Aviva has introduced four private medical insurance benefit options for large corporate clients aimed at helping employees bring their true selves to work.
The benefit options include an enhanced gender identity benefit, enhanced family planning and fertility cover, a new menopause service and a neurodevelopmental pathway.
They are available for employers covered on Aviva’s Optimum or Optimum Referral healthcare schemes.
Enhanced Gender Identity benefit
The enhanced benefit builds on Aviva’s Gender Identity core cover, which will remain available, and aims to offer employees who are transitioning a more comprehensive suite of benefits.
With individuals currently waiting between two and five years to access gender identity support through the NHS, Aviva said the cover provides faster access to gender specialists, hormone initiation and onward referral for surgical and non-surgical interventions that support gender transition.
Cover includes surgical interventions and support, including surgeries to masculinise or feminise the face and voice, and breast augmentation.
Cover for hair transplantation (up to £30,000) and hair removal (up to £20,000) is also available.
These are in addition to cover for surgeries and support that are also available on the NHS, including genital surgery, mastectomy and creation of a male chest and voice therapy for up to 20 sessions.
The benefit also includes mental health support and additional consultations to stabilise hormone medication beyond the existing two-year period. The cover is available to large corporate clients from 1 January 2023.
Menopause Service
Available to new and existing employers who choose Aviva Digital GP to support their employees, the new menopause service will be available through the app from 23 February.
The service includes an information hub to help address and manage menopause symptoms, as well as a symptom assessment tool which offers practical guidance personalised to the individual’s responses.
Employees can also access support from a menopause trained nurse with up to six 30-minute consultations, during which they can discuss symptoms, lifestyle changes and treatment options.
If required, the nurse can refer the individual to a GP with specialist knowledge of the menopause to assess whether further medical intervention is required.
The Aviva Digital GP annual menopause consultation allowance includes up to two consultations with a GP if referred by a menopause nurse in-app.
As menopause can affect both the individual and those closest to them, the service can be used by anyone over the age of 16 covered on the healthcare scheme, including partners and family members.
Family planning and fertility cover
The enhanced family planning and fertility cover can support employees in accessing fertility treatment and wider family planning services.
The benefit will continue to cover up to £20,000 of fertility treatment costs and has been extended to cover fertility preservation for employees who are due to undergo treatment or surgery that will impact their future fertility.
Core fertility benefit was launched in February 2020 on Optimum and Optimum Referral products.
The new cover will also give employees access to independent support and advice around fertility treatment and family building more broadly, including surrogacy and adoption, through the Fertifa reproductive health app.
The benefit is available from 1 April and provides cover to insured members of the scheme who have been diagnosed with a fertility issue.
Neurodevelopmental Pathway
The neurodiversity pathway is service through Onebright with the support of Aviva’s mental health claims team.
It will support individuals with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Tourette’s Syndrome.
Any member of the healthcare scheme who is aged seven and over and who is experiencing symptoms of a neurodevelopmental condition will be able to access screening, assessment and talking therapies, where they are recommended following a diagnosis.
For individuals diagnosed with ADHD, there is also cover for the stabilisation of medication and up to two years monitoring to help support their GP care and their transition to NHS services.
The new pathway will launch as an optional benefit from 1 April.
Dr Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva UK Health, (pictured) said: “UK employers are increasingly looking at enhancing their employee wellbeing support with services that although not traditionally covered by private medical insurance, will support their commitment to an inclusive and diverse workforce.
“This range of new benefit options provides personalised support for a variety of common wellbeing needs that are increasingly important to employees and will enable employers to really demonstrate their care and compassion for their valued workforce.”
