Benefits provider Carrot Fertility to introduce HRT coverage

The US benefits platform Carrot Fertility has announced the expansion of its menopause and low testosterone offerings to include hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

“The dramatic hormonal changes seen during menopause and age-related low T can negatively impact people physically, mentally, and emotionally and, unfortunately, many treatment options are not covered by health insurance,” said Dr Asima Ahmad, Carrot Fertility co-founder and chief medical officer.

“With both provider matching through Carrot’s menopause and low T network and coverage for HRT, members can now get the comprehensive care they need, when they need it.”

Major gaps in care exist for women in perimenopause or menopause, with as many as three out of four women seeking help for symptoms saying they do not receive it.

This is partly driven by fear and misinformation and little training for healthcare professionals in menopause care, says the benefits provider.

In the US, for example, fewer than 20 per cent of all OB/GYNs are trained in menopause care.

While public and private healthcare systems provide some coverage for hormone replacement therapy, the company believes significant gaps remain.

Conflicting guidance around HRT has also led health insurance plans to offer only limited coverage, with many medications not fully covered and newer, innovative treatments often not covered at all.

In a 2022 report of 1,000 women, Carrot found that women ranked their 50s as the most challenging decade to be in the workforce. Nearly half have considered changing jobs to find remote work to better manage symptoms.

The company first introduced its age-inclusive fertility benefits for menopause and low testosterone last year.

Since then, more than half of all its customers have added the options to their fertility benefits packages, according to its own data.