B&CE Benefit Schemes has announced bold improvements to its employee healthcare plan to include invaluable employer services and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for the first time as part of an innovative package of benefits.
B&CE has teamed up with not-for-profit health insurance provider Westfield Health to offer the B&CE Employee Healthcare Plan, which is tailored to construction employers, employees and their families.
The plan helps cover employees’ essential everyday healthcare costs, and includes access to treatments that can help prevent common health conditions associated with construction from becoming chronic, all from just £1 per week.
Construction employees take on average nearly six sick days each year, with the average cost of absence per employee, per year in the construction industry standing at £582*. However B&CE is offering a way for employers in the construction industry to help reduce the cost of absence and provide good healthcare benefits for their employees.
The far-reaching changes to the plan mean it now offers an effective absence and risk management tool and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including CBT as core benefits.
CBT is recognised by the Government and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective talking therapy for the treatment of many mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders. And with a consultation benefit and stand-alone scanning service, the plan offers a comprehensive diagnostic service.
The improved plan now includes three invaluable new employer support services; BusinessCare, an HR helpline and a Company Health Report, which is available once employees have completed an online personal health risk assessment.
The new Online Personal Health Risk Assessment gives employees and their resident family members the opportunity to complete an online assessment to show how their lifestyle impacts on their health and the risk of them developing major diseases such as cancer or coronary heart disease. The process will also support them to take action to reduce any identified risks.
The aggregated and anonymised results can then be presented in an electronic Company Health Report, which will give employers greater clarity on the health profile of their workforce. It also presents an opportunity to use the information to take preventative action in those areas of greatest concern, to improve the health of their employees, reduce absence and so boost the health of the business.
Another new employer service, BusinessCare, provides 24-hour access to expert telephone advice as well as online information on a range of general legal issues including employment, health and safety and many more.
The HR Helpline provides 24-hour access to free and confidential advice regarding people management issues.
John Jory, Director of B&CE Insurance comments: “B&CE’s employee healthcare plan already offered a comprehensive range of benefits and employers purchasing the plan for their staff will now further gain from a new range of employer support services.”
The comprehensive package of BusinessCare, HR Helpline and a Company Health report are all designed to support them in their day to day business, giving them free access to quality accredited advice from specialists 24 hours a day, every day, thereby providing overall peace of mind.
B&CE’s Employee Healthcare Plan also offers three optional modules – Surgery Choices, which provides employees with cover for 60 different non-urgent surgical procedures, For Kids, which provides health cover for employees’ dependent children, and DoctorLine™, which provides 24-hour worldwide telephone access to a qualified practising GP as well as access to special membership deals at UK health and fitness clubs. Members who apply for B&CE’s Employee Healthcare Plan before 30 June 2010 can take advantage of the DoctorLine™ module free for 12 months.
The improved plan is available now for all new sales.
*Absence Survey Report 2009 CIPD
For further information please contact:
Jo Gibbs
Communications Manager
01293 586541