While lockdowns have helped save lives by mitigating the spread of COVID-19, their implications for the economy and the long-term health of the population are far-reaching. As companies struggled to adjust their business models to survive during the pandemic, many were forced to shut their doors or downsize to stay afloat. Economists predict the record unemployment seen over the past year will affect the health of Americans and increase the mortality rate.

Past studies show that decreasing the use of preventive care, an increased suicide rate, and an increase in cardiovascular disease deaths can cause death rates to surge when unemployment rises. Economists Francesco Bianchi, Giada Bianchi, and Dongho Song recently analyzed how changes in U.S. unemployment rates correlated with changes in U.S. mortality figures in recent decades.

Sobering Predictions

The economists predict pandemic-related unemployment could cause about 460,000 excess U.S. deaths over the next ten years. That doesn’t include the number of people killed by the COVID-19 virus itself. It’s a very sobering thought when you let it sink in. Financial experts expect nearly half a million people to die from health problems brought on by financial stress and a lack of preventive care.

According to economists, there are a few things policymakers and companies can do to get ahead of this dire prediction. They recommend mask-wearing and social distancing in the workplace and advocate ensuring people have access to health care. Here we’ll examine how affordable healthcare alternatives, such as direct primary care (DPC), can soften the financial blow for employers and current or laid-off employees who want to maintain their access to quality healthcare.

The Problem with COBRA

Millions of workers have been laid off or furloughed over the past year, and while many could opt into health coverage under COBRA, that can be very expensive for employees and employers. If an employee has chronic conditions, like diabetes or heart disease, getting regular care can also lead to excessively high claims costs for employers in this scenario.

A DPC membership with a low monthly membership fee can be an affordable healthcare alternative in cases like these. Suppose employees (current, laid off, or furloughed) are looking for day-to-day primary care and preventive care. In that case, a nationwide direct primary care membership can be a cost-effective healthcare option.

No-Claims Healthcare Alternative

The purpose of the relationship between a patient and a primary care physician (PCP) is to create a continuous health-management conversation rooted in trust and respect. Preventive screenings, knowledge of family health history, and managing chronic conditions are a few of the benefits of this relationship.

Even before the financial stressors and unemployment caused by the pandemic, 60 percent of Americans were living with one or more chronic diseases. Some of these conditions were preventable but went undetected due to a lack of primary care. Sometimes disease states escalate due to lack of consistent care, which is often tied to financial strain. This doesn’t have to be the case when you have a no-claims solution like direct primary care.

Because DPC isn’t health insurance, there are no claims to impact the employer’s bottom line and no deductibles for the employee to meet before getting necessary care. For example, Healthcare2U offers direct primary care memberships that provide unlimited in-office primary care visits for a low fee and telehealth or virtual visits for no out-of-pocket costs. These benefits allow workers to not only get preventive care, but the membership also includes unlimited treatment and management of 13 chronic disease states for the same $10 visit fee. Healthcare2U accepts pre-existing conditions within manageable ranges, including:

• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Blood Pressure
• CHF
• COPD
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• GERD
• Gout
• Hypertension
• Thyroid

Hope for the Future

Economists predict the number of excess deaths caused by pandemic-related unemployment could amount to about 1 in 400 people in the U.S. population in 2035 or about 1 in 270 people in 2040. That’s .25 to .37 percent of the population, and it’s preventable with quality healthcare.

Benefits brokers have a unique opportunity to educate employers who may or may not be forced to lay off employees about the cost savings associated with direct primary care. By utilizing an affordable monthly healthcare membership, people can continue getting preventive care and treating chronic conditions that could lead to mortality.

If you’d like more information about DPC for current or laid-off workers, contact Healthcare2U.

Faced with a rapidly changing way of living and working, millennials (people born between 1981 and 1994/6) often struggle to find their financial footing. The pandemic has affected many Americans, but a recent poll says COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact on millennials’ finances and savings.

According to a Harris Poll, commissioned by DailyPay, Funding Our Future, and the Center for Financial Security, 52 percent of millennials say their savings have declined since the beginning of the pandemic. Only 35 percent feel they are on track to achieve their retirement goals.

A disturbing 44 percent of millennials had either no savings (17 percent) or lacked enough savings to cover a $400 emergency expense (27 percent). A mounting feeling of financial instability with no plan to reach short-term financial goals or long-term retirement goals is a significant stress source for millennial workers.

