International Day of Families, celebrated annually on May 15th, honours the significance of families and the essential role families play as the building blocks of society. This day celebrates the diverse forms that families embody across various communities and cultures, underscoring their important role offering care and support to individuals.
Family is not just a word, it's a connection embedded with care, priority, and unwavering support. We cherish the health and wellbeing of our loved ones, making them the focal point of our lives and putting them first. The responsibilities that come with putting family first are continuous, making sure they have a safe and comfortable living environment and being present when they require support, especially if they are unwell.
The increasing pressures on the NHS, resulting in shortages of GP appointments, mean that there may not be access to the healthcare they need, when they need it. Additionally, with the added pressure of budgeting due to the increased cost-of-living, people are striving to balance financial constraints with their desire to provide healthy lives for their family, putting a strain on their overall wellbeing.
Our research found that 98% of employees want support from their employers and more than 8 in 10 want that support to extend to their family highlighting the growing importance of family-friendly benefits in addressing the ongoing cost-of-living challenges.
Our Health Cash Plans include cover for dependent children at no extra cost and employers can choose to cover partners or offer their employees the ability to add cover for their partners. We understand that all families are different. That's why our coverage extends to partners that live with the Member, regardless of gender, and our cover also includes dependent children in fulltime education who live with the Member, regardless of the biological relationship of that child.
This means that a Member’s entire family can enjoy the same benefits, including access to a virtual GP service that fits around their schedule, and the ability to claim back the cost of essential healthcare services like dental, optical, and physiotherapy. 1 in 5 of our claims last year were for family members, meaning we paid back more than £6m to support with healthcare costs.
Our support goes beyond routine healthcare costs and provides accessible services to support the whole family. Our Specialist Consultation benefit enables diagnosis and support for issues such as speech therapy, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Cover can also include hearing aids, hearing aid adjustments, repairs, and audiology tests. The Employee Assistance Programme provides a 24/7 helpline to discuss issues including finances, bereavement, and employment changes and we are even able to support with maternity where members can claim for a private or NHS scan or costs associated with adopting a child.
Health Shield cash plan benefits not only provide crucial support for employees and their family, but also offer peace of mind, allowing employees to prioritise their family's wellbeing alongside their own.
As we embark on International Families Day, we recognise the role of good health. For more than 145 years we have been keeping families healthy and happy, helping them make the most of life’s precious moments!