Aviva has partnered with HealthHero to offer a new employee assistance programme (EAP), which will now be available to all group protection customers.
Previously its EAP, offered through Care First, was only offered only to group income protection (GIP) customers.
This expansion will mean this service will now be available to 2.8m policyholders from January 2026. Aviva confirmed there will be no additional cost to corporate clients for this additional service.
The EAP provides 24/7 emotional and practical support via helplines, with structured counselling sessions available where clinically appropriate. Aviva says widening access strengthens the mental health support it can offer to UK employees. Users will also have access to a library of online resources including webinars, wellbeing articles, videos and self-guided assessments.
Additional mental health support for mild to moderate conditions will continue to be available to insured members through the services offered within the Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace app.
The changes follow a review of Aviva’s wellbeing provision for group protection clients. With the expansion of the EAP, the insurer will no longer offer standalone stress and bereavement helplines; support for these issues will instead be routed via DigiCare+ Workplace. The app will also move from offering annual health checks to a once-every-two-years model — a shift Aviva says better reflects employee usage patterns.
Jason Ellis, director of group protection distribution at Aviva, says: “These changes are part of our wider ambition to streamline and connect our wellbeing services, and to deliver valued, impactful benefits to employers and their people. We’re delighted to expand the reach of our new EAP, offering 24/7 mental health support to many more UK employees.”
Brandon Collins, commercial director at HealthHero, added: “This partnership marks a significant step in delivering innovative, simplified healthcare services to Aviva’s corporate customers. By combining Aviva’s trusted brand with HealthHero’s clinical expertise, we aim to offer seamless healthcare experiences for employers and their employees across the UK.”
