As you examine adding a fertility solution to your benefits ecosystem, it’s easy to view such coverage through a narrow lens. After all, isn’t fertility coverage designed to take a person from point A (not pregnant) to point B (pregnant)?
The answer is “yes, but”—or, perhaps more accurately, “yes, and.” The best benefit – one the drives down high-risk maternity and NICU costs, while increasing productivity thanks to happier, healthier employees – provides holistic support that encourages prospective parents to make healthy choices long before they begin trying to conceive and cares for a woman during pregnancy and postpartum periods, as well as throughout perimenopause and menopause.
Care during all these seasons of life is a win-win for both employers and their teams. Not only does it lead to better quality of life for families, but also it helps employers save money on healthcare costs. A comprehensive women’s health benefit will encourage your employees to make positive lifestyle choices that lead to healthier pregnancies and reproductive health, ultimately resulting in better outcomes for generations.
A proactive benefit for all stages of life
Progyny’s best-in-class solution supports members and their families during pivotal stages of life, from trying-to-conceive, fertility, and family building through to pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause:
- Education supporting smart lifestyle choices: Progyny’s offerings include proactive education and outreach, which comes in handy for members across all stages of life. Consider a couple starting out on their family building journey. Progyny’s preconception and trying-to-conceive support is there to help both male and female prospective parents make choices in support of healthy pregnancies, such as eating a nutritious diet or getting adequate sleep. Thanks to this proactive support, 65% of Progyny members do not require fertility treatments.
- Proactive coaching and support: At every stage, Progyny members have access to a dedicated coach. If fertility treatment is needed, Progyny’s Patient Care Advocates (PCAs) guide prospective parents as they navigate the world of fertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART). During pregnancy, a coach with at least six years of experience in high-risk labor and delivery guides Progyny members through their maternity experience, providing prenatal nutrition resources, lifestyle guidance, and education on infant care techniques. Scientific studies show women who receive prenatal coaching are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices during pregnancy.
- A focus on mental health: The family building process can take a toll on a person’s mental health – especially when an individual is suffering from infertility. Studies show the stress of dealing with infertility is comparable to the stress of dealing with many other medical conditions. And once pregnancy is achieved, that need for mental health support doesn’t go away. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in five women will experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. Of those women, 20% will have suicidal thoughts or engage in acts of self-harm. Throughout the prenatal and postpartum periods, Progyny provides doula support to members. Progyny PCAs also connect members with mental health professionals for support in difficult situations, including miscarriage and pre-term labor.
- Midlife care: Women’s health needs don’t end with the postpartum period. Women may begin to experience perimenopause symptoms as early as their mid-30s to early 40s, and the economic effects are staggering: A 2023 study by the Newson Health Menopause Society found that 59% of perimenopausal and menopausal women reported missed workdays due to symptoms, and $25 billion in annual health costs can be attributed to menopause symptoms. A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that perimenopausal and menopausal women also experienced 47% higher medical costs than necessary. Progyny plan benefits include education to reduce the stigma of talking about menopause, as well as access to OB-GYNs, nurses, and nutritionists who specialize in menopausal issues (a small segment of the overall women’s health universe), helping women find relief sooner and more cost-effectively.
Babies are wonderful, and their parents need some love, too. Providing comprehensive women’s health benefits, that prioritize personalized care and 1:1 guidance is a supportive choice you can offer by partnering with Progyny.