Health Update: Infusing wellness into your health benefits   – What Experts Say

Deloitte estimates that proactive health measures could save the U.S. health care system up to $2.2 trillion annually by 2040—equivalent to more than $7,000 in avoided health care costs for every American. Yet today, much of our nation’s health care spending remains reactive, focused on treating illness rather than preventing it.

For employers, that dynamic represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Rising premiums and costly claims are adding pressure to corporate budgets. One of the most powerful levers to control the trend of rising costs is preventive care.

When employees stay ahead of chronic conditions through regular checkups and screenings, they’re healthier, more productive, and less likely to require costly interventions down the road. That translates into better quality of life for their teams and lower long-term expenses for businesses.

The good news? Preventive services are often fully covered by health insurers—including for employees enrolled in high-deductible health plans.

Employers can champion wellness, and the start of the year is the perfect time to make it happen. A fresh calendar signals new goals, and health should be at the top of the list.

Creating a culture of wellness isn’t just about sending reminders—it’s about making preventive care easy, visible, and valued.

Here are four practical ways to help your workforce take advantage of these benefits and position your organization as a leader in employee wellbeing.

1. Communicate clearly and often

The first step in increasing employees’ participation in preventive care is by promoting awareness. Many employees may not realize that routine preventive services, like annual checkups and screenings are often covered at no additional cost when using an in-network provider.

Consistent, clear communication can make a big difference. Use your existing channels to share reminders and resources throughout the year. Whether it’s a post on your intranet, a message in your employee newsletter, or an email reminder, repetition helps information stick. You can find ready-to-send employee emails in our preventive care toolkit.

Encourage managers and HR teams to be ambassadors of health by sharing the same message in team meetings, through the company’s intranet or one-on-one check-ins. When employees hear consistent encouragement from multiple sources, they’re more likely to take action.

2. Make time for wellness

Time is one of the biggest barriers to preventive care. We’ve all been there—meetings pile up, work gets busy, and that doctor’s visit keeps getting pushed off, because it’s easy to shift. When that happens across a workforce, preventive care easily slips through the cracks. It is best

Employers can help remove that barrier by offering paid time off for employees to consider using for things such as wellness visits. Even just a few hours of flexible time to attend an annual physical or well-child appointment can go a long way, not for just employees, but for your business too.

Absenteeism at work costs employers approximately $225.8 billion annually in the United States. Studies show that employees who receive regular preventive care are less likely to develop chronic illnesses that lead to long-term absenteeism or costly treatments. In other words, supporting your employees with time to get their preventive care now can bolster their wellbeing, and mitigate future health issues and higher costs, down the road.

For organizations that can’t offer time off, even small gestures, such as encouraging employees to schedule appointments early in the day or near lunch breaks, demonstrate support for healthy living.

3. Offer incentives for participation

Incentives tied to preventive care can drive participation and reinforce the value of wellness in company culture.

Businesses could consider incorporating preventive activities into their existing wellness program. For example, offer rewards for completing an annual checkup, getting a flu shot, or participating in a health screening. These incentives don’t have to be large; even modest rewards like gift cards or wellness points can make a meaningful impact.

The key is to keep it simple. Employers can tell their team what counts as preventive care, where more information can be found, and how participation in incentives can be reported or tracked. In Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s (Excellus BCBS) employee incentive toolkit, employers can find guides and resources to create an incentive program along with information to support their teams. We also offer several webinars each year that can support health and wellbeing efforts. The next is planned for January 29, 2025.

Wellness incentives not only encourage preventive care behavior but also signal true value around employee health. That sense of care and support can boost morale, loyalty, and overall engagement.

4. Invest in musculoskeletal disorder prevention and treatment support

Back, neck and joint pain, also known as musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders,  are a leading cause of disability and increased health care costs in the U.S.  More than one in three people are impacted by these disorders. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The costs go beyond just dollars and cents; these conditions can also have a big impact on an employee’s quality of life and mental health, taking on the form of lowered employee productivity. Muscle or joint pain can take a person’s mind out of the game and sometimes sideline them completely. Nationwide, back pain accounts for 83 million lost work days annually. 

Ensuring access to physical or occupational therapists, orthopedists and other relevant providers can help employees manage these conditions. To complement physical and occupational therapy appointments that may be disruptive to an employee’s work or home life, virtual care options can be both efficient and effective.

Local advantage: Rochester’s collaborative health ecosystem

Employers in the Greater Rochester region have a unique opportunity to leverage local partnerships. Health systems and insurers in the region offer on-site screening events, and wellness toolkits tailored for Upstate New York businesses. Collaborating with these partners can simplify logistics, increase participation, and strengthen community health outcomes. Consider co-hosting preventive care fairs or integrating telehealth options for employees who struggle to find time for in-person visits.

Emerging trends to watch

• Virtual care expansion: Telehealth isn’t just for urgent care anymore. When visiting a doctor in person isn’t an option, many preventive care visits may be performed virtually. For example, demand for virtual physical therapy sessions is growing because these treatments offer convenience without compromising quality. This service can be the first step in addressing certain conditions to support traditional physical therapy but does not replace your local physical therapist.
• Data-driven dashboards: Employers are moving beyond participation rates to track metrics like gap-in-care closure, chronic condition management, and productivity indicators. These insights, which are anonymized, help justify wellness investments to leadership teams.
• Total worker health approach: Forward-thinking organizations are blending safety, mental health, and wellness into one integrated strategy. This holistic model addresses workload, ergonomics, and psychological safety—factors that directly influence health outcomes and retention.

Why preventive care matters — For everyone

Wellness isn’t just a feel-good initiative—it’s a strategic investment with measurable returns when implemented effectively. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Workplace Health Model, employers who integrate preventive care into their benefits strategy can see reductions in avoidable emergency visits, improved productivity, and lower long-term claims costs.

Preventive care through wellness programs and benefits is one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes while managing long-term costs. By helping employees take advantage of covered preventive services, employers can:

• Improve productivity and overall employee wellbeing
• Reduce costly emergency visits and hospitalizations
• Lower long-term health care expenses
• Strengthen engagement and satisfaction among employees

Preventive care doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to cost extra. Services such as annual checkups, well-woman and well-child visits, cancer screenings, cholesterol and diabetes testing are typically fully covered when employees visit in-network providers.

Preventive care keeps people healthier, workplaces stronger and communities more resilient. By encouraging your workforce to take advantage of these fully covered benefits, you’re contributing to a healthier future for all. It’s a win for employees and a win for organizations.

Supporting preventive care isn’t just good business, it’s a way to take care of your people. When employees can prioritize their health without workplace barriers, everyone benefits—better care, better experience, better results.

When teams feel well and supported, organizations grow stronger too.

Paul Valley is senior vice president, commercial group markets, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.