Unum has added Reframe’s cancer support services to its wellbeing app, Help@hand.
This benefit will be available to all employees covered on an employer-paid critical illness or group life policy, equating to around 1m, plus their immediate families.
For GCI policyholders who have a cancer diagnosis, this benefit offers two years of ongoing personal support, as well as access to a dedicated cancer support manager for continuity of care. Employees will be supported by a Reframe cancer nurse specialist who can sit in, in person or on the phone, on medical appointments to help employees understand the medical terminology.
Employees and eligible family members covered by a Unum group life policy now have app-based access to Cancer Assist, which provides access to cancer support managers who are available via phone, email or instant chat, at every stage of the cancer journey.
This enhancement comes as research by Unum last year found:
- 80 per cent of SME managers said they felt responsible for providing support to family members of employees living with cancer
- 70 per cent of employees with cancer said they could have returned to work sooner with greater support from their employer
- 60 per cent of SME managers have found or would find it hard to talk to employees about their cancer diagnosis and treatment
- 30 per cent of SME managers said they are not knowledgeable about the support their business provides to employees with cancer
Unum chief marketing officer John Hyde says: “The integration of cancer support into Help@hand is a natural progression of our evolving digital proposition, giving employees access to health and wellbeing services in one easy-to-use app.
“With 120,000 people of working age diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK,[4] access to cancer support is more important than ever. Integrating Reframe into Help@hand helps employees take control of their cancer journey and gives them a place to go for guidance, deal with their diagnosis, and discuss the support they need, whether it’s continuing to work or returning to work with more confidence.”