A New Era: Menopause Support and Workplace Change

Thanks to lessening taboo, more women are becoming vocal about their struggles with menopause which includes disruptive symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, memory lapses and anxiety.

In some cases, these symptoms can be so severe they can cause women to miss work. Missed workdays due to menopause symptoms costs the United States $1.8 billion annually according to research published by The Mayo Clinic. A similar study done in the UK showed that one in three women have missed work due to symptoms.

“Managing a well-rounded time off policy, that’s going to be huge,” Jenifer Allbright, Director of G&A Beneficial at G&A Partners, a national HR-outsourcing firm, said in an interview with Managed Healthcare Executive. “And providing a safe, nurturing work environment, because we want to make sure they feel comfortable taking off the time they need.”

Some health insurance companies in the United States have also begun to offer menopause benefits. For example, Aetna has a list of resources on their website to help their customers find specialized menopause care. They also offer coverage for hormone therapy, dependent on plan type, as well as menopause care through Gennev, a virtual clinic.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is also taking steps to support their customers. They have partnered with Maven, an app that offers virtual classes and personalized specialist recommendations. Coverage is dependent on state.