Transform Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance with Curative
Increasingly, U.S. employer sponsored health insurance seems mismatched to the needs of today’s workforce. Rising healthcare costs, complex cost-sharing structures, and deferred care have created a system that sometimes seems more of a burden than a benefit. Enter Curative, a model that provides personalized, hands-on support at every step of the healthcare journey.
Unlike traditional group health insurance benefits, concierge health insurance offers employees direct access to comprehensive care coordination without confusing deductibles or hidden fees. With Curative, employees benefit from proactive health management (including 24/7 telehealth), same-day prescription delivery in select cities, and Care Navigators who help them find the right care when they need it. It’s healthcare that prioritizes prevention and wellness, giving employees the tools they need to stay healthy—and employers the productivity they need to thrive.
The state of U.S. group health insurance benefits
Group health insurance benefits feel like a lifeline with a price tag. Employee health benefits are a must-have, but the financial and emotional cost to the employer is steep. Nearly half of the workforce (49%) with deductibles exceeding $1,000 reported delaying medical care due to cost concerns. As healthcare expenses continue to rise, workers are left making impossible choices between seeking care and managing their money.
31% of Americans with employer sponsored health insurance report outstanding medical debt, a stark reminder of how cost-sharing measures like deductibles and copays create financial strain. Enough is enough. The American workforce deserves better employee health benefits. Innovative solutions like Curative empower employers to offer them something that solves their challenges affording and accessing care.
The downside of traditional employee health benefits
Employer sponsored health insurance should feel like a win, but to many, it feels like a failure. Between experiencing poor health outcomes and confusion about coverage to taking on significant financial strain, parties involved are sometimes left frustrated and undersupported.
Poor Health Outcomes
With high deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket expenses, many employees are forced to make tough decisions about when — or if — they can afford to seek medical care. Imagine choosing between receiving essential preventive care or treatment for chronic conditions and paying your bills. 50% of employees admitted to deferring care due to concerns about the cost. The numbers are even higher when it comes to preventive care, which helps employees manage their long-term health and catch serious issues early. 65% of individuals on High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) reported skipping preventive services like annual checkups or screenings, increasing their risk for more severe health problems down the road.
When employees avoid medical treatment, minor issues can become major health crises. 43% of employees on HDHPs even missed doses of prescribed medication due to cost concerns. The result? These employees deal with worsened health and face longer recovery times, leading to more missed workdays and decreased overall productivity.
Confusion about group health insurance benefits
Beyond the financial burden, often, no one knows what their health insurance plan covers or how to use it. Employees get stuck in a tangled web of deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs, wondering what services are covered. 46% of employees said they could not accurately anticipate their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, while 39% of insured workers admitted they don’t fully understand what their plan covers. And if you don't understand your plan, you are less likely to use it to seek care, worsening health outcomes.
Economic strain on employers
The burden of traditional health plans doesn’t just fall on employees. Employers are feeling the weight of it all, too. In 2025, employers expect to see a 8% increase in group health coverage costs. They're spending more on their teams but aren't seeing healthier employees or improved workforce efficiency. Instead, workers delay care due to high out-of-pocket expenses, leading to more severe health issues that require even costlier treatments in the long run.
Cue the vicious cycle for businesses: they pay more for healthcare, but the employee health benefits they offer are not yielding better health outcomes for their team. Lower productivity, higher absenteeism rates, and more frequent health-related disruptions result. 57% of workers reported missing work due to illness, while 71% of employees on HDHPs had to take time off because of health-related concerns. Absenteeism and presenteeism rates represent a hidden cost for employers. Unhealthy employees can’t perform at their best, and those who miss work entirely contribute to lost productivity. The cumulative effect of these issues means that businesses are not getting the value they need from the health plans they invest in, making traditional health plans a poor economic choice for many organizations.
