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Explore the October Vitality Toolkit
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This monthly Vitality eCard brings the 2026 Cigna Healthcare Well‑Being Resource Calendar to life.
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October features Breast Cancer Awareness Month and World Mental Health Day (October 10), offering employers an opportunity to share education and resources that support women’s physical and mental health, preventive care, emotional well-being, and awareness of available support.
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Supporting Women’s Health & Well-Being
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Women represent 50.5% of the U.S. population and 56.8% of the U.S. workforce, yet women's health has historically been overlooked and too often viewed only through the lens of reproductive health.1, 2 Women's health encompasses physical and mental well-being across every stage of life, from adolescence through older age.2
For employers, supporting women's health can be an important part of fostering a healthy and engaged workforce. When conditions that are more common among, or exclusive to, women go untreated or unsupported, they may affect well‑being, productivity, and workplace engagement.2 For example, symptoms related to the menopausal transition contributed to an estimated $1.8 billion in lost workdays in 2023, underscoring the importance of access to appropriate health resources and support.2 Women also often serve as the "chief medical officers" of their households by making many health-related decisions and caring for family members when they are sick.3
These responsibilities can sometimes come at the expense of their own health and well‑being. Encouraging awareness of preventive care, mental health resources, and available benefits can help support women as they care for themselves and those who depend on them.3
Employers can play a role by helping employees understand and access available resources that support preventive care, mental well‑being, and access to care.
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Employer-facing Resources:
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Find this e-Card and toolkit resources, as well as previous versions, on Cigna for Employers!
**To listen to this podcast episode please scroll down to the “Listen to all of Season 3” section of the page.
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Actionable Tips for Employers:
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These actionable tips are designed to help you plan simple, meaningful ways to support employees. Each idea focuses on practical actions that encourage preventive care, reinforce healthy habits, and support the energy and vitality of your workforce.
Create a Women's Health Passport: A checklist of screenings and self-care goals.
Consider creating a “Women’s Health Passport” or a checklist of recommended preventive and self-care milestones such as annual visits, cancer screenings, and recommended vaccinations. A supportive document can help employees better understand preventive care and navigate recommended screenings for different life stages while encouraging awareness of available health resources.
Review mental health policies and explore Mental Health First Aid® training opportunities.
World Mental Health Day on October 10 may be a timely opportunity to share mental health awareness resources and remind employees of available support including EAP, behavioral health benefits, and other well-being resources. World Mental Health Day is a part of World Mental Illness Awareness Week
(October 4-10). This health observance offers employers the opportunity to examine their mental health policies and training opportunities for chances to reduce the stigma and open a dialog around mental health concerns.
Promote virtual care as an option to support women’s health needs.
Highlighting virtual care can help individuals get access to care in a convenient and comfortable setting. Virtual care can be helpful for those with busy schedules. Consider reminding employees of available virtual options through their medical, EAP, or other health plan benefits.
For questions or guidance, contact your Cigna Healthcare® Account team.
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*Monthly topics are subject to change.
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on the Assessment of NIH Research on Women’s Health; Geller A, Salganicoff A, Burke SP. A New Vision for Women’s Health Research: Transformative Change at the National Institutes of Health. February 14, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK612396/
2. Kay Nelsen, MD. Why "Women's Health"?. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/why-womens-health/2008-07
3. Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News. Families often have chief medical officers – and they're almost always women. April 17, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/04/17/families-often-have-chief-medical-officers-and-theyre-almost-always-women
Some resources are provided by a third-party organization. They are intended for general informational purposes only. They are not affiliated with Cigna Healthcare and do not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cigna Healthcare does not control the content of external resources and websites.
Cigna Healthcare products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group. All pictures are used for illustrative purposes only.
998758 09/26 © 2026 Cigna Healthcare. Some content provided under license.
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