In today's connected world, we've come to expect instant access to information, services, and products on demand. App-savvy consumers want the convenience and speed of one-tap service for just about every aspect of their daily lives. That includes their health insurance as well.
Traditional employer-sponsored health plans are anything but simple or convenient. Many employees are confused and frustrated by complex and costly employer health insurance. A recent SureCo survey found that 96% of companies think they do a good job communicating where healthcare cost increases are coming from, while 45% of employees disagree. This frustration gap hurts employee engagement and retention.
Simplified, affordable, quality health insurance remains a top priority for employees. According to a Luntz Global Partners survey, 56% of U.S. adults with employer-sponsored health benefits said that their satisfaction with their health coverage is critical in deciding whether to stay at their current job or leave. In the same survey, 46% of respondents said that health insurance played a significant role in choosing their current position.
ESS: Putting Employees in Control
To leverage health coverage for recruitment and retention, a growing number of employers are embracing an emerging model in health insurance delivery: employee self-service (ESS) portals. ESS portals allow employees to access, manage and update employment information and functions online, using any device with internet access, 24/7.
When used for health insurance, ESS portals allow employees to access their health plan benefits, health data, and costs. With increased visibility into what their plans cover and where their costs are coming from, employees are more engaged in their healthcare. This, in turn, leads to better engagement and higher employee satisfaction in the workplace.
More Flexibility, More Choices, and Lower Costs
Some healthcare innovators have taken ESS portals a step further, developing platforms that enable employees to shop for and purchase health plans. One such platform is SureCo's Enrollment Platform.
Using SureCo's self-service digital marketplace, employees can easily find and purchase a health plan that fits their particular needs and budget. SureCo's Enrollment Platform also provides a centralized portal where employees can view their benefits, medical records, and billing history to avoid confusion about what's covered and the associated costs.
SureCo's Enrollment Platform also provides employees with a host of tools and resources to help them stay on top of their health plans and wellness, embrace healthy lifestyle habits, and lower their out-of-pocket costs. What's more, the health plans employees purchase on the Platform are portable, meaning they go with the employee if they leave or switch jobs. All of which makes employees feel more empowered and in control over their own health.
Why Employers Like ESS Portals, Too
While giving employees greater choices, freedom, and flexibility, SureCo's Enrollment Platform significantly reduces employers' administrative burden and risk exposure. Instead of building benefits packages and managing open enrollment, HR departments can focus their time and resources on recruiting, engaging, and retaining talent. By virtually eliminating COBRA and simplifying ACA-reporting, SureCo's Enrollment Platform reduces more administrative tasks as well as compliance-related risk — saving employers even more time and money.
With SureCo's Enrollment Platform, employees can enjoy the convenience, flexibility, and ease of using an ESS portal for their health coverage. Employers, in turn, can approach health insurance as a competitive advantage and recruitment tool instead of a burden.
Learn more about how SureCo's Enrollment Platform employee self-service portal is changing employer-sponsored health insurance for good.
