- Key insight: Learn how establishing relationships with primary care doctors improves chances of healthier outcomes.
- What's at stake: Employers risk higher healthcare expenditures if their younger workforce continues avoiding routine preventive care.
- Supporting data: 29% of adults aged 18 to 29 currently lack a primary care physician.
Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review
Many employees — especially younger adults — don't see primary care providers, according to recent research, missing the crucial opportunity to maintain overall wellness, prevent serious conditions, and avoid higher healthcare costs.
When employers foster employee-PCP relationships through education and offerings that improve access, both they and their workforce win, said Dr. Jeffrey Lin, chief medical officer at membership-based primary care network MDVIP.
"Health is all about managing risk as early as you can … so that you don't have to manage chronic disease later on, so this is really important when it comes to both employer and employee," he said.
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An ongoing problem
In 2023, 100 million Americans faced barriers to seeing a primary care physician (PCP), according to a report from the National Association of Community Health Centers and HealthLandscape at the American Academy of Family Physicians. A 2026 survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that Gen Z in particular is opting out of routine care: 29% of adults aged 18 to 29 do not currently have a PCP, instead turning to urgent care when a nonemergency health issue occurs. Of those who do have a primary doctor, less than half (47%) have had a checkup in the past year.
"Having a primary care doctor is especially important when we're young," Dr. Zachary Bittinger, family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor in The Ohio State's Department of Family and Community Medicine, said in an article published by the university. "We look ahead five, 10 and 20 years, because that's ideally how long you see your primary care doctor. That kind of relationship means that for each stage of life, from college to raising children to retirement, you get the kind of advice that keeps you safe."
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While older adults are more likely to have a PCP, the majority are not up to date on all recommended care, said Lin. Long wait times for appointments, reduced one-on-one time with doctors, and lack of follow-up with lab work and screenings are some of the reasons employees lag — something benefit leaders can help remedy by communicating the importance of preventive care and pointing employees in the direction of improved-access options.
MDVIP's Wellness Program is a patient-paid alternative for in-person and telemedicine preventive health, diagnostic and support services typically not covered by insurance. Members have access to a network of concierge primary care doctors across 47 states who limit their patients served to around 600, as opposed to the traditional 2,300, according to the company.
The annual fee includes 30 to 90 minute visits, tests and screenings, along with a customized health plan and follow-ups based on the results. Regular insurance, FSAs and HSAs can be used for sick visits and other traditionally covered services.
By providing access to quicker appointment scheduling, more thorough visits, and faster follow-up communication, a stronger patient-provider relationship is established, said Lin. This in turn keeps employees more engaged in their health journey and enables their doctor to become knowledgeable advocates for their overall well-being, he added.
"You want your employees to be really productive and engaged, and a huge piece of that is staying actively healthy. The two components that are important there are, one, having a preventative clinical model — one that really focuses on thinking beyond the traditional physical exam — and [two], you have to pair that with great PCP care, and that's where the relationship component comes in. You have to have both," he said.
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Heading off today's biggest health challenges
PCPs are key to helping employees avoid or manage chronic conditions, therefore improving employer outcomes. For example, the CDC Foundation reports that 1 in 6 dollars goes toward cardiovascular disease. Having a primary care clinician is connected to nearly 54% lower total health care expenditures for adults with a chronic disease such as this, yet primary care makes up less than 5% of total U.S. health care expenditures, according to data from nonprofit organization The Physician's Foundation.
When employees improve preventive care through PCP visits, employers can see reduction in overall spend on today's largest cost drivers, including metabolic-related conditions and cancer. If they do develop a chronic condition, having a PCP who knows them well is a vital part of support, Lin said.
"They can tailor the care that's needed for that chronic disease in consultation with a specialist," he said. "The reason that piece is so important is, when I think about what motivates people to manage their chronic disease better, a lot of it is just making sure that [support] is personalized to their goals and values, and that's where a primary care doctor can be so helpful."
In the end, it comes down to helping people age well, and benefit leaders have an important role to play, Lin said.
"Health is not something that happens in little instances, it's an active state," he explained. "When it comes to prevention … it's never too late to start … and whatever we do today matters over decades."
