Cashplans

Health Shield has launched two flexible benefits which exclude dental for its flex schemes to combat product overlap.

Health Shield has launched a health cash plan to provide affordable benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.

Health Shield's 2013 plans include an adjustment to its flex products and the introduction of a corporate GP helpline.

Expat insurance provider William Russell has launched optional dental benefit plans for businesses.

The government has responded to the Office of Fair Trading market study of private and NHS dental markets.

Chase Templeton has acquired PMI specialists Perfect Health as part of its drive to consolidate the PMI intermediary sector.

Overall penetration of the UK population by private medical cover has hit the lowest rate in more than 20 years while employer-paid cash plans buck the downward trend, Laing and Buisson has reported.

NHS dental activity has fallen since March but the overall picture is mixed, quarterly dental commissioning statistics have shown.

Medicash is targeting brokers to expand business in London and the south east.

Engage Mutual has reported 20 to 30% of broker take-up of its new corporate cash plan has been to underpin PMI excess policies.