- “BNP Paribas Protection Santé” supplemental health insurance policy provides extended coverage for seniors.
- Integration with prevention service developed by SIEL Bleu, an association that promotes physical activity for seniors.
- An innovation that combines supplemental health insurance and value-added social service.
BNP Paribas Assurance is addressing the growing percentage of seniors in the French population and the resulting issues it raises through initiatives designed to delay dependency situations while encouraging social interaction for seniors.
BNP Paribas Protection Santé policy adds extended coverage
BNP Paribas Assurance is actively promoting prevention and health for older people. The supplemental health policy BNP Paribas Protection Santé1 has been expanded with new benefits and a forward-thinking prevention service:
- Coverage has been expanded to include specific medical expenses: alternative medicine, hearing aids, prescription medication not reimbursed by the French Social Security system, private room and bed for person accompanying the patient.
- Coverage has also been added in several areas: bifocal lenses, laser eye surgery, periodontal work and dental implants, and podology.
- The age limit for subscribing to the policy has been pushed back to 75, compared with 65 previously for the “Confort” and “Confort Plus” plans.
- Prevention service including five physical activity coaching sessions in case of hospitalization provided by Domisiel, a unit of the SIEL Bleu association.
Inclusion of value-added social service designed specifically for seniors
As a leading insurer, BNP Paribas Assurance is actively engaged in issues related to care for the elderly, dependency, enhanced autonomy and inclusion of people with disabilities. These commitments are aligned with the priorities of SIEL Bleu, an association that has developed a range of special physical and sports activities to prevent and limit these problems among seniors.
The coverage included in the BNP Paribas Protection Santé policy applies to people over 65 in the event of hospitalization after a fall.
The different services, which are provided by Domisiel, a unit of SIEL Bleu, complement the work of healthcare professionals (physical therapists, nurses, etc.). They center on physical activities to allow patients to rapidly regain their pre-incident autonomy, such as being able to walk longer distances, moving about with greater confidence, etc.
This approach enables BNP Paribas Assurance to optimize the number of claims while helping seniors prevent risks linked to dependency and impaired mobility.
BNP Paribas Assurance supports SIEL Bleu association
Founded 12 years ago, the SIEL Bleu (“blue sky” in French) addresses the specific needs of the elderly and other segments of the population, including seniors suffering from disabilities or chronic diseases. In addition to group activities organized in institutions (retirement homes, specialized institutions, hospital wards for Alzheimer patients, etc.), it also works for outside institutions and in homes through its Domisiel branch.
Co-founder Jean-Michel Ricard receives social entrepreneurship support from BNP Paribas Assurance to advance the association's activities (for more information on support for social entrepreneurs visit www.angelsandfellows.com).
This support is provided within the framework of the partnership between BNP Paribas Assurance and Ashoka, an association that promotes “changemmakers” who drive social innovation and a spirit of non-profit entrepreneurship. BNP Paribas aids SIEL Bleu by contributing time, expertise and financial support.
Marc Tentillier, head of sustainable development in the BNP Paribas Assurance CSR department, says: “Within the scope of our CSR policy, BNP Paribas Assurance did marketing, actuarial and management studies to identify the best way to propose a prevention service integrated with our healthcare insurance offering. This is an innovative approach, since by working with SIEL Bleu we're able to promote the importance of physical activity for seniors as a means of delaying dependency and maintaining social interaction.”
Jean-Michel Ricard, director of business development for the SIEL Bleu association, adds: “SIEL Bleu's work helps improve the quality of life of over 50,000 people each week in France. Making our activities an integral part of supplemental health insurance coverage is a tremendous advance in terms of helping people by considering them not as patients, but beneficiaries. Our slogan, ‘Let's add life to our years', very much sums up our vision.”
About BNP Paribas Assurance
BNP Paribas Assurance (www.assurance.bnpparibas.com) is the Life and Property & Casualty insurance arm of BNP Paribas. It develops and markets products and services under two commercial brands. Products distributed through the BNP Paribas retail branch network in France are branded BNP Paribas. Those distributed by other channels in France and in international markets are branded Cardif.
BNP Paribas Assurance is the world leader in creditor insurance and the fourth-largest life insurance company in France. Its life and non-life insurance units have received an AA rating from Standard & Poor's. BNP Paribas Assurance is actively committed to exemplary Corporate Social Responsibility. It has adopted a Socially Responsible Investment program, encourages diversity throughout the enterprise (earning the "Equality at Work" label in France) and supports local economic development in the markets where it operates. BNP Paribas Assurance is equally committed to environmental responsibility, targeting a 10-percent reduction in the company's carbon emissions by 2010.
It had gross written premiums of 16.1 billion euros in 2008. Its activities are geographically diversified with strong positions in Europe, Asia, Latin America.
BNP Paribas Assurance generated 42% of its 2008 gross written premiums outside the BNP Paribas group and 37% of gross written premiums outside France. It counts 8,000 employees, 70% of them outside France.
About SIEL Bleu :
SIEL Bleu was founded in 1997 in Strasbourg by Jean-Daniel Muller and Jean-Michel Ricard after they received their degrees as sports teachers. They formed a non-profit association focused on helping people delay the onset of dependency and maintain social interaction through physical activities.
SIEL Bleu has grown rapidly since its founding. At the beginning of 2009, the association's nationwide network included 230 specialized physical activity professionals who serve more than 1,700 establishments across France. SIEL Bleu has since 2006 received support from Ashoka and continues to strengthen its position as a major player in social entrepreneurship.
1 BNP Paribas Protection Santé: a supplemental health insurance policy comprising three coverage plans (“Essentielle”, “Confort” and “Confort Plus”) plus a range of optional additional benefits.