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Unum has integrated cancer services for group life and critical illness customers into its multi-award-winning app Help@hand, giving seamless access to support from cancer experts Reframe. Paula Coffey, Unum director of claims, rehab and medical services, explains why this will go a long way to help employees with cancer. The stats on cancer in the UK are bleak. Incidents of the disease have risen by 39 per cent since 2002. There are currently 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, and that figure is projected to rise to 4 million by 2030. Importantly for employers, an estimated 890,000 people of working age are currently living with cancer.
But there is good news too. Cancer survival rates have climbed to an average of 10 years from diagnosis, rising from a median survival time of just 1 year in the 1970s. And alongside these longer survival rates, research into kinder treatments is enabling people to live better with cancer.
Expert help with day-to-day issues
If the devastation of diagnosis isn’t enough, cancer brings further stress with a treadmill of appointments, form filling and endless questions.
That’s why we’ve been working for years in partnership with cancer support experts Reframe, providing valuable guidance for people throughout their cancer journey. Our cancer support service offers a two-year programme, with a dedicated cancer support manager who can explain what to expect during and after treatment, and provide practical and emotional support. They can arrange a cancer nurse to attend employees’ oncology appointments (over the phone or in person) to cut through jargon and ensure the employee understands their condition and next steps. And if someone’s had a rough day, they’re there just to listen.
And Cancer Assist is there for in-the-moment support where no question is too small — Reframe can help take the stress out of finding reliable local partners and service providers, like specialist wig makers, or where to get a mastectomy bra with a prosthesis fitted.
Reframe also supplies valuable help to employers, supporting line managers to have those difficult conversations about cancer and work, and offering services for managers to signpost their employees to help.
Swift access to invaluable support
Cancer is the number one reason for claim across both Unum’s group life and critical illness policies, accounting for 69 per cent of critical illness and 36 per cent of life claims in 2022. We’re all aware that the earlier you’re diagnosed with cancer the better your prognosis. Reframe helps cancer patients build mental strength and resilience — and research shows that empowered people achieve better health outcomes. So for us it’s crucial that people engage with Reframe as soon as they are diagnosed, getting the help they need as quickly as possible. Integrating the services into the Help@hand app, will help us do just that.
Help@hand provides employees with total health and wellbeing support, via high quality, personalised services and everyday lifestyle assistance. Incorporating cancer services alongside unlimited mental health support, 24/7 remote GP appointments, 24/7 employee assistance helpline and so much more is yet another step for Unum in making Help@hand the go-to, one-stop app for everyday employee support.
Plus there’s no need for multiple portals or access points — for employees it’s a completely streamlined service. And for employers, it’s less admin and more confidence that employees can find the support they need, all in one place.
Single point of access
We’re anticipating that this will mean even more employees will get help more quickly and easily than ever — helping them deal with their diagnosis and feel better equipped to have uncomfortable conversations with their employer. Helping people to live well is part of Unum’s ethos. That’s why we’re so excited to provide access to Reframe services through Help@hand and see the difference that it’s going to make to people’s lives. Help@hand is a value-added service provided direct to customers by third-party specialists chosen by Unum. See unum.co.uk/adviser/help-at-hand for details.
