Overview
At MarketAxess, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. These principles form the foundation of our company culture and drive our health and wellness programs.
Our goal is to support your personal wellbeing, while helping you bring your authentic self and unique talents to work each day. A critical aspect of this commitment is ensuring that our benefits are inclusive and provide comprehensive support for all.
Here you will find a summary of the MarketAxess benefits and programs that may be especially valuable to members of the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones. It’s important to review all of MarketAxess' benefits, as this is not an exhaustive list of the benefits available to you.
Find community at MarketAxess by joining an employee resource group (ERG)
Our employee-led internal networks bring our people together to help create a more diverse and inclusive environment. Amplify is an ERG created to globally celebrate and support MarketAxess employees who either identify as LGBTQ+ or allies of the community. The group is also meant to foster the amplification of any participating colleague's authentic voice as we believe that fully inhabiting one’s unique personhood makes for more confident, comfortable, and communicative members of the firm. To learn more about Amplify and our other ERGs, visit MyMax.
Health Benefits
MarketAxess' health benefits are available to you and your spouse/partner regardless of gender, gender identity or sexuality, as well as you and your spouse’s/domestic partner’s children.
Domestic partner benefits
Your MarketAxess medical benefits provide comprehensive, inclusive coverage for a wide range of health care and prescription needs. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you may find the benefits highlighted below particularly helpful.
Gender affirmation services
Gender affirmation services for individuals with diagnosed gender dysphoria/incongruence are covered in most cases when determined to be medically necessary based on the clinical guidelines set forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care.
Services covered under the MarketAxess medical plan include:
- Hormone therapy*
- Puberty suppression*
- Voice modification and communication therapy
- Genital surgery and surgery to change secondary sex characteristics**
- Reconstructive and complementary procedures, including pectoral implants, gluteal augmentation, hair removal and many others**
Call United Healthcare before obtaining gender affirmation services to confirm coverage and ask about the need for prior authorization related to health care.
*Generally, this is covered under your medical plan’s prescription drug benefits. For questions about your prescription coverage, or to determine whether your medication requires prior authorization, call OptumRx at 888-290-5416.
**Short-term Medical Leave: If you need time away from work to recover from transition-related procedures, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies, entitling eligible employees to take a job-protected, medically necessary leave. Your medical leave would run concurrently with short-term disability (STD) benefits. For more information about time off and leaves of absence, please refer to the US Employee Handbook.
Preventive care
All preventive care based on biological needs is covered in full regardless of gender assigned at birth. Covered preventive services include:
- Annual primary care physician exam
- Annual OB/GYN exams
- Vaccinations as applicable based on medical guidance
- HIV prevention, including HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) injectable treatment
Health advocacy
If you need help from an expert as you navigate the health care system, reach out to United Healthcare for free, personalized, and confidential assistance. Specially trained advocates are available to answer your questions, backed by a team of professionals skilled in clinical care, emotional health, pharmacy, special needs, health care costs and medical plan benefits.
United Healthcare advocates can help you:
- Find providers who match your preferences
- Understand your benefits
- Resolve claims or billing issues
- And much more
Call the number on your United Healthcare member ID card to get started.
Family Planning
MarketAxess recognizes that there are many paths to parenthood. We provide inclusive benefits to support you in building your family your own way.
Fertility treatment
Coverage for fertility treatment is available to all employees and eligible dependents enrolled in a MarketAxess medical plan, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression. An infertility diagnosis is not required.
Pregnancy, postpartum, adoption, and surrogacy support
Welcoming a newborn child is an exciting—and stressful—time in any parent’s life. If you are enrolled in a United Healthcare medical plan through MarketAxess, you have access to Maven for support with all paths to parenthood, including surrogacy and adoption, with 24/7/365 access to the user-friendly app. You can use Maven for:
- Personalized assistance from a dedicated care advocate, who can provide referrals to highly-ranked, inclusive agencies and clinics
- 24/7 virtual appointments and messaging with providers like adoption coaches, mental health specialists, doulas, lactation consultants, infant sleep coaches, and pediatricians
- Help with pregnancy questions between doctor’s visits or assistance creating a birth plan
- Access to hundreds of expert-approved articles and on-demand classes on topics like infant CPR or navigating your relationship with your surrogate
To get started, download the Maven Clinic app, or visit https://mavenclinic.com/join/uhc-join.
You can also use your MarketAxess Wellness Stipend toward adoption and surrogacy expenses. Learn more about how the Wellness Stipend works.
Parental leave
Regardless of your sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, parental leave benefits are offered to all new parents. Review the company’s leave policies in the US Employee Handbook.
Emotional Wellbeing
MarketAxess' mental health benefits are designed to provide personalized support to meet the diverse needs of all our employees and their family members. For the LGBTQ+ community, that means offering inclusive, respectful, and accepting support from professionals who understand you. Accessing this support is easy with the following programs.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Counselors and clinicians trained in LGBTQ+ issues can offer free, confidential support to help you feel comfortable and manage issues related to your sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, online information is available to help you through various situations, including coming out, understanding your rights, supporting your LGBTQ+ child, and more. There are also dedicated resources for employees who want to support LGBTQ+ coworkers and help foster an inclusive culture at MarketAxess.
Medical coverage for mental health services
Your MarketAxess medical plan provides coverage for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions by mental health professionals. Covered services include both outpatient visits, inpatient care, and virtual visits. Your plan’s deductible, coinsurance, or copays would apply.
Financial Benefits
MarketAxess is committed to supporting the financial wellbeing of all employees. Your MarketAxess benefits offer expert financial and legal guidance specific to your situation.
Financial and legal support
As an LGBTQ+ individual, partner, parent, or family member, you may have complex legal or financial questions. Through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you have access to free, confidential support, education, and tools to address any financial and legal concerns. For example, on the SupportLinc website, you can find information about:
- Living together when you are not married
- LGBTQ+ adoption
- Transgender rights
- And much more
You also have access to counselors who can answer your questions by phone or online. Call 888-881-5462 anytime or visit the SupportLinc website to start using these resources. The EAP offers support for legal and financial concerns, as well as the full spectrum of work/life needs.
Disability coverage
Short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) benefits are provided for medically necessary time away from work, including to recover from gender affirmation surgery and other related procedures. These benefits allow you to continue receiving income when you cannot work due to a disability or illness.