As an employer, you know that the health and well-being of your workforce is critical to your success. But did you know that by 2040, all Americans could potentially live up to 95% of their years in good health and live to be nearly 90 years old? This is the vision of the Future of Health™, a new report by Deloitte that explores how employers can spark a movement to help us live longer and healthier lives.
The report shows that the United States lags behind its peers in life span and health span, while spending more on health care than all of them. The average life span is 77.9 years, but Americans are living just 65.9 years in good health. This means we are losing 12 years of quality of life due to preventable diseases, injuries, and disabilities.
The report also reveals that employers are uniquely positioned to drive change toward living healthier years and spending less. Employers have a direct stake in the health and productivity of their employees, and they can influence their behaviors, preferences, and choices. Employers can also leverage their purchasing power, data, and innovation capabilities to create a more consumer-centric and preventive health care system.
DPC is a health care model where employers pay a flat monthly fee per employee for unlimited access to a primary care physician, without involving insurance.
One of the ways employers can do this is by adopting direct primary care (DPC) as part of their employee benefit strategy. DPC is a health care model where employers pay a flat monthly fee per employee for unlimited access to a primary care physician, without involving insurance. This means employees can get the care they need, when they need it, without any co-pays, deductibles, or surprise bills.
DPC can offer many benefits for employers and employees, such as:
Lower costs: DPC can save employers up to 40% on their health care costs by eliminating unnecessary services, lowering administrative expenses, and reducing downstream claims[^2^][1] [^3^][2]. Employees can also save money by getting access to discounted prices for lab tests, prescriptions, and referrals.
Better quality: DPC can improve the quality of care employees receive by allowing them to have longer and more frequent appointments with their doctor, who knows them and their medical history. This can lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chronic diseases, as well as higher patient satisfaction.
Increased retention: DPC can enhance employee retention by providing them with a valuable attractive benefit that shows employers care about their health and well-being. DPC can also reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover by keeping employees healthier and happier.
DPC is not a replacement for health insurance, but a complement to it. Employees still need a major medical plan to cover emergencies and hospitalizations. But with DPC, employers can offer employees the best of both worlds: affordable and comprehensive primary care, and peace of mind for the unexpected.
Employee Health is DPC:
If you are interested in learning more about DPC and how it can help you achieve the Future of Health™, we invite you to check out these resources:
- The Corporate and Employee Benefits of Direct Primary Care
- Direct Primary Care for Employers: Pros and Cons Discussed
- Direct Primary Care Q&A for Employers
- How Direct Primary Care Can Boost Employer Benefits and Save Money
- The Imperative of Prioritizing Access to Primary Care as an Employee Benefit in 2024