According to the US Census Bureau, 56% of the population has employer-sponsored health insurance. However, companies are struggling to find affordable health care options for their employees, and many smaller companies simply cannot offer it. In addition to finding affordable options, companies are asking employees to pay more in premiums to receive the care sponsored by their employers.
Employer-sponsored health insurance faces a long-term risk of premiums continuing to rise and not having the staff or the expertise to manage the intricacies of the healthcare market. The inability to navigate the increasingly complex healthcare market causes employees to become underinsured, with inadequate care and rising healthcare costs for the employee even after paying their share of the premium to the employer.
Even those employees that have insurance often have a deductible that is higher than the amount of money they have in savings. Even though these employees ‘have’ health insurance, they aren’t truly protected from spending more than they have. We call this being ‘functionally uninsured.’
To help alleviate the rising costs of sponsored health care, employers are turning to an alternative health care system called Direct Primary Care. We will outline what Direct Primary Care is and how it benefits employers and employees alike.
What Is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based healthcare system. When a company offers Direct Primary Care, they pay the membership fee for the employee, and that’s the end of their involvement. There is no direct relationship between the healthcare system and the employer.
The relationship that exists with Direct Primary Care is with the care provider and the patient, rather than having the insurance company as a middle-man. It also gets rid of the need for an insurance company to approve certain medications and procedures. Instead, the doctor chooses what is best for their patient, and the patient receives the care they need.
What Are The Benefits of Direct Primary Care?
Benefit #1 – Cost Savings
Adding Direct Primary Care (DPC) provides value and savings to companies indirectly. They pay considerably less for memberships for employees rather than high premiums that continue to increase over time. In addition, the employee benefits from increased healthcare access and physician-led healthcare navigation. And, with many DPC clinics, there are zero costs for office visits and no co-pays. DPC is truly a first-dollar benefit for employees.
DPC membership rates are generally between $30-90 a month per employee, and premium increases don’t occur as often as traditional health insurance premiums. When using a self-funded or company-funded DPC, healthcare claims are easier to manage, and the savings for both employee and employer are significant.
Benefit #2 – Less Time Away From Work
DPC offers employees the ability to see a personal, concierge-like physician, offering conveniences of same-day or next-day office appointments. With Virtual DPC, patients can meet with their physician by email, phone, or video conference at work or home. This means employees don’t miss work to go into a doctor’s office for a consultation with their physician. By providing nearly on-demand healthcare, employees can spend more time working and less time waiting in doctor’s offices.
Having improved accessibility to physicians encourages employees to see their doctor when they need to. DPC potentially keeps employees healthier because they can address health issues before they become a chronic or lifelong problem. DPC offers employees services to help prevent, manage, and address acute health issues as they arise, and in turn, employees can focus on work and continue with optimal productivity.
Benefit #3 – Helps Retain And Recruit Employees
Offering the lower cost of DPC membership allows companies to provide better benefits packages and allows small companies to provide healthcare benefits they couldn’t otherwise afford. This applies both to existing and potential employees. By providing a DPC membership, companies can create a more robust benefits package. In addition, offering DPC memberships’ high level of care gives employees security and draws in talent that wants the same.
Benefit #4 – Helps Promote A Healthier Work Culture
DPC isn’t just for employees who are sick. DPC physicians are proactive when it comes to caring for their patients, and with $0 copays and $0 office visit charges, employees are encouraged to see their provider much earlier than with regular insurance. Offering a healthcare option that is accessible before a health issue arises shows your commitment to your employee’s health. By increasing employee benefits and saving money on healthcare, companies offer numerous benefits to their employees.
Find The Right Direct Primary Care Provider
Assurance Health & Counseling Center is a premier Direct Primary Care provider that offers exceptional healthcare without breaking the bank. We work with companies to provide an alternative to traditional health insurance, offering a lower-cost, budget-friendly option for your employees.
We provide our members unlimited access to our health providers for a flat monthly fee. We offer medical services as well as counseling services, providing a holistic approach to healthcare. Contact us today and learn how a membership can help your employees live a happier, healthier life.