Health Shield has joined an industry group dedicated to tackling the growing problem of healthcare fraud, such as medical negligence, benefit cheats and scams, becoming an associate member of the Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group (HICFG).
The HICFG aims to stamp out fraud through joint working and shared intelligence. It provides members with a technical platform to distribute information, in order to prevent and detect fraudulent behaviour within the healthcare market.
Jonathan Burton, chief executive at Health Shield, commented: "We are acutely aware that the widespread issue of fraud within the industry can impact heavily upon them if decisive action is not taken against the problem."
Health Shield's decision to join the industry-wide group, follows the introduction earlier this year of a new provision to protect its members against fraudulent claims and misuse - activity that it strongly believes has a negative effect on the interests of its members generally.
The Friendly Society will remove any member who attempts to make a fraudulent claim.
Melanie Price, claims manager at Health Shield, added: "We believe it is essential to tackle fraudulent behaviour head on, to ensure the majority of our members do not suffer because of certain individuals abusing the system."
The HICFG - in partnership with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) - is subscribed to by 29 health-related insurance companies, including 10 of the largest private medical insurers. The membership also comprises serious and critical illness insurers, re-insurers, health-related expat insurers and health cash plan insurers.
