Sponsored focus on Portuguese healthcare Dr Francisco Chief Officer, What role did Lino you get intoExecutive the health system in Portugal? In 1996, was in thethefirst private insurance company in What role Médis do you play health systemhealth in Portugal? Portugal to launch the managed care concept, changing forever the local insurance market. More thanhealth a health insurance, Médisinpresents In 1996, Médis was the first private insurance company Portugal itself as an integrated health care system, where customers get the to launch the managed care concept, changing forever the local insurance best medical assistance with excelling service. market. More than a health insurance, Médis presents itself as an integrated
Until the traditional health get insurance plans were health Médis, care system, where customers the best indemnity medical assistance with the only service. option for customers and private health was considered a excelling small luxury,the leading to few existing private health operators. Until Médis, traditional health insurance indemnity plans were the only option for customers and private pushed health was luxury, leaMédis success and leadership theconsidered rest of thea small market to turn ding managed to few existing health operators. into care private and contributed for a double-digit market growth Médis success and leadership pushed of the market turn into in the last decade. Portugal has now the overrest 2 million peopletoinsured. managed care and contributed for insurance a double-digit market the last In fact, this growth in the health market hasgrowth highlyincontribdecade. Portugal nowforover million people uted at the samehas time the2appearance of insured. new and stronger mediIn fact, this growth in as thehospitals health insurance market has highly contributed cal providers, such at theclinics. same time for the appearance and Nowadays, private of new and stronger medical provimedical assistance has become suchtoas Portuguese hospitals andpeople. clinics. aders, habit Nowadays, private the medical assisIn 2009, despite economic tance has become a habitinsurance to Portuenvironment, health guese high people. grew above the other lines In 2009, despite the economic of business, including compulenvironment, sory insurance.health insurance grew high above the other lines of We are proud to say, compulsory that Médis business, including played a significant role in turninsurance. ing highproud quality private We are to say, that health Médis services for the mainplayed a affordable significant role in turning stream segment. high quality private health serNevertheless, Portugal, privices affordable in for the mainstream vate insurance is complemensegment. tary to the National Healthprivate Care Nevertheless, in Portugal, System, customers to seekinsurance with is complementary the ing higher assistance National Healthquality Care System, with through but with the customersinsurance, seeking higher quality State Health Care insurance, system playing assistance through but with the State Health Care system playing a afundamental fundamental for people no insurance orterm when term rolerole for people with nowith insurance or when long carelong is needed. care is needed. The nearby challenges for for the the sector andand Médis The nearbyfuture futureholds holdsstructural structural challenges sector Médis aims to rolerole in the system. aims to keep keepplaying playinga decisive a decisive in the system. How did you youleap hoisted the forefront? How did to thetoforefront? Since day one, innovation and quality are part of Médis DNA. Since day one, innovation and quality are part of Médis DNA. Médis benefited from being the first to launch managed care and Médis benefited from being the first to launch managed care and wisely used wisely used this advantaged towards competitors, which later were this advantaged towards competitors, which later were forced to follow this forced to follow this same path. Choosing innovation as a constant same path. Choosing innovation as a constant lever, Médis kept launching lever, Médis kept launching new solutions to meet customers needs; new solutions to meet customers needs; launched the 1st internet health launched the 1st internet health insurance transaction site; provided insurance transaction site; provided Linha Médis - a 24h telephone line for Linha Médis - a 24h telephone line for medical counseling and supmedical counseling and supported in a trademark clinical algorithm – still ported in a trademark clinical algorithm – still unique within competunique within competitors; all of this supported in a recognized excelling itors; all of this supported in a recognized excelling service, essential service, essential to keep Médis being a step ahead. to keep Médis being a step ahead. Médis brand is also highly perceived in the Portuguese population, being Médis brand is also highly perceived inTrusted the Portuguese population, considered 4 times SuperBrand and 2 times Brand, leading notoriety being considered SuperBrand 2 times Trusted Brand, leadin health insurance4bytimes far. According to aand Market Research Survey requested ing notoriety in health by far.by According to a Market Reto Nielsen in 2008, Médisinsurance was recognized all stakeholders as a health search Survey requested to Nielsen in Médisindexes was recognized by specialist, with high recommendation and2008, satisfaction highly above all stakeholders its market share. as a health specialist, with high recommendation and satisfaction indexespillar highly markethas share. Another important forabove Médisitssuccess been its multi-channel distribution strategy. pillar Millennium bcpsuccess bank has Médis prime Another important for Médis hasbeen beenalways its multi-channel distributor, butstrategy. Médis isMillennium also sold by all major agents even distribution bcp bank has and beenbrokers alwaysand Médis by fourdistributor, relevant insurance players which to benefit from prime but Médis is also soldpreferred by all major agents andMédis broHealth knowledge than risking to createplayers an ownwhich solution. kers and even by rather four relevant insurance preferred to Being infrom the Médis Health Health businessknowledge and as anrather insurance means benefit thancompany risking toalso create an beingsolution. social responsible. own
