The future of telehealth isn't that it will replace traditional employer plans, but rather pivot them to a hybrid model that emphasizes affordability and accessibility, according to a March report from Cigna subsidiary Evernorth.
The study — which surveyed 3,000 employees, 575 human resources leaders and 58 health plan executives — aims to identify actionable trends for health plans and employers.
Three trends the study identified:
1. The study gleaned that employers are likely to adopt hybrid health plans that blend telehealth and traditional health coverage if they wish to better care for workers. While 75 percent of consumers agreed that more care can be offered virtually, 58 percent still had hesitancy about its efficiency.
2. While behavioral healthcare is continuing to receive more attention, whole person health is still a top priority. Sixty-six percent of consumers reported being satisfied with their behavioral health benefits, but many said those benefits are less important than things like work-life balance.
3. Cost and quality of care are still top priorities for employees, and anxiety related to costs are forcing employees to seek care outside of their benefits. The study encouraged employees and plans to collaborate on employees with top concerns, including stress management, social distancing, flexible sick leave and more.