South Africa: Liberty Medical Scheme to launch a first to market Wellbeing Programme
In an exciting addition to its member care offering, Liberty Medical Scheme is set to launch the Liberty Health Wellbeing Programme in early 2014. The innovative programme offers a range of tools to empower members on their journey to better health outcomes.
“The Liberty Health Wellbeing Programme is not about partners, discounts or even points, but aims to help members to use their medical scheme benefits to live healthier, longer lives,” says Liberty Medical Scheme Executive Principal Officer, Andrew Edwards.
Edwards says while traditional medical schemes tend to focus on high cost, high risk members, Liberty Medical Scheme will offer members care and assign a case worker to members who join the disease management programme.
“Our mission is to care for our members when they aren’t well by providing access to appropriate, quality and sustainable care,” adds Edwards. “By asking the right questions, Liberty has acquired the knowledge gained to design this programme; offering members real interventions, not generic responses to their individual healthcare needs.” With a strong operational and excellent medical advisory team, the Wellbeing Programme will provide support and meet member needs.
“An important part of our care philosophy is how we interact with both members and healthcare providers, as this means providing members access to a range of additional benefits,” says Edwards.
Liberty knows how debilitating an illness can be on the body and has used these insights to provide additional services pre- and post- a surgery assessment. These services include pathology baskets of care; disease management; enhanced access via a GP network and post-hospital care and support for members who need prostheses.
When members are well, the Liberty Health Wellbeing Programme offers additional benefits that empower members to understand their current health, potential risks and to allow them to take appropriate action to manage their health.
“We see members as individuals, not part of a risk pool,” says Edwards. “Members and their families are able to set realistic and achievable goals based on their individual risks and lifestyles using the benefits of their medical scheme option.”
The Liberty Health Wellbeing Programme’s offering is based on clinical evidence to help identify potential future risks and help members to make healthier choices.
Using cutting-edge technology, through an online health navigator portal, available 24/7, members can sign up for free and complete a “Know your health” risk assessment by participating in health days, arranging a nurse visit during employee wellness days or visiting a Liberty network GP or Designated Service Provider. Fully equipped with the knowledge of their test results, members and their families can set their own fitness, diet and health goals based on their assessment results. They can also identify potential risks and lifestyle factors which could result in a future health event. The online navigator system also enables them to monitor their progress against their goals.
“Using the Navigator Portal, members can access clinically approved information and support from a panel of healthcare professionals or ask any questions through the contact centre, open 24/7,” says Edwards. “We want our members to have confidential access to healthcare professionals to help them deal with any issue affecting their wellbeing, whether it’s psycho-social or physical.”
Edwards says that the Wellbeing Programme complements Liberty Medical Scheme’s offering of providing the three key elements: cover, rewards and care.
“Our key differentiator is our philosophy of care,” says Edwards. “Members of Liberty Medical Scheme have the advantage of access to information and support to achieve great health outcomes.”
