L&G Group Protection has seen a 79 per cent increase in usage of its digital health services over the past year.
This figure — contained its third chief medical officer report — relates to employees’ use of Spectrum.Life and Teladoc Health services offered through the insurers group income protection products. This covers both preventive and early intervention services, including the virtual GP, online physiotherapy, structured counselling, and EAP services.
The CMO report said further surveys showed these digital services were delivering positive benefits for both employees and employers.
In total 62 per cent of employees who used L&G’s virtual GP said it helped them avoid time off work, meanwhile 57 per cent of employees who used online physiotherapy during an absence saw a swifter return to work.
Employees who used structured counselling, as part of the EAP, experienced a 29 per cent decrease in presenteeism and a 21 per cent decrease in absenteeism.
These services are also being utilised by employees’ families – with 14 per cent of virtual GP appointment for under 18s, of which 7 per cent are for under 5s .
Dr Tarun Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, UK Protection, L&G Retail says: “Improving health and wellbeing is at the heart of thriving businesses. Digital health solutions can transform the lives of employees and their loved ones while simultaneously empowering businesses to grow sustainably and productively.”
Gupta added that this report explores the demonstrable value digital health brings to organisations, but called for greater transparency across the industry. “Realising this value requires collaboration.Insurers should use their expertise to evaluate the most effective, evidence-based digital tools. Intermediaries also play a vital role in helping their employer clients understand the impact of these services, ensuring they are embedded in both new business proposals and renewals.
“With the insights from this instalment of the CMO report and bespoke client data, employers can better integrate these services into their well-being strategies.
