On the 14^th February, we launched Mutual Benefits our new discretionary programme of practical lifestyle benefits for all our members, including existing ones, which also enhances their multi-award winning Income Protection. Since we launced the programme, we have had a phenomenal response from both members and advisers.

Mutual Benefits has been designed in line with the core principles of mutuality which are paying claims and returning value to our members. We think this offering will also help your clients realise the value of your recommendation to British Friendly and ensure greater loyalty.

Mutual Benefits underpins our multi-award winning Income Protection. The benefits are grouped under four pillars – Mutual Rewards, Mutual Wellbeing, Mutual Support and Mutual Partners. Benefits include savings on day to day spending, health tools, tips to improve wellbeing, health services such as virtual GP, a 2^nd opinion service for health-related issues and the ability to create a free Will online.

For more information and terms and conditions visit our website advisers.britishfriendly.com.

Do your clients struggle to get an appointment with their GP?

We all know making a GP appointment isn’t always easy, especially when your clients are working. Not only can it be difficult to get the time off, particularly if your clients are self-employed or running their own business, but getting an appointment in the first instance can also be a struggle.

According to the UK’s latest GP patient survey, 1 in 4 people find it difficult to get through when phoning their GP surgery to book an appointment (1).

Whether it’s investigating or diagnosing an illness, getting a referral to a specialist or simply getting prescriptions filled the pressures of getting support can also greatly impact an individual’s health and wellbeing. Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Insurance reveals that a household’s resilience to illness is greatly impacted by the extent and availability of health care services (2).

So, what options are available to your clients?

We’ve teamed up with Square Health as one of our Mutual Support partners to give your clients a range of free healthcare services including virtual GP consultations so they can get the medical support they need at a time that’s convenient for them, even if they’re not claiming.

British Friendly members are given 100 Health Support Points to use on the services of their choice each year. For eligibility requirements see our terms and conditions.

Services include:

• Virtual GP consultations (25 Health Support Points)
• Physiotherapy (33 Health Support Points)
• Counselling (33 Health Support Points)
• 2^nd opinion services (100 Health Support Points)

How can the virtual GP service help your clients?

• Consultations are up to 15 minutes versus the 10 minutes allocated for NHS appointments
• Your clients can obtain a diagnosis for ongoing ailments
• Sick notes and prescriptions can be provided through this service
• Appointments can be booked between 8am-7pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays
• Square Health is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

For more information, contact a member of our Sales Team on 01234 348 007 or at sales@britishfriendly.com.

1. https://gp-survey-production.s3.amazonaws.com/archive/2016/July/July2016NationalSummaryReport.pdf
2. http://www.cii.co.uk/media/7292361/cii_building_resilient_households_report_28oct2016.pdf