Insurer Shepherds Friendly has unveiled a range of additional value benefits to its income protection membership.

They include virtual GP, emotional wellbeing support and discounted gym membership.

The three health and wellbeing benefits will be available to all new and existing income protection members and will be provided by Nuffield Health.

Shepherds Friendly recently partnered with the UK’s leading healthcare charity to provide the new health benefits to its members.

The Nuffield Health benefits are available as part of the society’s refreshed benefits proposition at no extra cost to plan holders.

These are now included in the enhanced benefits package alongside the existing benefits which include new child and bereavement payments.

Shepherds Friendly chief executive Ann-Marie O’Dea says: “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.”

Commenting on the partnership, Nuffield Health strategic business development director Claire McCusker says: “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.”

LightBlue protection manager Ben Mason adds: “Shepherds Friendly’s new partnership with Nuffield Health looks like a great enhancement to their income protection, which is already a feature-rich plan. I am particularly impressed that the features will apply to historic clients, as well as new. The discounted gym membership is something I think will really resonate with and appeal to clients, especially with a brand that has instant recognition.”