National Public Health Week serves as an opportunity to highlight the need for better healthcare access and reinforces our belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right.We recognize that unions are perfectly positioned to push the health insurance marketplace to be more responsive to the medical needs of workers. This is demonstrated by the fact that 96% of union workers have employer-sponsored health insurance, but only 69% of nonunion workers do.1
Unions have a unique opportunity to examine alternative funding options as a way to improve access to care and put money back into workers’ pockets. About two-thirds of respondents to McKinsey’s 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey say they are looking to switch carriers over the next four years or less, likely seeking alternative health plans that reduce costs and improve member experience.2
As we celebrate National Public Health Week, we emphasize the vital role preventive care, specifically access to primary care, plays in promoting lifelong wellness. Recommended health screenings and annual physicals are linked to early detection and treatment of illnesses.3 By staying informed about necessary vaccinations, procedures, and other care initiatives, people can reduce their likelihood of severe or life-threatening health issues down the road.4
Regular engagement with your healthcare providers has been shown to contribute to overall health positively.5 One or more primary care visits per year are associated with an increased likelihood of evidence-based care interventions that have been proven to improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs.6
Yet, our country has a decades-long history of underinvestment in primary care. The U.S. only spends 5 to 7 cents of every healthcare dollar on primary care, nearly half the investment of other high-income countries.7
As employers increasingly shift healthcare expenses onto workers through higher premiums and copayments, many cannot face the growing burden of healthcare costs. A report from the Commonwealth Fund highlights that nearly one in four U.S. adults have health coverage all year but are still underinsured, facing high out-of-pocket costs that force them to skip needed care or take on medical debt.8 Studies have shown that the greater the cost-sharing, like in a traditionally fully funded plan, the worse the medication adherence.9 Thus, clinical outcomes may also be negatively impacted.
By contrast, plans that don’t cost share (make employees pay out-of-pocket costs) can promote health equity. Some of the alternative health plan designs known for supporting affordable health insurance for workers without making their health plan complicated and burdensome include Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans (MERPs), Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), and Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements (QSEHRAs).
We have to commit to fighting for these better, more innovative options.
To honor National Public Health Week, show your support for better healthcare access by promising to find plans that treat people with compassion. Prioritize health equity to create healthier communities and establish a healthcare system that serves everyone, not just a select few.
References:
1. https://aflcio.org/formaunion/collective-voice
2. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/reimagining-us-employer-health-benefits-with-innovative-plan-designs
3. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/prevention/preventive-care.html#:~:text=Get%20regular%20medical%20and%20dental,you%20make%20informed%20health%20decisions
4, https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/immunization-can-prevent-severe-respiratory-illness-and-death.html
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9483965/#:~:text=Engaging%20patients%20in%20collaborative%20care,reduces%20pain%2C%20and%20decreases%20costs
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32718313/
7. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2024/increasing-investment-primary-care-lessons-states#:~:text=For%20decades%2C%20the%20U.S.%20has%20underinvested%20in%20primary,shortages%20and%20lack%20of%20consistent%20access%20to%20providers
8. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/surveys/2024/nov/state-health-insurance-coverage-us-2024-biennial-survey
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10394195/
