ICMIF member Simplyhealth, one of the UK’s leading health plan providers, has announced the addition of an innovative new eyecare service to its growing community of quality-assured healthcare services. The aim is to provide people with discounted and faster access to optical support.
The new partnership is with vision benefits company EyeMed UK (part of EssilorLuxottica), and it will allow Simplyhealth Health Plan customers to book eye tests and exclusively access 20% discount on prescription lenses and frames (excluding contact lenses) at over 1,200 opticians and retailers across the UK, including at least one of the major chain opticians and also local independents.
In an industry first, Simplyhealth says it is also launching this benefit as its first national direct settlement scheme, allowing customers to settle the cost of their eye tests and prescription eyewear up to their benefit limit in store without having to pay upfront or make a claim later. This new service will be available to all customers in the coming months.
Simplyhealth says the discounted eye services are available to all its Health Plan customers immediately – individuals and businesses partners – and can be accessed from within the SimplyPlan app or Simplyhealth customer portal, 24/7, with people able to quickly find network locations and book appointments through a digital directory.
This is the latest in a series of innovations now offered to Simplyhealth Health Plan customers. Over the past 12 months the mutual health insurer has launched a wide range of new services for customers including digital MSK (joint, bone and muscle injuries) triage and self-management, and discounted services for physiotherapy, imaging and blood diagnostics, and women’s health products and services. All Simplyhealth’s services, alongside its cash benefits, can be accessed through the SimplyPlan app and Web Portal.
Simplyhealth says it is on a mission to prevent people being off work on long-term sick by offering low-cost health solutions for the most common everyday health issues, and with 20% of people reporting they have taken some sick leave over the last twelve months for eye problems, this new offering will be a vital service for all businesses in the UK.
Tina Kennedy, Health Plan Product Director, Simplyhealth said: “A visit to the opticians is so much more than a sight test and can help prevent and identify health problems sooner. By joining forces with EyeMed, customers can find the best eye care providers, treat their conditions, fund treatments via claim-backs and discounts. Adding a direct settlement option is an exciting, significant milestone and a first for the UK Health Plan insurance industry. With 95% of our current customers within a 5-mile radius of one of these opticians we are delivering on our promise to make affordable healthcare more accessible for all. Continuous innovation will bring direct settlement and more services to our Health Plan later this year, growing networks and providers nationally.”
Hector Rincon, Head of EyeMed International added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Simplyhealth, to accelerate our shared purpose of improving people’s access to health care. At a time when the need for vision care is growing, we are proud to bring to the UK the first of its kind network that will allow millions of people to gain access to a comprehensive range of optical services, including eye tests and prescription eyewear.
