The benefits of preventive care

Preventive care such as vaccinations, screenings, checkups and health counseling, are designed to help prevent illness and detect conditions early. These measures can improve quality of life, reduce health care spending and save lives. Only a small percentage – under 10 percent – of American adults take advantage of these services, often because they don't know they can.

Preventive care can help save lives

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), these are the five leading causes of death. Many of these lives could have been saved or lengthened with proper preventive care.

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• COVID-19

Preventive care saves money

About 90 percent of our nation's $4.5 trillion health care expenditure is spent treating chronic diseases and mental health conditions, many of which may be manageable with routine treatment. If these conditions are caught early – or prevented altogether, it saves money in the long run.

Preventive care saves in indirect ways

There are also costs for employees who have chronic illnesses or are caring for family members with these conditions. This could be additional time off of work, or the inability to give the necessary focus due to worry or stress.

What prevents people from seeking preventive care?

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion found lists the following reasons that Americans don't seek preventive care:

• Cost (especially for those who are uninsured)
• Not having a primary care provider
• Have to travel too far to see a provider
• Don't know about recommendations for care

What can employers do to help?

• Create an environment where employees feel comfortable taking time for preventive care. Encourage employees to take care of their health and seek care for their symptoms quickly. Adults should see a primary care provider on a regular basis, even if they are healthy. This can help catch conditions before they become more serious. It's also important to keep up with regular screenings and vaccinations.
• Offer a health plan. Allstate Benefits offers group health coverage options designed to provide affordable health benefits for businesses:
• Self-funded plan designs from Allstate Benefits are a great choice for small and mid-sized employers who are looking for ways to take control of their health care costs. We have flexible options and can find a plan that suits your needs, whether you need coverage for 2 or 500 employees.
• If you're looking for a traditional major medical plan, consider Allstate Benefits' Secure Choice fully insured plans.
• Set up meetings throughout the year to explain the company's benefit plan and how to use it. Employees may put off receiving care because they aren't sure what is covered and don't know about all of the great benefits of the plan. This can include how to find a provider that accepts the plan, how to use telehealth services and more.
• Offer a telemedicine option. Virtual telehealth services are popular and widely accepted ways to receive care. Patients can connect virtually with a provider, receive a diagnosis, and be prescribed treatment virtually. Employees don't have to wait for an opening with their primary care provider. They can save on costs by getting early treatment and may need to take less time off of work. Recuro Health is included with all fully insured and Core Value reference-based pricing plans, and can be added to other self-funded plans.

With Recuro Health, your employees have access to:

• Virtual urgent care: U.S. board-certified doctors and medical providers are available 24/7/365 to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for many minor illnesses and injuries via phone and/or video visits.
• Virtual counseling: For members ages 10 and older. Licensed therapists can help with a wide range of mental and emotional health needs. Receive ongoing support, on your schedule, from the comfort of your home via phone and/or video visits in as little as 48 hours.

Contact an Allstate Benefits sales executive to learn more.

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