4 Ways Employers Can Inspire Preventive Care – and Save in the Long Run

Deloitte estimates that proactive health measures could save the U.S. health care system up to $2.2 trillion annually by 2040, equating to more than $7,000 per person. Yet today, much of our nation’s health care spending is reactive and focused on treating illness after it occurs.

The best opportunity for employers to shift that dynamic is by promoting preventive care. By encouraging employees to get regular checkups, they can stay healthier, which reduces costly treatments and lowers long-term expenses for everyone.

Preventive care services are fully covered under Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) health plans, even for employees with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). That means employers can promote a healthier workplace and manage costs without adding financial burden.

Now is the ideal time to encourage employees to focus on their preventive health plan. Here are four ways to help your team take advantage of preventive care and create a culture of wellness in the workplace.

1. Communicate Clearly and Often

The first step in increasing employees’ participation in preventive care is by promoting awareness. Many employees may not realize that routine preventive services, like annual checkups, screenings and immunizations are already covered at no additional cost when using an in-network provider.

Consistent, clear communication can make a big difference. Use your existing channels to share reminders and resources throughout the year. Whether it’s a post on your intranet, a message in your employee newsletter, or an email reminder, repetition helps information stick.

To make it easy for you to communicate with your team about preventive care, we’ve created ready-to-send email templates that can be accessed through the Get Proactive with Preventive Care Toolkit.

Encourage managers and HR teams to be ambassadors of health by sharing the same message in team meetings or one-on-one check-ins. When employees hear consistent encouragement from multiple sources, they’re more likely to take action.

2. Make Time for Wellness

Time is one of the biggest barriers to preventive care. We’ve all been there—meetings pile up, work gets busy, and that doctor’s visit keeps getting pushed off, because it’s easy to shift. When that happens across a workforce, preventive care easily slips through the cracks.

Employers can help remove that barrier by offering paid time off specifically for wellness visits. Even just a few hours of flexible time to attend an annual physical or well-child appointment can go a long way, not for just employees, but for your business too. Studies show that employees who receive regular preventive care are less likely to develop chronic illnesses that lead to long-term absenteeism or costly treatments. In other words, supporting your employees with time to get their preventive care now can prevent bigger disruptions, and higher costs, later.

For organizations that can’t offer time off, even small gestures, such as encouraging employees to schedule appointments early in the day or near lunch breaks, demonstrates support for healthy living.

3. Offer Incentives for Participation

Incentives tied to preventive care can drive participation and reinforce the value of wellness in company culture.

Businesses should consider incorporating preventive activities into their existing wellness program. For example, offer rewards for completing an annual checkup, getting a flu shot, or participating in a health screening. These incentives don’t have to be large, even modest rewards like gift cards, wellness points, or recognition in company communications can make a meaningful impact.

The key is to keep it simple. Employers can tell their team what counts as preventive care, where more information can be found, and how participation in incentives can be reported or tracked.  Within the Get Proactive with Preventive care toolkit, you’ll also find guides and resources to create an incentive program along with information to support your team.

Wellness incentives not only encourage preventive care behavior but also signal true value around employee health. That sense of care and support can boost morale, loyalty, and overall engagement.

4. Support for Ongoing Vaccine Adherence

Vaccinations remain one of the most effective and affordable forms of preventive care. They protect not only individuals but entire workplaces by reducing the spread of illness and preventing avoidable absences.

Encourage employees to stay up to date on their flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as recommended well-child and adolescent immunizations for dependents. A quick shot today can save a sick week in the future. These vaccines are covered in full under Excellus BCBS health plans when received through in-network providers.

Employers can make vaccination easy by sharing reminders in company newsletters or offering pop-up flu shot clinics on-site. They can also provide information about local pharmacies or community health centers that offer convenient vaccine appointments.

When vaccination becomes a shared priority, it fosters a culture of collective care—one where everyone benefits from a healthier, safer environment.

Why Preventive Care Matters — For Everyone

Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes while managing long-term costs. By helping employees take advantage of covered preventive services, employers can:

It’s a win for employees and a win for organizations. Preventive care keeps people healthier, workplaces stronger and communities more resilient. By encouraging your workforce to take advantage of these fully covered benefits, you’re contributing to a healthier future for all.

Take the Next Step

Preventive care doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t cost extra. Services such as annual checkups, well-woman and well-child visits, cancer screenings, cholesterol and diabetes testing, and immunizations are fully covered when employees visit in-network providers.

To learn more about what’s covered, encourage your team to log in to their Excellus BCBS online member account. These tools make it easy to check plan details, find providers, and manage care, all in one place.

When health coverage means more than plans and premiums, everybody benefits.

Supporting preventive care isn’t just good business, it’s a way to take care of your people. When teams feel well and supported, organizations grow stronger too.