Many employees are absent or late for both essential and preventive medical care, which poses a major problem for employers.
A new analysis from the Integrated Benefit Institute (IBI), a nonprofit research organization based in Oakland, Calif., found that more than half (58%) of employees did not get the care they needed because of cost or insurance barriers. said to have been delayed. Meanwhile, 42% of workers reported being late because they could not get an appointment, and 35% reported delaying or avoiding treatment due to fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
The group’s survey also found that less than three-quarters of employees were up-to-date on preventive tests and vaccinations. The top reasons employees were not up to date on preventative testing were that they were “young and healthy” (17%) so they didn’t need it, and that it was too expensive or they couldn’t afford it. That’s (14 percent). The top reasons for not getting vaccinated are that they don’t like, don’t want to get or don’t trust vaccinations (37%), and respondents claim that they have strong immunity. Therefore, no vaccination is required.” immune system” (15%). For data, IBI surveyed 5,003 US employers.
IBI President Kelly McDevitt said the findings point to a serious problem and a call to action for the organization.
“Delayed care has a significant impact on employee health, which in turn affects their presenteeism and productivity. A healthy employee is a productive employee,” she said. Delays also have a big impact on employers in the form of reduced productivity and potential, he said. Increased medical costs.
“Employers must act now to ensure their employees receive the care they need to address the high costs of the future,” she said. “Part of the equation for employers includes addressing affordability, equity and access.”
Of further concern, research points out that people with chronic conditions are more likely to delay treatment. Sixty-nine percent of those with three or more chronic conditions delayed treatment because of cost or insurance barriers, compared to 51 percent of those without chronic conditions. But people with chronic illnesses are also more likely to receive the latest preventive care.
“If chronic conditions go untreated, employers will ultimately end up with higher employee disability rates and leaving insurance claims,” McDevitt said.
Data from IBI are not outliers. Gallup survey A survey earlier this year found that the percentage of Americans who said they or a family member had postponed treatment in 2022 due to cost increased by 12 percentage points from the previous year. That number is now at 38%, the highest in his 22 years that Gallup has followed the trend.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising,” said Dr. Terry Layman, corporate medical director of Indianapolis-based Marathon Health, which offers clinics that work with employers, of the findings. “Conventional healthcare is inadequately structured to support the health of the population. [consumer price index]- continues to make healthcare out of reach for an ever-growing number of Americans.
“With this, combined with access issues caused by staffing shortages and stalled closures during the pandemic, as well as concerns over access to health facilities, we are poised to face some challenges ahead. .”
Moving forward, employers will need to encourage people to get the acute, chronic and preventive care they need in a timely manner, said Rayman. “Barriers of cost, access and stigma must be removed to prevent delays in diagnosis, worsening morbidity and rising costs of treatment,” he said.
What Employers Should Do
The IBI noted that there are several strategies employers can use to address the problem of employees delaying necessary and preventive care.
Ask why employees delay care. If treatment is delayed, symptoms and illnesses can worsen and become more difficult to treat, all of which increases health care costs. Therefore, it is important for employers to not only budget for medical costs, but also track rates of treatment delays so that they can encourage workers to get the treatment they need.
Recognize the impact of mental health. Mental health conditions often occur alongside chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and obesity and can affect an employee’s ability to adhere to recommended treatments for other physical health conditions. “It is important to recognize that mental health issues can be an additional barrier to addressing physical health care needs. There is a risk,” McDevitt said. The IBI analysis found that people with comorbid anxiety and depression were the least likely to receive preventive testing and adult vaccinations, she noted.
Improving access to care where barriers exist. A major barrier to timely healthcare is cost. Especially now, with persistently high inflation, employees are becoming increasingly burdened with virtually every expense. Health plans with high deductibles, in particular, can pose significant challenges to affordability, he noted, IBI. Employers could keep costs down for their employees by contributing to medical savings accounts, keeping deductibles low, and refraining from raising premiums. And to address accessibility issues, employers will be able to use mobile clinics to meet employees wherever they are.
Create a culture that makes it easier to receive nursing care. The IBI suggests considering having some employees within your organization act as advocates for your benefits program and encourage healthy behavior. Managers can also be trained to facilitate conversations about health care and well-being.
Address the shortage of available reservations. Finding an appointment has become a big problem, especially for certain professionals. For example, according to the latest data from Mental Health America, nearly 1 in 3 Americans who need mental health care report not getting it. Employers can help by considering other solutions, such as using virtual care when available or scheduling assistance programs, McDevitt said.