The ripple effect of medical benefits for employees on performance
The quality of medical benefits for employees directly influences productivity and overall performance at work. Poor health outcomes due to deferred care, confusion about coverage, and high out-of-pocket expenses often lead to absenteeism and presenteeism, two major contributors to workplace inefficiency.
The cost of absenteeism
Absenteeism, or missing work due to illness or medical issues, is a problem for employers. When employees can’t get timely care — either because they’ve put off treatment or can't afford it — minor health issues morph into conditions requiring extended time off.
57% of workers reported missing work due to illness, and 71% of High Deductible Health Plan (HDHPs) employees needed to take time off work due to health concerns. Lost time, productivity, and talent ripples through the company as absent employees place additional strain on their coworkers, leading to workplace inefficiencies and increased stress levels across the board.
The hidden impact of presenteeism
Calling out sick has clear consequences, but what about showing up to work when you don’t feel well? Known as presenteeism, employees come to work because they feel financially pressured to show up or can’t afford to take time off — despite their inability to operate at full capacity. Studies have shown that annual productivity losses due to presenteeism amount to over $10,000 per employee.
Employees working while sick are not only less productive but also expose their coworkers to their potentially contagious illnesses, making the problem worse and reducing overall workforce efficiency.
The cumulative effect on workplace performance
Absenteeism and presenteeism are two sides of the same coin, directly affecting workplace performance. When employees are absent due to health issues, their coworkers must pick up the slack, leading to increased stress, burnout, and reduced overall efficiency. Meanwhile, employees who show up to work while unwell are less effective, dragging down the company’s productivity.
For businesses, performance losses translate into real financial consequences. Poor employee health shows up as missed deadlines, decreased morale, and lower output, all of which affect the company’s bottom line. Investing in better medical benefits for employees improves your team’s well-being while upping overall performance and profitability.
How medical benefits for employees impact retention and recruitment
A great employer sponsored health insurance plan is the ultimate carrot to attract and retain top talent. Whether employees are evaluating job offers or deciding whether to stay with their current employer, employee health benefits can make or break your ability to build a stable and satisfied team. While offering better health insurance is a significant investment, the long-term turnover costs far outweigh the initial expense.
Retention: The role of health insurance in employee loyalty
When employees ask, "Should I stay or should I go?" the answer might depend on how happy they are with health insurance. 65% of employees reported that healthcare benefits influenced their overall job satisfaction, while 50% said health insurance was a key factor in their decision to stay with their current employer. This proves that high-quality, cost-effective health insurance is more than a perk. It’s a must-have for companies looking to reduce turnover and retain valuable employees.
Conversely, poor employee health benefits can lead to dissatisfaction, increased turnover, and the costly process of replacing employees. When workers feel that their health coverage doesn't meet their needs or is too expensive, they’re more likely to leave for an employer offering better benefits. The cost of turnover — recruiting, hiring, and training a new employee — can be as much as twice the departing employee’s salary, making it critical for employers to invest in benefits that foster employee loyalty.
Recruitment: Concierge health insurance as a competitive advantage
Group health insurance benefits help keep current employees coming in, but they’re also a powerful tool for recruiting new talent through the door. Companies need to differentiate themselves in an increasingly tight labor market to attract top candidates.
Offering concierge health insurance, which provides personalized care coordination and proactive health management, can give businesses a competitive edge. Employees often compare health benefits when considering multiple job offers.
A robust health insurance package can decide whether a candidate chooses one company over another, especially if salaries are similar. Plus, your reputation rides on the quality of your plan. Companies that offer progressive, affordable healthcare benefits are seen as more attractive and forward-thinking.
Move beyond employee health benefits with Curative
The traditional health insurance system may have worked for a simpler time, but it no longer fits the needs of today’s fast-paced, dynamic workforce. Outdated employee health benefits burden businesses and employees with rising costs, confusing coverage, and limited access to care. Curative changes the game by offering concierge health insurance — a modern approach that delivers personalized care while ensuring affordability and ease of accesst. It’s employer sponsored health insurance designed to work the way it should: for everyone.
