When employees start their pursuit of parenthood, they need resources that support every stage of their journeys. Employers know that — many have recognized the intricacies of fertility and pregnancy and have opted for a focused approach to pre-baby support. Employees need the most relevant, specialized expertise to help them through those situations that are unique to family-forming journeys.
That's why, at Carrot, everything we do is built around this idea. Here are a few more reasons why we've taken a focused approach to fertility and pregnancy.
Fertility & pregnancy care should include specialists
Every person’s fertility and pregnancy experience is different — there's a good reason why the medical field has split these areas up into unique specialties. Because of that, it’s important to make sure that fertility and pregnancy support include specialists rather than only generalists. Think about it this way: a patient who relies solely on the opinion of their primary care provider when their condition requires the expertise of an oncologist may get some helpful advice, but they’re not going to get the full picture of their options, and they may not end up getting the information they need to make the best care decisions.
It all comes down to speaking with the most qualified experts who can not only answer the right questions but develop a thoughtful plan using their deep knowledge of the subject area. Mental health experts, for example, can be helpful to anyone going through challenging times but those with more specialized experience can often provide a deeper level of support. With fertility, this is especially true — half of women and 15% of men cite infertility as the most upsetting experience of their lives. For employees navigating what can be one of the most emotional times of their lives, it’s often reassuring to speak with someone who has experience and expertise in counseling prospective parents through fertility-related obstacles. At Carrot, our clinical team consists of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists, OB-GYNs, fertility-focused mental health specialists, and more to make sure our members are able to quickly and easily get to the information and resources they need for care.
Customize your fertility benefit
Like we mentioned before, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all fertility or pregnancy journey. Because of that, customization is key to ensure that employers are able to provide their employees with top-tier resources at every step.
It can be tempting to incorporate a wide array of services into a single benefit. However, this one-stop-shop approach reduces an employer's ability to provide a customized experience that meets their workforce's unique needs. When employers aren’t satisfied with one or more areas of the program, employers are forced to either ignore the problem — or completely overhaul their program to address the aspects of the product that aren’t working.
Instead, when a company utilizes a solution that provide directed support in a specific area, they have more levers to pull. They can adjust and customize a single area — guaranteeing world-class quality and flexibility for their employees.
Fertility & pregnancy are healthcare benefits
While fertility and pregnancy benefits often stand on their own, it’s critical to remember that they are healthcare and require medical support and solutions. Taking this medically-focused approach is especially relevant when it comes to managing costs for pre- and post-natal healthcare. At Carrot, our medical experts educate members on their options and direct them to those with the best outcomes. That clinically-managed approach reduces risky and high-cost outcomes to prioritize member health and employer risk as well as cost. Here are a few common examples:
- A Carrot member inquires about the impact of an epidural; Carrot experts can let them know what to expect with an epidural and any potential side effects, empowering them to make the best choice for them given that information.
- A Carrot midwife may explain to members how to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy in order to avoid surgery to repair uterine prolapse after birth.
- A Carrot prenatal yoga instructor can provide tips on what pregnant people can do to minimize diastasis recti during pregnancy in order to reduce the likelihood of needing abdominoplasty surgery post birth.
Ultimately, knowledge is power, and it can be directly tied to the health of a new parent and baby, the time it takes for new parents to come back to work, and the amount of high-cost claims cost a company will see.
The intricacies of fertility and pregnancy require a focused approach that acknowledges the medical support and solutions they require. Companies should be able to feel confident their employees are getting the most relevant, specialized expertise to help them as they explore their options for parenthood. Carrot knows that one size does not fit all on family-forming and pregnancy journeys; schedule time to talk to us today to learn how we can customize a plan for your company.
