Tools in your Benefits to Tackle Chronic Disease

More than half of the Canadian workforce deals with a chronic disease in some shape or form – are your benefits working for them? Chronic disease is a multifaceted challenge that employers and employees alike struggle with on a daily basis. It’s a term that covers a wide range of health issues relating to chronic pain or illness including arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. 

The impact of chronic pain and illness in the workplace is significant: A recent survey found that 38% of employees have missed work due chronic disease, 35% had to take time off for medical appointments, and 51% either left work early or showed up late because they were dealing with chronic pain.

Employee absenteeism is of course a huge concern, but the ways that chronic disease shows up in the workplace go much deeper. An employee experiencing chronic pain or suffering from chronic illness may show up to work, but their productivity is likely to be impacted and the stress of dealing with a persistent health issue can have severe consequences on a person’s mental health. All of this adds up to low morale, disengagement, and an all-around lack of well-being.

So, how can employee benefits support those living with chronic disease? Let’s explore what tools are available in the world of benefits to lighten the weight of chronic pain and illness for employees.

Medical Second Opinion

While the ability to get a medical second opinion is not hugely significant for most employees in an organization, it can be quite impactful for someone dealing with a chronic health issue. Between staggering wait times to see a doctor or specialist in Canada, plus the reality that it’s nearly impossible to get a second opinion in some provinces, this benefit is incredibly helpful for an individual seeking a second opinion. Imagine getting a diagnosis for something serious and wanting to double check with another doctor or validating that your treatment plan makes sense – there is great value in not having to go back to the start of the line. Most employee benefits plans have this incorporated already or if not, it can easily be added on for small fee per employee. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Pain

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (also known as CBT) is a type of therapy designed to help people identify and change negative thought patterns. CBT is a cost-effective way for an employee to use their benefits because it’s usually done online with coursework and structured self-help programs, making it much less expensive than talk therapy. The application of CBT in direct response to chronic pain can be quite useful as it helps an individual focus on relaxation and coping skills, mood management, and strategies to improve their quality of life despite the pain.

Pharmacogenetic Testing

Treatment for chronic pain can typically include some kind of pain medication, and prescription drug coverage is sort of table stakes in a benefits plan… But finding the right medication is another story. Too often I hear of individuals battling through the side effects of a particular medication only to change to something else after months and find that it is a far better fit for their body. Pharmacogenetic testing helps avoid this challenge by telling a physician which drug will work best for a patient, with a high rate of efficiency. While this benefit is not usually in all group plans, it’s often available as an add-on with certain providers.

Wondering how your benefits can best support employees suffering from chronic pain or illness? Book time with Shannon to chat and we’ll look at your plan design to see how we can tackle chronic disease to encourage employee well-being.