The three health and wellbeing benefits will be available to all new and existing income protection members, and from today, Shepherds Friendly’s income protection plan will include these as standard, meaning advisers will also be able to offer them to their clients.
Income protection plan holders now have access to Nuffield Health Virtual GP powered by Doctor Care Anywhere, which provides access to a GP through a dedicated app.
They will also be able to use the Nuffield Health Emotional Wellbeing platform. Accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the platform was designed to maintain and improve emotional wellbeing by addressing the underlying issues that can have a negative impact on mental health.
As well as, Shepherds Friendly will be offering the Nuffield Health Gym Discount – discounted gym membership at any of Nuffield Health’s 114 fitness and wellbeing centres across the UK.
These are now included in the Enhanced Benefits package alongside the existing benefits, which include the New Child Payment, £250 for every child born or adopted paid into a Shepherds Friendly Junior ISA, and Bereavement Payment, £6,000 paid to the family in the unfortunate event that the member dies during the term of the plan.
Ann-Marie O’Dea, chief executive at Shepherds Friendly, said: “We always aim to provide real added value and support to our membership when they need it the most and at key points in their life.
“With Nuffield Health, we can now offer tangible and helpful wellbeing benefits to Income Protection members, on top of our existing financial benefits.
“Our new Nuffield Health benefits are designed to help members maintain and improve their physical and mental health, and access medical support quickly and easily when needed.
“Working with Nuffield Health to diversify and enhance our benefits package felt like a natural fit for the society, as our values very much align; always returning the best possible value to our membership.”
Claire McCusker, strategic business development director at Nuffield Health, added: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Shepherds Friendly to offer our connected health services to their members.
“Our purpose is to build a healthier nation and our partnership with Shepherds Friendly will enable us to reach more people and support them to improve their health and wellbeing.”
