The Best Health Insurance Georgia Employers Can Offer
8 Minutes
Team Curative
Oct 1, 2024
Recently, Georgia has made headlines for its low healthcare rankings, but instead of viewing the headlines as a setback, they present a unique opportunity for employers to take the lead in preventive care. By offering comprehensive health insurance Georgia employees need and deserve, businesses in the Peach State can significantly impact their workforce's health outcomes. Curative is an ideal partner in providing innovative solutions that prioritize accessibility, affordability, and quality. With proactive measures in place, Georgia’s healthcare rankings could reflect positive changes in the near future.
A Snapshot of Georgia’s Healthcare Performance
A recent Forbes Advisor study ranked all 50 states across four key categories: healthcare access, healthcare outcomes, healthcare cost, and quality of hospital care. Unfortunately, the results highlight that the health insurance Georgia residents expect is not necessarily what they receive.
Healthcare Costs: Georgia is ranked third worst in healthcare costs, largely because 15.5% of residents skipped seeing a doctor in the past year due to financial reasons.
Mortality Rates: Georgia has the fifth-highest mortality rate for kidney disease, with 18.87 deaths per 100,000 residents and eighth-highest stroke mortality rate, with 44.27 deaths per 100,000 residents.
High Deductibles: Georgia has the eighth-highest average annual deductible, at $2,269, for those with single health insurance coverage through an employer.
These results underscore the urgent need for employers to bridge the healthcare gaps by offering health insurance plans that meet their employees' needs.
Georgians React to the News
Local reactions to Georgia's ranking as the worst state for healthcare have sparked concern over the implications for residents and questions about the state's future. News outlets like FOX 5 Atlanta andAtlanta News First reported on the ranking, highlighting issues such as high healthcare costs, lack of access, and poor outcomes that contribute to the state's low score. Despite these challenges, several Georgia hospitals have been recognized for their excellence in specific areas, such as cardiology — a silver lining that highlights the potential for quality care within the state and the importance of supporting healthcare institutions to achieve higher standards.
Georgians Are Up Against Some Challenges
One of the most pressing issues for Georgians is the high rate of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Compounding that is limited access to healthcare resources, especially in rural areas where healthcare facilities and providers are scarce. In Georgia specifically, eighteen of its thirty rural hospitals are at risk of closing due to financial issues. If your business is located in one of these regions, your team might need help finding primary care physicians and specialists, making it harder for them to receive timely and adequate care.
Financial barriers are also another significant issue. Many Georgians find health insurance unaffordable, leading to delayed or foregone treatment, which exacerbates health problems and increases healthcare costs in the long run.. More than one-third of rural Americans reported skipping needed care because of costs. That’s a significant portion of the workforce whose performance could be impacted by untreated health issues.
So, What is Preventive Care, and Why Does It Matter?
Preventive care is about helping your employees take proactive steps to maintain their health and prevent diseases before they become serious. From regular health check-ups and screenings to vaccinations and wellness programs, preventive care is more than just a medical routine; it’s a fundamental approach to health that fosters long-term well-being.
While preventive care strategies require a little discipline, they offer immense benefits — especially to your business. Encouraging employees to prioritize physical and mental health leads to higher retention, satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. Partnering with an insurance company that focuses on preventive health care like Curative, employers can see three big areas of impact:
Long-term cost savings: Preventive care helps reduce healthcare costs by addressing health issues early, reducing the need for expensive treatments.
Better health outcomes: Transparent, affordable, preventive health plans encourage employees to seek necessary care, improving overall health outcomes and employee satisfaction.
Reduced medical debt: By focusing on preventive care, Curative helps reduce medical debt, allowing employees to avoid high emergency room costs and financial strain, thus enhancing their productivity and well-being.
Be the Employer to Offer Health Insurance Georgia Employees Love
Of course, the easiest way to support your team is to offer health insurance Georgia employees will love, like Curative. With so many benefits, Curative’s plans help solve many of their challenges. Telehealth is available, which helps bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers — especially for employees in rural areas — so they can get care without having to deal with long-distance travel. There are no copays or deductibles, which helps remove those financial barriers that often prevent employees from seeking necessary care. With Curative, routine check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations don’t have hefty out-of-pocket costs. Plus, Curative’s plans prioritize preventive services, providing access to necessary health screenings and wellness programs — a proactive approach that can lead to better health outcomes and long-term cost savings for employees and employers.
