As the benefits planning season approaches for companies, CEO Stu Clark of Premise Health highlights the challenges facing organizations in securing healthcare benefits that employees are satisfied with at a cost that is affordable. Research shows that employees’ satisfaction with benefits has decreased over the past decade, while family premiums have increased by nearly 50%.
Clark emphasizes the importance of understanding whether employees are utilizing their healthcare benefits and if they are getting healthier. Employers often turn to multiple vendors for wellness solutions, leading to confusion and underutilized benefits. To address this issue, employers can focus on driving higher utilization of benefits and better health through collecting and utilizing data, focusing on primary care, and effectively communicating benefits to employees.
Employers are encouraged to collect and use data to understand how employees are utilizing their benefits and make informed decisions. This can involve seeking feedback directly from employees through surveys and focus groups, as well as analyzing insurance claims data to determine where resources should be focused to benefit employees the most.
One key recommendation is for employers to prioritize primary care, as it has been proven to improve health and lower costs. By investing in advanced primary care options and reducing barriers such as cost, employers can help employees access the care they need and build long-term relationships with primary care providers, ultimately leading to healthier workforces and decreased healthcare expenses.
Lastly, communication is essential to ensure that employees are aware of the benefits available to them. By working with healthcare partners and internal communications teams to provide consistent and personalized messaging, employers can increase employee awareness of benefits and reinforce the importance of their health and well-being. By actively listening to employees, promoting primary care, and effectively communicating benefits, organizations can improve satisfaction and promote healthier workforces over time.