Unexpected medical bills can add unnecessary stress, and not knowing how to use the healthcare system properly can lead to racking up more medical expenses than necessary. Thus, affordable healthcare should be part of the financial literacy conversation. With a little help from benefits brokers and employers, these young staffers can learn about affordable healthcare options, like direct primary care (DPC), that can ease their financial burdens and keep them on track for the future.

Employee Expectations are Evolving

It’s abundantly clear that many of the changes we’ve adopted during the pandemic will become permanent in the years to come. For example, telehealth has become commonplace—and the preferred method of care for many. Much like going online for meetings, millennials were quick to take a digital approach to every area of their lives, including healthcare.

Whether they’ve been impacted directly by COVID-19 or not, the current crisis has led many employees to rethink which benefits they need most. Millennials who may have just started families or may want to shortly seek benefits that will provide a safety net for their family without further straining their financial health.

They may be more open to considering benefits they haven’t weighed in the past, such as direct primary care, to ensure they are adequately covered.

DPC is a perfect fit for Millennials

Millennials take responsibility for their care and are less likely to depend on a health system with which they are not satisfied. The Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 45 percent of 18 to 29 year-olds and 28 percent of 30 to 49 year-olds have no primary care provider (PCP). They also learned that more than 33 percent of millennials prefer on-demand healthcare from retail walk-in clinics over visiting their doctor’s office.

These statistics point to a larger generational shift toward on-demand healthcare, where younger patients prioritize the delivery speed and availability of appointments. With a little education, this group can learn the benefits of developing a long-term relationship with a PCP in a direct primary care environment. They still get speed and availability, but they can also keep their health history in one central location.

DPC is an affordable monthly healthcare membership that gives employees unlimited access to a primary care provider through in-office visits, telehealth, or virtual visits. Instead of using an urgent care center or emergency room as the go-to primary care setting, DPC members save money in the long run by avoiding expensive copays, insurance premiums, and escalating health conditions that will cost more if not treated promptly.

Knowledge is Power

The post-pandemic economic recovery could include a massive expansion of job options made possible by the work from anywhere revolution. Some say it could ignite a battle for talent unlike any other. With turnover costing employers 20 percent of an employee’s annual salary, attracting and retaining employees becomes even more essential to business success. Part of retaining talent is helping employees understand the employment benefits available to protect them and their families regarding affordable healthcare.

According to a recent survey, many employees turn to their employer for financial advice and counseling. Millennials mostly want help creating a long-term financial strategy, and most can’t afford pricey financial advisors. However, employers can remedy this by partnering with knowledgeable benefits brokers to provide educational workshops for employees.

Nearly two-thirds of employees believe the COVID-19 pandemic will impact their path to retirement, and many are looking for ways to save more. This world-changing event has made millennials and other workers more aware of the coverage needed to protect their own health and wellbeing, as well as their family’s. Direct primary care can be an integral part of minimizing the cost of effective healthcare for young families.

For more information on bringing DPC to a workforce that includes multiple generations, contact Healthcare2U.

Because of the important role health plays in all aspects of our lives, many feel more needs to be done to address the crisis of healthcare inequality for children. In addition to poor fitness and nutrition, a lack of proper healthcare also contributes to these children’s conditions. Unfortunately, the number of children with health coverage in the U.S. declined for the third consecutive year in 2019, according to census data—and that was during a period of economic growth. The pandemic also ushered in sweeping job losses that cost many families their health coverage, with certain parts of the country feeling the impact more than others.

According to a report by the Georgetown Center for Children and Families, Texas and Florida were among the states with a more pronounced loss of health insurance for children. The report also highlighted the fact that Latino children were disproportionately affected.

With nearly 4.4 million children uninsured as of 2019, the pandemic’s fallout is still ongoing and is yet known. It appears the future health of the American population is at risk unless families at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder can find a solution to the healthcare crisis. Here we’ll examine the importance of addressing care inequality for children and how to eliminate the disparities.

What happens when we ignore the problem?

According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of infants, children, and adolescents in the United States do not receive essential clinical preventive services. The report revealed large disparities in the receipt of clinical preventive services between insured and uninsured children. Hispanic children were also less likely than non-Hispanic children to have reported vision screenings.

