Apta Healthcare Blog

Any number of unforeseeable employee health crises can have a major effect on company healthcare costs: an office-wide flu outbreak, seasonal illnesses, even bad guacamole in the break room can all lead to high healthcare claims costs.

Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage rose to $18,764 in 2017 — employees paid an average $5,714 out of pocket in premiums alone. Seems like a pretty outrageous cost for the mere security of everyday livelihood, doesn’t it? Well, guess what? The cost for employers and employees alike is projected to keep growing, with no end in sight.

Regardless of the millennial stereotypes that exist, some of which may or may not be true, one thing is for sure: millennials care about their health. Evidenced by the rise in popularity of health food retailers and gym memberships, it is safe to say millennials are striving to be the healthiest generation yet. This sentiment is reflected in what they have come to expect from their employee benefit packages.

Health insurance has lost its way. As a result of bureaucracy and corporate greed, the healthcare system is broken, and is costing employers and employees alike.

Company health insurance should give employees peace of mind — assurance that care is available whenever needed. It should provide companies a way to keep employees healthy and show that every individual’s best interest is a priority. In these areas and more, full-coverage health insurance falls short.

When you sign up for health insurance what value does it add to your life? Sure, it’s something we are required to have, but what do we really mean when we say the phrase “health insurance?”

Did you know the word “insurance” comes from the 16th century Old French word “ensurance?” This roughly translates to “assurance; safe and secure.” Now, do any of these words actually come to mind when you call your insurance company or face the bill after a procedure?

Didn’t think so.

Instead, common associations are probably more in line with “dread,” “terror,” or “not again.” How did we stray so far from the original intent of this word? Excuse my French, but what the health happened?

The uncertainty surrounding the future of healthcare in the United States has put many Americans on edge. The proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with the Republican-sponsored American Health Care Act (or Better Care Reconciliation Act) is making people feel unsure, and possibly leaving many Americans uninsured.

With the rise in healthcare consumerism, patients demand access to the highest level of care and the latest technology. Care coordination and navigation is central to this trend, and with it the use of convenient apps to deliver top quality care in a way that’s both easy and comfortable for patients.

In a recent feature series, The Atlantic magazine highlighted “Platinum Patients,” as the most expensive 5 percent of healthcare consumers. The healthcare bills of the Americans featured in this article equal those of the other 95 percent of consumers combined. Who are these people and why do they account for such a hefty portion of healthcare spend?

The provision of healthcare insurance is commonly recognized as the primary benefit an employer can offer their staff. Even so, many employers only begrudgingly offer the benefit and many employees treat healthcare plan selection as a chore.

Healthcare isn’t exactly known for its high-touch customer service. Getting in and out of the doctor’s office or the hospital in a reasonable amount of time is about as much as most people ask for, and even that can be a challenge. When you need to coordinate multiple physicians and specialists, the process becomes even more daunting.