VitalityHealth is introducing access for two high-profile weight loss injections as part of its weight management pathway for private medical insurance (PMI) members.
It is also adding a guided self-management mental health service as part of the expanded proposition which will go live for members based on eligibility criteria from spring 2025.
Weight loss injections and management
The health insurer is incorporating a medicated weight loss pathway, providing access to discounted weight loss medications including Wegovy and Mounjaro for members with a BMI of over 35 and with weight-related health conditions.
Eligible Vitality members will be able to access weight loss medication alongside personalised lifestyle support and one-to-one coaching with a dietitian.
The enhancement builds on its current weight loss programme that provides lifestyle support and one-to-one coaching, with 48% of enrolled members reaching their weight loss targets, the insurer said.
Members will be required to complete their health profile on the Vitality app to determine eligibility criteria.
Those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or a BMI of 25 with type 2 diabetes will be able to use the lifestyle pathway.
Members with a BMI of 35 or more and at least one weight-related co-morbidity can access the medication assisted pathway.
Those doing so can access medications Wegovy and Mounjaro through Second Nature’s dispensing partner Pharmalogic, for a discounted rate. They can also access it externally with a valid UK prescription.
They will also benefit from one-to-one health coaching for up to 12 months while on the medication.
Guided self-management for mental health
The provider has also announced a new digital mental health pathway for all VitalityHealth members through a new app to provide support and exercises whenever a member needs it.
The app, designed by psychologists, and powered by Wysa’s coaching platform, aims to complement the wider mental health provision, including Talking Therapies, provided by Vitality to its members. Its support includes access to 150 evidence-based exercises for better mental health.
Members will be able to access the app, alongside all the other mental health support provided through Vitality, through Care Hub – the central location where members manage health claims and benefits – with members triaged or signposted to all options available.
Obesity health complications
VitalityHealth CEO Arun Thiyagarajan said: “As the world continues to go through tremendous change, we have challenged ourselves to look at how we respond to this, and our changing customers needs.
“Our launch directly responds to a number of pressing societal issues, namely mental health and obesity.
“Over the past year, the potential of weight-management medications has become more evident, and offering these to members can transform lives, and significantly reduce their risk of health complications linked to obesity.
“In combining access with our lifestyle support and one-to-one coaching, we are also committing to help our members manage their weight in a long-term sustainable way.
“Better health is what health insurance is all about, and all our announcements today, continue to put prevention and health support at the very centre of our products and services, further supporting our members to make positive changes to their health.“
Vitality programme changes
The changes coincide with the launch of Pick and Play, a gamified extension of its Vitality Programme.
It is adding a choice of weekly Active Rewards within the Vitality Programme, and the opportunity to play for more rewards.
Active Rewards are unlocked when a member is active and earns 12 activity points.
Some 100 million physical activity events were recorded through the Vitality Programme last year, with members rewarded for each week that they achieve 12 activity points – which is equivalent to a workout on one day plus two other days of 7,000 steps, or four days of 7,000 steps.
For every week that a member earns 12 activity points, they will be given the chance to play to find Stanley the dachshund hidden on a gameboard.
Members will be able to choose up to three rewards every month, depending on how many Stanleys they find.
It is also adding 50% off a cinema ticket as a weekly reward option, in addition to the monlthy cinema reward.