Smart Health Employer Hub

Welcome to your Smart Health home

We’ve got you covered – think of us as a friend, a partner in crime. As well as positives for your people, there’s something in it for you as a business too. Research tells us that the majority of employees want to use health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits . And when people are happier and healthier, they’re more likely to be engaged, productive and at their best. Sounds alright to us.

Nutrition and Fitness

Conversation corner

Fitness inspiration and nutrition know-how.

Let’s be honest – putting off the gym and ordering a takeaway are easier than we'd like. You might have parents who are trying to sneak those hidden vegetables into family meals or employees who are looking for a new workout routine. So Smart Health’s bespoke fitness and nutrition plans make life a little simpler – the team have pulled together a little something to get you all started.

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Your Smart Health starter kit

We think these are the essentials for talking about all things Smart Health – suitable for nutrition newbies or wellbeing wizards. Have a browse to see what works for you.

Email templates

We’ve taken the leg work out of telling your people about Smart Health. Read on for everything from introducing the service to how to book a GP appointment.

Email banners

Add a touch of Smart Health to your employee messaging – there’s a couple of different designs to choose from.

Leaflet

Your guide to Smart Health: everything from how to get started to the details of all six services.

Posters

Our poster pack is there to brighten up your office walls and remind people of the benefits of Smart Health.

Employee wellbeing made simple

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Louise.

Louise’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Read now

Discover how a Smart Health GP appointment helped Adele get back to her best.

Adele’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

It matters to...

Smart Health is provided to AIG Life Limited customers by Teladoc Health. These services are non-contractual, which means they don’t form part of the insurance contract with us. If AIG's partnership with Teladoc Health ends, these services could be changed or withdrawn in the future. AIG Life Limited. Telephone 0345 600 6820. If calling from outside the UK, please call +44 1737 441 820. Registered in England and Wales. Number 6367921. Registered address: The AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AB. AIG Life Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The registration number is 473752.

Conversation corner

Starting the conversation around health and wellbeing can be tricky – but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve pulled together a collection of our favourite materials to help you spread the word in your workplace. There’s everything from slides to use in team meetings or inductions to stories of how Smart Health has helped people just like you.

Our customers all over. Hear about their experiences.

Smart Health starter kit

Let’s get to the good stuff.

Boost your activity without having to leave your home – whatever your age or fitness level.

Get the lowdown on how a balanced diet can help you feel your best – inside and out.

Did you know what we eat has an impact on our mental health? Read on for lots of hints and tips.

Our guide is packed with inspiration for cooking delicious meals with essential ingredients.

Exercise at home

Food for immunity

Good mood food

Kitchen essentials

Exercise is not just ideal for weight management, but also to support your mental health and help decrease the risk of developing certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. As an added bonus, endorphins from exercise also help to reduce stress.

How to exercise at home.

Below are some suggestions to help boost your activity without even leaving your home – whatever your age or fitness level.

• Going for a short walk every day • Regularly standing up from a chair • Walking between rooms every 60-90 minutes • Cleaning and dusting the house daily • Gardening (mowing, light digging and shovelling)

Make a game of hide-and-seek more active by suggesting children hide on different levels of the house every time, that way they’re going up and down stairs every few minutes. The player that’s found first must perform a “penalty” that can include classic exercises like jumping jacks, burpees or sit-ups. The garden is a great fun for all the family. You can give your children a small part of your garden where they can plant their own vegetables or play with water and soil. Other activities that you can do in your garden include skipping, trampolining, water balloon dodgeball, frisbee or kicking a ball. Dance with your children to stay active and have fun. Dancing is a whole-body workout and a 30-minute dance class is almost equivalent to jogging.

Exercise for the elderly

Exercise for children

Exercises for those of a low fitness level

Make time for a short walk outside every day. Try and do household chores such as vacuuming or changing the bed sheets more often. This will get your heart pumping – an hour of cleaning can burn up to 150 calories. Try some exercises from your desk chair. While sitting on a chair, cross your legs so your feet rest under your ankles. Next, put your hands on the chair’s armrests, engage your core and lift the rest of your body a few inches off the chair. Hold the pose for 10 to 20 seconds, rest and then repeat 5 times. Be careful not to lock your arms to help prevent injury.

