While purchasing health benefits from multiple benefit companies could save employers money in the short term, that strategy may prove to be more costly over time. Separating health benefits among vendors creates a fragmented health care experience, which could lead to poor health outcomes for employees and, ultimately, higher costs for employers.

Alternatively, truly integrated health care benefits that connect medical, behavioral health and pharmacy data can lead to better long-term management of health care costs and improved health outcomes for employees and their families.

What are the benefits of an integrated health care plan?

The true value of health care integration is more coordinated, personalized, and holistic care that results in significantly lower total medical costs for employees and employers.

The numbers back it up: Our recent 2022 Value of Integration study found that benefits designed to work together saved employers $148 per member per year in 2021 when integrating total behavioral health and pharmacy with a Cigna Healthcare medical benefits plan. When plan members were taking specialty drugs and were diagnosed with depression, savings for employers were even greater – totaling almost $17,500 per member per year. For costly, chronic conditions, employers realized annual savings of nearly $2,500 per member with diabetes and $400 for those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

3 pillars of integrated health care

Cigna Healthcare's integrated health care services use a single, connected clinical platform that works in real time. This centralized hub helps to identify actionable insights and proactive and timely customer engagement opportunities while fostering provider collaboration. The resulting impact on patient health outcomes is built on the following pillars of integrated health care.

1. Actionable insights

Using data and analytics to gain insights into the specific health needs of individuals can help improve employee health by identifying patterns and trends in their health data. These actionable insights can inform specific interventions and targeted programs. For example, data insights can identify employees at-risk for high-cost conditions, such as MSK and diabetes, and who may benefit from targeted health coaching or preventive care.

By working with a holistic health plan that uses data insights to deliver more intuitive care based on the employee's unique conditions, treatments, behaviors, and preferences, employers can provide more meaningful and cost-effective health programs.

2. Proactive and timely engagement

Employees who are engaged in their health and aware of the implications of their existing conditions are more likely to have regular check-ups and preventive care screenings. Increased engagement helps improve their adherence to treatment and their overall health and can reduce health care costs.

An excellent example comes from the Value of Integration study: When employees were engaged to participate in health improvement programs, such as wellness coaching, employers realized an annual savings of more than $1,400 per member per year.

3. Provider collaboration

Truly integrated benefits go well beyond simply bundling to ensure real collaboration. Cigna Healthcare's integrated data platform makes it easier for providers to share information among members of a care team to establish a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the patient's biological, psychological, and social needs.

This collaboration promotes better outcomes by helping employees better manage their chronic conditions and reduces costs by eliminating duplicate and unnecessary testing and treatments. Unsurprisingly, people who participate in holistic models of care that promote provider collaboration report better health and higher satisfaction with their care and quality of life.

It's time to move beyond fragmented benefits to a truly integrated health care plan that positions your organization for optimal health and growth. Reach out to a Cigna Healthcare representative or your broker today.