AIG Life has developed two new group income protection pathways that explain to employers the steps employees can take to avoid certain health conditions, as well as the support they will receive if they are unable to work.
The latest AIG guides, which follow the mental health pathway launched last year, focus on cancer and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
They explain to employers the expert support available to both the employee and the employer through their group income protection policy, as well as how to access financial benefits if an employee is out sick for an extended period of time.
AIG Life’s six interconnected health and wellbeing services, Smart Health, LifeWorks, and Proclaim Care, are divided into sections that point to support available at each stage of the journey, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, absence notification, vocational rehabilitation during and after treatment, and making a claim.
AIG Life head of group protection distribution Chris Morgan says: “The pathways have been designed with employers in mind as it can be difficult to know what to do or how to help a colleague.
“This practical guide helps employers quickly and easily understand the support that is there to help both employee and the business, so they know how to gain full value from their group income protection.”
AIG has concentrated its pathways on mental health, cancer, and MSK because its own research indicates that these are the most common conditions for which employees seek and require assistance.
These three conditions accounted for nearly half, or 45 per cent, of AIG’s group income protection claims in 2020.
Smart Health, which offers six telehealth services to all members of group income protection schemes and their families as part of their group income protection, has seen a surge in demand for assistance in these situations.
Back pain, joint pain, low mood/depression, and anxiety are among the most common conditions discussed with a UK-registered GP via Smart Health1, and since its launch, members of the group scheme have had over 1700 consultations with a psychologist to help manage their mental health.
The second medical opinion service has also proven to be beneficial: orthopaedic experts reviewed 10 per cent of patient cases, and oncology second opinions accounted for 9 per cent of second opinions.