Exercises for those of a medium fitness level

• Try to go for a brisk walk or run outside every day. • Challenge yourself with some at home exercises. The exercises below use your body weight, so there’s no equipment required. Start with three sets of 10 reps and then, add more reps (12, 15) as you get used to the motion:

Squats: Place your feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider. Sit back and lower down like you’re sitting into an imaginary chair. Keep your head facing forward as your upper body bends forward a bit, let your lower back arch slightly as you descend. Lower down so your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible, with your knees over your ankles. Press your weight back into your heels. Keep your body tight and push through your heels to bring yourself back to the starting position. Alternate lunges: Stand tall. Step forward with one foot until your leg bent at least 90-degree angle. Your rear knee should remain parallel to the ground and your front knee should not go beyond your toes. Lift your front lunging leg to return to the starting position.

Chair tricep dips: Find a stable chair, bench, or step. Sit on the edge of the chair and grip the edge next to your hips. Your fingers should be pointed at your feet. Your legs are extended and your feet should be about hip-width apart with the heels touching the ground. Look straight ahead with your chin up. Press into your palms to lift your body and slide forward just far enough that you clear the edge of the chair. Lower yourself until your elbows are bent between 45 and 90 degrees. Slowly push yourself back up to the start position and repeat. Control the movement throughout the range of motion. 10 min abs workout: Lying with your back on the ground, prop yourself up into a forearm plank position. Make sure your elbows are aligned underneath your shoulders, and that your hands are balled up in fists. Your forearms should be parallel to one another. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds per set.

This guide was written by Maria Chantzialexiou Nutritionist at Teladoc Health

The Smart Health Fitness Programme is designed to combine diet and exercise in a healthy way to support your fitness goals. Depending on what you want to achieve, you can choose a 4 or 8 week plan, which will be tailored around the answers you provide in our online questionnaire and based on your current health and lifestyle.

This guide was written by Sarah West, Nutritionist at Teladoc Health

Consultations with expert nutritionists are available free of charge via phone or video call. During the call, you can ask the specialists any questions you have about nutrition and dietary habits. They’ll provide you with a personalised plan, including meal plans and weekly menus, all to help and support you in reaching your nutritional goals.

Things to limit

Sugar: It can be tempting to comfort yourself with sugary foods during times of stress, but regular consumption can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels that further increase sweet cravings and contribute to drops in mood and energy levels. Instead of sugary treats, try to opt for complex carbohydrates such as oatcakes with a banana or apple with peanut butter, for a more prolonged release of energy throughout the day. This will help support you to make better choices all day long. Caffeine: It’s a stimulant that inhibits our ability to recognise feelings of tiredness. High intakes can also heighten blood pressure and worsen both anxiety and insomnia. Alternate caffeinated drinks with caffeine-free alternatives such as squash, herbal teas, hot water with ginger or decaf varieties to support your mental state and promote a good night’s sleep.

Alcohol: Try to be conscious of your alcohol intake. Alcohol can act as a depressant, which can exacerbate symptoms of poor mental health such as anxiety and lack of motivation. Excessive alcohol may also impair immune system function. Whilst the occasional glass of wine in moderation is unlikely to have a lasting negative impact, be sure not to exceed 14 units per week, which is the equivalent of: • 14 single measures of spirits • 7 pints of lager • 7 medium (175ml glasses of wine)

A balanced diet can help you feel your best – inside and out. Eating the right foods will lower the risk of major illnesses, improve your mood and increase your energy to help you keep active.

Eat well to feel well.

Can I boost my immunity through food?

Unfortunately, there’s no specific food or supplement that will protect you from germs or from catching a virus. Good hygiene practices remain the best means of avoiding infection. However, if we do catch a virus, our immune system is responsible for fightingit. Research does suggest that improving nutrition can help support optimal immune function, which is critical to help us stay healthy and feeling our best.

Essential nutrients and where to find them

The good news is that following common-sense dietary advice is enough to keep your immune system in good shape; no expensive supplements or difficult to source superfoods required. Simply focusing on eating a variety of foods within each of the main food groups will boost your intake of key vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is the only exception – as it is largely produced in the skin, in response to sun exposure.

To ensure a healthy vitamin D status, adults and children over the age of one should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of Vitamin D if they struggle to get adequate sun exposure year round. Most people need just a few minutes outdoors most days. The kitchen essentials listed below will help you incorporate the nutrients you need in your day-to-day diet.

