The provider revealed the launch at the AMII conference in Leicestershire last month. The EAP offers a telephone service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and gives access to specialist information and advice at a time that suits them. Advice covered includes legal guidance, ranging across but not limited to matrimonial issues, consumer and contract law and financial advice and support on issues such as debt, budgets, pensions and mortgages. It also offers Bupa HealthLine which provides advice about any health or medical matter from a team of specialist, experienced nurses with access to up-to-the-minute health information and up to five sessions of face to face counselling where appropriate. Bupa says members and their families will be assured of confidentiality, regardless of the issues raised. The provider claims the five counselling sessions provide enough time to clarify the issues and develop effective strategies which could reduce the symptoms that led to counselling being sought in the first place. It says it should also be possible to agree goals and develop a plan. Many callers will have more than one issue which increases the complexity of their counselling needs.
“The EAP is another example of how Bupa can work together to meet the needs of clients,” said Martyn Anthony, head of specialist services at Bupa Wellness, “This will be a full EAP not be a scaled down version. It is about making a difference with the insured base.”
The move follows that of Unum which introduced Unum LifeWorks, its Employee Assistance Programme offered at no extra cost to all its GIP policyholders. Provided by Ceridian, Unum’s EAP offers a range of employee services including access to telephone and face-to-face counselling together with an online library of downloadable materials and interactive tools.
