Health Shield has launched two flexible benefits which exclude dental for its flex schemes to combat product overlap.
Flex and Flex Extra will offer the choice of a cash plan without the dental benefit from January 2013. A comprehensive version of the two schemes will still be available.
The products will give employees the option of merging the health cash plan with a stand-alone dental plan product. This is intended to remove crossover of benefits.
Philip Wood, executive director of sales and marketing at Health Shield, said: "The new ‘Flex' product is the first of its kind in the health cash plan market, providing a versatile option that reflects current needs and buying trends.
"It further demonstrates our commitment to offering a diverse range of products and benefits that are underpinned by high levels of customer service."
The new schemes form part of the friendly's plans to improve its product portfolio offering to meet demand and use.
Wood said: "We are reviewing our entire product portfolio for 2013 onwards to ensure that it continues to meet company and members' needs, while reflecting the changing market landscape in line with our business strategy."