Oily fish, egg yolks, cheese, tofu, nuts, seeds, beans, pulses and wholegrains

Vitamin A

Oranges, lemons, limes, berries, kiwi fruit, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers

Vitamin C

Meat and fish, beans, pulses, legumes, wholegrains and dried fruits

Iron

Meat, fish, dairy, nuts, fortified soya milk, breads and green leafy vegetables

B Vitamins

Nuts, green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils

Vitamin E

Oysters and other seafood, meat, chicken, dried beans and nuts

Zinc

This guide was written by Sophie Mamalis, Nutritionist at Teladoc Health

It’s really important to fuel your body with the right nutrition to support you both mentally and physically. The majority of our serotonin (a feel good hormone) is found in our gut, so it’s likely that what we choose to eat will have implications on our mental state. This guide helps you to understand the nutrients you need, and where to get them from.

Good mood foods.

Potassium

What does it do? Potassium is a natural muscle relaxant that helps to regulate blood pressure, ease anxiety and promote relaxation. Good food sources: Bananas, avocado, potatoes, citrus fruits, leafy greens, legumes. How to incorporate: Try knocking up some homemade banana bread. Or simply add mashed avocado to toast, beans, a warming chilli or jacket potato to optimise your potassium intake.

Magnesium

What does it do? Magnesium helps regulate the nervous system, minimising feelings of restlessness and anxiety. It may also promote improved sleep quality and help alleviate aches, pains and muscle tension. Good food sources: Dark chocolate, seeds, nuts, wholegrain bread, beans, lentils.

How to incorporate: Enjoy a relaxing bath with Epsom salts to naturally boost your magnesium levels. Opt for dark chocolate, nuts or seeds for a magnesium-rich snack to keep you going between meals.

Selenium

What does it do? There’s some evidence to suggest that selenium may help to reduce oxidative damage associated with depression. Interestingly, deficiency has been observed in individuals suffering from depression. Good food sources: Brazil nuts, prawns, eggs, tuna, pork, beef, chicken. How to incorporate: Need a quick mid-afternoon pick me up? Just three Brazil nuts is sufficient to provide you with your daily recommended selenium intake. Alternatively, add prawns to a stir fry, tuna to salad or poached eggs to toast.

Omega-3 fats

What does it do? Omega-3 fats are thought to have mood boosting, anti-inflammatory properties that may help to support mood and minimise risk of depression. Good food sources: Olive oil, salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, walnuts, seeds. How to incorporate: Add some mashed anchovies or salmon, seasoned with lime and chilli flakes, to your lunch. Alternatively, a handful of nuts or drizzle of extra virgin olive oil makes a great meal addition to help support a healthy mind-set.

L-tryptophan

What does it do? L- tryptophan is an amino acid commonly found in protein sources, converted into serotonin (known as the feel good hormone) in the brain. Serotonin is also sleep-regulating, which may help to establish a sense of calm and improve both sleep duration and quality. Many protein sources also boost your norepinephrine levels, a neurotransmitter which may help improve concentration and cognitive function. Good food sources: Chicken, fish, eggs, seeds, nuts. How to incorporate: Try to ensure that you always add a source of protein to your meals to top up your tryptophan levels. Combine with a source of complex carbohydrate to promote serotonin uptake in the brain. Complex carbohydrates are also an excellent source of B vitamins, the levels of which can become depleted during periods of stress. Add chicken pieces to a sandwich, stir an egg into rice or add a spoon of Greek yogurt or peanut butter to your breakfast cereal or wholemeal toast.

This guide was written by Sarah West, Nutritionist at Teladoc Health

Cupboard basics

Large bags of grains such as rice, quinoa, noodles and bulgur wheat have long shelf lives and are great for bulking out your meals. Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to maintain the quality (and taste). Jumbo rolled oats will soak up milk or fruit juice if refrigerated overnight or can be added directly to yogurt if you’re out of milk. Tins of beans, chickpeas or lentils are high in protein and fibre and low in fat. They can liven up a simple soup, casserole, stir fry or salad, or can be made into burgers, hummous or curries. Potatoes for jacket potatoes are great with baked beans or tinned tuna and sweetcorn. Nut and seed butter can be stored for months and combined with fresh ingredients such as chopped apple or a banana. Rye crispbreads and spelt crackers are extremely versatile and often keep for longer than a loaf of bread.

