Heidi Orstad
Regional Lead Clinical Consultant
According to a 2025 Integrated Benefits Institute report, early detection programs consistently show net reductions in total healthcare expenditures. Early detection shifts healthcare use from the emergency room and acute care to routine management, regular doctor visits, maintenance medications, and lifestyle programs, which are much more cost-efficient.
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fewer than 1 in 4 employees receive preventive care, often due to financial concerns, limited time, and access barriers.
Many employees may not be accessing the preventive care available to them.
What can employers do to encourage that change? How can they support employees in scheduling physicals and taking preventive steps that may help slow the progression of chronic illnesses? How can they reinforce a culture that supports health rather than focusing only on treating medical issues?
A culture of health can help. Employers can support basic preventive care by providing:
- Financial support for evidence-based healthcare
- Encouragement to pursue healthy behaviors
- Time off to attend doctor visits and screenings
- Policies and procedures that support healthy lifestyles
- Incentives including financial and PTO for receiving preventive care
- Premium reductions
- Additional HRA contributions
The benefits of preventive care
- During a preventive exam, the provider can help the patient establish a medical home for preventive, acute, and chronic care needs, which may reduce reliance on avoidable emergency or urgent care visits.
- During the exam, the provider can review the patient’s personal and family history, which may support more targeted testing and earlier attention to risk factors.
- Adults and children are also screened for anxiety and depression, which may help identify mental health concerns earlier and support timely care.
Early cancer detection delivers a high ROI
One example of how a culture of health can cut costs and save lives is a 2025 University of Michigan study that estimated cancer screenings saved $6.5 trillion in the United States over 25 years. In some cases, earlier screening may help avoid more intensive treatments, major surgeries, and longer hospital stays. Screening may also be associated with earlier-stage diagnoses and improved survival outcomes, which can help reduce lost income and longer-term medical costs.
PATH case studies: using data to discover solutions
Marsh McLennan Agency’s (MMA) Planning & Analytics for Total Health (PATH) team includes doctors, nurses, data analysts, and health management consultants. The team works to pair data with clinical insights to help employers design competitive, effective benefits strategies.
Here are examples of how PATH teams have helped our clients drive preventive care:
In one municipality example, a preventive incentive was associated with an 85% increase in preventive care rates. The client also reported higher cancer screening rates relative to benchmark and lower costs associated with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Because employees with chronic conditions were better managed by their providers, the employer was able to discontinue its diabetic vendor and reinvest those funds in additional wellness programming.
In one automobile services example, the client replaced an annual biometric event with a preventive-care premium reduction incentive and exceeded its preventive care, plan use, and cancer screening benchmarks. This was an unexpected outcome for a young, primarily male workforce.
What can employers do to help establish a culture of health?
Help members establish a “medical home”
Guide members to resources that can help them build a relationship with a nearby in-network provider that fits their needs.
Promote adherence to prescribed medicines
Communicate the value of medication adherence and explain the ways members may be able to access medications, including through the pharmacy, an employer onsite clinic, or mail order.
Support chronic illness awareness
Promote age- and gender-appropriate screening for chronic illness and help members connect to carrier case managers for ongoing condition management.
What can you do to get the most out of your vendors?
MMA has developed three fundamental vendor cost saving strategies:
- Leverage your vendor RFP process to get more for what you pay.
- Use data to evaluate the program.
- Employ PATH to perform an agnostic analysis.
- Review input from MMA’s Vendor Innovation Council.
- Check whether your current vendor is meeting ROI projections.
- Review low utilization programs.
- Confirm there is sufficient need.
- Evaluate engagement and clinical outcomes over time.
- Ensure programs align with evidence-based practice.
- Solicit and evaluate member feedback.
- Evaluate vendor communications.
- Replace vendors that underperform.
- Are they meeting process and quality, financial, satisfaction, and engagement outcomes?
- Perform a thorough business case analysis.
- Conduct an employee survey to determine acceptance and use.
MMA is ready to help
With healthcare costs continuing to rise, traditional approaches to managing expenses may not be sufficient on their own. Organizations that invest in thoughtful, evidence-informed strategies may be better positioned to manage costs and support employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall well-being.
MMA’s team of specialists helps companies determine the best business insurance, employee health and benefits, and more for their needs. Connect with a Marsh McLennan Agency representative to explore how we can help your business establish a culture of health and more.
For more information on Employee Health & Benefits, join our webinar Employee Benefits Strategies for High-Cost Claims and Funding Alternatives, which can help you think through funding approaches for 2027 and evaluate options and next steps.
