Urgent care spending among people with employer-sponsored insurance increased by more than 50% between 2018 and 2022, as more individuals turned to these settings for care, according to a recent report by the Health Care Cost Institute. This is one key example of an alarming shift in employer-sponsored insurance: Employees are seeking care in fragmented and quick care settings rather than building relationships with primary care providers.
Luckily, in recent years, advanced primary care has gained traction, as more employers implement strategies focused on prevention, chronic disease management, coordinated services and strong patient-provider relationships. It’s a significant shift in how companies are thinking about employee health benefits, with a renewed focus on removing the traditional barriers to care like time and out-of-pocket costs. The business case is clear: Healthier employees are more productive workers, with fewer sick days, better focus and higher retention rates.
