Insurers are noticing an increasing number of group income protection (GIP) customers coming to them for long Covid support.
Official data released earlier this month, reveals the number of people in the UK suffering symptoms associated with long Covid for more than a year has increased by 131,000 to reach 685,000.
Meanwhile the number of people suffering long Covid symptoms for at least 12 weeks had risen to 1.1m from 947,000 over the same period.
Overall, 1.5 million people had been suffering long Covid symptoms for more than four weeks, up from 1.3m in early January.
This week Aviva revealed increased demand for long Covid support from its income protection (IP) intervention and rehabilitation services.
The condition overtook cancer and musculoskeletal conditions to become the second most common cause of early intervention and rehabilitation for the insurer’s group income protection (GIP) customers in 2021.
But it appears Aviva is the not the only insurer to see increased demand for their services from long Covid sufferers.
Ian Ranger, head of claims, group insurance at Canada Life, told Health & Protection it too has seen long Covid referrals jump since the start of the pandemic to now rank as the third highest cause of referral this year.
“Employers appear to be reaching out to all supports available and making use of the nurse-led support they can access through Canada Life’s Early Intervention Service,” Ranger said.
“Our team are able to signpost to support services in those early days of absence and provide up to date medical advice and guidance to employees and employers.”
But Ranger points out the firm has also found long Covid sufferers’ symptoms are psychological and cognitive as well as physical.
“They may be suffering from a wide range of symptoms and as the length of absence increases the challenges increase,” Ranger continued.
“Their support needs are vast. The nature of an individual’s symptoms often mean that these returns need to be protracted and therefore we are working in lock step with employers to guide them along this journey.”
Physical and cognitive barriers
Charlotte Bray, clinical lead at Legal & General Group Protection, told Health & Protection that in 2021 5% of its GIP notifications were Covid-19 related or as a result of long Covid.
Bray explains the insurer’s rehab programme helps claimants manage the barriers to returning to work, which are often related to physical and cognitive capacity, helping them negotiate a realistic graded return to work programme.
“We’re currently collating data for our next annual return to work and claims announcement, based on 2021 results, which will look in more detail at our return to work performance across all the main conditions, including long Covid,” Bray said.
But Nick Homer, head of market management, corporate risk at Zurich, revealed mental health continues to be the most common reason for more than 50% for customers needing rehabilitation support, compared to Covid which accounted for just 7% of cases last year.
“Early intervention for employees affected by conditions like long Covid is crucial and means symptoms are more likely to be managed to aid a full recovery,” he added.
“In addition to the support we provide for employees, we provide employers with guidance, advice and signposting to help them manage this challenging employee health issue.”