Bulletins

DWP announces revised auto-enrolment staging dates

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Pensions Minister Steve Webb has confirmed revised auto-enrolment staging dates following his announcement last month that these dates would be delayed.

All employers with an existing staging date on or before 1 February 2014 will not be affected.

To read more, please click on the ‘Download PDF’ icon below. 

Bupa and BMI hospitals: A Further Update

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Enrich reported on the contract negotiations taking place between Bupa and The BMI Network, following Bupa’s announcement to remove 37 BMI hospitals from their recognised hospital lists. The decision was made due to a breakdown in negotiations between Bupa and BMI. Enrich has been notified that an agreement has been reached which is in the long term interest of Bupa members. A number of improvements to the way Bupa and BMI will work together in the future has also been agreed, which should improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of care delivered to Bupa members.

To read more, please click on the ‘Download PDF’ icon below. 

Bupa and BMI hospitals: An Update

Friday, 23 December 2011

Keeping Healthcare Affordable?

The on-going and widely publicised contract negotiations between Bupa and The BMI Hospital Network continues to rumble on and are likely to run into the New Year.

The relationship between the two parties was brought into doubt recently when Bupa announced it was de-listing 12 of their hospitals from the Bupa network, which has subsequently risen to 37 and may increase following further negotiations. The key driver for Bupa’s stance is the cost increase of 20% the BMI Group is insisting upon, which Bupa would effectively pass directly on to it’s clients.

To read more, please click on the ‘Download PDF’ icon below. 

AXA closes sale of Denplan to Simplyhealth

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

The sale by AXA of Denplan which was announced today. A statement from AXA reads as follows:

“This morning AXA announced that it has signed and closed the sale of Denplan to Simplyhealth Group Limited. As many of you will know, Denplan has been part of AXA PPP healthcare since 1993 and has grown to be the leading provider of dental payment plans, with an unparalleled client base and distribution network. Denplan’s main business (dental payment plans) is not core to our overall offering. In recognition of the diverse needs of our clients our focus is to offer choice and flexibility and we will continue to be able to include dental cover in our products or as a standalone item”.

Please click here for the Frequently Asked Questions document which Denplan placed on their own website this morning together with an announcement from their Managing Director, Stephen Gates. As is typical of such a situation, the overriding message is “business as usual” however we will monitor the situation and service over the coming weeks and months and take appropriate action if and when necessary.

Should you have any further questions regarding the sale, please contact Richard Davey on 0207 997 5825 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or your Client Director.

DWP announces delay to Auto-enrolment

Thursday, 01 December 2011

Pensions Minister Steve Webb has announced that the Auto-enrolment staging dates and contribution increases for a significant number of firms will be delayed or changed. The current poor economic climate and the impact of these changes on small businesses are the reasons given for the delay. However, the reforms will still go ahead.

To read more, please click on the ‘Download PDF’ icon below. 

Is the Government about to delay auto-enrolment?

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Recent media speculation has raised the spectre of the Government putting on hold the plan to automatically enrol workers into pension schemes. The reason is growing concern about the state of the economy and the related costs of auto-enrolment.

Under current legislation companies would be legally obliged to provide a pension scheme and make contributions into it for their workers. The scheme commences in 2012 on a phased basis with all employers required to comply by 2016.

To read more, please click on the ‘Download PDF’ icon below.