Canada Life expands cancer support to address workplace care gap 

Canada Life has expanded its group critical illness offering to include specialist cancer support, as employers face growing pressure to better support employees through long-term health conditions. 

The workplace protection insurer has partnered with Perci Health, a Care Quality Commission-regulated virtual cancer clinic backed by Macmillan, to provide employees with access to personalised clinical and emotional support following a cancer diagnosis. 

The move reflects a widening gap in how cancer is supported beyond initial treatment, with many employees left managing complex physical and psychological effects, while also navigating work and recovery. 

Under the new service, employees making a cancer-related claim through Canada Life, as well as their carers, are given access to a dedicated cancer nurse specialist for up to 12 months. Support is delivered through the Perci app, where users can book unlimited virtual appointments, access tailored guidance and manage their care in one place. 

The service is designed to complement NHS or private treatment by coordinating care, reducing duplication and ensuring continuity across multiple specialists. 

Patients also receive up to three additional sessions with oncology specialists, including physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists and menopause experts, to support recovery and long-term health outcomes. 

Evidence from Perci Health suggests people living with cancer experience an average of 24 unmet needs, ranging from chronic fatigue and pain to fertility challenges and mental health impacts. Many also report difficulty navigating treatment pathways and returning to work without structured support. 

For employers, this presents a growing workplace risk. Cancer accounted for 68 per cent of Canada Life’s group critical illness claims in 2025, with the average claimant aged just under 51. Breast, prostate and testicular cancers remain the most common. 

At the same time, survival rates are improving, shifting the focus from acute treatment to long-term management. More than 423,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in the UK in 2023, with 3.5 million people currently living with the condition. This figure is expected to reach six million by 2040. 

However, one in three people living with cancer continue to experience severe health needs beyond initial treatment, often affecting their ability to work and maintain quality of life. 

Dan Crook, managing director of protection at Canada Life, said the extension responds to the reality that cancer recovery goes far beyond hospital care. 

“Canada Life has partnered with Perci Health to provide specialist cancer care that helps employees manage the practical realities of living with cancer and supports their recovery. Employees living with cancer face a treatment and recovery journey which extends far beyond hospital care. But they may not know where to turn for help. 

“How cancer affects each individual and its long-term impact is becoming more nuanced as medical treatments advance. Often, it’s overwhelming and can feel isolating, with cancer patients often feeling it’s their condition – in the case of cancer their tumour – that is being treated, rather than the person. Specialist Cancer Care delivers personalised clinical, practical and emotional support which complements NHS or private hospital treatment and puts the individual – not just their diagnosis – at the heart of their cancer journey.” 

Kelly McCabe, chief executive of Perci Health, said the partnership aims to close the gap in care once treatment ends. 

“People living with and beyond cancer and their families, face far more than just the disease itself. Beyond hospital walls, many are left navigating the impact on their work, finances, family life and recovery, often without the right support, particularly once treatment ends, when access to care can fall away. Through our partnership with Canada Life, we’re closing that gap by delivering personalised, multidisciplinary care that wraps around the individual, not just the cancer. 

“Our nurses build tailored care teams around each person, bringing together specialists such as psychologists, dietitians, physiotherapists and exercise experts, so we can support the full range of needs people face. This approach helps individuals manage side effects, regain control, and optimise their health, quality of life and return-to-work outcomes at every stage.” 

The development highlights a broader shift in workplace wellbeing, where employers are increasingly expected to support complex, long-term conditions, not just short-term health interventions. 

As survival rates improve and more employees remain in work during and after treatment, the challenge for organisations is moving from access to care, towards coordinated, ongoing support that enables sustainable recovery and return to work.