Approximately 55% of people in the United States receive health insurance coverage and additional health benefits such as well-being programs, on-site clinics, and telemedicine through their employers [1]. As such, employees play a crucial role in addressing health disparities and driving health equity. Having a strong benefits program can help employers stay competitive and attract and retain top talent.
By selecting the right benefits, employers can support employee health equity, enabling a healthier and more productive workforce and improving employee retention while lowering long-term costs. Here are three ways employers can help advance health equity in the workplace and make a meaningful difference in health outcomes.
Optimize current benefits and health plan offerings
Employers should evaluate their current benefits offering through an equity lens. It’s crucial to consider whether your offering provides comprehensive coverage that meets the unique needs of diverse and dispersed populations. As healthcare is not one-size-fits-all, employers should have a clear understanding of their employees’ needs and what they value.
Understanding how and why employees are using their benefits enables employers to use these insights to streamline their offerings. Analytics on whom and when benefits are being utilized can also be used to inform and drive strategy.
Address social determinants of health
About 80% of health outcomes are determined by social determinants of health, such as income level, educational attainment, health behaviors, and environment [2]. Employers who consider social determinants of health when designing benefits programs can better address a diverse population's health needs. When developing strategies around access, utilization, and outcomes among employees, considering race and ethnicity, geography, and other potential barriers to equitable health can help identify care gaps and create solutions.
Adding social determinants of health to claims and clinical information can help organizations find the insights they need to improve population health. Employers should invest in benefits and policies to address barriers to access and achieving optimal health. One such benefit is at-home healthcare solutions that meet individuals where they are with comprehensive and quality care.
Make sure benefits are easy to access, understand, and use
While having the right benefit offerings is important, they are only useful if employees can access them. Making benefits easier to understand and navigate can also aid employers in taking concrete steps to achieve health equity among their employees. Employers can leverage a range of tactics to make benefits easier to navigate.
This includes using inclusive language and imagery, identifying employees with unmet needs so they can refer them to specific benefits programs, and developing a culture that empowers employees to seek needed care without fear of stigma. Making benefits easier to understand and use can help employees make the best healthcare decisions and improve outcomes. Investing in a solution that gives employees a single point of contact for all their health and benefits needs can help.
How LetsGetChecked can help employers advance health equity
LetsGetChecked’s fully integrated care system makes it easy for employers to access the care they need. Our comprehensive range of healthcare solutions is accessible from one easy-to-use platform, enabling employees to get preventive care and actionable health insights from wherever they are.
