it up at least once before lunch, then fill it again and finish it before 3pm and then again before you leave for the day. Set your computer or phone alarm to remind you. Drinking more water may also help you to feel more awake and alert.

     

    Keep Moving

    Not only will this help burn the calories, getting out for a walk at lunchtime can also help you to de-stress and mentally take a break from the workplace. Take the stairs rather than the lift, park further away from the office (or cycle/walk/run in!) and remember to get up and move around regularly throughout the day.

     

    Workspace Assessment

    Ask your employer for a review of your desk or work area to ensure that everything (including you) is positioned as it should be. This is also very important if you’re in a job that requires heavy lifting or demands any physical activity. The damage you do now could last well into your retirement so make sure you start as you mean to go on.

     

    Take a Holiday

    They say a change is as good as a rest, but a rest it also pretty good so make sure you take the annual leave allowance you’re entitled to and switch off completely. With wifi on planes now and Smartphones constantly in our hands it’s becoming increasingly difficult to take a mental break from work and studies show that not doing so makes us less productive overall. Don’t feel guilty for taking a break (and don’t worry too much as we also spend 13 years listening to music, which sounds rather lovely).

     

    At Your Service

    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 Healthcare, 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 partners with Taylor Brunswick Group

    Engage Health Group partners with Taylor Brunswick Group

    Engage Health Group announce international partnership with Hong Kong based Wealth Management firm.

    Extending their reach further, the Sussex based Health Insurance and Employee Benefits specialist has agreed a new partnership with The Taylor Brunswick Group, an independent and forward-thinking Wealth Management expert based in the heart of Asia.

    Taylor Brunswick is a collection of experienced and driven industry professionals who are bringing the standard and quality of onshore financial advice, offshore. Their client-centric approach based on a set of fundamental servicing principles and coupled with award winning technology has drastically improved the quality of service and advice received by clients.

    Nick Hale, Engage Health Group Director / Founder, commented,

    “We don’t enter into new partnerships lightly as being a relatively young business, our reputation and the values of those we associate with rank highly on our priority list. We have been extremely impressed with the way in which Taylor Brunswick operate and importantly, their values of a client-centric approach, integrity and independence very closely align to our own. We are very excited about working together moving forward and are certain that the relationship will be a long and prosperous one”.

     

    Engage Health Group will assist Taylor Brunswick’s international medical insurance clients who are re-locating to the UK and Europe, whilst Taylor Brunswick will assist those clients of Engage Health Group based in Hong Kong, Japan and Australia whom are in need of expert Wealth Management Advice.

    More information relating to The Taylor Brunswick Group can be found at https://www.majorcompare.com and https://www.majorcompare.com.hk

    If you’re interested in finding out more about Engage Health Group please contact 01273 974419 or email enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk