Aviva has will extend its employee assistance programme (EAP) to all 2.8m of its group protection customers.
Until now this EAP has only been available to group income protection (GIP) clients. From January 2026 those covered under group life and group critical illness plans will also be access this EAP, which will now be offered through HealthHero. Previously this service had been offered via Care First.
Aviva confirmed there will be no additional cost to corporate clients for this additional service.
The EAP offers access to emotional and practical support helplines — available 24/7, and where clinically required, users can also access structured counselling sessions. Aviva says the expansion of this service further strengthens its metal health support to UK employees.
The EAP service also provides self-serve access to online resources including webinars, support articles, videos and wellbeing assessments.
Further onward mental health support for mild to moderate symptoms is available for insured members through the services within the Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace app.
The change follows a review of Aviva’s wellbeing services for group protection clients.
By extending coverage the EAP, Aviva will no longer offer separate access to the stress and bereavement helplines. Support for these those will be available through Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace.
This app will now offer a health check to employees once every two years, rather than annually. Aviva says this has been adjusted to better align with employee usage of the service.
Aviva director of group protection distribution Jason Ellis says: “These changes are part of our wider ambition and future plans to streamline and connect our wellbeing services, and to deliver valued and impactful added value benefits to employers and their employees.”
“We’re delighted to be able to expand the reach of our new EAP, offering mental health support to many more UK employees through 24/7 helplines.”
HealthHero commercial director Brandon Collins adds: “This new partnership with Aviva marks a significant step forward in offering service innovations to their corporate customers.
“We have a shared commitment to simplifying healthcare and improving lives and by combining Aviva’s trusted brand with HealthHero’s clinical excellence, the collaboration aims to deliver seamless, innovative healthcare experiences for corporate customers and their employees across the UK.”
