Axa Global Healthcare has started the phased rollout of a new healthcare payment card to simplify the claims process for its corporate clients and their employees.

The healthcare payment card consists of a virtual card which members can add to their Apple or Google Wallet and enables members to pay for eligible outpatient treatments, such as over-the-counter prescriptions, without using their own funds and without having to submit a claim.

Research conducted among Axa - Global Healthcare’s business customers found that members submit a substantial amount of low-value, self-pay claims every year, although they said they dislike making these claims against their policy. The level of time and administration involved emerged as the main reasons for this.

The firm says the rollout will enable it to monitor the process, measure the success of the service and make any refinements to the offering ahead of a full launch to the wider customer base. Andy Edwards, managing director at Axa Global Healthcare, said: “We’re pleased to be launching our new healthcare payment card as the first step to giving our members a wallet of services from which they can access their international private medical insurance policy.

"Building the resilience of our offerings is key to Axa Global Healthcare’s ability to provide enhanced propositions for customers and is central to our wider strategic growth plans for the business.”