Cigna teaming with Carrot on fertility access
The new personalized education, guidance and support service is available at $0 cost to eligible customers.
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The Global Health Benefits (GHB) business of Cigna Healthcare's International Health division is partnering with Carrot Fertility to provide personalized support, education and guidance for eligible GHB customers and their covered spouses/partners who are pursuing fertility and hormonal health.
The GHB business offers benefits coverage and solutions to organizations with globally mobile employees. The new service is available at $0 cost to eligible GHB customers and their covered partners.
"Our collaboration with Carrot offers a holistic, personalized approach to help our globally mobile customers navigate fertility journeys from wherever they are in the world," said Wendy Sherry, CEO, Global Health Benefits. "This program offers eligible GHB customers the information, expertise, and insights needed to support the full spectrum of their health and vitality through every fertility journey."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
In addition to access to the platform, Carrot will provide eligible GHB customers with Care Management Services, including multilingual access to more than 11,000 providers, agencies and attorneys across more than 170 countries.
Services also include unlimited chats with family-building and hormonal health experts, including doulas, OB/GYNs, emotional support experts, menopause specialists and others. It also includes on-demand access to expert-authored educational videos, articles, and guides.
Calling the benefit "best-in-class," Cigna said it expects it will drive impact, value and savings while improving care.
"With cross-border care, eligible GHB customers can make informed health decisions regardless of their location and tailored to be culturally relevant and accommodate the various local norms," said Cigna.
THE LARGER TREND
Understanding the disparities faced by various racial and ethnic groups is key to addressing preterm births and low birth rates, which should spur action from payers, providers and lawmakers, a 2023 Health Affairs study found.
Specifically, the authors said that state and local lawmakers wield considerable influence in reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes, since many originate from historically inequitable local policies.
Maternal care deserts are a known and increasing problem. Between 2020 and 2022 there's been a 5% increase in counties in the United States that have less maternity access, according to a March of Dimes report. There's a 2% increase in counties that are considered maternity care deserts.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.
