Connecting the dots: Employee engagement and its impact on clinical outcomes and employer costs
Empower your workforce for higher engagement, better health outcomes, and lower costs
As benefit decision-makers for mid-to-large organizations, you are acutely aware of the need to balance cost management with providing high-quality healthcare benefits. Empowering your employees to better understand and utilize their healthcare benefits can drive higher engagement, achieve better health outcomes, and significantly reduce costs. This strategic approach is essential for long-term value and sustainability.
The current healthcare system: A source of frustration
Healthcare access is a crucial part of your employees' lives, yet navigating the healthcare system remains a significant challenge. For many of your employees, they don’t experience healthcare until they have to and that experience is often frustrating, time consuming, and costly. Add in the additional layers of understanding insurance, the benefits available, and accessing quality care, it’s no surprise that many employees often feel overwhelmed and confused.
And it’s not just your employees who are frustrated–you, the employer, are also increasingly frustrated with the current healthcare system. Escalating costs, fragmented care, and a lack of transparency have created a burdensome environment for both you and your employees. The average annual premium for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $23,968 in 2023, with workers contributing $6,575 on average.
The complexity of healthcare
The complexity of healthcare cannot be overstated. Your employees face an array of options, including different levels of coverage, co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. During short open enrollment periods, they often lack the necessary information to make informed choices, leading to suboptimal plan selections.
52%
of people struggle to understand their health insurance and benefits
Fragmentation of care
The fragmentation of care further complicates the healthcare landscape.
Your employees often have to navigate between multiple healthcare providers, specialists, and services. This can result in disjointed care, where critical information is not effectively shared between providers. For example, an employee seeing a primary care physician, a specialist, and using an independent lab for tests may find that their healthcare records are not synchronized, leading to potential gaps in care. Inefficiencies in the U.S. healthcare system waste about $765 billion annually, with a significant portion attributed to administrative complexity and lack of coordination.
38%
of employees say coordination of care between multiple doctors is very or somewhat difficult
Access to quality care
Access to quality care is another major hurdle. While some employees may have robust networks of healthcare providers, others may find that their options are limited, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Additionally, disparities in access to care can be worsened by socioeconomic factors–nearly 30 million Americans remain uninsured, and those with insurance often face high out-of-pocket costs that can deter them from seeking necessary care.
Employees who delay or forego care due to cost concerns are more likely to experience worsening health conditions. In fact, 54% of people with employer coverage who reported delaying or forgoing care because of costs said a health problem of theirs or a family member got worse. Delaying care can lead to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and higher costs if they end up in the ER for care avoidance.
Many insured adults reported that they or a family member had delayed or skipped needed health care or prescription drugs because they couldn’t afford it in the past 12 months, with 29% of those having employer coverage. These rising costs have led employers to seek innovative solutions that can ensure employees receive the care they need without breaking the bank.
84M
Americans live in an area with a primary care shortage, leading to wait times of 20+ days
The importance of employee engagement
Engaged employees are more likely to be smart healthcare consumers–they’re more likely to utilize preventive care services, adhere to treatment plans, and make informed healthcare decisions. Highly engaged employees are 21% more likely to be involved in wellness programs and have a 41% lower health-related absenteeism.
Employee engagement and wellness are about protecting your human capital, your most valuable asset.”
—Naz Beheshti
Achieving better health outcomes
When your employees are well-informed about their healthcare options and actively participate in their health management, they are more likely to seek preventative care, manage chronic conditions effectively, and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.
Preventive care: A proactive approach
Preventative care is the cornerstone of better health outcomes. Regular check-ups with a primary care provider (PCP), screenings, and vaccinations can catch potential health issues early, before they develop into more serious conditions. When your employees understand the importance of preventative care and have easy access to these services via virtual care, they are more likely to take advantage of them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), increased use of preventative services could prevent thousands of deaths each year and save billions in healthcare costs. For instance, the CDC notes that colorectal cancer screening, mammography, and flu vaccination are among the most effective preventive measures, yet they are underutilized.
Establishing a PCP is an important first step in proactive prevention. A PCP not only provides regular health assessments and screenings but also offers a consistent point of contact for health-related concerns, fostering a trusted relationship between the patient and the provider. This relationship is crucial for ongoing health management and early detection of potential issues. In addition, PCPs can guide patients through the healthcare system, making referrals to specialists when necessary and ensuring continuity of care.
Included Health's virtual Primary Care solution provides your employees access to a 24/7 Care Team, ensuring they are cared for before, during, and after visits. Our virtual Primary Care enables real-time consultations, easy follow-ups, and continuous health monitoring, which are essential for maintaining regular preventive care.
35%
more patients returned for follow-up care
By embracing virtual primary care solutions like those offered by Included Health, you can enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of preventive care. This proactive strategy ensures that your employees are more engaged in their health management, leading to early detection and treatment of health issues, which ultimately results in a healthier, more productive workforce. The integration of virtual care into the preventive care model is a forward-thinking approach that aligns with the needs of a modern, tech-savvy workforce, providing a seamless and efficient way to maintain and improve health.
Effective management of chronic conditions
Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, are significant drivers of healthcare costs and can severely impact employee productivity. Empowered employees who actively manage their chronic conditions are less likely to experience complications and hospitalizations. Education and resources, such as disease management programs, can play a pivotal role in helping employees manage their health. A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that comprehensive chronic disease management programs can lead to a 24% reduction in hospital admissions and a 13% reduction in emergency room visits among participants.
Included Health's integrated care model is particularly effective in supporting your employees with chronic conditions. By providing personalized care plans, regular check-ins, and access to a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, we ensure that your employees receive consistent and comprehensive care. This approach not only helps in early identification and management of potential health issues but also promotes adherence to treatment plans. We’ve seen up to a 6.5% increase in chronic condition treatment and adherence. This improvement in adherence is critical, as it directly correlates with better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.