Preventive healthcare services delivered by primary care physicians support healthy development in children. Because primary care is the foundation for good health, these services prevent and detect conditions and diseases in their earlier, more treatable stages and significantly reduce the risk of illness, premature death, disability, and expensive medical care in the future.

Newborns and children usually see doctors more than adults because their needs change as they grow. According to the CDC, 32 percent of children’s visits to the doctor are for preventive care. Without access to essential healthcare services and screenings, sick children become even sicker adults with chronic conditions and other illnesses that could have been prevented.

Primary Care Providers Promote Wellness in Children

Primary care doctors care for adults and younger patients, including well-child visits and vaccinations, and provide care for illnesses, injuries, and other disorders. Having one doctor who tends to the whole family’s needs can be especially helpful when family members share the same health issues. Understanding your family’s health history and learning how to course-correct is invaluable, but when so many can’t afford health coverage, is this a luxury reserved only for affluent families? Not anymore.

Even when employees are fortunate enough to have health coverage through their employer, many can’t afford to cover their dependents. Premiums escalate for every family member added to a health plan. Because of the cost, many are forced to choose between keeping their lights on or providing healthcare for their children. For this reason, many have turned to direct primary care (DPC).

DPC is an affordable option for employees, but it can also be implemented as a dependent-only alternative. The employee can keep their employer-paid plan and choose primary care and chronic disease management for their spouse and children at an affordable monthly rate.

Significant Benefits for a Small Cost

Considering eighty percent¹ of annual healthcare services can be addressed through a family physician, Direct Primary Care is comprehensive. Since DPC isn’t health insurance, there are no expensive monthly premiums, deductibles to meet, or costly copays. The member, or their employer, pays a low monthly fee for a healthcare membership that includes unlimited primary care office visits, telehealth, and virtual care for little-to-no out-of-pocket costs. Direct primary care providers like Healthcare2U even offer DPC memberships for employees that have been laid off or furloughed.

With a nationwide network of primary care providers, they’ve also eliminated geographic barriers to care. So regardless of where people live, they can get primary care and preventive screenings for their families at a very affordable cost.

It’s vitally important for employees to understand the scope of their health and their children’s health. Staff can’t function at their best when they are sick or worried about a sick child who can’t get needed care. By providing an affordable alternative like direct primary care, employers can provide peace of mind for employees and reap the rewards of productivity and increased employee morale.

If you’d like more information on implementing DPC to end care inequality for children and employer groups nationwide, contact Healthcare2U for more details.

¹ Andrew Bazemore, MD, MPH, Stephen Petterson, PhD, Lars E. Peterson, MD, PhD, Richard Bruno, MD, MPH, Yoonkyung Chung, PhD, Robert L. Phillips Jr, MD, MSPH, “Annals of Family Medicine: Higher Primary Care Physician Continuity is Associated With Lower Costs and Hospitalizations,” 2018, 493

It’s no secret that health and wealth are directly correlated. Studies show low-income adults are nearly five times more likely to report being in fair or poor health than adults with family incomes at, or above, 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). In 2020, the FPL for a family of four was $26,200. Low-income American adults also have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other chronic disorders than wealthier Americans. They are also more than three times as likely to have activity limitations due to chronic illness. Limited access to medical care, being uninsured or underinsured, financial barriers, and systemic biases are but a few of the reasons for the lack of healthcare equality in the U.S. Here we’ll examine how we got here as well as one affordable solution to the problem.

Lack of Access to Care

Most impoverished neighborhoods lack reliable access to high-quality healthcare. Big providers want to make big money, so they go to areas where they feel they have the best opportunity to make that happen.

Because of reduced access to care and reduced affordability, low-income patients are less likely to receive recommended healthcare services, such as cancer screenings, annual physicals, and immunizations. Many take for granted that these essential services could mean the difference between life and death for those in lower-income brackets.

High Deductibles

Even before a global pandemic, many businesses faced financial challenges that made it difficult, or nearly impossible, to offer health benefits. Many opted for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that are cheaper to provide employees with but fail to cover essential healthcare costs to shield their bottom lines from constantly increasing premiums and health claims.

