The survey also showed that top concerns include expanding access to mental health care, monitoring trends in health care delivery and preparing for an uptick in health care spending.
“The Business Group’s annual survey is a unique window into how large employers plan to evolve their benefits strategies and offerings in the coming year,” said Ellen Kelsay, CEO of Business Group on Health, said in a statement. “Employers seek information about their peers’ strategies, and survey findings offer collective guidance for companies to best support their workforces.”
The 136 large employers who took part in the Business Group survey in June 2021 represent diverse sectors of industry and provide health insurance for more than 8 million people.
More details on the employers’ top areas of concern:
Anticipating COVID-19’s potential long-term impact on employees
As a result of the pandemic, doctor visits and preventive screenings were delayed or missed, while depression, anxiety and substance use disorders surged. Employers anticipate seeing an increase in medical services, late-stage cancer diagnoses and greater numbers of people with long-term mental health and substance use issues, for years to come. For instance, 94% of employers anticipate an increase in medical services due to delayed care, while 91% remain concerned about long-term mental health issues stemming from the pandemic.
Focusing on social determinants of health to boost health equity and promote systemic change
Employers are initiating far-reaching programs to better employees’ lives, including improved access to health care and financial programs. As such, they help to address the underlying social and economic challenges that influence regular health habits, overall well-being and even mortality rates, with the goal of creating systemic change.
Expanding access to mental health care
While the pandemic helped to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and the workplace, the year 2022 will mark the first time that a majority of employers will have an anti-stigma campaign, according to the survey. Access to mental health care is a top priority, according to more than three-quarters of large employers.
Valuing the role of on-site medical clinics, even as virtual health becomes more popular
Fully 76% of employers accelerated telehealth and virtual health offerings since the start of the pandemic, and plan to maintain these options. Employers also see a role for on-site clinics, however, both to manage COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and to track employees’ chronic conditions. While the number of employers offering on- or near-site clinics declined between 2020 and 2021, the prevalence of such clinics is expected to eventually return to pre-pandemic levels.
Preparing for health care spending to rebound in 2021 and 2022.
In 2020, the overall health care trend was 0%, though some employers experienced a negative trend, dropping to as low as -12%. In 2021, health care trend is predicted to increase to 6% both before and after plan design changes. In 2022, the cost trend is expected to decline slightly, dropping from 6% to 5.8% after plan design changes.