SSQ Insurance has teamed up with BiogeniQ to enable the insurer’s group insurance customers to access depression treatment services.
BiogeniQ is a company that specializes in pharmacogenomics – a field that combines the sciences of genetics and pharmacology.
To treat depression, a patient typically has to undergo several treatment strategies before the right drug and/or approach is identified. Thanks to the new partnership, SSQ Insurance claims members can easily find the right treatment with BiogeniQ’s help.
Insureds who agree to participate in the new program will receive a genetic test kit from BiogeniQ to collect a small sample of saliva for analysis. With the consent of the insured, BiogeniQ will send the results to the attending physician, who will be able to use the information to identify the proper treatment approach immediately.
A disclaimer noted that SSQ Insurance will not receive any of the results of the test conducted by BiogeniQ.
“This agreement with BiogeniQ reflects our commitment to providing our insured members with innovative solutions that promote health and well-being, and once again demonstrates SSQ Insurance’s leadership in this area,” said SSQ Insurance president of strategy and product management Éric Trudel. “Thanks to our agreement with BiogeniQ, SSQ Insurance customers will be able to consider a treatment that is better suited to their situation and possibly a faster return to a fully active life.”
Trudel added that by streamlining the assessment process via BiogeniQ’s testing, the cost of group insurance plans for policyholders could be better controlled.
For now, select insured members will be offered BiogeniQ’s services; SSQ Insurance has plans to extend the offer to the rest of its clientele in the future. The insurer is also looking into utilizing pharmacogenomics in the treatment of other diseases.
