WPA is launching a dedicated product supporting the healthcare of women which is available to large corporate schemes.
The insurer said it had designed a range of gender and life-stage specific benefits in the shape of essential checks, tests and access to experts in their respective fields to support women at each stage of their lives.
The LifeStage product for women has been designed to complement the NHS and private medical insurance (PMI) and more versions to “recognise and support diversity within the workforce” are likely to follow, WPA added.
According to the product website, examples of benefits covered include consultations with specialists such as gynaecologists and diagnosis services or treatments such as mammograms, smear tests, and pregnancy packages.
WPA noted that much research had been published recently highlighting that women’s specific health needs needed to be addressed as they could often impact their working lives, career development and earning potential.
It said the product enabled employers to “facilitate access to expert healthcare to support women throughout the events that happen naturally and predictably during the course of their lives.
“Raising awareness and knowledge gives personalised insights to increase wellbeing and helps prevent those conditions that are avoidable.
“It recognises that for some, these different life stages can lead to physical and mental challenges that impact their wellbeing, their families and their careers,” the insurer added.
‘Raise awareness and break taboos’
WPA head of product development Sharon Shier (pictured) said: “We wanted to design a solution to help raise awareness and break taboos around women’s health, not just around the menopause but across the distinct journey of being a woman.
“It recognises the challenges that occur naturally throughout women’s lives including periods, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, as well as the peri and post-menopause phases.
“LifeStage Health has been designed with flexibility in mind, allowing companies to supplement existing healthcare benefits or as a standalone benefit for those not currently within the company scheme.”
Claire Ginnelly, executive director at Premier Choice Healthcare said it was “a brilliant and innovative approach” to support all women in the workplace.
“As an industry, we are making a difference by discussing menopause and the effects this has on a large part of the working population and we need to continue to do so by highlighting the issues females face.”
Debra Clark, head of specialist consulting at Towergate Health & Protection, added it was a solution that would help companies and working women thrive.
“It’s great to see a health insurer recognising the broader challenges faced by employers and the female workforce,” she said.
