Anthem Study Finds More Employers Are Integrating Health Care Benefits Due to Better Health Outcomes, Lower Costs & More Sati...
February 20 2019 - 7:38AM
Business Wire
Growing momentum toward integrated health care
as more employers recognize the value to their employees and
operations
A new study released by Anthem reveals a growing trend in the
design of health care benefits that is helping to create better
care, lower costs and create a more overall satisfied workforce for
employers of every size. According to latest edition of the
biennial Integrated Health Care report, more than 71 percent of the
222 employers with 100+ employees surveyed are either actively
integrating or considering integrating their medical, pharmacy,
dental, vision and / or disability benefits under their employer’s
health and wellness programs in the next five years due to the
positive impact integration has on their employees. This represents
an 11 percent increase from the study conducted in 2016.
“At Anthem, we are championing the power that claims data and
analytics can have when leveraged through integrated health care
and I’m encouraged that more and more employers are adopting this
approach,” said Nick Brecker, president of Anthem’s Specialty
Business. “By addressing ‘whole person health’ we can identify and
communicate opportunities to positively impact employees’ health,
provide them with a simplified experience and lower their health
care costs.”
Anthem studies have determined that when medical, pharmacy,
dental, vision and disability benefits are delivered in silos that
have little or no interaction between them it can often leave
employees and health care providers with a disconnected view of
total body health. By comparison, integrated health care connects
benefits data to the employer’s health management program based on
member claims and population insights, which provides a fuller
picture that delivers better health outcomes and cost
efficiencies.
The report found that among surveyed employers who are actively
integrating or considering integrating products nearly 100 percent
of them reported integrating pharmacy, vision, dental and / or
disability benefits with medical. This represents an overall
increase of 11 percent from a 2016 survey. The cost and ease of
administration remain important business imperatives to employers,
but there is a noticeable shift to creating and retaining a more
satisfied and healthier workforce as a driver toward integration.
The “happiness factor” is a workforce advantage with 88 percent of
employers agreeing that integrated health care benefit programs
make an organization a place where people want to work.
Meanwhile, 90 percent of employers agree that offering
integrated health care benefits makes a compensation package more
attractive, and 86 percent of employers agree that integrated
health care benefits reduced employee turnover / attrition. While
employee engagement remains one of the main measures for success,
for many employers that are integrating or considering integrating
health care benefits, a small but growing number (19 percent up
from eight percent since 2016) reported initiating their own
integration programs because “it’s the right thing to do” for their
employees.
“It’s clear that the impacts of employee health and benefits
extend beyond the medical care costs,” said Brecker. “Employees and
employers are looking for solutions that connect medical care with
pharmacy, dental, vision, disability and other benefits programs,
so that employees can get the support they need to improve their
overall wellbeing, satisfaction and productivity.”
The environment for acquiring and retaining employee talent has
grown increasingly more competitive, especially with the recent
lower unemployment numbers, and as more employers are seeking and
competing for the same talent. As a result, benefits offerings,
including integrated health care, are becoming a crucial
consideration and potential differentiator in attracting talent.
Integrated health care continues to gain momentum in what matters
to employees and can create better care, more cost efficiencies and
help with employee retention.
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.
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 74
million people, including nearly 40 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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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190220005319/en/
Anthem, Inc. Media ContactKeith Paulsen, (917)
993-1710keith.paulsen@anthem.com
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