Tinned sardines and mackerel provide an omega 3 hit and are great on toast or added to pasta sauces. Dried fruits and tinned fruits in natural juice are great alternatives when fresh produce is in high demand. Seeds and nuts add a satisfying crunch to breakfasts and salads but are also great between meals. They also help incorporate macronutrients like fat and protein that you may not get if your cupboards are full of rice, rice, and more rice! Green curry paste and a can of coconut milk combined with whichever vegetables you have available make a quick Thai curry (frozen peppers, peas or beans work especially well). If bread is hard to come by, try tortilla wraps, bagels, ciabatta, focaccia, pitta, sourdough, rye, pumpernickel or muffins. Anything goes! Freeze them to make them last longer, or try making your own. Tinned tomatoes are a must as a base for sauces while olives, fish sauce, black bean sauce, olive oil, dried chillies, mixed herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, soya sauce and anchovies add depth and flavour. Reduced salt stock cubes or bouillon can be added to soups or rice for extra flavour.

Sometimes you’ve just got to make do with what you’ve got in the house. Our kitchen essentials guide gives you some tips on how to build a nutritious food stash, and some inspiration for cooking delicious meals with essential ingredients.

Nutritious kitchen essentials.

Versatile fridge fillers

Hummous, low fat coleslaw, salsa and cottage cheese Individual pots of low fat, flavoured and natural yogurt A box of free range eggs – scrambled or poached on toast, hard boiled or served as an omelette with some added vegetables. Also, great cracked when stirred into brown rice with some prawns. Avocado/guacamole Olives and feta Invidual portions of cheese Reduced fat mayonnaise and salad cream

Freezer must-haves

Chicken breasts can be defrosted one at a time, cubed or cut into strips and added to vegetable stir-fries or curries. Serve with brown rice or noodles and a shake of soya sauce for added flavour. Prawns are perfect for the freezer. Add a little natural yogurt or low-fat mayonnaise and rocket or avocado for a tasty sandwich, use in a curry or add to a stir fry. Fruits and vegetables can contain more vitamins and minerals frozen than fresh as they are frozen quickly after harvesting. They also have a longer life than perishable versions. They’re great for smoothies or adding to pasta sauces (peppers, onions and peas hold up particularly well) with a can of tuna to top a portion of wholemeal pasta. Sprinkle with a little parmesan or grated cheddar or toasted pine nuts.

Madalina Berbece, Smart Health customer AIG Protection Policy Holder

Thank you to Madalina Berbece. Her story will help others to reach out for support.

Discover how our Smart Health Mental Health service helped Madalina.

“The Mental Health service was very efficient, I’d highly recommend it. I’ve been going through a separation process so I’ve been attending quite a few sessions with different counsellors over the years. The Smart Health psychologist wasn’t my first one. I was very surprised to see how results driven my psychologist was. I’ve spent one year and eight months with another counsellor and she didn’t manage to do what he did in just four sessions. He was absolutely amazing.

He really helped me to see what my strengths are and what the triggers are for my relationship. I was able to identify what those problems were with his help. In just four sessions he listened and understood all my needs. I did actually find the problem. My therapy was included with my insurance. I’ve never tried something for free, I’ve always paid for my counselling sessions privately. When I first looked, I thought – should I go? I thought if it was just included in my insurance that it wouldn't be good. I wasn’t sure if I should go but when I did, I was very surprised that I actually found somebody that was very, very good. I even recommended the service to my husband, as he’s been seeing a therapist for over one year with no result. I recommended he just go for it because I had a very good experience. He said he didn’t think he’ll be lucky enough to find someone as good as I did and I said to him – you should try it.

Kevin, Smart Health customer AIG Protection Policy Holder

“I was so lucky. The Smart Health GP really saved my life.”

Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

“I contacted the Smart Health service because I was experiencing extreme stomach pains. The previous day I had been sent home from A&E with medication to help with the pain but it was getting worse. After booking an appointment through the app, I was called back within the hour by a GP, who told me instantly that it was my appendix and advised me to return to A&E urgently. Half an hour later I was back at A&E and was told they would need to remove my appendix. The Smart Health GP was the only one to diagnose me correctly. It was quite amazing. I would have stayed at home because both my own GP and a consultant in A&E told me not to worry. The doctor I spoke to was amazing,

she was phenomenal. I was literally on the phone for less than 20 minutes and she instantly knew what it was. I was in such a bad state, I couldn’t even walk - it was terrible, really bad. I just knew something was wrong, I had never had such pain in my life. When I arrived back at A&E, they couldn’t operate that night because I was so ill, vomiting blood and everything. So they had to wait an extra day before surgery. My appendix was necrotic, and when they removed it they found out it had perforated - I was so lucky. It was just shocking what happened to me. The Smart Health GP really saved my life. This was the first time I’ve used Smart Health and I found the process so quick and the app was very easy to use. It was a lot easier than making an appointment with my own doctor. Even though they are 10 minutes up the road, it is impossible to get an appointment. The service is professional and it is more approachable than my own GP surgery. The whole experience has made everything so much easier for me.”

The Smart Health GP said: “I am really glad that I could help him to get timely medical attention. I feel it is paramount to listen to the patient, understand the concern, re-evaluate clinical symptoms/signs, and then use medical expertise to re-think the diagnosis and gauge the severity of the condition. The patient mentioned symptoms that made me challenge his original diagnosis and I advised him to reattend A&E urgently. He had emergency surgery, without which, his condition would have further deteriorated...”

Louise, Smart Health customer AIG Protection Policy Holder

“It was an absolutely amazing experience, I got more from the four sessions with my Smart Health counsellor than I did in four years of weekly therapy”.

Discover how our Smart Health Mental Health service helped Louise.

“I booked my mental health sessions through Smart Health. It was really professional, smooth and easy to use. I got a phone call more or less straightway to discuss what I needed and to organise the appointments. I was then sent a briefing note by email on what to expect, which was really great. The communication was brilliant and I couldn’t believe the quality of service I was getting from my counsellor, especially as I wasn’t paying for it. The communication from the customer service team was brilliant. They were nice, friendly and really warm, especially given the nature of what this is all about – anxiety and mental health.

My counsellor phoned me on time – he didn’t cancel and kept the session to the hour, which was great. This is very important for people with anxiety issues – timing, control and no uncertainty, so I really appreciated it. My counsellor was absolutely brilliant - funny, understanding, friendly and gave me some extremely useful advice and support. He followed it up with further leaflets and information that he emailed to me and that I could read through afterwards, which were really helpful. It was an absolutely amazing experience, I got more from the four sessions with my Smart Health counsellor than I did in four years of weekly therapy. Initially I was dubious, I wasn’t going to bother but this was fantastic. I looked Michael, my counsellor, up on the internet and I thought – blimey, he’s £100 an hour. The service was really efficient, good quality, professional, friendly and seamless – just brilliant. I would recommend it to anybody. I’ve encouraged all my colleagues to use the service. It was well worth it – exceptional.

Adele M, Smart Health customer AIG Protection Policy Holder

“I had a call back within a couple of hours - which was impressive as you wouldn’t get that from your local doctor surgery unless it was something really serious.”

Discover how a Smart Health GP appointment helped Adele get back to her best.

“I was experiencing an increase in migraine attacks and was concerned as the frequency and intensity was getting worse, so I called the Smart Health service for advice from a doctor. I had a call back within a couple of hours - which was impressive as you wouldn’t get that from your local doctor surgery unless it was something really serious. It was reassuring to speak to the doctor as they gave me good advice on how I could manage my migraines. The service was very efficient and the doctor was immensely patient with me.

Normally, if I go to my own GP they are so busy; you have a 10 minute slot and that’s it. Whereas, I felt with Smart Health I had more time with the doctor to go through things in a bit more depth. You don’t feel pressured. I worked in the NHS for 11 years, but I didn’t want to bother my GP as I think they’ve got enough to do. They are totally stretched and unless I had something really serious that I was worried about I probably wouldn’t have phoned my GP. In these difficult times, people are wary of accessing the NHS because they think that the NHS is so busy. But people still need to be getting their medical advice and this service is a good alternative. I’ve used the service twice and it’s great - I’ve told all my colleagues about it and encouraged them to use it too, as it’s the same level of confidentiality as speaking to your own GP. I tell them – You’ve got the Smart Health service. For goodness sake use it if you need it!

