The Empire Life Insurance Co. is adding telemedicine services to its group benefits plans.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, all employees whose plan sponsors offer Empire Life’s group benefits will automatically have access to the new service, provided by Teladoc Health.

“Nearly two in five Canadians say they have faced COVID-related barriers to medical care,” said Vanessa Lycos, vice-president of group product and marketing, in a press release, referring to an Angus Reid survey conducted in May 2020.

Read: Canadians cite 91% satisfaction rate with virtual health care

“With telemedicine, talking to a doctor is safe, simple, fast and easy — any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. And with no travel time or time in the waiting room, it may also help reduce absenteeism, which is a growing problem for employers.”

Empire Life already provides other Teladoc Health services including its Best Doctors expert medical services, which it added in 2018, and its mental-health navigator service, added earlier in 2020.