When offered, HDHPs are a popular option for low-income Americans because of their lower monthly premiums. However, when employees are offered a HDHP, they may not be able to afford the monthly premiums meaning they opt out of coverage. If employees can afford the premiums and enroll in the HDHP, the deductible is often unaffordable leading to healthcare avoidance and the lack of a primary care presence to provide essential medical guidance. In 2017, 40 percent of Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance had plans with deductibles over $1,500 for individuals or more than $3,000 for a family. With 50 percent of Americans reporting they have less than $400 on hand for emergencies, those numbers don’t add up.

The Solution

Uninsured populations often live within impoverished neighborhoods. With quality providers unwilling to service those neighborhoods or provide care at an affordable rate, what can be done to help Americans struggling to survive?

One answer may be simple. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is not new, but current events have made it an even more vital component of the American healthcare system. Doctors love DPC because they don’t have to conform to insurance mandates to limit appointment times or worry about intense billing practices. Being able to spend the time necessary to address a patient’s needs is critical to building a relationship of mutual respect and trust while providing proper care.

DPC is a Crowd Favorite

Considering that 80% of healthcare services people need annually can be addressed with a family physician,¹ employers love Direct Primary Care’s (DPC) no-claims environment. Instead of paying monthly premiums and insurance claims after an employee receives primary care, their employees can enroll in a monthly DPC healthcare membership for a low monthly fee. With a nationwide DPC provider like Healthcare2U, employers with multiple locations can provide the same quality of primary care to employees across every state.

Employees love the convenience and affordability of direct primary care. Most DPC plans offer primary care visits, telemedicine, or virtual visits for little to no out-of-pocket costs. And because members can use a direct primary care membership in conjunction with HDHPs and other healthcare products, families get the coverage they need, starting with day-to-day care.

Benefits brokers are implementing DPC strategies for satisfied clients nationwide. If you’d like more information on how DPC can help end disparities in healthcare, contact Healthcare2U.

¹ Andrew Bazemore, MD, MPH, Stephen Petterson, PhD, Lars E. Peterson, MD, PhD, Richard Bruno, MD, MPH, Yoonkyung Chung, PhD, Robert L. Phillips Jr, MD, MSPH, “Annals of Family Medicine: Higher Primary Care Physician Continuity is Associated With Lower Costs and Hospitalizations,” 2018, 493

A recent study found 79 percent of small business owners worry about the costs of healthcare. Fifty-nine percent also believe that an increase in insurance premiums will make it challenging to continue providing healthcare benefits for employees. Another 47 percent lament that the costs of health insurance limit their abilities to offer raises or bonuses.

When it comes to business operations, small businesses work differently than larger companies. Limited financial and human resources force them to operate from a different perspective. Owners must find creative solutions for day to day operations, customer service, human resources, and company culture.

Success hinges upon their ability to build a highly functioning team of qualified individuals who wear multiple hats. Recruiting and retaining the best talent is often tricky because smaller budgets mean smaller salaries. Employees in these situations value a company culture that makes them feel provided for and appreciated. An integral part of that culture is a benefits package with meaningful health coverage.

The Problem with Traditional Options

Businesses with less than 50 employees don’t have to provide healthcare, but most employers know that health benefits are what potential employees are looking for. A survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute acknowledged that workers overwhelmingly consider health insurance to be the most critical workplace benefit.

Because of health insurance’s financial burden, some small businesses choose self-funded plans where they pay health claims out of pocket rather than a fixed insurance premium. This choice can be risky business as it exposes the company to the risk of extensive bills in the event of a catastrophic employee health crisis. To avoid the potential for bankruptcy, many companies take on the additional cost of stop-loss insurance to mitigate the risks.

Small group plans are often expensive, non-customizable, and come with yearly premium increases. And because employees are all part of the same risk pool, even one indisposed employee leads to higher prices.

For the small businesses who want to offer a health plan, a high deductible health plan (HDHP) is one option. While coverage is available, employees often feel they can’t afford to use the plan because of out-of-pocket costs. Having to meet a high deductible before coverage kicks in is difficult for most families. A recent survey found that nearly 25 percent of Americans skipped medical care over the past year because of costs.

