Agricultural purchasing group Anglia Farmers (AF) has launched an industry-leading health trust, transferring over £2 million of premiums into the scheme.

The AF Health Trust, which comes into effect on 1 April, will offer private medical insurance to AF members, their families and employees across the UK.

The trust provides all the benefits of established private medical cover schemes without the restrictions often imposed by insurance companies, offering a wide choice of consultants, flexibility of terms, age bandings and timing of payments.

The trustees also retain any unused balances of annual premiums in the trust, keeping the money in the scheme to benefit members and ensure that the cover remains competitive.

Clarke Willis, AF Group CEO, said: “For several years, we have offered an extensive portfolio of insurance services to our members, including private medical cover. This has now developed into one of the country’s largest corporate healthcare accounts.

“It was with that wealth of experience in mind that we decided to set up the AF Health Trust in order to deliver the best possible healthcare scheme at the same time as saving on premiums.”

He added: “As well as providing a greater choice of hospitals and consultants, we’ve seen a widespread reduction in renewal premiums so that our members will see an immediate benefit.

“As this scheme is administered by trustees, rather than an insurance company, they will be able to make decisions based on what is best for members, not for the profits of the scheme.”

The AF Health Trust does not place restrictions on the hospital (NHS or private) or consultants used by members. The scheme also uses qualified nurses as first points of contact and case managers.

The AF Health Trust will be administered by Healix Health Services Limited through Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers.