New Research Finds America’s Workforce is Worried Sick About Their Health

National Report Reveals Physical Health is Top Concern for Nearly Half of Workers, Trailing Only Financial and Economic Worries

One-Third of Employees Identify Mental Health as Top Concern Whereas One-Quarter Are Most Burdened By Weight Management

Included Health, a new kind of healthcare company delivering integrated care, navigation, and advocacy for millions of people nationwide, today released its Workforce Vitals Report, a data-driven analysis revealing insights into America’s workforce when it comes to healthcare.

Based on a nationwide survey conducted in August 2023 by YouGov, the report compiles data from 2,500 adults currently receiving health benefits from an employer and who collectively represent a diverse cross-section of America's workforce, spanning job types and levels, industries, demographics, geographies, and company sizes. The report explores employees’ primary concerns, pain points, healthcare experiences (both positive and negative), level of trust (and mistrust), and hopes for the future regarding health, well-being, and healthcare benefits. Select findings include:

Economic, health, and social concerns are impacting everyday life, well-being, and productivity

• 44% ranked physical health as the third most common concern, behind only the cost of goods and services (65%) and the economy (64%).
• 1 in 3 – and 45% of Gen Zers – identified mental health as a top concern.
• Over half say they have felt in poor physical (55%) or mental health (57%) one or more days in the past month.
• Top concerns, be it their health, the economy, or gun violence, are causing anxiety (37%), lost sleep (27%), and distraction at home (27%) and work (23%).

Weight Management is Weighing on Workers’ Minds

• 1 in 4 (26%) cite obesity/weight loss as their biggest personal health concern.
• 2 in 3 workers (65%) believe it is important (somewhat or very) that medical weight loss (GLP-1s or bariatric surgery) is a covered medical benefit.
• Gen Z (72%), Black/African American (74%), Hispanic/Latinx (73%), and working parents (68%) are more likely to say this is important.
• Among those saying medical weight loss coverage is important, 52% want to access medical weight loss through primary care.
• Currently, 10% of workers are taking a GLP-1.

Workers Don’t Trust Health Insurers But Do Trust Their Employer

• Only 37% of all employees - and just 22% of Gen Xers and 23% of Boomers - trust their insurer to suggest high-quality care regardless of cost.
• Over half of workers (53%) trust their employers when it comes to healthcare; in fact, employers were the third-most trusted influence after friends/family and their doctor.
• Employees also said they need more help from employers to prioritize their health and manage competing demands.
  • 1 in 3 workers have had to delay or miss care because they didn’t have enough paid time off or feared missing deadlines or getting fired.

Navigating Healthcare is Too Hard and a Deterrent to Seeking Care

• 48% of employees report it is difficult to understand health insurance benefits.
• 42% say it is very or somewhat difficult to find a high-quality doctor or specialist.
  • More stressful than jury duty (48%) or dealing with the DMV (45%).
• Just 24% of LGBTQ+ employees feel confident they can get a provider who understands LGBTQ+ health with their current benefits.
• 1 in 3 workers say they aren’t confident that they are taking advantage of all their benefits have to offer (31%), or that they know what their benefits cover vs. not (30%).

Nearly All Employees Have Had a Bad Day at the (Doctor’s) Office… When they Can Get In

• 32% of the worst experiences were driven by wait times - the wait to be seen (32%), to schedule an appointment (23%), and get an accurate diagnosis (17%).
• Nearly one in three LGBTQ+ employees have reported experiencing healthcare providers not believing what they said about their health concerns.
• 1 in 4 workers (25%) have experienced a doctor not listening to them or treating them with respect.

“America’s workforce has the weight of the world on their shoulders, and it's impacting every facet of their life: their physical health, their mental health, and how they show up at work and for their families. On top of it all, when they turn to the healthcare system for help, many are left feeling confused and intimidated. We must do better,” said Robin Glass, president of Included Health. “The call to action and opportunity for employers, health plans, providers, and innovators could not be more clear. As global and societal issues challenge the well-being and productivity of employees everywhere, we must simplify and improve the healthcare experience, remove the fragmentation, and support people across all aspects of their care. Amid annual open enrollment timing and always, the voices of the people we provide care for must remain front and center.”

“AT&T's workforce spans five generations and all 50 states, and for diverse companies like ours, robust wellbeing programs are essential to improving total employee wellbeing. And importantly, employers must act as a tour guide to those benefits and resources for their employees,” said Stacey Marx, AT&T’s global senior vice president of benefits. “The Workforce Vitals research underscores why it’s so important to provide people with personalized, whole-person healthcare that’s readily accessible when they need it most. Working with the clinical and navigation experts at Included Health, we've made it simpler for our employees and their families to access the right care at the right time, with ongoing support along the way.”

The Workforce Vitals Report provides a powerful view into employee pain points along with a call to action for all healthcare stakeholders who are committed to improving healthcare quality and access. To see the full report, visit: https://includedhealth.com/workforce-vitals-report

About Included Health

Included Health is a new kind of healthcare company. We combine people and technology to guide and deliver care differently. Working with employers and health plans nationwide, we provide millions of people with a healthcare experience that is more personalized, accessible, equitable, affordable, and cohesive. With us, it’s all included; care and support online, around the corner, and in the home for everyday and urgent needs including primary, specialty, and behavioral healthcare. Our model is designed to treat people better. Learn more at includedhealth.com.

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