AIG Life Limited has revealed members of its protection insurance plans are increasingly turning to its Smart Health service to get day-to-day wellbeing help.
Usage data of Smart Health, the on-demand virtual healthcare service, shows that it has been used more than 100,000 times since its launch.
A third of this usage was in 2023 alone.
In more detail, AIG’s data suggested that whole families were using it as a tool to manage their immediate preventative health and wellbeing needs from the comfort of their homes.
One in eight Smart Health users (12.5%) who made use of the services did so to benefit children and young people under 18.
People have consistently turned to it to supplement their health and wellbeing needs, with 40% using it three or more times in 2023.
Virtual GP appointments, taking place by phone or video call, were the most popular service and made up two-thirds (67%) of Smart Health’s use in 2023.
Almost one in five (19%) of these took place at the weekend.
Nearly half (43%) of GP call requests in December were also outside typical working hours.
Alison Esson, senior propositions manager at AIG Life, said: “When a person is affected by ill-health, in reality it impacts their whole life balance, including their family and their job, so it makes sense that they’re increasingly turning to on-demand services like Smart Health.
“That Smart Health is being used by the whole family, and how it’s used, shows families want to move quickly to get health matters under control and to restore family equilibrium. They value the convenience.”
Esson added: “I implore the industry to share what we’ve learned from Smart Health’s impact so far to remind customers and employee scheme members of the whole family healthcare they have.
“Knowing you can access on-demand support – whether it’s a GP appointment, mental health counselling or even a second medical opinion – gives families a sense of control, gets them next stage healthcare support or helps them understand the situation they’re in.
“Removing worries and restoring peace of mind, just as protection insurance is designed to do.”
