In October Bupa announced the latest changes it has made to their Explorer Health Plans and Company African plans. The international private medical insurance company has seen a change in the IPMI industry. These changes have influenced Bupa to enhance their offerings to the African market.

Customers expect more from IPMI’s, their expectations include more personalised healthcare that is convenient and focused on keeping them healthy and not just treating them when they are unwell. These enhancements are evidence of Bupa’s aim to create a sustainable business.

How has Bupa changed their SME products?

• Creating an Africa market specific version of Company (Company Africa Plans).
• Adjusting overall annual limits to align with the specific African market.
• Enhancing benefits across all product tiers to deliver greater value in the market.
• improving member experience by introducing access to SSAN network on our top two tiers.
• Improving underwriting principles.

How has Bupa Changed their Individual Products?

• Adding the ability to underwrite pre-existing conditions and add additional loadings to plans.
• New geographical coverage with the option to add Europe and Worldwide, providing more choice for members.
• Additional deductible options providing more price flexibility.
• Adding outpatient and optional benefits to Explorer Essential making the product more market relevant.
• Improving underwriting principles.

Enhancements Made to Bupa’s SME Products

African Product	Enhancements
African Essential	Added limited out-patient coverage • Added drugs and dressings limit • Added durable medical equipment limit • Added maternity
African Classic	Added family doctor visits • Increased mental health to paid in full • Added drugs and dressings limit • Added durable medical equipment limit • Increased shared health screening/wellness limit • Increased shared maternity limits • Added limit for optional optical with 25% co-insurance
Africa Gold	Added access to SSAN (0% deductible must be chosen) • Increased family doctor visits • Increased shared health screening/wellness limit • Increased vaccination limit • Increased rehabilitation limit to paid in full • Increased shared maternity limits • Increased dental annual Limit • Added limit ($1000) for optional optical with 25% co-insurance
Africa Gold Superior	Added access to SSAN (included) • Increased out-patient therapies limit to paid in full • Added durable medical equipment limit • Added home nursing limit to paid in full • Increased hospice/palliative limit to paid in full • Increased rehabilitation to paid in full • Increased shared maternity limits • Increased dental annual limit remove co-insurance • Added limit for optional optical, remove co-insurance • Increased mental health limit to paid in full

Changes Made to Individual Products

African Product	Enhancements
Explorer Essential Plus	• New higher USD1.5m annual limit • New widened regional coverage (Africa Plus) to include Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka • New option to add Europe to the area of cover or choose worldwide with or without U.S. cover • Increased deductible options • Added limited out-patient coverage • Added prescribed drugs and dressings limit • Added vaccinations limit • Added maternity • Added optional dental and optical
Explorer Gold	• New higher, USD3m annual limit • New widened regional coverage (Africa Plus) to include Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka • New option to add Europe to the area of cover or choose worldwide with or without U.S. cover • Increased deductible options

It is so important that IPMI’s continue to adapt their product offerings to meet customers needs and wants. To find out more about Bupa’s enhancements t it’s African products please contact us. Clarity Employee Benefits is an authorized Financial Services Provider – FSP No. 51007. We specialize in international health insurance, please do not hesitate to contact us if you are in need of health insurance guidance or advice.