Medavie Blue Cross revamps its employee and family assistance program

Medavie Blue Cross revamps its employee and family assistance program | Insurance Business Canada

Life & Health

Medavie Blue Cross revamps its employee and family assistance program

It makes use of a digital-first approach

Life & Health

By
Mika Pangilinan

Medavie Blue Cross has unveiled a revamped approach to its employee and family assistance program (EFAP) known as inConfidence.

Powered by Inkblot Therapy, the updated EFAP utilizes a digital-first approach that aims to meet the needs and expectations of Canadians seeking easily accessible diverse care options.

A press release from Medavie Blue Cross cited a recent study indicating that 94% of Canadians are interested in at least one digital health service.

The inConfidence program caters to this preference, the health benefit provider said, offering self-service intake, scheduling options, and virtual care alternatives, while retaining the traditional EFAP features such as in-person counselling.

The program is focused on delivering the following:

Personalized and coordinated care
Early intervention and improved access to care
Coverage continuity for members and a cohesive plan experience
Comprehensive short-term and long-term support
Flexibility and comfort for members to choose the most suitable mode of support, whether in-person, via telephone, or virtually

Catherine Biermann, manager, digital product solutions and partnership at Medavie Blue Cross, commented on the program and made note of Canadians’ increasing reliance on benefit packages to support their health and wellness needs.

“By integrating EFAPs into an overall benefits plan design, employers can provide additional pathways to care for their employees,” said Biermann. “Taken a step further, with a digital-first EFAP approach, employees have access to more support channels and barrier-free resources for their mental health and wellness needs.”

Denise Richardson, senior vice president of commercial at Inkblot Therapy, a division of GreenShield Health, stressed the importance of an innovative approach amid low utilization rates for EFAPs.

“Through this partnership, we are focused on helping more Canadian employees get access to convenient, personalized care when and where they need it,” said Richardson.

Last year, Medavie Blue Cross launched a text-based service that allows plan members to allow plan members to receive mental health counselling through messages sent to their phones.

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