News Flash – FEBRUARY 2010

NEW YEAR, NEW MILESTONE FOR PEOPLECARE

Peoplecare Health Insurance has achieved another milestone this year with member numbers reaching a total of 20,000 memberships, providing health cover to more than 46,000 people.

Peoplecare was originally classified as a restricted health fund for employees within the steel industry from 1953 until late 2006. Since the health fund opened its doors to the general public 3 years ago, Peoplecare’s membership has increased by around 25%. This is remarkable growth in an industry that typically grows by approximately 3% per year.

In addition, one of the world's leading survey-based marketing research firms ,IPSOS recently surveyed 5,555 members of different heath funds across the country  and highlighted Peoplecare as achieving the highest customer service rating ever recorded in the survey’s history. The report states ‘Peoplecare’s performance is truly exceptional… Peoplecare has set a record that will be hard to match, but shows what can be achieved’.  

MEMBER SATISFACTION SURVEY 2010...

We are currently conducting our annual independent member satisfaction survey which is available for members to complete online, closing on the 19th February, 2010.

At Peoplecare, we are always looking for opportunities to enhance the value and service we deliver to our members and the member satisfaction survey is a useful tool to get our members to help in identifying areas where we can improve, and also identifying areas where we are doing well.

In past years, members' response to our annual satisfaction survey has been overwhelming and has provided many suggestions for us to consider.

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and all participants go into the draw to win one of ten Peoplecare Creative Zen 1GB & Travel Sound MP3 Players valued at $59.95 each*!

If you are a member who has not received an online survey and would like to have your input, please send us an email at info@peoplecare.com.au

We are very proud of the 98.4% member satisfaction rating we achieved last year, and hope to have another outstanding result in 2010.

ONLINE CLAIMING IS HERE!...

Peoplecare announced the launch of Online Claiming in August 2008. You can now claim online for your dental and physiotherapy claims by going to the Online Member Services section of the website. You can logon to Online Member Services here.

Our Online Claiming is still in development, so stay tuned for further expansion and improvements. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions about Online Claiming, so please email info@peoplecare.com.au

Of course, the most convenient method of claiming is still by swiping your membership HICAPS card at participating providers, but it's good to know that Online Claiming is another option for claims for providers who don't participate in HICAPS claiming.

PEOPLECARE RANKED IN NATIONS TOP HEALTH FUNDS...  AGAIN!

While it will be no surprise to our members, Peoplecare has again been rated as one of the best value health funds in Australia. In their annual health fund evaluation for New South Wales and Victoria, Canstar Cannex have listed Peoplecare products amongst the best value in both states and awarded Peoplecare the 2009 State Award for Outstanding Value Hospital Cover in Victoria, again proving a smaller player can compete successfully with the largest health funds in Australia.

This is the third bouquet in as many months for Peoplecare, who have been independently evaluated and ranked amongst the best value for 2009 by Australian Financial Review’s Smart Investor magazine, Choice magazine and now Canstar Cannex.

This most recent recognition once again positions Peoplecare as a health fund that provides high value health cover to its members. Peoplecare’s CEO Michael Bassingthwaighte is extremely happy with this acknowledgement from Canstar Cannex.

“At Peoplecare, we make sure we look after our members with competitive products that give them exceptional service and value. It’s fantastic that there are independent avenues such as this that help consumers find the best value options. I’m pleased to have this independent recognition of the value of our health covers”, said Michael.

“This is more proof that as a smaller, not-for profit company we can be competitive at the national level, while remaining focused on our local communities”.

Peoplecare were also featured on the Today Tonight show in October as a health fund providing competitive health cover options.

CHOICE HEALTH INSURANCE SURVEY 2009...

The Australian Consumers Association do an annual evaluation of private hospital covers for their Choice magazine and website and Peoplecare has participated in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

For more information about how we performed in the CHOICE 2009 Health Insurance survey, please visit www.choice.com.au Full results of the 2008 survey are available on the Choice website at www.choice.com.au.

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