There are obviously specific issues affecting women, including around fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, and gender-specific illnesses like cervical and ovarian cancers.
In order to address these and more, the government has a specific Women’s Health Strategy. This also acknowledges that women can face inequalities in health care, and sets out a plan to address these, boost their women’s voices - and improve their health outcomes.
Your Equipsme plan is here to help you, too.
Here’s five ways you can use your Equipsme plan to get further support.
1. Blood tests
Equipsme members have access to blood tests and health checks through our partners at Thriva. Your access and discount will depend on what level of plan you’re on. One of the choices you can make is a test for female hormones. (Most members can use their discount, for Level 1 members it is included in your membership).
The female hormones test checks things like oestradiol levels (a type of oestrogen), testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. It also checks thyroid function, which can also cause hormonal imbalances.
Log in to the Equipsme App or portal, click on the Health Check icon on your benefits page, and follow the instructions to setup your Thriva account, where you can find out more details and order your test if required.
Find out more about our health checks
2. GP Service
If you’re struggling to get in to see your own GP, or you’re not getting useful advice when you get there, you can contact the Equipsme GP service, provided by Health Hero.
They can help you discuss your symptoms and help get a plan together for next steps. That might be going back to your own GP armed with new information - or getting an open referral to see a specialist (which can be used as part of a claim if diagnosis is included on your plan, for AXA Health to assess if your claim is eligible).
Find out more about the GP service
3. Referrals
If you’re having health issues and need further investigation, people with diagnosis as part of their plan can get an open referral to see a specialist private consultant. The referral can be from your own GP, or from the Equipsme GP service.
While you can’t use your Equipsme plan for fertility treatment or pregnancy care, you can use it for other gynaecological issues, and other new health concerns or conditions (subject to pre-assessment of claim eligibility by AXA Health).
Find out more about seeing a private consultant
4. Stress support line
If stress support has been added by your employer as part of your plan, please do give them a ring if you’re struggling with your mental health. Qualified counsellors are there to help you with tricks and tools and advice. It’s free, it’s confidential, and it can even extend to face-to-face sessions if they’re needed.
Find out more about the stress support line
5. Health support line
Don’t forget that even if you don’t have stress support, there’s still a team of medical professionals at the other end of the phone if you need them. The Health support line is staffed by nursers and other medical professionals, including pharmacists, midwives and counsellors. They can help you talk through your symptoms, and even advise you on how to manage medications you’ve been prescribed, or any side effects you’re experiencing.
Find out more about the Health support line
