How MetLife UK & YuLife Enable Tech-Driven Income Protection

MetLife UK, a protection and employee benefits provider, has partnered with insurtech company YuLife to launch a technology-enhanced group income protection product for the UK market, marking a shift in how insurers approach workplace absence prevention.

The partnership integrates YuLife's behavioural technology platform with MetLife's group income protection offering. YuLife, which specialises in gamified insurance products, has developed a customised version of its wellness application specifically for MetLife UK's group income protection customers.

This development comes as UK workplace absence reaches 7.8 days per employee annually. The partnership addresses growing concerns about workforce sustainability, with 2.5 million working-age adults currently on long-term sick leave in the UK following the impact of Covid-19.

The rising trend in workplace absence, partially attributed to declining mental and physical health levels, presents challenges for UK businesses through increased employee burnout risk and reduced workforce productivity. These issues are compounded by resource constraints within the National Health Service.

Prevention through technology

The offering combines MetLife's clinical rehabilitation services with YuLife's digital engagement platform. Group income protection, which provides replacement income for employees unable to work due to illness or injury, traditionally activates when an employee becomes ill. This new proposition aims to prevent absence through digital engagement from day one of employment.

“This unique offering is more than just a wellness app embedded into an Employee Benefit offering. It's the start of a digital transformation of insurance,” says Dominic Grinstead, CEO of MetLife UK. “By gamifying wellness, it brings all the benefits of this employee benefit package forward, ultimately preventing absence and reducing the risk of having to make a claim.”

The initiative represents what MetLife UK terms 'pre-early intervention', positioning digital engagement ahead of traditional early intervention services in the absence management process.

Market response to NHS pressures

The partnership responds to mounting pressure on UK businesses from NHS waiting times, which affect rehabilitation rates. YuLife reports 87% of its users have experienced improved wellbeing through platform engagement, suggesting potential for reducing absence rates through preventative digital tools.

The collaboration expands on an existing partnership between the firms in group life insurance. MetLife UK's clinical rehabilitation and absence management support will complement YuLife's digital platform, which incentivises daily engagement with mental and physical wellbeing activities.

“Partnering with MetLife UK represents a significant step forward in YuLife's mission to transform financial services into a force for good,” says Sammy Rubin, CEO and Founder of YuLife. Rubin adds: “Early prevention starts with healthy habits, and by combining YuLife's award-winning gamified technology with MetLife's intervention and rehabilitation services, we are creating a proposition that helps employees take proactive steps to mitigate potential health issues.”

Building on existing success

Grinstead notes the extension of the partnership follows positive outcomes from their existing group life insurance collaboration. "Our existing partnership with YuLife for Group Life Insurance has already shown successful outcomes, motivating us to extend our partnership into Group Income Protection. Together, we are creating a highly valued business tool that is designed to enhance productivity and mitigates the risk of long-term absence," he says.

The initiative aims to establish new standards for group income protection policies by focusing on prevention alongside traditional benefits. Through the YuLife platform, employees receive incentives to manage their health proactively, a feature designed to boost workplace productivity while reducing sickness absence.

“We are ensuring that employees are not only protected but are also motivated to enhance their wellbeing, setting a new standard for Group Income Protection by focusing on better outcomes as a result of prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation support,” says Rubin.

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