Health Shield's 2013 plans include an adjustment to its flex products and the introduction of a corporate GP helpline.
The health cash plan provider aims to soften the damage caused by the scrapping of NHS Direct with the launch of a GP helpline on its corporate products in 2013 to help fill the gap after the 24-hour service is withdrawn.
Lara Rendell, marketing manager at Health Shield, said: "Next year on our corporate products we will be offering a GP helpline as the NHS is withdrawing the NHS Direct helpline.
"We do look at what is happening in the marketplace and the wider community and we have looked at including a helpline to help people with that."
Rendell added the new service aims to support people by offering them a convenient and practical way to address concerns about minor health issues.
Next year will also see Health Shield release two new flex schemes which do not include dental.
Rendell said: "On a flex platform there is quite often already an existing dental benefit. People do not want to have cross-over of benefits which you would have with a normal cash plan with dental in it."
Rendell expects the new product which excludes dental all together to be "quite popular".
The group also has plans in the pipeline for a new element scheme for the underserved SME market.
"There is not much out there for a three man band but we recognise they still want healthcare so we have come up with a plan for them as well," said Rendell.