Affordable Solutions for Employers and Employees

Because Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a no-claims healthcare membership, DPC protects employers’ health plans by diverting claims for acute care, chronic disease management, and urgent care away from health plans and into the DPC environment. For example, employers who incorporate DPC into their level funded or ASO plans reduce their odds of exceeding claims allowances and increasing rates the following year. Because there are no claims for care provided by DPC providers, employers can give their employees affordable access to primary care to maintain health and manage chronic diseases without the impact of those claims hitting their plan. Additionally, diseases managed in the early stages through DPC can potentially save the company from more expensive shock claims due to those conditions not being managed.

Small employers can stand out from competitors by offering affordable DPC to 1099 employees, part-time workers, full-time staff, and dependents. To attract and retain the most qualified contractors and employees, companies must think outside the box to provide top-notch healthcare. DPC gives the uninsured benefits they want while protecting their employer’s bottom line.

Employees Want to Know They Matter

With DPC, members pay a low monthly fee for unlimited primary care visits instead of paying monthly insurance premiums. There are no expensive copays or deductibles to meet, and plans also include telemedicine, virtual visits, and prescription discounts. DPC can also be offered alongside a self-funded plan or HDHP as a gap solution.

Providing affordable and easily accessible healthcare is a logical step toward improving employees’ health, who may be more likely to embrace preventive screenings and care. One could also conclude that healthier employees with an option like DPC are less likely to be burdened by financial stress. Feeling valued, enjoying minimal healthcare costs, and self-care are likely to boost attendance, productivity, and profits for any small business.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, employing 47.8 percent of workers. To learn how to bring direct primary care to this enormous market, download more information on Healthcare2U’s Direct Primary Care (DPC) Membership.

Research suggests the best way to navigate a pandemic, work, family stress, and social unrest is to have as much fun as you possibly can. It may sound counterintuitive or even selfish, but not doing so can be detrimental to your health and mental well-being. Recreational deprivation is linked to criminality, obesity, lack of creativity, anxiety, and depression. Here we’ll explore three reasons you should have as much fun as possible.

Play Teaches People to Cope Without Violence

Stuart Brown is the founder and president of the U.S. National Institute for Play and author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul (2009). As a researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in the 1960s, his study of 26 young male murderers helped him identify the vital importance of play in children and adults’ lives.

Brown and his colleagues found that a history of physical abuse and play deprivation played a significant role in these young men’s lives. His further studies revealed regular play was virtually absent throughout the lives of highly violent, antisocial men, regardless of demographic. They concluded the subjects would have been better able to cope with life’s vicissitudes without recourse to violence had they been allowed to play with other children growing up.

On the flip side, highly successful and creative people demonstrated a history of regular social play—a vital part of healthy development. Children learn social competency, curiosity, resilience, and emotional intelligence through play experiences throughout their lives.

Social Fun Mitigates Anxiety and Depression

Socializing and participating in physical activities are healthier coping strategies to manage depression or anxiety than drinking alcohol or dwelling on negative feelings. Exercise and physical activity can also give you the chance to meet or socialize with others.

Dancing, team sports, or working out with a friend can all release feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals (endogenous cannabinoids), and other natural brain chemicals that can elevate your sense of well-being.

Finding creative ways to take your mind off worries is paramount to ending the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety. Spending time laughing with friends new and old can lighten any mood, whether in person or through technology.

Playing Games is Good for Your Brain

In addition to regular physical exercise and a healthy diet, researchers have found fun activities can help reduce the risk of future cognitive decline. Participating in activities that stimulate the mind, such as reading, writing, and playing games, can improve brain health. Did you know exercising your brain can help prevent beta-amyloid deposits from developing? These harmful proteins are common in those who develop Alzheimer’s disease.

When you stimulate your brain, you also trigger sensory responses that help you stay engaged and pay attention. This response is yet another way playfulness and being engaged with others can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are some brain-stimulating activities you can incorporate into daily life to promote long-term brain health.

• Virtual game nights
• Online video games
• Book clubs
• Write poetry or short stories
• Handwrite cards and letters to people you love
• Take a pottery class
• Learn how to sew
• Adult coloring books
• Painting and drawing
• Holiday craft projects
• Build something
• Take a class
• Learn a new language
• Listen to or play music
• Dance
• Visit a museum
• Try new recipes
• Learn a new word each day
• Talk to family and friends

As you can see, there is no shortage of stimulating and engaging activities to incorporate into your life. Not only can it help strengthen relationship bonds, but it can also promote your physical and mental well-being.

