MetLife has launched three new clinical pathways for group income protection clients to assist with early intervention, symptom reporting and rehabilitation.
MetLife has expanded its group income protection offering by introducing three new clinical pathways – long-Covid, mental health, and MSK – to assist employees in seeking treatment and rehabilitation.
The three pathways offer a tailored return to work support in collaboration with early intervention case managers; access to necessary treatment; employee assistance programme (EAP) and wellbeing resources; employee awareness modules and training for employees and managers.
MetLife has launched the long-Covid pathway to help employees manage their symptoms and begin the process of returning to work after a period of illness to assist those with long-Covid. According to MetLife data, long-Covid accounts for 10 per cent of new claims in the last three months, up 250 per cent from the previous quarter. The long-Covid pathway gives businesses access to functional assessment resources and wellbeing partners whenever they need it.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are also a significant concern for businesses. According to Health & Safety Executive data, 480,000 employees were affected by work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2020. The MSK pathway provides support with early intervention and rehabilitation.
Finally, the mental health pathway provides employees with illness management, access to treatment, and safely begins the process of returning to work. The pathway also connects employees to local support networks, allowing them to get help when and where it is most convenient.
MetLife EB director Adrian Matthews says: “The world has evolved in the last 18 months, so it’s only right that employee benefits do too. Now more than ever, there’s a focus on mental health, MSK and long-Covid, which is why it was a priority for us to launch our new clinical pathways to support those who need it.
“Our health is rightly one of our biggest priorities. If you’re struggling following an accident or illness, you may be left unable to work, which could impact both your overall wellbeing and financial position but also the business output for your employer. Employers have a key role to play in providing employees with access to early intervention and preventative support services as well as support with any hospital and rehabilitation treatment to aid their return to work in a way that is empathetic and helps all parties to be clear on the way forward together.
“Our previous research found that more than a third (34 per cent) admit that they’ve had to take four weeks or more off work due to having an accident, falling sick or to care for a loved one. A significant period of leave like this can be detrimental to employees’ financial and mental wellbeing and can make the return to work feel even harder. Through providing access to services of this kind, employers can be safe in the knowledge that they are doing all they can to look out for their employees’ mental and physical health, even at times when they can’t look out for themselves.”