Long story short: Get ready for big changes in healthcare this year

January 21, 2022 9:53 AM

The world of healthcare is changing fast, and new benefits are spotlighting the new and innovative ways employees can access the best care for them.

In this week’s top stories, insurance provider Gravie is tackling the financial burden of medical debt with a copay-free and deductible-free healthcare plan. The plan provides preventative care and specialists visits, therapy, virtual care and prescriptions for no extra cost, outside of the plan’s premium. Alloy is also looking out for both the financial and emotional well-being of their workforce, by offering up to $3,000 for out-of-pocket medical costs and travel costs associated with abortion care.

Making sure all employees have access to the kind of care they need is the goal of Spora Health, which offers a network of doctors trained to provide culturally competent healthcare to BIPOC employees. The world of healthcare continues to change and adapt — how will you keep up? See how these companies are making it happen:

This insurance company got rid of deductibles and copays

Every year, the cost of health insurance premiums goes up, and yet Americans still carry hundreds of billions of dollars in nationwide medical debt. To combat these rising costs from impacting an employee’s bottom line, associate editor Deanna Cuadra spoke with Ben Simmons, vice president of insurance at healthcare benefits company Gravie, about a new offering that eliminates copays and deductibles.

“We built this health plan because we heard from our customers and the market that people are just so dissatisfied with the health insurance status quo,” says Simmons. “Premiums are increasing faster than people's wages are increasing and faster than employers’ budgets are increasing — it's unsustainable.”

This telehealth platform is training physicians and benefit managers to provide better healthcare for BIPOC employees

Healthcare inequality is a major barrier when it comes to healthcare accessibility and outcomes for people of color, says Dan Miller, founder and CEO of Spora Health. Through its Spora Institute, the company already provides training for both physicians and HR professionals on how to provide more equitable care for people of color. Now, employees can tap into Spora's Primary Care Network for People of Color to find qualified providers to better suit their unique health needs.

Executive editor Alyssa Place explores the impact healthcare inequity has on health and wellness, and how Spora Health is tackling this issue and making healthcare accessible for those who need it most.

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This telehealth platform is training physicians and benefit managers to provide better healthcare for BIPOC employees

Abortion care is healthcare: This fintech company offers new benefit to increase access to reproductive services

Easy access to safe abortion services should be a critical component to women’s healthcare, but this basic right has been undermined by legislation that makes it more difficult for women to seek out the care they need. Associate editor Amanda Schiavo connects with Alloy, which helps banks and fintech companies automate their decisions for onboarding, transaction monitoring and credit underwriting, about what they’re doing to expand access for their employees.

The company will support its 200 employees and their partners in finding and accessing safe, affordable abortion care services with up to $1,500 for out-of-pocket medical costs. Additionally, employees have access to up to $1,500 towards travel expenses if they need to go out of state for abortion care. Employees needing to utilize this benefit can reach out to Alloy’s people team, who will keep their needs confidential.

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Abortion care is healthcare: This fintech company offers new benefit to increase access to reproductive services

The 10 most in-demand jobs of 2022

The pandemic has prompted a number of changes in the workforce — including what jobs will see the most growth in the months to come. Entire industries were upended by the pandemic, and at the same time, workers began reevaluating their priorities and leaving jobs in search of something new, according to LinkedIn’s recent Jobs on the Rise 2022 report.

These shifts have ignited a recruiting frenzy, leaving professionals wondering where the workplace is headed and what role they want to play in it. It’s no surprise that jobs in the healthcare space topped the list. Associate editor Paola Peralta rounded up the top ten jobs from LinkedIn’s rankings.

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The 10 most in-demand jobs of 2022