Marvin OnumonuL&G Retail has launched the first instalment of its third Chief Medical Officer (CMO) report, which shows a 79% year-on-year increase in employees using its digital health services.
The report will be published in four parts throughout the year and will focus on various aspects of digital health as part of group income protection (GIP).
The first instalment looks at the role of digital health in prevention, early intervention, and inclusion.
It presents data from L&G’s partners Spectrum.Life and Teladoc Health, which is based on actual usage of these services by employees of GIP clients in 2024.
The report found that 62% of employees using L&G’s Virtual GP (vGP) said it helped them avoid time off work.
Additionally, 57% of employees who accessed online Physiotherapy during an absence reported a quicker return to work.
Those benefiting from structured counselling as part of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) experienced a 29% decrease in presenteeism and a 21% decrease in absenteeism.
The report notes that 14% of vGP cases involved under-18s, which may help to reduce parental stress and time off work.
Dr Tarun Gupta, chief medical officer at L&G, said: “Improving health and wellbeing is at the heart of thriving businesses.
“Digital health solutions can transform the lives of employees and their loved ones while simultaneously empowering businesses to grow sustainably and productively.
“I’m proud to introduce the third CMO report, which explores the clear, demonstrable value digital health brings to organisations. However, realising this value requires collaboration.”
Gupta added: “Insurers should use their expertise to evaluate the most effective, evidence-based digital tools.
“Intermediaries also play a vital role in helping their employer clients understand the impact of these services, ensuring they are embedded in both new business proposals and renewals.”
He said: “With the insights from this instalment of the CMO report and bespoke client data, employers can better integrate these services into their well-being strategies.
“L&G’s post-sales support then helps drive ongoing employee engagement with the services we provide, ensuring that businesses not only implement these services effectively but also monitor and measure their long-term impact, beyond simply individual service usage.”
