PHILADELPHIA, PA., Dec. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Blue Cross (Independence) announces Personal Life Management(SM) — a new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing comprehensive assistance and support to employees for all types of personal needs — from everyday matters to serious problems. The services are available now to fully insured and self-funded employers with 100 or more employees for group plan renewals on or after January 1, 2016.
Like a personal concierge service, Personal Life Management directs employees to the resources and services they may need to help them manage work and personal life matters, quickly and confidentially. Employees, along with any member of their household, can access telephone-based services anytime through a dedicated toll-free number staffed by skilled, advanced-degreed EAP clinicians or through the comprehensive member website.
Employers can select various enrollment packages, all of which include the following services for employees:
- Face-to-face visits with a large network of certified counselors
- Unlimited telephone counseling
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Referrals to resources and services, such as:
- Legal and financial assistance including investing, retirement planning, tax planning, and wills at discounted rates
- Adoption assistance
- Child care and elder care resources
- Education planning from preschool through college
In addition, employers have unlimited access to EAP experts and other critical services, such as web-based training sessions and incident stress debriefings.
"We're pleased to offer solutions that add value to an employer's group coverage plans, while helping to create a more productive work environment," said Ginny Palmieri, Independence vice president, Specialty Services.
A 2015 report on best practices from the Employee Assistance Society of North America showed that programs like Personal Life Management can help reduce stress, improve productivity, and decrease unscheduled absenteeism or lateness.
Personal Life Management is offered by Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH), a national leader in EAP and behavioral health services with nearly 6.5 million members and 22,000 employer groups nationwide. IBH is an independent company and does not offer Blue Cross products or services. IBH is solely responsible for the EAP Program.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve nearly 10 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including 2.5 million in the region. For nearly 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.