SCOR partners with Bowtie and Take2 on innovative cancer screening solution
SCOR has partnered with Bowtie, Hong Kong’s first virtual insurer, and Take2, a healthcare and biotech company, to develop an innovative cancer screening solution. Bowtie will fully sponsor 1,300 of its selected life insurance customers within the age group of 40 – 60 to conduct a Take2 Prophecy™ Test for Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC).
Nearly 85% of the world’s NPC patients come from Asia, and the incidence rate of NPC among Hong Kongers is as high as 5 to 6 times the global average(1). In Hong Kong, NPC is one of the five most common cancers among men aged 45 to 64(2), the age group with the highest median employment income(3). Family finances are likely to be severely stressed if members of this age group fall ill.
Statistics from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority highlight that 70 – 80% of the city’s NPC patients were diagnosed at stages 3 & 4 (which are classified as late stages)(4), showing that effective NPC screening solutions are lacking. In comparison, according to a clinical study conducted by a top local university, utilising Next-generation Sequencing and state-of-the-art technologies for the early detection of NPC could enable patients to be diagnosed at earlier stages (stages 1 & 2), which was the case for 70% of the NPC patients identified in the study. If an individual is diagnosed with NPC at an early stage, the survival rate in the next 5 years can reach 90%, which is almost 30% higher than a diagnosis at later stages(5).
SCOR, Bowtie and Take2 aim to help the public learn about the potential risks of NPC, in order to conduct early NPC detection. Selected Bowtie insureds can enjoy a Take2 Prophecy™ NPC detection Test at Bowtie’s medical clinic, Bowtie & JP Health, for the service fee only(6). The test result will not affect their current coverage, underwriting results or claim eligibility with Bowtie. For positive test results, a free follow-up medical consultation will be provided by Bowtie & JP Health.
The application process is simple. Users can:
Access the “Health Services” page after logging into their Bowtie account;
Obtain the QR code for a Take2 Prophecy™ NPC detection, and save the screenshot on their mobile;
Make an appointment on the Bowtie & JP Health website, or call 3169 2269
Present the QR code on their visit to Bowtie & JP Health and conduct the test.
“It has come to our concern that the risk of NPC in men between the ages of 40 and 60 is extremely high. Imagine if these people who are at the peak of their careers, who are also the breadwinner of their families, are diagnosed with serious illnesses, not only are they leaving their family worried, their family expenses might also become unaffordable. Our partnership enables more people to realise the importance of physical examinations as a way to prevent diseases,” says Dr. Jacky Lio, Chief Medical Officer, Bowtie.
“Take2 has entered into a definitive licence agreement with GRAIL for the exclusive worldwide rights to an intellectual property portfolio for the early detection of NPC. Adopting the Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) technology in NPC screening, it allows clients to receive highly accurate tests in a convenient and efficient manner. We are grateful to Take2 and SCOR for supporting this project,” Dr. Lio adds.
“One mission of Take2 is to provide individuals a second chance in health through the early detection of disease. NPC is most prevalent in China and the ASEAN countries, and is a deadly cancer as the majority of cases are diagnosed at late stages. As the pioneer who brings disruptive innovation to the healthcare industry, Take2 aims at marking the advent of a new era across Asia,” says Professor Dennis Lo, Founder of Take2.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Bowtie and SCOR to promote cancer awareness and the importance of early detection of NPC. Leveraging the fast-growing customer base of Bowtie, we will make our early detection technology for NPC widely accessible to those who need it most,” Carmen Lee, Vice President of Take2, adds.
“As one of the largest reinsurers in the world, SCOR has a responsibility to society to help transform traditional insurance into a health-improving journey which produces better outcomes for our clients and policyholders. With this partnership, we help to bridge the gap between medical advancements and their impact on life insurance by bringing innovative solutions to our clients. SCOR is incredibly proud to embark on this journey with Bowtie and Take2,” says Tony Ho, Head of South Asia, SCOR Life & Health.
Sun Life partners with AbleTo to bring virtual mental health support to members with cancer
Sun Life U.S. has announced a unique partnership with AbleTo, a virtual behavioral health therapy and coaching program, to offer mental health support services to Sun Life disability and critical illness members receiving benefits due to a cancer diagnosis. In a focused evaluation of disability claims for members with cancer, Sun Life’s Clinical Claims Innovation Lab saw significant need for mental health intervention to address conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression. AbleTo’s program, which focuses on holistic, personalized mental health care, is designed to help people cope with difficult medical diagnoses.
“Access to mental and behavioral health services has become a priority for so many across the country, particularly with regard to remote or virtual settings,” said Sheila Sokolski, assistant vice president of Life, Absence and Disability products at Sun Life U.S. “By partnering with AbleTo, we can bring our members convenient, confidential access to mental health services from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. This program can help our members more effectively manage their cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as maintain mental wellness throughout their medical journey.”
When Sun Life members enroll in the eight-week AbleTo program, they get:
One-on-one weekly sessions with a licensed AbleTo therapist via phone or video call
Additional weekly sessions with an experienced AbleTo behavioral coach
Therapists with extensive experience counseling people facing serious health diagnoses
Digital tools and activities to use between sessions and after the program ends
“When we see members diagnosed with cancer, we know they are facing challenges in addition to receiving treatment, such as worrying about their families, their ability to return to work or paying additional medical expenses,” said Sheila Weiss, RN, assistant vice president, Group Claims and Clinical Services, Sun Life U.S., and head of Sun Life’s Clinical Claims Innovation Lab. “It is crucial for those dealing with a condition like cancer to receive behavioral health support, or these issues could impede their ability to cope during treatment and recover afterwards.”
Sun Life’s Clinical Claims Innovation Lab conducts focused analyses of disability claims for specific conditions, identifying trends and opportunities for intervention – such as communicating with physicians to better understand the member’s medical situation, or connecting members to vocational rehabilitation consultants – which can improve the recovery path for the member. The Lab’s studies also further educate Sun Life’s claims professionals on medical treatment advances that can impact a member’s recovery.
“Medical outcomes can be improved when people can manage their mental wellness at the same time as physical recovery,” said Stephen Bewley, chief executive officer of AbleTo. “Through the program, individuals learn to manage anxiety and stress levels, relax, and feel more in control. They can modify negative thoughts and improve their mood, building healthy, actionable, lifelong skills to support their mental health. We’ve seen graduates of AbleTo’s program report improvement in symptoms, with a 98 percent patient satisfaction1 score. We’re thankful that Sun Life members will get access to our tailored mental health support needed during a difficult time.”
Using the DASS-21 tool, which assesses and measures stress, anxiety and depression, AbleTo tracked participants’ symptoms from baseline to program completion, and discovered an average 62 percent reduction in depression, and 56 percent reduction in anxiety.1
AbleTo will be available to eligible Sun Life members receiving short-term disability benefit payments and/or approved for critical illness benefits due to a cancer diagnosis. The program is an extension of their Sun Life benefit. For more information about the Sun Life clinical model, visit www.sunlife.com/disability.
This is the latest development in Sun Life’s expanded approach to mental health and wellness, which includes support for primary diagnoses, guidance for employers as they develop mental wellness programs for the workplace, and broadened philanthropic support, particularly for underprivileged communities.