A recent survey conducted by YouGov for Included Health, revealed that workers show a greater degree of trust in their employers regarding their health than in their insurance providers. The numbers sizzle: just 37% of employees trust their insurer to suggest high-quality care regardless of cost, while 53% rest their faith in their employers’ hands.
Participants of this study comprise 2,500 employees from companies employing a range of 25 to 5,000 employees, all of which are self-insured entities. Statistics also revealed the proportional representation of larger corporations in the survey pool, with 34% of respondents belonging to companies with 5,000 employees.
Robin Glass, president of Included Health, noted that while insurance companies excel at building networks and processing claims, workers want more than adequate service; they desire advocacy and accessibility to high-quality care, areas where insurance companies have largely failed to meet expectations. Included Health, a San Francisco-based firm, works in partnership with employers and health plans to deliver a range of services, including primary, specialty, and behavioral healthcare, as well as offering navigation and advocacy support.
Despite more than half the respondents trusting their employers with their healthcare concerns, the study underlines that workers increasingly require more support from their employers. The report states that a third of workers confessed to have deferred or skipped care due to insufficient paid time off or fear of missed deadlines or dismissal.
A significant aspect of concern for employees is weight management, with a little over a quarter of respondents indicating obesity or weight loss as their primary health worry. An interesting facet is the importance placed upon medical weight loss services like GLP-1s or bariatric surgeries, with 65% of employees calling for these services to be included in their medical benefits. Workers identifying as Black, Hispanic, working parents, or part of Generation Z showed a higher probability of expressing this concern. Almost 10% of employees revealed that they are currently undergoing a GLP-1 prescription.
It, however, needs to be highlighted that while GLP-1s are hailed as effective for weight loss, their cost remains prohibitive. Wegovy, a weight loss approved drug in the U.S, is sold at a list price of $1,349 for one month’s supply according to KFF.
The report also puts forth additional insights including the facts that approximately 55% of workers have suffered from poor physical health, and 57% from poor mental health, once or more during the past month. Almost half the respondents admitted to finding it tough to comprehend their health insurance benefits, and 48% declared that locating a high-quality doctor is more stressful than facing jury duty or dealing with the DMV. Among the LGBTQ+ employees, a mere 24% reported confidence in finding a provider in their health plan who comprehends LGBTQ+ health issues. About a third of LGBTQ+ employees reported encounters with health service providers who disbelieved their health concerns.
These findings delineate a clear path for employers to play a pivotal role in their employee’s health experience. Glass surmises that employees are prepared to transfer their trust to their employers when it comes to their health matters.