The holidays are a fun time to connect with new and old acquaintances, pick up a new hobby, or take some time for self-care and reflection. Set yourself up for your most creative and productive year yet by making fun a top priority.

According to KFF, annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 5 percent to an average of $20,576 in 2019. Workers’ wages grew 3.4 percent, and inflation rose 2 percent over the same period. Families were already struggling to keep up with the costs of healthcare before a global pandemic. In addition to cost barriers, some families also lack the motivation or know-how to improve their health. Here we’ll examine how to make family health and fitness more fun and more affordable.

Make it a Team Sport

Working together as a family to be healthier leads to more successful outcomes. Instead of making a healthy diet and exercise seem like a chore, approaching it as a celebration makes it easier to sustain healthy choices over time. Make health and fitness a family effort, so reaching those health goals becomes a fun team activity.

Learning new flavors, cooking together, and finding healthier food alternatives can be a fun family enterprise. Instead of thinking of it as an uncomfortable lifestyle change, make learning new exercise routines or outdoor activities into another form of entertainment. By challenging and supporting each other, family members set each other up to reach fitness goals.

Making health and fitness experiences positive helps strengthen family bonds and helps households grow together instead of apart. The family that plays together stays together. With activities like hiking, biking, walking, swimming, or outdoor games, clans develop new skills and healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Take Advantage of Affordable Healthcare

When it comes to establishing a relationship with a primary care doctor, families have struggled in the past due to long wait times to see a doctor, the continually increasing costs, and poor customer service. People often forgo seeing a physician because they don’t want to deal with the hassles or feel they can’t afford it.

In recent years, direct primary care (DPC) has emerged as an affordable healthcare alternative to help families stay healthy. Unlike traditional family practitioners, DPC practitioners keep smaller patient panels, so they are available to provide more personalized care. Most are available for same-day appointments, email or texts, and virtual visits.

Direct primary care has also eased the financial burden associated with getting primary care to keep health conditions from developing into more severe disease states if not treated early. DPC is a monthly healthcare membership that allows members to see a primary care physician as often as necessary for a low monthly fee. Members can schedule unlimited appointments with no copay or a minimal cost, depending on their plan.

DPC Doctors Work for You

When doctors must meet insurance requirements, they work for the insurance companies instead of their patients. This requirement translates into rushed appointments that ignore thorough medical history conversations, long wait times due to overscheduling, and unfulfilling customer experience.

With DPC, families get a doctor who will take the time to know them and their medical history. Instead of waiting weeks to get an appointment or a return call, patients get peace of mind from knowing their doctor is just a simple text or call away anytime day or night. They also eliminate the hassles of dealing with insurance requirements, expensive deductibles, and ever-increasing copays.

Research shows that members who maintain an ongoing relationship with a DPC provider have better health outcomes. Milliman, Inc. recently published a study called “Direct Primary Care: Evaluating a New Model of Delivery and Financing.” They found that DPC members visited emergency rooms 40 percent less over two years. They also reported that DPC members were admitted to the hospital 26 percent less over that same two-year period. If a family uses DPC to supplement their insurance coverage, less E.R. visits and hospital stays mean exponential savings.

With DPC, families get economical and reliable primary care services to help maintain health for a lifetime. If you’d like more information on how DPC can help keep families healthy, contact Healthcare2U.

Direct Primary Care is an alternative payment model that provides members with access to their membership for a simple and affordable membership fee. The model encourages members to actively participate in their health by building a trusting relationship with their physician to conduct preventative exams, treat acute conditions, and detect and manage chronic illnesses before they become serious, among other services. DPC provides a solid foundation for members’ health and improves the quality and access to affordable and convenient primary medical care. Let us explore the current state of healthcare and how a health plan can use the ABCs of DPC to redefine healthcare delivery.¹

 The Current State of Healthcare

Healthcare expenses are rising. Recently, concerns such as long waiting-periods for acute illnesses, higher copays, and retail healthcare have shifted patients away from their Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), resulting in fragmented care, expensive outcomes, and overall healthcare avoidance.²

• A majority (70%) of polled Americans believe the state of healthcare has major problems and is in a state of crisis³
• Nearly 50% of adults do not have a primary healthcare provider,⁴ and the problem is worse among minorities
• The average waiting period for an in-office visit with a new primary care physician is 24 days⁵

This trend of moving away from PCPs drives healthcare costs up and worsens fragmented or unnecessary care. Many Americans⁶ have skipped recommended medical tests or treatments due to cost, and most say they have a problem paying their basic healthcare bills.⁷ Because of this avoidance and fragmentation, Americans are developing preventable conditions that are expensive to treat and manage.

