A recent study conducted by Paytient, involving 1,516 participants, reveals that 40% of U.S. workers with employer-sponsored insurance delay seeking healthcare due to cost concerns. Additionally, one-sixth of these respondents reported that their work performance suffered due to untreated health issues they couldn’t afford to address, and 17% have changed jobs in search of better healthcare benefits.
Brian Whorley, Paytient’s founder and CEO, highlights this issue as part of a broader national healthcare discussion. He suggests that having insurance is no longer synonymous with having access to necessary care, pointing out a gap in the healthcare system that employers have the opportunity to address.
Further research supports these findings, indicating a widespread struggle among insured workers. A survey by Goodroot found that 43% of employees with employer-sponsored insurance have incurred medical debt. Another study published in Health Affairs showed that 27% of nonsenior adults in the U.S. face healthcare-related financial challenges, including high out-of-pocket costs, medical debt, or restricted access to care due to financial constraints.
The issue extends to the relevance of the benefits provided, with nearly half of U.S. employees feeling their benefits do not adequately meet their needs. Perceptyx’s survey reveals that 59% of employees experience “benefits envy” when comparing their coverage to that of their acquaintances, indicating a disconnect between the benefits offered and the actual healthcare needs of employees. This situation underscores the need for employers to reevaluate and potentially enhance their healthcare benefits to ensure employees can access and afford the necessary care without financial hardship.
