Our team had a call with one of our clients  recently during which we began discussing what the fall might look like as the vaccines gets further distributed through the country.  Our client raised a very interesting question that I’ll paraphrase here:

“Might we see issues with disabilities associated with the infection as well as from living through it?”

Think about that in the following context:

• We know there are issues with Long COVID.  Studies are showing many individuals experiencing health issues months after infection. These symptoms include fatigue, loss of taste and smell, headaches and “brain fog” which is defined as mild subjective cognitive impairment. In fact there are a number of support groups now established such as the Long COVID Support and Survivor Corps made up of 10’s of thousands of people who are experiencing issues with their health post COVID-19 infection.
• The lock downs, job losses, home schooling etc. have created an increase in brain health issues. We are seeing more depression, stress, anxiety, loneliness and even youth suicides. A study found that one in four young adults, age 18-24, had contemplated suicide over a 30-day period in the summer.  One professional went so far as to label this COVID-19 Traumatic Stress Disorder (CVTSD)
• The number of people accessing physician services dropped dramatically early in the pandemic and while  in many cases visits have returned to pre-pandemic levels, some specialties and groups continue to see fewer patients  than before. Persons receiving recommended services and screenings as per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has also dropped dramatically. Particularly in the area of childhood immunizations, colonoscopies and mammograms. Also consider those who experience chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease who may have missed appointments, had difficulties managing their illness, etc.  There are also emerging data regarding the impact of the pandemic on cancer treatment and research .

These, combined with other issues, will have a profound impact on employer health benefits, program utilization and the health of employees and their dependents. Some areas that companies should review and consider:

• Employee education. Companies must look to develop comprehensive education programs covering their services, the impact of COVID-19 on their employees and their families, how to recognize symptoms, where to go for help and more.
•  Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) : Question to consider. Is the EAP program well known, easy to access, offering relevant services, being used?
•  Employee health improvement programs.  Are these programs able to assess your employees and dependents heath status in the new work from home environment? Are they looking for COVID-19 specific physical and behavioral health issues? Are they providing services to those with chronic diseases, measuring preventive screenings as per USPSTF recommendations? And again, are people using the programs?
• Mental health benefits and the provider network. Is it high quality, easy to access, using telehealth, being used?
• Employee health insurance benefits. Do they cover tele-health, does the plan utilize Centers of Excellence that required travel and can no longer be accessed?  Are they monitoring utilization and targeting under-utilization as documented above?  Are they offering unique services to help your employees and dependents get the help they need in the new environment.
• Disability benefits. Do they recognize disabilities associated with COVID-19?

These are just a few of the myriad of issues that employers should consider, and while much is still uncertain,   now is the time to begin looking at these issues and more.  Our team can help you and bring the requisite expertise you need to answer these questions and identify solutions for your particular company.  Call us we’d be happy to speak with you about your specific situation.