Cold and flu season has arrived. With schools back in session, cooler weather, and more time spent indoors, trying to stay healthy can be a challenge. Many people will fall back on tried-and-true health advice—frequent hand washing, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water—to avoid being one of the estimated 32-57 million Americans sickened with influenza symptoms each year.
However, the flu isn’t the only health issue facing American workers. Chronic conditions, injuries, and other factors all add up to a workforce that reports roughly 1.4 billion workdays annually of absence and impaired performance due to poor health. And while hand washing and dodging seasonal germs certainly can’t hurt, staying healthy at work starts with a workplace benefit that many employees often skip—preventive care.
What is Preventive Care?
Preventive health care refers to services that help prevent diseases and catch potential health issues before they become severe. Most private and employer-sponsored health care plans cover a variety of preventive services at little to no cost to the patient. From office visits to vaccines and screenings, the most common preventive services include:
Annual wellness visits with a primary care physician (PCP)
Screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc.
Routine blood tests
Mental health screenings, including depression and anxiety
Cancer screenings, including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and colorectal screenings
Recommended vaccinations, such as annual flu vaccines
Tobacco cessation support
Risk factor assessments to identify lifestyle or genetic factors that contribute to chronic conditions
Counseling or lifestyle guidance on diet, exercise, etc.
Preventive dental and eye care
What are the Barriers to Receiving Preventive Care?
Scheduling medical appointments and screenings can be time-consuming, inconvenient, and frustrating for many people. Doctors’ offices have limited hours that overlap with work schedules or other obligations. Transportation or childcare might be an issue. Some providers also have long waitlists, with wait times averaging about one month from scheduling to being seen, and some new patients are left waiting even longer for care.
Lack of Access
Even if an employee has health insurance, it’s not always guaranteed that they have access to an in-network provider who meets their needs. In fact, a 2023 study by the National Association of Community Health Centers found that a third of Americans don’t have a PCP. Finding doctors who are even accepting new patients can also be a challenge, especially in rural areas or in areas with high healthcare demands.
The “fear of finding out” (abbreviated FOFO) can prevent patients from receiving screenings or necessary healthcare due to a pervasive fear of receiving bad news. Other patients may be embarrassed to seek care for health problems, whether it’s due to stigma or denial.
Financial Worries
Rising costs have also hit healthcare, and for over a third of Americans, not being able to afford care is the biggest reason to delay a doctor’s visit. For most insured employees, preventive services are often covered at little to no cost, but some may still fear unexpected expenses or do not understand what their benefits actually cover.
Why Preventive Care is Important
Despite some employees’ reservations about receiving preventive care, staying on top of health screenings is the best way to stay healthy in the long term. Being proactive with preventive health appointments not only contributes to overall employee wellness but also benefits employers. The positive impacts include:
When fewer employees are battling preventable conditions, contagious illnesses spread less in the office, and overall productivity increases.
Cost Savings
When preventive care is skipped, employees can face higher out-of-pocket costs for preventable medical issues. Chronic conditions can also be costly for patients to treat and for employers to provide insurance coverage. By taking advantage of preventive care services covered by health insurance, employees save money on the services themselves, potentially preventing more serious (and costly) illnesses, and employers can reduce overall costs on their sponsored healthcare plans.
Reduces Risk of Serious Complications
Employees don’t have to fear receiving bad news at a doctor’s visit. Staying on top of preventive care makes it easier to catch health conditions before they cause long-term complications. For example, a patient with elevated cholesterol levels who receives regular screenings can be treated early with medication or lifestyle changes to avoid developing heart disease. Early interventions help employees stay healthier, keeping them in the workforce longer, reducing absenteeism, and improving productivity.
Stay Healthy at Work with Preventive Care Benefits
While it can be tempting to skip out on your annual physical when life gets busy, your long-term health depends on keeping up with preventive care. If you’re covered under your organization’s health plan, take some time to familiarize yourself with your preventive care benefits, ask questions, and then reach out to your PCP (or find a new one) to schedule an appointment. Through flu season and beyond, your body will thank you for it.
