MassMutual Now Offers This Competitive Benefit Provided By Only 3% of Employers

Starting January 1st, employees at MassMutual will benefit from a host of new benefits, including increased paid parental and caregiver lead and holistic fertility benefits. 

However, one planned benefit really stands out. MassMutual will give transgender employees reimbursements for cosmetic surgery, joining only three percent of employers in providing the most holistic benefits package for transgender individuals. 

Recent research from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) found that transgender health benefits are slowly expanding in the United States. In 2018, about 22 percent of surveyed employers said their health plans cover gender affirmation surgery, up from a modest eight percent in 2016. At the same time, 24 percent of surveyed employers cover drug therapy, up from nine percent in 2016. 

However, only three percent cover cosmetic surgery procedures that affirm gender, such as facial feminization or an Adam’s apple reduction. 

MassMutual elected to evolve their benefits program after speaking directly with their employees. They have completely revamped their caregiver and bereavement leave policies to allow employees to support their loved ones – however they define them. MassMutual will now offer up to two weeks of paid leave for employees to care for a “loved one,” with no requirement that the person in their care is an immediate or extended family member. Their bereavement policy follows suit. Employees will be given up to 15 paid days off to grieve the loss of a loved one, with no requirements of who that person is. 

MassMutual has also increased their paid maternity leave to 18 weeks, expanded their family planning and fertility benefits, and instituted care for those with cancer and behavioral health problems.