Qantas continues to expand its suite of businesses with the announcement of a new health insurance program called Qantas Assure.
Teaming up with nib to launch the new program in the first half of 2016, it will be available to up to 11 million Qantas Frequent Flyer members and according to the carrier, will reward people with Qantas Points for being active.
Under the agreement, nib will provide its health insurance, risk assessment and underwriting capability while Qantas Loyalty provides its marketing, data and customer retention expertise. The result will be a range of Qantas Assure-branded health insurance products and the ability to earn Qantas Points through the Frequent Flyer program.
Setting itself apart from other traditional health insurance programs, Qantas Assure will reward members for moderate increases in levels of physical activity. This means the more active they are the more rewards they earn.
“It’s about offering members the opportunity to be rewarded for being more active, which is something that also has a direct impact on improving your wellness.”
Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO
Qantas Assure is targeting a two-three percent share of the Australian private health insurance market on a revenue basis in its first five years.
From next year, Qantas Frequent Flyer members who purchase a Qantas Assure policy can download a wellness app that syncs with popular forms of wearable technology.
The app will log the number of steps taken in a day and then deposit Qantas Points into their Frequent Flyer account. These points can then be used with over 400 partners for flights, shopping or towards your health insurance premium itself.
Members will be able to choose from a variety of daily or weekly targets depending on their lifestyles, with the number of points earned increasing with the size of the target.
According to Lesley Grant, CEO of Qantas Loyalty, the idea for the health insurance program came from member feedback and those wanting to be rewarded for their active lifestyle.
“When members combine the Qantas points they can earn from literally walking around the block with all the other ways to earn, it becomes a very powerful proposition.”
Lesley Grant, Qantas Loyalty CEO