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1 Smart Health is available to insured employees only 2 CIPD, April 2021

Pull up a chair, stick the kettle on and get settled in. As part of your insurance with AIG, you’ve got access to Smart Health our award-winning health and wellbeing service . It’s our mission to make looking after you and your colleagues as easy as possible, whether you’re looking for a quick email to send out to the team or posters to brighten up the break room.

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Madalina.

Madalina’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Louise.

Louise’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how Smart Health helped Marnie get back to being at her best with support from the mental health specialists.

Marnie’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Marnie, Smart Health customer AIG Critical Illness protection policy holder

“Within 48 hours of contacting Smart Health’s mental health support, I had all four sessions booked in. Just like that. I was really surprised at how quick and efficient it was."

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Marnie.

Meet Marnie. At 27 she went through an unexpected, stormy breakup from a long term partner. Life quickly got very overwhelming and Marnie wasn’t sleeping well. “I’ve never had issues sleeping before. I’m that person who can sleep anywhere – a plane, train, car…even the floor. I’ve always fallen asleep very easily. But following a rather turbulent breakup, I really struggled. At one point I was sleeping one to two hours a night then coming into work and falling asleep at my desk. It became so bad – I just wasn’t with it.

I originally contacted my GP and explained I wanted to find a wholesome method of managing my sleep. But the wait for CBT sessions was 12 months. I wasn’t in a crisis but I knew I needed help. The impact of not being able to sleep was absolutely crazy to me. I couldn’t eat, I was just so exhausted and weak. The effect was huge and I needed it sorted now, not in 12 months.” Marnie was considering paying for private help. But remembered she had access to Smart Health through her critical illness insurance with AIG. “Within 48 hours of contacting Smart Health’s mental health support, I had all four sessions booked in. Just like that. I was really surprised at how quick and efficient it was. There was one session I had to reschedule and their replies were just brilliant. They said don’t worry and moved it. The sessions were amazing.

It was so easy and organised.

It's one of the best things

think I've ever done in my whole life.

They assigned

me a doctor who specialises in relationship issues.

“I don't think I could have got here so quickly without Smart Health – 100% there’s just no way. It accelerated the healing process."

She was absolutely perfect for what I needed. I explained why I was struggling with sleep and that I needed to be able to talk to someone and have my feelings validated And then have really proactive methods of how to change it. She was so good at listening and saying the right things. She came up with all these methods for me to try and to see what worked for me. It wasn't just a short term solution. It was getting mechanisms in place that you can use for the rest of your life. I think that’s what made it so impactful and powerful, because it wasn't just a quick fix. It was ‘how do we change your mind set?’ And what can we put in place to make sure that if anything did happen again, you wouldn't have these issues with sleep. Learning how to manage my mental health with these established techniques was amazing. It was really productive and just brilliant.

A few months down the line and with the therapy sessions under her belt, Marnie explains how life is treating her now. “I’m completely back to normal and life is good again. I genuinely mean this, I don't think I could have got here so quickly without Smart Health – 100% there’s just no way. It accelerated the healing process. My critical illness with term assurance policy is something like £12 a month. So to be able to get a benefit like this, is just crazy to me. I recommend Smart Health to anyone who has access, it’s such a good benefit and so user friendly. Especially with something like this – mental health is usually quite a sensitive subject. If you've done that initial step of looking and asking for help, the last thing you want is for it to be a complex or difficult process. So I think for it to have been so smooth and efficient was just one of the best benefits.”

the best thing I've ever done. The things that she taught me, I will take away forever.”

It was

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Discover how Smart Health helped Marnie get back to being at her best with support from the mental health specialists.

Marnie’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Madalina.

Madalina’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

Read now

Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Louise.

Louise’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Listen now

Check out our brand new podcast. In episode one we chat to TV presenter Jonnie Irwin on life after his terminal cancer diagnosis and the value of protection.

Jonnie’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

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Discover how a Smart Health GP appointment helped Adele get back to her best.

Adele’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

Listen Now

Check out our brand new podcast. In episode one we chat to TV presenter Jonnie Irwin on life after his terminal cancer diagnosis and the value of protection.

Jonnie’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

New starter guides

Handy guides for your new starters introducing them to Smart Health. Including how to access it and what services they can use to get help and support.

One pager

Two pager

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Mental health guide

Help employees understand all things mental health in the workplace. Pointers on what to look out for in colleagues who may be having a tough time.

