The widespread disruption brought to NHS services by the Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant increases in waiting times across the UK, leaving six million patients currently waiting for procedures.[1] A depletion in staff due to illness and burnout[2] has caused a knock-on effect to healthcare that is leaving many people asking how they can access the urgent consultations they need.

For advisers, encouraging clients to think about protecting their health now and in the future is paramount.

Gynaecology most affected by waiting time increases
In December 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care published a strategy for women’s health in England which surveyed over 100,000 women on their healthcare experiences, and the number one topic for focus chosen by women aged 18-29 was gynaecological conditions.[3]

Of all the NHS services affected by increased waiting times, the biggest impact has been on gynaecology.

The NHS backlog for gynaecological treatments has risen substantially: in April 2021, 380,000 women were waiting to see a gynaecologist, compared to 286,000 in 2020. This is an increase of 34%, the largest rate of increase for all medical specialisms over this period.[4]

This isn’t a new problem either. NHS backlogs for gynaecology treatments existed before the pandemic and our own data at The Exeter from 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic, revealed that gynaecology was amongst the top ten reasons why our members made a claim on their health insurance policy. Clearly, there is a need to highlight the support women can quickly get through their health insurance policy.

Framing the conversation with clients
Encouraging clients to think about protecting their health now means they are less likely to suffer long waits in the future. The speed of service provided by health insurance means clients can see healthcare professionals far sooner and avoid potential complications from delays in treatment, where a slight health issue can grow in severity over time or become harder to treat.  The negative mental health effects which come with dealing with an untreated condition for a long period of time can also be lessened.[5]

When discussing the option of taking out insurance with clients, advisers can frame the conversation by emphasising the security provided by health insurance, noting its benefits for any potential future issues with wider health, and highlighting the various specialisms covered. Advisers can also use this opportunity to highlight how policies may be affected by pre-existing conditions, which will be an essential conversation to manage client expectations and find the policy that is right for them.

By positioning health insurance as a safeguard for those who purchase it, for both their peace of mind and their quality of life, clients will be able to consider the benefits not just now, but in the future.

Looking more widely
It’s also important for advisers to consider that younger age groups are increasingly looking to health insurance products to help them protect their health.[6]

As the research from the Department of Health and Social Care suggests, women in younger age categories are voicing more interest in avoiding NHS backlogs, making the provision of health insurance for gynaecology to the 18-29 range just as essential as it is for more conventional audiences.

To help reach this group, advisers should highlight the digital healthcare tools that are available through health insurance. Reminding clients that they can get easy access to remote medical consultations, with a minimum of inconvenience and the same confidentiality as an in-person consultation or GP appointment, is a good way to appeal to a generation who are accustomed to accessing services digitally. Indeed, for some health policies, the value of the remote healthcare benefits provided can exceed the value of the policy itself, making this a significant bonus for policyholders.

This is not to say that developments in digital health services are the only option for policyholders to benefit from medical advances. Diagnostics and treatment technology continue to evolve, and women with health insurance can benefit from this directly. For example, The Cromwell Hospital in London recently opened an international endometriosis centre[7], where eligible clients would be able to access specialist services.

For advisers, NHS waiting times and the impact on women should be key to framing the health insurance conversation. With women waiting longer for gynaecological services, advisers have an important role to play in helping women find the right health insurance to avoid waiting patiently in the future.

Karen Woodley is head of sales at the Exeter

[1]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59972628

[2] https://inews.co.uk/news/health/nhs-staff-quit-record-numbers-ptsd-covid-pandemic-trauma-1387115?ico=in-line_link

[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-vision-for-the-womens-health-strategy-for-england

[4] https://www.lcp.uk.com/media-centre/2021/07/women-bearing-brunt-of-indirect-impacts-of-covid-19-pandemic-as-new-analysis-shows-gynaecology-waiting-lists-have-shot-up-by-60-in-three-years/

[5] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hex.13241

[6] https://www.activequote.com/articles/people-buying-private-healthcare-continue-to-grow-younger/

[7] https://healthcareandprotection.com/cromwell-hospital-launches-international-endometriosis-treatment-centre-while-hca-healthcare-invests-in-more-surgical-robots/