Anthem Study Shows Majority of Employers Experiencing Value of Integrating Their Employee Benefits Portfolio
November 23 2020 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
The 2020 findings show integrated health
care has become the norm amongst employers
A recent study by Anthem shows a trend over the last several
years is here to stay as the majority of employers are integrating
healthcare benefits to create a more efficient, effective and
affordable benefits package for their employees.
The recently published fourth edition of the biennial
“Integrated Health Care Report,” shows a continued upward
trajectory in the adoption of integrated health care benefits by
employers since research began in 2014. More than half (56 percent)
of the 300 employers surveyed are now actively integrating their
medical, pharmacy and ancillary benefits under their employer’s
health and wellness programs. This represents a 10 percent increase
from the previous study conducted in 2018. Also, an additional 40
percent are considering or potentially considering integrating
benefits, demonstrating that an overwhelming 96 percent of
employers surveyed are trending towards the integrated health care
approach.
“At Anthem, we’re committed to improving lives and communities,
which takes an integrated ‘whole person health’ approach where
doctors, data, analytics, insights and member engagement tools work
together to create better health outcomes. I’m optimistic that as
more employers continue implementing integrated health benefits, we
will continue seeing healthier and happier employees,” said Jeff
Spahr, vice president, Specialty Business Development, Anthem.
“Factoring in ‘whole person health’ helps us better identify and
share information, and create opportunities that will positively
and proactively impact employees’ overall wellbeing, simplify their
health care experience and lower their health care costs.”
The Anthem study demonstrates that delivering medical, pharmacy,
dental, vision and disability as individual benefits with
little-to-no coordination between them prevents employees and
health care providers from gaining a holistic view of total body
health. When using an integrated health care approach, benefits
data is connected to the employer’s health management program and
establishes a fuller picture of a person’s health, which provides a
clear path to improved outcomes and cost efficiencies.
The report found that among employers who are actively
integrating products, the majority of them reported integrating
pharmacy (73 percent), vision (75 percent), dental (67 percent) and
/ or disability (63 percent) benefits with medical. The integration
of pharmacy, vision and dental all saw increases of at least six
percent over the findings of the previous study in 2018.
Affordability, simplicity and employee health remain key
motivators for employers, but providing a simpler healthcare
experience, as a reason for integrating health benefits, continues
to trend upward. In fact, the top three most important integrated
care capabilities cited by employers include connecting all doctors
including eye doctors and dentists through electronic health
records (EHR). Seventy-one percent of employers also preferred
integrating benefits through a single carrier vs. multiple
carriers, which represents an 11 percent jump since 2018.
To further improve the employee health journey, 88 percent of
employers agree benefit offerings should be personalized to the
individual, while 92 percent recognized that increased digital
capabilities are an important step in engaging employees in their
health.
In addition to increased efficiency, lower costs and better care
coordination, employers want to ensure their benefit offerings are
as comprehensive and easy to use for employees as possible in an
effort to keep them happy and engaged. That’s why 89 percent of
employers report that increased employee happiness leads to
increased productivity.
“It’s encouraging that employers are realizing employee health
and benefits can impact their company beyond the associated health
care costs, and can really speak to the bottom line,” said Spahr.
“Offering employees a cost effective solution that integrates
medical care with pharmacy, dental, vision, disability and other
benefits programs will provide them with the personalized support
they need to improve their overall wellbeing, satisfaction and
productivity.”
Results from the study and more information can be found online
in the Integrated Health Care Report.
The report was compiled from a study conducted by TRC Insights,
an independent research firm, on behalf of Anthem, Inc. The four
waves of research were conducted in 2014, 2016, 2018
and 2020. This 2020 report was fielded in April 2020.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is a leading health benefits company dedicated to
improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler.
Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 107
million people, including approximately 43 million within its
family of health plans. We aim to be the most innovative, valuable
and inclusive partner. For more information, please visit
www.antheminc.com or follow @AnthemInc on Twitter.
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Anthem, Inc. Media Contact Keith Paulsen, (917) 993-1710
keith.paulsen@anthem.com
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