AIG Life expands Smart Health umbrella for group protection employees


LONDON – Wednesday 6th September 2023 – AIG Life Limited has boosted its wellbeing services to give employees and their families even more health, wellbeing and lifestyle support under one Smart Health roof.

The UK life insurer has upgraded its health and wellbeing service for employees whose employer has a group income protection scheme, to bring physical health, mental wellbeing, financial support and legal information together.

Alongside the six integrated wellbeing services they already have access to when they log onto the Smart Health app, group income protection members and families now also get:

  • Access to myStrength app – interactive self-support wellbeing content plus chat service that helps people to be at their best, from tailored on-demand activities to a personal guide.
  • Expert mental health support from a qualified professional through a 24/7 helpline, whether that’s in the moment help with anxiety or onward referral to other services.
  • Signposting to legal and financial support.

These, alongside all of Smart Health’s six integrated wellbeing services, will also be available to non-insured employees of group income protection clients for the first time.

Bringing all of the preventative wellbeing benefits of group income protection front and centre to help employees be at their best.

Group life members and their families now also have access to bereavement support and a probate helpline through their single Smart Health login.

This builds on a service that already helps employers show they value their teams and 'I’ve got your back'.

“We’ve made the change because mental health is at the top of the employees’ (and employers’) agenda, and we’ve seen from customer and patient feedback that Smart Health really can help people stay happy and healthy,” said Chris Morgan, Head of Group Protection Distribution at AIG Life.

“Giving employees and their families access to integrated, expert support and guidance through a single app login makes it’s even easier for employers and employees to understand the benefits that come with group income protection insurance and group life. Long-term, that should be good for people’s wellbeing and for the productivity of businesses.”

 

Why mental health matters

AIG Life listened to market feedback about what’s genuinely useful to employees after discovering:

  • Over two-thirds of employees are looking to work for health and wellbeing initiatives1
  • 82% of people want better help with their mental health2, and
  • Every £1 spent on employee mental health yields a return of £5.30 for employers3.

Its own analysis also found almost one in five (18%) of AIG Life’s new group income protection claims were mental health-related in 20224.

 

Delivering improved health outcomes

Since its launch in 2019, Smart Health has already provided over 9700 mental health consultations to almost 5,700 people5. Group scheme members and their families make up 80% of users.

The enhanced mental health support, delivered by global telehealth giant Teladoc Health, follows a holistic approach. Much like the NHS’ step care model, its graduated support matches the level of acute care needed by an individual to frequency of demand.

It steps up, for example, from in-the-moment support and self-help digital education content to sessions with a mental health professional such as a psychotherapist or psychologist.

Smart Health experts will refer people to specialist external services on the rare occasion they need long-term specialist acute care.

Evidence of how Smart Health has already helped people can been tracked in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ impact of treatment since its launch.

Among 1560 people assessed, 57% arrived with moderate to severe psychological distress. Having undergone a short course of psychotherapy or psychology sessions through Smart Health, this almost halved to 29% of people still needing further support6.

After using the mental health service, one Smart Health patient in June 2023 commented: “This was very easy to access and I didn't have to wait long for my first appointment. My counsellor always called me on time and was honestly such a wonderful human being. She changed everything for me. I had space and time to talk over some extremely painful aspects of my mother's death and I felt absolutely heard and respected. I can't thank her enough. I will be thanking her for the rest of my life.”

 

Accessing Smart Health

The only thing employers need to do following the improvements is let their employees know they have access to the service.

Each time they log on to Smart Health, users will see the services that are available to them. To register for the first time, they should download the Smart Health app and have their scheme number to hand.

Employers and scheme members can find out more about the benefits of Smart Health by visiting aiglife.co.uk/smart-health.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

1 Source: CIPD, April 2021

2 Source: Aon, January 2022

3 Source: Deloitte, March 2022

4 Source: AIG Life Limited group protection claims paid data; 1 January to 31 December 2022

5 Source: Smart Health usage data to 30 June 2023; compiled by Teladoc Health

6 Source: Smart Health usage data to 30 June 2023; compiled by Teladoc Health

 

AIG Life is the UK life insurance arm of Corebridge Financial, formerly AIG Life and Retirement. 

Smart Health was launched in 2019 to give all of AIG’s new and existing group protection scheme members and customers, plus their families, free telehealth support as part of the insurance they buy across six services:

  • 24/7 unlimited access to phone and video appointments with UK-registered GPs and from anywhere in the world
  • mental health consultations with psychologists
  • second medical opinions from the  50,000 global specialists
  • nutritionist and fitness plans
  • online health checks.

AIG’s Smart Health gives customers, employees, and their immediate families (including children up to the age of 21) 24/7 unlimited access to a team of health and wellbeing experts, wherever they are in the world.

This digital support service is available to all new and existing AIG Life customers and employees under its group protection policies, as part of their protection insurance with AIG Life.

Smart Health by AIG Life is provided by Teladoc Health UK Ltd at no additional cost to AIG Life customers and insured employees under its group protection policies. Teladoc Health UK Ltd is part of Teladoc Health Group, which is a global telehealth provider using telephone and videoconferencing technology to provide on-demand remote medical care via mobile devices, the internet, video, and phone. They operate in 130 countries and deliver their services in more than 30 languages.

 

About Corebridge Financial

Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG) makes it possible for more people to take action in their financial lives. With more than $375 billion in assets under management and administration as of June 30, 2023, Corebridge is one of the largest providers of retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. We proudly partner with financial professionals and institutions to help individuals plan, save for and achieve secure financial futures. For more information, visit corebridgefinancial.com and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).

 

About AIG Life

Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aiglife.co.uk | X (formerly known as Twitter): @AIGLifeUK | LinkedIn. These references with additional information about AIG Life have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.