When someone is unwell, the first cost we usually think about is the medical bill.
But that is rarely the only cost.
There is the day of work missed, the meeting postponed, the deadline pushed back and the colleague who has to take on extra work. There is also the employee who chooses to work through an illness because they cannot afford to slow down.
And then there are the costs that don’t appear on any spreadsheet: reduced productivity, burnout, stress and an employee who simply isn’t functioning at their best. Someone can be sitting at their desk and still not be in a position to do their best work, headaches, poor sleep, recurring illness, stress or untreated health concerns can affect concentration, energy and decision-making. When these issues are ignored or treatment is delayed, what may have started as a small health concern can become something that affects both the employee and the organization.
This is why the conversation around employee healthcare needs to go beyond hospital bills, a good health plan should make it easier for employees to access care when they need it, rather than making them wait until a health issue becomes more serious. For businesses, investing in healthcare isn’t simply an employee benefit to tick off a list. It can be part of creating a healthier and more sustainable workplace.
When employees know they have access to healthcare, they are more likely to seek help when something is wrong instead of postponing care, they also have greater peace of mind knowing that an unexpected health issue does not necessarily have to become an unexpected financial burden.
The cost of poor employee health can be difficult to calculate.
How much does repeated absenteeism cost? What about employees working while unwell? What happens when a minor health issue becomes a bigger one because treatment was delayed?
These costs may not appear under “healthcare” in a company’s accounts, but they can still affect performance.
Workplace healthcare should not only be about what happens when an employee is admitted to hospital. It should make it easier for people to access the right care, understand their health and get support when they need it.
At Quest Medicare HMO, we believe health insurance should provide more than financial protection. It should help organisations create workplaces where employees can access quality healthcare when it matters.