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Louise.

Louise’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Read now

Discover how a Smart Health GP appointment helped Adele get back to her best.

Adele’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

Read now

Discover how Smart Health helped Marnie get back to being at her best with support from the mental health specialists.

Marnie’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

Read now

Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Louise.

Louise’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Smart Health story

Like Dave, your clients might never expect to need their insurance. Yet out of the blue he did. But here’s the thing – it’s better to be prepared for life’s challenges.

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Discover how our Smart Health mental health service helped Madalina.

Madalina’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

Read now

Discover how Smart Health helped Marnie get back to being at her best with support from the mental health specialists.

Marnie’s story

Smart Health Mental health support

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Discover how a Smart Health GP helped to save Kevin’s life.

Kevin’s story

Smart Health 24/7 online GP

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As a neurodivergent person, it was hard for Chris to get help with his mental health.

Chris’ story

Smart Health Mental health support

“Each session we had was really helpful and impacted my recovery considerably."

She considered my needs and specifically phrased her way of talking to be more direct to help my understanding.

and talked about her background, what she was thinking of doing and how many sessions there were. She was careful to check our expectations. In our first session, we talked about the underlying issues of why I was suffering from depression. We discussed what it’s like to have neurodivergent traits and how that impacts a person. Connie was exceptionally helpful. When I previously asked for help from my local GP, they said they couldn’t help me. They noted that I was too high-functioning and had a good job. They didn’t understand my suffering. I'd been looking for help for over ten years. And each time I brought up autism I was treated like I was making it up. During our session, Connie suggested I try and get an assessment again. I even used Connie’s consultation notes to convince my GP I needed an assessment. I'd been chasing an assessment for more than ten years and finally broke through that wall. I have one scheduled in nine months. This was a weight lifted off my shoulders and I had peace of mind.

She introduced herself

"Smart Health’s mental health service was critical to my recovery. I can’t thank Connie and AIG enough.

Chris, Smart Health customer AIG life insurance policyholder

“As a neurodivergent person, it was hard to get the help I needed. AIG changed that."

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Discover how Smart Health’s mental health service helped Chris.

Suffering from depression, I desperately needed help. But I was so overwhelmed with the advice I was getting – it was too confusing or just didn’t help. The eight therapy sessions I’ve had with the NHS were mostly me talking to the therapist. I didn’t get any helpful feedback. Being a neurodivergent adult, I need more clarification and examples − scenarios, story-telling or coaching styles of advice. If the expectation is to ‘read between the lines’, it’s like having a conversation in Morse code. It was difficult to communicate my frustrations to the therapist − trying to explain why I don’t always interpret things in the same way.

You can’t compare experiences of a neurotypical person since you don’t have any. I left the sessions feeling as lost as I had started. My partner was extremely worried and looked to find help. We discovered that our life insurance with AIG provided access to Smart Health − virtual healthcare delivered by Teladoc Health. Compared to the NHS, the sessions we had with Smart Health were completely different. My partner helped me download the Smart Health app and log in. We requested an appointment via the app, which had a simple appointment flow. A few days later, I had a short phone conversation to assess my requirements and completed a clinical questionnaire.

Connie at Smart Health gave back as much as I gave in terms of information and affirmations of understanding. We were working through the problems together.

Being high-functioning and generally intelligent, I get put on a pedestal a lot. It’s assumed that ’I just know’ everything. So when I confront people with the realisation that I don’t understand them or need a lot of help, they get confused. I actually need a lot of help figuring things out if they get complicated. In some situations, like when interacting in the workplace, there's very little documentation or advice about how to help neurodivergent people. I constantly blamed myself for every bad social interaction. I thought I could’ve done better. Connie reminded me that not everything is my fault and that it’ll take time. But I’ll learn these things as we keep working at it. Being neurodivergent means it takes more time and practice to get things right. Connie was able to decipher the problems and help troubleshoot scenarios – both business and personal. She also provided suggestions for good workplaces and organisational structures that might work well for me. Each session we had was really helpful and impacted my recovery considerably.

Smart Health real-life case study – October 2023. The name has been changed to protect the identity of the customer. The image shown is for illustration purposes only.

Your favourite snack, made vegan.

