How employers are supporting women’s health

Vertex covered Ortiz’s fertility treatments, as well as a nurse coach through the WINFertility digital clinic, who helped Ortiz understand what to expect at every step of her journey.

After she gave birth to her daughter, Elena, Ortiz emailed Vertex CEO Reshma Kewalramani. “I thanked her for the company’s support, and I told her that these benefits are incredible and that they are being used and appreciated.”

Responding to a growing demand for women’s health benefits

As women in the U.S. workforce increasingly look for support with health issues, from fertility to menopause, employers are taking notice. A 2023 survey by the workforce giant Mercer found nearly 40% of employers now offer reproductive health benefits ranging from support for high-risk pregnancies, to lactation, LGBTQ+ reproductive care, pregnancy loss, contraceptive care or menopause.

For Vertex, which has thousands of employees across the globe, women’s health benefits are key.

“With a global workforce that is 52% women, issues of women’s health matter to our employees, and we prioritize them,” said Stephanie Franklin, Vertex’s chief human resources officer, at a recent women’s health conference hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the Boston Business Journal.

The company’s ever-evolving benefits package, Franklin noted, is shaped in part by feedback from employees through regular pulse surveys, the women’s employee resource group and other channels.

“It’s so important that we continue to listen to our employees, identify the areas that will be most beneficial to them and evolve our benefits to match,” she said.

In addition to the kind of reproductive benefits that proved life-changing for Ortiz and her family, the company’s benefits include generous paid family leave and time off, a breast milk shipment service for women who are traveling, back-up childcare, a free on-site gym, free meditation/mindfulness and sleep apps, and more — even dinners to go and free breakfast for employees to make day-to-day life easier.

“We also provide doula and childbirth class reimbursement, adult and senior care planning, and educational sessions on menopause, mental health and money management,” noted Katie Quirk, senior director of global benefits and mobility. “We aim to support our employees at every step of their journey.”

How can a health insurer help?

When Vertex was choosing a health plan, women’s health benefits were a big factor.

The company they chose, the not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, “has a commitment to women’s health and the benefits they offer in this space, particularly their family-forming benefits,” Quirk said.

That’s a purposeful choice, according to clinicians at the health plan.

Ruehli, an ob-gyn, is clinical director of reproductive health and gender affirming services at Blue Cross, the leading health plan in the state.

The health plan recently became the first in Massachusetts to partner with Maven Clinic and offer its maternity and menopause program to all fully insured customers with 51 or more employees, including unlimited visits with Maven practitioners at no charge.

To meet rising interest from employers, Blue Cross’ women’s health benefits include coverage for fertility treatment for members with documented infertility, and reimbursement for childbirth classes, breast pump savings and lactation counseling. The company also offers in-house reproductive health advocates to support members during their journey.

“Our customers have asked us for new ways to support their employees with issues related to women’s health, including fertility and pregnancy,” Ruehli said, “and we work with each one to find the best ways to support their employees.”