The NHS admitted this week that they are to begin exploring the possibility of introducing 'cash plans' and other financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles. Numerous areas have already begun to start their own schemes, and the initial results have given some encouragement.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) believes the measures may help to tackle obesity, smoking and drinking. NICE has described rewarding lifestyle changes as an idea whose time has come, and wants to gather additional evidence before a formal recommendation.
Usually this type of plan is paid monthly via direct debit on a rolling contract.
To help gauge the general public's reaction into their proposals NICE are planning to submit the concept before its citizen's council on Thursday and Friday (20th & 21st May 2010).
In an interview with the BBC ahead of that event, Professor Mike Kelly, NICE's head of public health, said: "We will want to see evidence that it provides value for money, there is a question over whether behaviour is sustained when incentives end. Humans respond to incentives, we know that. What we now need to see is whether the economic behaviour can be repeated in terms of health behaviour. It is an idea whose time has come."
If NICE do indeed end up backing the proposed plans or similar schemes, recommendations that cover all of England and Wales are still around a year away.
Most cash health plans will not cover all of your expenses and they do have an annual capped limit. Usually there is a limit of between three to six months before you can begin to claim on the plan. Certain cash plans will not cover you for treatments for pre- existing illnesses you may have had before taking out the agreement.
If you require help with the cost of evey day healthcare solutions then MedicashCash Plans offer the ideal solution and covers you in the event of any medical emergeny.