Curative — The Health Insurance Georgia Businesses Benefit From, Too
It’s simple. Investing in employee health and well-being directly impacts workplace productivity. By partnering with Curative, employers can support their workers’ well-being by offering preventive insurance that reduces medical debt and leads to better health outcomes.
In addition, standouts from Curative’s offerings make it easier for Georgians to access preventive care. Employees have access to a personal Care Navigator — a dedicated professional who can assist them in navigating the healthcare system, answering questions, and coordinating care. The Baseline Visit is a comprehensive initial health evaluation to establish personalized care plans, proactively manage potential health issues and unlock $0 in-network care once completed. Other perks pave the way for your employees to have greater success in proactively managing their health:
One monthly premium: A clear and transparent pricing structure ensures employees fully understand and appreciate their benefits.
$0 copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs: Employees can access necessary care without financial barriers, promoting timely and preventive healthcare.
24/7 telehealth: Provides around-the-clock access to healthcare professionals, reducing the need for employees to take time off work for medical visits.
Flexible benefits solutions: Multiple plan tiers and a strong national provider network to cater to diverse needs.
As an employer, you have many resources to help your team maximize their healthcare coverage and receive essential preventive care — which translates to a valuable investment and a healthier, more productive workforce. If you’re ready to enhance employee well-being, reduce medical costs, and foster a positive workplace environment, visit Curative for Employers. To see all disclaimers, please view them here.
Resources
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2024, Jan 26). Healthgrades: These are Georgia’s best hospitals for cardiology. https://www.ajc.com
Atlanta News First. (2024, April 5). Study names Georgia the worst state for healthcare. https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/04/05/study-names-georgia-worst-state-healthcare/
CNBC. (2023, May 9). Company pays employees to exercise: It’s a fail-safe investment. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/09/company-pays-employees-to-exercise-its-a-fail-safe-investment-.html
Commonwealth Fund. (2023, Jul 24). Rural Americans struggle with medical bills and health care affordability. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2023/rural-americans-struggle-medical-bills-and-health-care-affordability
Forbes. (2023, Oct 13). Best and worst states for health care. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/health-insurance/best-worst-states-for-healthcare/
Fox 5 Atlanta. (2024). Georgia ranked worst state for health care: Study. https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-ranked-worst-state-health-care-study?taid=652f76c00c82f000011eb8f7&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter
Health.gov. (2024, Jan 26). Prevention is still the best medicine. https://health.gov/news/202401/prevention-still-best-medicine
HR Daily Advisor. (2022, Dec 20). Preventative healthcare benefits: How they help retain and engage. HR Daily Advisor. https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2022/12/20/preventative-healthcare-benefits-how-they-help-retain-and-engage/
Microsoft. (2023, Jul 5). AI initiative aims to upskill workers. HR Dive. https://www.hrdive.com/news/microsoft-ai-initiative-aims-to-upskill-workers/684972/
NPR. (2024, Jun 4). Rural U.S. healthcare crisis: Georgia. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/06/04/nx-s1-4964724/rural-u-s-health-care-crisis-georgia
Netflix. (n.d.). Work life philosophy. Netflix Jobs. https://jobs.netflix.com/work-life-philosophy
Strixus. (2023, Jun 6). The wow factor: Zappos and the company culture others want to copy. Strixus. https://strixus.com/entry/the-wow-factor-zappos-and-the-company-culture-others-want-to-copy-18202
Yahoo News. (2023, Oct 23). Georgia healthcare worst in U.S. study. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/georgia-healthcare-worst-us-study-120000254.html
The Chartis Group. (2024, Feb 15). Pressure pushes rural safety net crisis into uncharted territory. Chartis. https://www.chartis.com/sites/default/files/documents/chartis_rural_study_pressure_pushes_rural_safety_net_crisis_into_uncharted_territory_feb_15_2024_fnl.pdf