Corporate Health Plan Pathways (CHP Pathways) offers the same levels of cover as other large insurance plans for organisations with more than 75 staff, but with an important difference.
When it comes to scheme members seeking a consultation with a specialist for investigation or treatment of a medical condition, rather than having their GP refer them to a named specialist, they obtain an open referral and let AXA PPP take the lead on directing them to a suitable healthcare provider.
In exchange for allowing AXA PPP to direct patients to selected providers (specialists, other practitioners such as physiotherapists, hospitals and other facilities such as scanning centres), AXA PPP is able to pass directly to clients the savings (of up to around 15%) generated by more cost-effective procurement of healthcare services for members of their scheme.
CHP Pathways allows scheme members to choose whether they would prefer to be treated nearer to their home or nearer to their workplace. The latter may be more convenient for initial consultations and tests or scans to determine whether further treatment, for instance, in a private hospital, may be needed.
AXA PPP's distribution director, Nick Groom, said: "CHP Pathways forms an important part of our response to meeting corporate customers' healthcare needs more cost-effectively in what remain challenging economic times.
"By allowing us to take the lead on directing members to selected providers, we can reward clients with significant savings - without compromising the extent or quality of healthcare cover scheme members receive.
"CHP Pathways is a welcome addition to our range of products and services for larger sized employers and we are confident it will help us to grow and develop the UK corporate healthcare market."
