From a business standpoint, healthcare costs are the number two line item on employer budgets. As an employer, offering healthcare solutions to employees is fundamental in talent acquisition and retention.

Despite the significant impact of offering healthcare solutions, employers are still overcoming barriers to provide those options for their employees.

Pure Benefits of Michigan, a health benefits firm in the mitten state, works with employers of all sizes to improve their healthcare plans’ benefits and sustainability.

“We really try to work with employers, meet them where they’re at, and then deliver solutions that they can take advantage of to improve their cost, their bottom line, and their benefits at the same time,” said Chad Jackovich, founder of Pure Benefits of Michigan.

What is the biggest barrier for employers when it comes to employee healthcare?

From his experience within the healthcare benefits industry, Jackovich has worked with employer groups ranging from 200 to over 1,000 employees. Regardless of size, employers everywhere are facing barriers when it comes to choosing the right healthcare plan for their employees. 

Jackovich identified cost containment solutions – practices used to maintain or reduce expenses to improve profitability – as the biggest challenge employers face. 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey, the average annual cost of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums per employee was $23,968 for family coverage and $8,435 for single coverage. 

Traditionally, healthcare rates increase year after year, and somewhere along the way, that increase is absorbed. The cost increase can be consumed by the employer, the employee through payroll deductions, or the healthcare plan itself, which can deteriorate the plan.

“This puts employers and employees in a worse position, typically every year,” said Jackovich. “Then they’re truly deciding on – are they going to go get groceries? Are they going to pay their bills? Are they going to go on and get treated for the healthcare they need?” 

Jackovich said the outcome of being put in these tough positions – choosing between seeking healthcare and paying other living expenses – usually results in the same outcome: delayed care. Often, delaying care can lead to a much more costly event such as an emergency room or urgent care visit.

How does WoW Health Solutions lessen the burden of healthcare on employers?

According to Jackovich, the use of WoW Health Solutions can be a win-win for both the employer and employee. 

WoW Health Solutions is a direct-pay marketplace that connects patients directly with healthcare providers. The platform offers packages that reduce drug costs and provides a community-focused healthcare approach. With a nationwide network of providers, WoW members have 24/7 access to a physician for urgent care needs, mental health services, medication management, and more. 

Traditionally, employers are required by law to provide health benefits to full time employees and their dependents. This excludes independent contractors, part time employees, and seasonal or temporary employees. 

Jackovich outlined key benefits of using WoW Health compared to traditional healthcare benefit options, including providing benefits to part-time workers at a low cost for employers. 

“Literally zero deductions coming out of payroll for the employees,” Jackovich said. “They’re getting a bigger check, so they get to take that home and pay for bills and whatever else they need for that month.”

Another major benefit of using WoW Health is the set price amount for each need, said Jackovich. Through a monthly membership, an in-person visit to a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic is $100 with no hidden fees, co-pays or additional costs. For other services, such as seeing a specialist, medications, or lab tests, WoW members can receive discounts up to 70% off. 

“It’s completely different from traditional healthcare,” said Jackovich. “Usually, you pay your deductible first, then copays and coinsurance and all of that funnels towards that annual out of pocket max, which employees pay for.”

Jackovich added that another aspect of WoW Health that he loves is the user-friendly app for smartphones, ensuring direct and transparent healthcare access without having to track down a benefit guide when you’re feeling under the weather. Through the WoW app, users can connect with a nurse navigation line to find the nearest provider.

“You literally have all of the information you need in the palm of your hand,” said Jackovich. “I think that’s the biggest thing – being able to have a tool like that, that is very resourceful.”

Utilizing WoW Health Solutions enables employers to provide more opportunities for their employees, offers benefits to all employees regardless of full-time or part-time status, reduces risk and liability, and is cost-friendly. In an era where healthcare costs continue to rise, innovative solutions like WoW Health can provide much-needed relief for both employers and employees.

Interested in learning more about WoW Health Solutions? Book a conversation with an REQ team member at this link!

Want to sign up for WoW Health to take control of your healthcare needs? You can sign up as a member here!