"If we can help women feel more supported and help the people closest to them understand what they are going through, that can make a real difference to families."
- Holly Ewing - Beagle Street
Beagle Street, part of the OneFamily Group, has announced the addition of a menopause support service to its proposition, offering up to a total of six consultations a year.
It will be available as an additional benefit to eligible new and existing policyholders who buy their cover either directly or through an intermediary, and partners of people experiencing menopause symptoms can also use the service to improve their knowledge.
The service is provided by Square Health, an existing partner of Beagle Street.
The consultations will be with Square Health’s menopause-trained healthcare professionals, and if required, these professionals can facilitate up to two video consultations with a specialist doctor.
Through the service, customers can get prescriptions for appropriate medications, open referrals and fit notes. There is also access to the menopause symptoms assessment tool, which provides extra support and guidance.
Beagle Street says the need for this service was identified in the recent research it commissioned. A survey of 4,000 UK adults found 44% don’t believe there is enough support for women affected by the menopause and 47% don’t think there is enough support for men indirectly impacted by it.
In a survey of 4,000 UK adults, 55% said they or someone close to them had been personally impacted by the menopause, 44% said they believe there is insufficient support for women affected by the menopause and 47% believed there is not enough support for men indirectly impacted by it.
Of those that had directly been impacted by the menopause, 73% said it had affected them moderately to severely, and over half said it had had a detrimental effect on both their mental and physical health, denting their confidence and self-esteem.
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"Menopause can affect every part of a woman’s life, from her physical and mental health to her confidence, relationships and ability to feel like herself," Holly Ewing, distribution director at Beagle Street, said.
"For some, that impact can last for years. No one should have to navigate such a significant stage of life feeling alone, unheard or unsure where to turn.
"This service is about giving women access to someone who will listen, understand what they are experiencing and offer practical, expert support when they need it. We also know that partners often want to help but may not know how, which is why it was so important to us that they can access guidance too.
"If we can help women feel more supported and help the people closest to them understand what they are going through, that can make a real difference to families."
Ryan Griffin, protection director at Beagle Street, added: "Our protection products are built to offer value beyond the financial benefit of a claim. Roughly a third of women in the UK, around 13 million, are perimenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal.
"That’s why we’ve introduced this support, a first for the individual protection sector. This addition reflects our commitment to offering practical support as customers’ needs change throughout their policy, whether they buy directly or through an adviser."
Steve Casey, marketing director at Square Health, commented: "We’re proud to work with Beagle Street to make expert menopause care easier to access when it matters most. Menopause can have a profound impact not only on the person experiencing symptoms, but also on those closest to them.
"Through this service, Beagle Street policyholders and their partners will have convenient access to menopause-trained healthcare professionals, practical guidance and, where appropriate, specialist support."
