From classroom to health care: MESSA’s origins and continued focus on women’s health

MESSA has always taken women’s health to heart. In fact, women are, in large part, one of the reasons that MESSA exists.

MESSA was born out of a need to provide public school employees — many of whom were women teaching in classrooms — with affordable health insurance and the financial protection and peace of mind that comes with it. Today, nearly 75% of Michigan’s public school employees are women, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Interestingly, nearly 75% of MESSA members are women, and many of them are parents, too.

It’s not a secret that women are really good at prioritizing others in their lives. They often book doctor appointments and haircuts, organize summer camps and manage playdates. It’s also no secret that they’re not as good at prioritizing their health.

Over the years, however, MESSA has always put a priority on protecting women’s health by providing robust preventive services and supporting the unique health care needs of women.

Here are a few ways MESSA cares for you:

First, the basics of preventive health: MESSA covers one annual physical and up to two gynecological exams a year for MESSA members and covered dependents.

MESSA was a frontrunner in covering 3D mammograms starting in 2015, when other plans still considered them experimental. That’s meaningful because a 3D mammogram is better at detecting cancer and reduces the need for repeat imaging, according to the Mayo Clinic.

All MESSA members have had access to Ovia Health’s trio of apps since 2019. The Ovia app supports reproductive health at all stages of life, all the way through menopause. The Ovia Pregnancy app offers support for parents from conception to delivery, and Ovia Parenting continues that journey from their child’s birth through those tricky teen years.

MESSA supports mothers and parents in other ways, too. All MESSA health plans cover breast pumps and lactation consultants, which can be a lifeline for working parents who want to meet both their breastfeeding and career goals.

There are many other ways that MESSA provides support to all of our members and their covered dependents, including comprehensive mental health benefits, a long list of free immunizations, a Medical Case Management program for intensive health needs and more.

This Women’s Health Month, we encourage you to take stock of how you’re managing your health. If you see an opportunity to improve yourself, please jump on it. Book that 3D mammogram, schedule your annual exam and check out the Ovia apps. We take your health to heart and we hope you do, too.