Aviva expands menopause support to individual and SME health insurance customers
Aviva has expanded its menopause support services to individual and SME private medical insurance customers, in a move aimed at improving access to specialist care for a life stage that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
The insurer has rolled out the enhanced support through its Aviva Digital GP service, making it available to more than 675,000 additional customers and their family members. The service, which has already been offered to corporate clients, provides access to menopause-trained healthcare professionals, alongside digital tools and tailored guidance.
The expansion follows strong uptake among Aviva’s corporate customer base, where more than 5,000 people, including 280 family members, have accessed menopause support over the past year.
How Aviva’s menopause support service works
Aviva health insurance customers will be able to book up to six 30-minute consultations with menopause-trained nurses, allowing them to discuss symptoms, treatment options and lifestyle changes in detail.
Where further support is needed, patients can be referred to a GP with specialist expertise in menopause for up to two additional extended consultations. More general GP advice remains available at any time through the app.
Alongside consultations, the service includes a symptom assessment tool for those who believe they may be experiencing menopause. This generates a personalised report with tailored recommendations, supported by an online information hub offering practical advice on managing symptoms.
The service is available to anyone aged 16 or over covered under an Aviva health insurance policy, including partners and family members, reflecting the broader impact menopause can have on households as well as individuals.
Data from the insurer’s existing service highlights the range of concerns patients are bringing forward. Over the past year, 39% of consultations with menopause-trained nurses related to mental health symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and irritability. Other commonly reported issues included fatigue (13%) and irregular or excessive bleeding (10%), while around 22% of users sought more general advice and reassurance.
In many cases, specialist input has reduced the need for further referrals. Around two-thirds (66%) of those using the service received the guidance or treatment they needed without having to return to their own GP.
Menopause support in the workplace
The expansion of Aviva’s menopause support comes amid increasing recognition of the impact menopause can have on both health and working life.
For employers, menopause has become an important workplace issue, with symptoms affecting attendance, performance and overall wellbeing. Aviva’s service can also provide Fit Notes and open referrals where clinically appropriate, helping individuals manage their work alongside their health.
Alongside employers have access to a menopause hub, which provides online resources and guidance to help organisations better support employees experiencing symptoms.
Dr Subashini M, medical director at Aviva UK Health, said: “Access to specialist menopause support can make a real difference to people’s health, confidence and everyday working lives. By extending our menopause services to individual and SME customers, we’re enabling more people to access timely expert guidance and feel supported through what can be a challenging life stage.”
The menopause support service is available to health insurance customers who have registered for Aviva’s Digital GP, which is provided by Square Health. It is as an added-value benefit that Aviva could change or withdraw at any time.
Chris Steele, founder and editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, said: “Expanding menopause support to individual and SME customers is a positive step, particularly as awareness grows around how significant the impact can be on both health and working life. Giving people easier access to specialist advice and support through digital services could help address gaps in care and ensure more people get the guidance they need at the right time.”
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