The Covid pandemic taught business owners that their employees’ health impacts productivity and the bottom line. But as we move further away from pandemic status, we are losing sight of the lessons learned.
Unfortunately, many people still know less about their medical preventative care schedule than their routine car maintenance schedule. Survey data found that only 8% of U.S. adults age 35 and older were getting all of the preventive care recommended to protect and improve their health.
Most employer-sponsored health plan benefits cover preventative care. As a business owner, it’s worth encouraging your employees to take advantage of these benefits.
Keep employees healthy, keep them working
U.S. employers lose $1,685 per employee, on average, each year due to absenteeism. The three conditions that cost employers the most are diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. These conditions are preventable or manageable with screenings and appropriate healthcare.
Some employers provide paid time for doctor’s appointments because it shows employees that the company cares about their health, which fosters loyalty and helps the bottom line over the long term.
Maximize the value of your investment
Healthcare costs are on the rise. The average employee cost increased 6.5% this year, equal to $13,800 per employee in 2023. You want to maximize your investment by reducing absenteeism and maximizing productivity.
One out of every four dollars employers pay for health care is tied to unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, stress, and obesity. The result is higher medical costs for employers.
Optimize your plan’s preventive care benefits
When employees visit an in-network medical provider, preventive care services are typically available at a low or no charge. Even if an employee still needs to meet their deductible, the insurance company may pay up to 100% of the bill for these services.
While health plans have inclusions, exclusions, costs and coverages, these preventive services are generally covered at no or low cost:
- Immunizations and vaccines to prevent infections and illnesses such as flu and tetanus
- Screenings and tests for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast cancer for at-risk women and colorectal cancer for at-risk adults.
- Routine checks such as physical exams and well-woman visits
We can advise you which preventive services are covered by your plan. As a business owner, you are an employee too, and you can lead by example by taking advantage of these benefits.
Prevention with PT Business Solutions
PT Business Solutions can be at your side, providing comprehensive plan processing with best-in-class service. We are experts who can fully support you and your employees.