Curative’s transparent, affordable approach
Curative breaks free from the pitfalls of traditional medical benefits for employees. There are no hidden fees, surprise bills, or complicated coverage structures. We prioritize transparency and affordability, offering a model that eliminates the financial uncertainty that causes so many employees to defer care. Curative’s plans feature $0 copays, $0 deductibles, and $0 out-of-pocket costs for care from providers found through the Curative Provider Search, making healthcare more accessible to employees. Our concierge health insurance reduces financial barriers so employees seek the care they need without fear of accumulating debt.
Proactive healthcare for better outcomes
Employees who have access to and use their preventive care services are healthier and reduce the likelihood of costly treatments down the road, which is a win-win for employers. One of Curative’s standout features is its focus on proactive healthcare. Unlike traditional plans, which often leave employees to navigate their healthcare on their own, Curative provides personalized support through a Baseline Visit with a Curative Care Navigator. During the visit, members work with their Care Navigator to tailor an individualized, preventive care plan and identify areas of opportunity and potential problems from the start of the plan. This way, members better understand their plans, the Member Portal, and can access the right resources at the right time through our easy-to-navigate Provider Search.
Convenient, comprehensive employee health benefits
Curative offers 24/7/365 telehealth through Teladoc and NormanMD to ensure members get care when they need it. Members can access $0 telemedicine health care in under 10 minutes via messaging, audio, or video chat. Curative members can also access the Curative Drug Formulary offering $0 drug options for most conditions. Members can fill these prescriptions at any in-network pharmacy. Members can also select service through the Curative Pharmacy, which offers as soon as next day delivery.
The business case for Curative
By eliminating financial barriers to care and focusing on preventive services, Curative helps businesses reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, and the long-term costs associated with chronic conditions. Employees who are healthier, happier, and feel supported by their healthcare are more productive and loyal, leading to higher retention rates and reduced turnover.
Investing in Curative’s transparent and comprehensive group health insurance benefits reduces costs — and, most importantly, helps build a healthier, more engaged workforce that drives business success. The U.S. workforce deserves better employee health benefits; with Curative, employers like you can deliver it.
About Curative
Curative is a health plan employers and their talent love for its affordability, engagement, and simplicity. With $0 copays and deductibles, members can access preventive and timely healthcare with guided support. Imagine — a health plan that actually delivers better health — and sustainable savings.
Learn more about our medical benefits for employees today.
Every Curative member can continue to qualify for the $0 deductible or copay for covered services from providers listed on Provider Search and preferred prescriptions by completing a Baseline Visit in the first 120 days of the plan’s effective date.
Members in Texas and Florida can access virtual therapy through Televero, and all members outside of Texas can access virtual therapy through Teledoc.
Healthcare is provided through the Teladoc network of medical providers or NormanMD for members in Texas. Treatment options and eligibility determinations made by independent licensed medical providers.
To see all disclaimers, please view them here.
References
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Forbes. (2024, February 14). What is absenteeism? Definition, causes & impacts. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/what-is-absenteeism/
Golshan, T. (2023, October 30). My Health Insurance Company Is Trying To Kill Me. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/health-insurance-no-surprises-medical-debt_n_665cdbb5e4b01ea28f32c18f
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2023, March). Medical debt and healthcare disparities: A national concern. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11136629/
PwC. "Medical cost trend: Behind the numbers 2025." Retrieved from https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/behind-the-numbers.html
Scott, D. (2023, November 3). Patients don't know how to navigate the U.S. health system — and it's costing them. Vox. https://www.vox.com/policy/2023/11/3/23943349/health-care-costs-medical-bills-debt-relief-forgiveness-insurance
Sherwood, H. (2023, July 18). Post-pandemic presenteeism and the overwork culture. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230718-post-pandemic-presenteeism-overwork-culture