A Maestro Health survey shows that 62 percent of employees feel their employer does not serve as a resource for their healthcare-related questions.

Healthcare is a complex system that includes multiple elements beyond the patient/physician relationship. From carrier to government regulations, the intricacies of healthcare can confuse even the most informed of consumers. With all the information, what happens when consumers become overwhelmed by their options?

The overwhelming information can often lead to a lack of health insurance literacy. This terminology is based off the public health term “health literacy,” which gauges an individual’s ability to make appropriate decisions based on their understanding of basic health information. Health insurance literacy is the degree to which an individual has the knowledge, ability and confidence to find and evaluate information about health plans, select the best plan for their own financial and health circumstances, and use the plan accordingly.

Employees Speak Up

A recent study by Maestro Health surveyed 1,000 employees with employer-sponsored health plans about their sentiment towards the state of healthcare, as well as how it impacts their care-seeking decisions. The survey concluded that 35 percent of the employees either somewhat understand, don’t understand or know nothing about their healthcare coverage. Even if they do fully understand, 62 percent of respondents feel their employer does not serve as a resource for their healthcare-related questions.

Employer-sponsored insurance covers over half of non-elderly Americans – approximately 152 million adults. Therefore, this lack of understanding is detrimental to not only employee health and finances, but to an employer’s bottom-line and the nation’s growing healthcare deficit. Group plan premiums begin to skyrocket with the increase of unnecessary claims and absenteeism can set-back a productive business. Diabetes, alone, costs U.S. employers $20.4 billion in unplanned absenteeism and the nation $246 billion in extra healthcare costs.

Providing Care and a Resource

Employee communication is a valuable factor. When done properly, it can leave employees feeling well-informed and confident in their care-seeking decisions. Therefore, healthcare professionals and companies must share the duty of providing transparent and insightful information. At Healthcare2U, we strive to do just that.

All Healthcare2U members seek better health and wellness with a simple phone-call. Our bilingual Central Scheduling Department will assist the member with an in-office physician appointment or 24/7/365 telehealth call. Should care be needed outside of Healthcare2U’s primary care physician partners, our staff will walk the member through their outlying insurance information to explain alternative options and how to access them.

To learn more about how Healthcare2U serves as a resource to shield claims from employer-sponsored health plans as well as navigate patients through their coverage, contact us!