Over half of employees say they’ve faced barriers accessing health benefits

Despite 65% of employees having access to workplace health benefits, a high percentage say they’ve had issues using them.

This highlights the need for more employers and providers to create better support for workers trying to access their health benefits.

Employees using health benefits more frequently

The research, compiled by healthcare services and plan provider Simplyhealth, found that one in five (20%) employees use their workplace health benefits at least once a month.

This is up from one in six (15%) compared to the previous year.

However, some workers are still not using theirs, with 29% saying that, despite needing to use them, they have not.

The majority of concerns are around the cost and reimbursement of benefits.

The research found:

• 17% of employees who use their health benefits say the support only covered part of the cost, leaving them to pay the rest.
• 14% of employees who used their health benefits were reluctant to do so as they didn’t want to pay and wait to be reimbursed.
• 10% of those who did use their employee health benefits, and 8% of those who never used them didn’t know what cover they had because the information from their health provider was unclear.
• 14% of those who used their benefits and 8% who have never used them, say they weren’t sure whether their illness was covered.

Clear opportunity for employers and providers to simplify access

Simplyhealth believe that these findings highlight a real need for employers and providers to simplify access through clearer communication, smoother reimbursement processes and simpler access to benefits.

Dr Macarena Staudenmaier, Head of Clinical Product at Simplyhealth, commented, “It’s encouraging to see so many employers investing in workplace health benefits at a time when they are contending with many competing financial demands. This commitment can make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing and to long-term business outcomes.”

“There’s a big opportunity to increase the impact of this investment by helping teams feel confident about using the benefits available to them. Simple steps can go a long way: communicate clearly and regularly what’s covered, explain how to access support, and make signposting part of onboarding and everyday line-manager conversations.”

“When employees understand their healthcare options, especially how to get help quickly when they need it, they’re more likely to use benefits early, when support can be most effective. That not only improves engagement and return on investment, it also helps employers build a workplace culture rooted in preventative healthcare.”

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