Western Provident Association Case Study: Freedom of choice

Become the local face of WPA and join an ethical company with award winning customer service

Western Provident Association is a specialist health insurer with a heritage going back over 110 years. In 2014 the company was voted best for customer service at the Cover Excellence and Health Insurance Awards, demonstrating its commitment to putting customers at the forefront of all it does.

As a not-for-profit insurer, WPA focuses on improving customer experiences and ensuring individuals and companies get the right product for their needs. As a result of this commitment, some of the UK’s largest companies have put their trust in WPA’s services and maintained their relationship with the company over many years.

Suiting a variety of needs

WPA offers a choice of health insurance products to suit a variety of needs. This includes full private medical insurance plans and cash plans for both companies and individuals. Unique to the industry, WPA has a team of healthcare partners, who work across the UK as consultants in healthcare solutions. This provides customers with a face within the local community and endorses WPA’s commitment to treating customers fairly.

Healthcare partners not only sell and promote WPA’s health insurance products, but also maintain customer relationships via regular contact to ensure customer satisfaction.

WPA is looking to expand its 77-strong team in the UK by recruiting new healthcare partners. As the company believes in supporting them on the road to success, it offers a launch package that includes:

• Full training and support in your region and from head office.
• A financial support programme to help get your practice off the ground.
• Generous professional initial and renewal fees - enhanced in the first two years.
• Quarterly workshops at no additional charge.
• Real-time connectivity to WPA IT systems via a bespoke iPad app.
• A back office system designed for healthcare partner use.
• 48 telesales appointments.
• A dedicated mentor to help you establish your practice.
• First-year membership fees of a local networking group.

WPA’s healthcare partners come from various backgrounds and different walks of life, but all have business acumen and are driven to succeed. Successful candidates must have the ability to develop a network of customers, plus strong interpersonal skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Partners can choose to work from either an office or home. Many start by working from home and then progress to office space as they grow their businesses. The opportunity is a full-time commitment.

The market opportunity

The market opportunity for private health insurance is considerable in the midst of the UK’s current public healthcare concerns, with more people becoming aware of the importance of private medical insurance due to the increasing demands on the NHS.

Each year 300,000 people are unable to work due to illness and injury. As a result, health and well-being have become an important part of company healthcare and sickness absence strategies. An attractive benefits package not only helps employers make sure they get the pick of employees when they’re recruiting, but can also help retain them.

WPA offers freedom of choice. Customers can choose when, where and who to have treatment with, making the company’s products an integral part of the ever changing healthcare systems within the UK.