Cash plans are typically seen as good products for helping people to maintain their everyday health needs throughout the year.
However, they can come into their own at specific times of life, giving people extra support and access to afford treatment when critical situations arise.
Welcoming a new life into the world should be one of the most joyous moments but it can be fraught with stress, financial burden and an additional health toll on the mother especially.
Molly Oakley, (pictured with husband Josh and baby Poppy), speaks to Health & Protection about how a workplace health cash plan supported her as she faced the life changing prospect of becoming a mum for the first time.
Oakley, who is communications and events executive at Health Shield, discusses the importance of having a financial safety net in place when on maternity leave, how the dental benefit came into its own as her pregnancy took a toll on her teeth and gums and how the benefits remain vital ahead of the birth of her second child.
Shifting priorities
“As new parents, our focus naturally shifted to prioritising our baby’s needs over our own,” Oakley tells Health & Protection.
“It wasn’t until I was preparing for maternity leave and facing a reduced salary that I realised how important it was to have a safety net in place to support our health and wellbeing during this sensitive time.”
Oakley adds the cash plan gave her peace of mind she could still prioritise her family’s health without added financial stress.
Benefits included a virtual GP service, a one-off maternity payment, an optical benefit and a dental benefit which were both important to the couple.
“The benefits were a lifeline during a challenging period,” Oakley continues.
“The maternity payment was particularly effective as it eased the financial burden of going on a reduced salary and the optical benefit ensured my husband could get the glasses he needed without compromising on quality.
“These services allowed us to focus on our health and wellbeing, which in turn helped me recover and prepare to return to work.”
She adds: “Without them, we would have had to make difficult compromises, such as delaying healthcare needs or settling for less effective solutions.
“The cash plan gave us the confidence and reassurance to prioritise our family’s health without added stress.”
Use the resources available
In terms of what she’s learned from her experience in becoming a new mum, Oakley reflects that she has learned how valuable it is to have a comprehensive benefits package in place, especially during life transitions like maternity leave.
“It also taught me the importance of using the resources available to support my family’s health,” she adds.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my employer for not only providing these benefits but also actively encouraging me to use them.
“For me, having a cash plan in place has been invaluable, especially during major life changes like becoming a parent.
“It has provided reassurance and practical support when I needed it most.”
But these benefits continue to come into their own, Oakley points out.
“I’m doing well and currently expecting my second baby,” she continues.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have continued access to the benefits of my cash plan as we step into another exciting chapter of our lives.
“It’s reassuring to know I can keep supporting my family’s and my own wellbeing during this time.”