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Sponsored statement Being in the Health business and as an insurance company also means being social responsible. Médis as recently enlarged its range of acMédis as different recently enlarged range actions in waysofthat led, tions in ways thatitsled, forofexample, to different the creation ‘Médis for example, to the award creationtoofpromote ‘Médis Prize’ – aresearch financial-,award to proPrize’ – a financial science or launching mote science research -, or –launching a Médis website for children Kids – www. a Médis website for Kids www.mediskids.pt -, where can mediskids.pt -, where children canconcepts. have fun learning basic health concepts. have fun learning basic health In front, Médis builtbuilt its wayitstoway the forefront every day,every faithful to Infact factinineach each front, Médis to the forefront day, its foundational values, leading to where it stands today. it stands today. faithful to its foundational values, leading to where Whatservices servicesdodo you offer customers? What you offer youryour customers? Médis is an integrated health care system, working in managed care, Médis an integrated care working in managed which isimplies that wehealth finance oursystem, customers expenses, payingcare, diwhich implies that we finance our customers expenses, paying directly rectly to our network providers. to our network providers. All Médis Médis health its All health plans plans gather gather core core advantages advantages that that characterize characterize its value proposition, like for example: access to the Médis providers value proposition, like for example: access to the Médis providers network with with over over 6.000 network 6.000 health health specialists, including the best best prispecialists, including the private hospitals hospitalsand andclinics; clinics;a aPersoPervate sonal Médis Primary Physinal Médis Primary CareCare Physician; nd opinion from cian; access nd a 2 opinion from interaccess to a 2to international Best and Doctors and national Best Doctors preferred preferred conditions with a wellconditions with a wellbeing provibeingnetwork providers network ders through Médisthrough Card. Médis Card. Médis has a unique International Médis haswhich a unique International coverage, allows customers coverage, which worldwide allows customers to get treatment for seto getillnesses treatment serious withworldwide 1,000,000for euros rious illnesses with 1,000,000 eucapital and exclusive advantages rosClínica capital Universitária and exclusive de advanin Natages in Clínica Universitária de varra with unlimited capital. Navarraa with capital. Besides 24x7unlimited Medical Counseling Telephone Line, Médis hasCounselalso maBesides a 24x7 Medical terialized its presence the main ing Telephone Line, inMédis has hospitals with a dedicated nurses also materialized its presence in team area –hospitals Espaço Médis the main with-, keeping a dediacated proximity relationship clientsMédis and providers. nurses team areawith – Espaço -, keeping a proximity relationship with clients and providers. What are your plans for the future? What are your plans for the future?
Médis with 23,9% 23,9% market market share share with with aa consistent consistent growth growth Médis ended ended 2009 2009 with and thethe years. Notoriety, stakeholders satisfaction and recomand profits profitsover over years. Notoriety, stakeholders satisfaction and mendation benchmark levels provide a solid ground for further recommendation benchmark levels provide a solid ground for growth. further Focus areas will be on continuing meeting customers’ expectations by growth. delivering an attractive offer and excelling service, keeping financial Focus areas will be on continuing meeting customers’ expectations by and technical solidity – Médis has benchmarks claims ratio -, and explore delivering an attractive offer and excelling service, keeping financial business opportunities. and technical solidity – Médis has benchmarks claims ratio -, and exThese goals are achievable throughout innovation and new technoloplore business opportunities. These goals are achievable throughout gies, like for example the web, where Médis is focusing efforts in 2010. innovation and new technologies, like for example the web, where Starting with a look & feel site refreshment and adding new and more Médis is focusing efforts in 2010. Starting with a look & feel site recomplete transactions to Médis Customers, we increased convenience. In freshment and adding new and more complete transactions to Médis terms of Médis system efficiency, we are improving online interfaces with Customers, we increased convenience. In terms of Médis system effithe providers network and distributors and allow customers to complete all ciency, we are improving online interfaces with the providers network the subscription and buying process online. These are just some examples and distributors and allow customers to complete all the subscription of ways to continue our path, honoring Médis history and getting ready for and buying process online. These are just some examples of ways to the challenges ahead: the more efficient we are, the stronger we become. continue our path, honoring Médis history and getting ready for the In this way we aim to fulfill our customers’ needs and match our shareholchallenges ahead: the more efficient we are, the stronger we become. ders return expectations. In this way we aim to fulfill our customers’ needs and match our shareholders return expectations. MÉDIS - COMPANHIA PORTUGUESA DE SEGUROS DE SAÚDE, SA Tagus Park,- COMPANHIA Edifício 10, Piso 0,PORTUGUESA 2744-002 Porto Salvo MÉDIS tel: - 21 845DE 8888 / Porto - 22 DELisboa SEGUROS SAÚDE, SA207 8888 Tagus Park, Edifício 10, Piso 0, 2744-002 Porto Salvo tel: Lisboa - 21 845 8888 / Porto - 22 207 8888
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