Support for employees with long covid has become the second most common cause of early intervention and rehabilitation for Group Income Protection during 2021, according to Aviva.
Mental health continued to be the area where most support was required with 52 per cent of all rehabilitation cases being referred for this reason, in terms of group IP early intervention and rehabilitation.
Long covid was cited by 13 per cent of respondents and was followed by support for musculoskeletal and cancer, both at 10 per cent- disorders, which were formerly the most popularly supported conditions behind mental health. Neurological conditions accounted for 4 per cent of the total, with other disorders accounting for the rest at 11 per cent.
But for individual income protection policies, long covid which accounted for 12 per cent of responses, was only the fourth most prevalent condition requiring support via individual income protection insurance. This follows mental health at 30 per cent, musculoskeletal at 26 per cent, cancer at 16 per cent, neuro at 6 per cent and other disorders were at 11 per cent for individual income protection policies.
Aviva launched its long covid income protection claims procedure in August 2020 for both individuals and group programme participants. Customers receive individualised support from the insurance based on the severity of their symptoms.
The majority, 84 per cent, of group income protection customers who got Aviva’s long-term support returned to or stayed in employment and 88 per cent of those who returned to work did so within their policy’s postponed period, which was typically 26 weeks.
Meanwhile, 91 per cent of customers with individual income protection insurance who received long-term support went back to work.
Regardless of their condition, 80 per cent of employees helped by Aviva’s Group IP rehabilitation support stayed at or returned to work. Customers with individual income protection insurance remained or returned to work in 78 per cent of cases.
The term “long covid” refers to Covid-19 symptoms that last for weeks or months after the original illness. Post Covid-19 syndrome is defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as symptoms that appear during or after a covid-19 infection, last for more than 12 weeks, and are not explained by another illness.
Fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and sadness, heart palpitations, chest tightness or pain, joint or muscle pain, inability to think clearly or focus, brain fog, changes in sense of smell or taste, and persistent cough are all symptoms of long covid.
Aviva managing director of protection Fran Bruce says: “ Most people of working age will recover from Covid-19 within a few weeks but after three months some sufferers will continue to have symptoms. It is vital that these people are recognised as early as possible and given the appropriate rehabilitation support to improve their health and help them return to work. The severity of Long covid symptoms is often not related to the severity of the initial infection which makes early recognition and intervention even more important.
“Aviva has developed a dedicated rehabilitation team over many years and we are now in a strong position to support and advise anyone recovering from the long term effects of Covid-19. We have expertise in physical, mental, and occupational health, improving all elements of a person’s wellbeing and improving their chances of recovery and return to work.”