Desjardins Insurance announced on November 2 that it was expanding its group benefits offering through a program called Neurodiversity Focus. The program adds support for services delivered by educational therapists and behaviour analysts. It also allows certain tools for concentration, sensory regulation and managing transitions to be covered through eligible wellness accounts. The insurer says these additions complement existing coverage for services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and mental health care.
The change deserves attention beyond the announcement of a new insurance product. Many employers have spent years adding mental health and paramedical services to their plans. The question now is whether the arrangement gives employees a practical route to the particular care they need. Expanding a list of recognized providers can help, but it doesn't necessarily mean an employee has more money available for treatment.
Coverage and actual…