Vegan brownie bites

Recipe: Vegan Brownie Bites

Ingredients

1 cup jumbo rolled oats 1 cup nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, or any other nuts) 1 cup warm water 1 cup chopped dried fruits (figs work perfectly, but also works with dates, apricots or prunes) 3 tablespoons cacao powder 2 tablespoons coconut oil 3-4 tablespoons molasses (depending how sweet you want it) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Instructions

Using a high speed blender, blend up the nuts and oats and add to a large bowl. Then simply add all ingredients together, mix well and let it rest for 30 min. Press the mix on a tray and cook at 200 degrees for 25 minutes. Cut into slices and serve hot or cold.

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Smart Health real-life case study – October 2023. The name has been changed to protect the identity of the customer. The image shown is for illustration purposes only.

“Each session we had was really helpful and impacted my recovery considerably."

"Smart Health’s mental health service was critical to my recovery. I can’t thank Connie and AIG enough.

She considered my needs and specifically phrased her way of talking to be more direct to help my understanding.

She introduced herself

Sophie, Smart Health customer AIG group protection policyholder

"Smart Health’s something I would consider if I ever thought about changing jobs. I really wouldn’t want to lose access to this fantastic service."

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Discover how Smart Health’s virtual GP service helped Sophie’s three-year-old.

One Saturday, my son woke up in pain with an ear infection. He was crying, saying 'help me, help me' because he didn’t understand what was wrong. This wasn’t the first time he’d woken up like this – my partner and I immediately knew we had to get antibiotics as soon as possible. Last time, I called NHS emergency services and it took them seven hours to call me back. With a three-year-old in pain, it was very stressful for us to be waiting for so long.

Where we live, it’s difficult to go and see someone out of hours. Going to the NHS clinic meant travelling over an hour with a very upset child. This time I decided to use Smart Health. My employer had recently made this available for us. I logged my request on the app and the doctor called me in less than five minutes. It’s great how quickly they responded. The doctor went through my son’s symptoms and offered to send me a prescription by email – which I was grateful for. In less than ten minutes of requesting the call, I got an e-prescription for the antibiotics needed. I sent my husband to get the medicines from a pharmacy close by. I’m so impressed with AIG’s Smart Health. The system’s easy to use, the doctor called me quickly and I received the prescription by email. When you have an unwell child, the hassle-free nature is great. I’m very grateful to my employer and AIG for this service. The app’s so easy to use.

Connie at Smart Health gave back as much as I gave in terms of information and affirmations of understanding. We were working through the problems together.

I’m very grateful to my employer and AIG for this service. The app’s so easy to use.

The NHS eventually directed us to a clinic.

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Swap a few of your every day favourites for plant-based alternatives starting with healthy vegan brownies.

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Go back

Actively engage our customers in designing and improving our products and services.

Stop focusing on telling customers what we want them to know and start understanding and delivering what matters to them - in a way they understand and from their point of view.

Listen to understand our customer’s needs. Solving their life problems how they want.

Proactively use our expertise to test and develop products customers buy. Always ensuring delivery of value from their perspective.

We help people live better lives

Creating a customer centric culture

Building our business around our customer not processes.

AIG Life Limited. Telephone 0345 600 6820. If calling from outside the UK, please call +44 1737 441 820. Registered in England and Wales. Number 6367921. Registered address: The AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AB. AIG Life Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The registration number is 473752.

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for internal use only.

“I’m a bit old fashioned and would have liked some documents posted to me.” “Respond to emails. Some of us don’t like speaking on the phone and would prefer to do things over email.” “You don’t have an app or give log-in details to view the policy online/digitally.”

Insight informs our customer principles

“I can’t find anywhere what I’m covered for, what figures, how to put in next-of-kin details. I know I’m covered but have no idea, in lay terms, for what.” “The policy leaflet looks great but for the amount of pages and words it actually doesn’t give much understandable information. Needs to be shorter and more easily understood.” “I forgot a lot of the information I was given on the call when I made the purchase. I’d like reminders so I can tap into the benefits available.”

“A phone call to set up Smart Health would be beneficial.” “I forgot a lot of the information I was given on the call when I made the purchase. I’d like reminders so I can tap into the benefits available.” “A follow-up phone call or email after one month to check everything is OK with the policy and if there are any new queries, would be good.”

Customer communication

Customer understanding

Customer engagement

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for internal use only.