Aviva has launched a new health passport for its International Solutions private medical insurance customers, providing online access to their medical records when overseas.
- Over a third of adults (35%) don’t know their GP’s contact details
- Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults don’t know their own blood group
- Two in five adults (41%) don’t know the name or dosage of their regular medication
- New online health passport holds vital medical information for International Solutions customers.
Aviva has launched a new health passport for its International Solutions private medical insurance customers, providing online access to their medical records when overseas. "My Health Passport" provides customers with peace of mind that if they needed urgent medical treatment abroad, their medical history would be quickly and safely accessible.
A survey* by the insurer shows that worryingly over a third of adults (35%) don’t know their GPs contact details and nearly two thirds (63%) don’t know their own blood group. Quick access to such information could be vital if urgent medical attention was needed abroad, as medical notes aren’t routinely transferred by UK hospitals or GPs.
The new health passport is a secure online system which the customer controls. It holds the customer’s health information in one place and they can provide access to healthcare professionals involved in their medical care if they wish. Wherever they are in the world, details of the customer’s prescribed medicines, illnesses, vaccinations, allergies and treatments, as well as their insurance documents, can be accessed and updated by their GP and medical providers abroad.
My Health Passport holders will be encouraged to carry a membership card with them so their records can be accessed in an emergency so they can receive faster clinical care if required.
With over two in five (41%) adults unsure what their regular medication is called or what dose they take, and 50% unsure whether they have allergies to prescription medicines, an up-to-date health passport enables medical providers abroad to proactively manage a patient’s care through a better knowledge of their medical history and medication.
The passport can also store personal information, including next of kin and personal reminders, via an emergency health record.
Teresa Rogers, business lead, international, Aviva, UK Health, says: “We’re delighted to offer a safe online health records system for our International Solutions customers.
“Living and working abroad poses some unique challenges and we want to make sure our international health insurance customers have access to the latest tools and support services to make their time abroad as worry-free as possible. Recalling vital health information in the event of an illness or injury abroad can be tough, and My Health Passport offers invaluable peace of mind.
“The information it holds can save vital time in a patient receiving the right treatment and can save costs by preventing repeat medical tests.”
Aviva has partnered with Zaptag to deliver My Health Passport, which is available to both individual and corporate customers of Aviva’s International Solutions private medical insurance. It will be offered at the start of a policy and at renewal for no extra cost.
-ends-
If you are a journalist and would like further information, please contact:
Melissa Loughran
Aviva Press Office
Telephone: +44 (0)1904 452791
Mobile: +44 (0)7800 691947
Email: melissa.loughran@aviva.co.uk
Notes to editors:
* Aviva commissioned research in May 2012 among a panel of 1,500 UK adults who are broadly representative of the UK across age, gender and region. The research was conducted online by One Poll.
About Aviva
Aviva provides insurance, savings and investment products to 43 million customers worldwide.
We are the UK’s largest insurer with over 14 million customers and one of Europe’s leading providers of life and general insurance. We combine strong life insurance, general insurance and asset management businesses under one powerful brand. We are committed to serving our customers well in order to build a stronger, sustainable business, which makes a positive contribution to society, and for which our people are proud to work.
We are ranked as one of the UK’s top 10 most valuable brands and Aviva plc are in the top 10% of socially responsible companies globally in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. In 2011 we invested £5.3 million into our UK communities. One in three of our employees were involved in community investment activities which included giving nearly 33,000 hours.
Aviva is working in partnership with Railway Children through the Aviva Street to School programme to get children living or working on UK streets back into everyday life. Find out more at www.aviva.co.uk/street-to-school.
The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes company information and a news release archive.
For broadcast-standard video, please visit www.aviva.com/media/b-roll-library/.
Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc