An Accessible, Affordable Direct Primary Care (DPC) Program Reduces Expenses And Increases Access To Healthcare.
A healthy workforce is the foundation of a successful business. Healthcare benefits help attract and retain great people. If offered access to more benefits, 73% of employees would stay with their current employer longer, according to a MetLife 2024 study. The same report showed nearly 2 in 5 employees think their benefits do not reduce stress.
There’s room for improvement.
The financial burden of paying employee premiums continues to climb, and business owners need an affordable avenue for offering essential medical care for their people—without draining their profit and the ability to offer competitive pay, grow the business and attract talent.
According to the 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey, the average premium for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2023 was $8,435 for single coverage and $23,968 for family coverage, representing a 7% increase from the previous year.
Many employers feel like they’re paying more yet giving less to their people. And employees bear the stress of high co-pays and deductibles, which can prevent them from seeking necessary care.
There are plenty of organizations that do not offer health insurance for various reasons. For employees, then what? Some workers will feel pressure to exit and find another opportunity that can offer a plan.
There’s a solution for employers who want to alleviate the cost burden of high-deductible health plans on their workers—and for organizations that do not offer insurance but want to give their people access to a program that ensures medical care. For employees, there’s a way to access hourlong appointments scheduled the same or next day, pharmacy and lab discounts, and essentially a replacement for the urgent care for the expense of a co-pay per month.
The answer is Direct Primary Care for employers.
Fostering a Healthier, More Productive Workforce
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)? DPC is a wrap-around care model that allows you to conveniently, cost-effectively see a provider for a range of healthcare needs in one place at one time. An employer DPC program can stretch the value of existing benefits.
Direct Primary Care is an innovative healthcare model that puts patients at the center of care. You develop a personalized, close relationship with your doctor—and you can access care 24/7 by text, phone, video or in person, conveniently and quickly, when you need it.
DPC serves everyone from newborns—including in-home visits—to older adults. Essentially, it’s a one-stop practice for all basic healthcare needs including issues that might require you or employees to visit an E.R., such as ailments, scrapes and cuts, sprains, X-rays, or lab tests. A discount pharmacy offers lower pricing than most co-pays.
For individuals who have health insurance through their employers, DPC can stretch the value of high-deductible health plans and serve as a concierge go-to provider. For organizations that do not offer health insurance to employees, DPC is a stand-alone solution that is different than insurance, yet secures round-the-clock access to primary care, covering most employee healthcare needs.
With DPC, employees gain peace of mind and access to:
· Same- or next-day care
· Flexible scheduling
· Transparent costs, which are less than high insurance co-pays and deductibles.
· Low patient-physician ratio (no more than 600 patients, which is 20% of what a typical family doctor oversees)
· Relaxed visits that take as long as needed to address all concerns (average appointment time is 30 to 45 minutes)
· Proactive, focused on optimizing health and wellness.
· Comprehensive care without multiple referrals to specialists—in-office procedures, pharmacy, lab tests, EKG, mammogram, colonoscopy
· Discount pharmacy and lab with lower pricing than most co-pays
Wrap-Around or Stand-Alone Direct Primary Care
As an employer, you might be wondering, “Why do we have to offer two plans?”
DPC is essentially a booster shot for health insurance that opens up access to a breadth of health services and always-accessible support. Employers and their teams can reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses while consolidating care with DPC.
Rather than feeling like you’re pushed through a turnstile of care or stuck in a queue waiting for an appointment, optimize your health and your workforce with a personal relationship with a DPC provider who can guide your health journey, including nutrition and lifestyle change.
With a DPC wrap-around program, employers can improve their bottom line with healthier, happier employees and offer high-deductible plans without scaling back their benefits. In fact, employees realize even more value and convenience.
For employers with hourly workers and organizations that do not offer health insurance benefits because of exorbitant cost, DPC acts as an affordable stand-alone program so you can ensure every employee gets necessary medical care.
The bottom line: DPC benefit as a stand-alone or wrap-around provides a sense of security and shows appreciation for employees’ wellbeing. Employers can gain a competitive advantage in employee recruitment and retention—and reduce employees’ stress of managing high deductibles and co-pays.
Why Employers Add Direct Primary Care to Benefits Packages
We asked employers why they decided to add DPC to their health insurance offerings, and what advantages they realize from the program. Here is what they had to say:
· Larger employers of 60 or more employees report reduced paid time off because our physician assistant spends one full day per month on site.
· Business owners and HR specialists say adding direct primary care helps a benefits package stand out when recruiting and hiring talent in a competitive job market.
· Organizations noted improved employee satisfaction with benefits offerings that include direct primary care because their people gained 24/7 access to care and hourlong appointments with a personalized approach. They feel cared for.
· DPC members spend less on high-cost specialists and E.R. visits.
· Employers experience less absenteeism and increased productivity with the preventive care and wellness focus offered at Maple Health DPC. Employees are less likely to defer essential medical appointments and maintain better overall health.
Maple Health DPC is your corporate health partner, helping you to build a vibrant, energetic team, ensuring health is a cornerstone of your workplace. Learn more about our employer programs and how they can deliver benefits across the business spectrum.
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