• 92% of Americans have a problem paying basic healthcare bills⁸
• 50% of American adults avoid going to a PCP due to costs. 13% of that group said their condition got worse as a result⁹
• 50% of Americans have preventable, treatable chronic conditions,¹⁰ and these diseases typically cost more than $5,000 per person for care annually.¹¹ For example, the average cost of treating diabetes is $9,601 per person¹²

For many Americans, our healthcare system is failing them. As health expenses rise, employers shift the financial responsibility of healthcare to their employees, often in the form of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) – raising out-of-pocket costs and deductibles in exchange for fewer benefits, compounding the issue at hand.

• From 2006 to 2016 out of pocket spending increased by 54%, while deductibles increased by 176%. Employee wage growth was a mere 29%¹³
• The average deductible for a HDHP in 2020 is $2,500¹⁴

ABCs of DPC: The Building Blocks of Healthcare

Primary Care is the entry point into the healthcare system and is referred to as the foundation of healthcare. Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) treat a range of acute illnesses and are the first to see early signs of chronic diseases, cancer, or many other issues like depression. These physicians guarantee patients receive the right care in the right setting and establish a trusting relationship that inspires patients to participate in their health and wellness and seek care quicker when new issues arise.

Now imagine unlimited access to your primary care physician when and where you need them. By eliminating barriers to primary medical care, DPC allows affordable and convenient access to services on which members depend. The three building blocks of healthcare below establish the baseline for DPC memberships and guarantee the successful delivery of primary medical care.

• • Lower Care Costs – For care performed within the DPC environment, there are no claims generated on the employer’s health plan, and there are no bills for members after receiving care. A review of 116 DPC practices found that the nationwide average for monthly membership fees were $77.38 per month, but can be as low as $45 per month¹⁵
  • Better Employee Health – Patients achieve superior health outcomes with DPC’s personalized service delivery. Employees enrolled in direct primary care have 59 percent fewer ER visits, are referred to specialists 62 percent less often, have 65 percent fewer radiology exams and have 80 percent fewer surgeries¹⁶
  • Better Patient Experience – Patients receive unrestricted access to physicians through multiple services. Common benefits include comprehensive primary services, such as routine care, regular checkups, preventive care, and care coordination.

Healthcare2U | A Coast-to-Coast Healthcare Membership

Because of their core values, Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships lay a solid foundation for health plans that want to institute real change and redefine healthcare delivery. Unfortunately, traditional DPC practices are regionally based and may not provide a complete solution for a national or mobile workforce. That is where Healthcare2U comes in.

We are a nationwide, integrated direct primary care organization that has progressed the model’s benefits and removed its limitations. Our solution believes the primary care patient-physician relationship is the foundation for healthy living and is the key to reducing costs and eliminating healthcare barriers. By providing a nationwide solution to primary care, we bring affordability, accessibility, transparency, and mobility to our members. Are you ready to redefine the delivery of healthcare for your clients? Let’s get started.

About Us

Healthcare2U is a hybrid, integrated direct primary care (DPC) organization that ensures employers of all sizes and structures have nationwide access to affordable, consistent, and quality primary care over 40% below the average cost of traditional DPC practices operating in the market today. Through our proprietary Private Physician Network (PPN)™, Healthcare2U promotes healthy living by detecting, treating, and managing acute and chronic conditions before the onset of serious illness. Healthcare2U is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and is available nationwide.

Footnotes:
¹ AAFP 
² Kaiser Health News 
³ Gallup Poll 
⁴ Fierce Healthcare
⁵ Aristamd 
⁶ Forbes 
⁷ Kaiser Family Foundation 
⁸ Kaiser Family Foundation 
⁹ Kaiser Family Foundation 
¹⁰ The Balance 
¹¹ NCBI 
¹² CDC 
¹³ Kaiser Family Foundation 
¹⁴ SHRM 
¹⁵ JABFM 
¹⁶ BenefitsPro