Employees are skipping out on important preventive care: 3 ways HR can help

As an HR pro, you want to keep your people happy and healthy. Not just for the sake of their well-being, but to keep business running smoothly and healthcare costs down.

One of the most important aspects of staying healthy is to get routine preventive care. In fact, according to the CDC, certain preventive measures, such as colorectal screenings and mammograms, could save approximately 100,000 lives each year.

But a recent survey from Aflac found that many U.S. workers skip check-ups and other routine preventive care – a move that could cost employees and employers big time.

Deep dive: What they skip and why

Why they skip care: One in four employed U.S. adults skips regular checkups because they feel healthy, the survey found – even though it could put their health at risk. 

Other reasons that respondents said that they skipped routine care included:

• conflicts with work hours (23%)
• not thinking about it (22%) 
• dislike of going to the doctor (21%), and
• insurance issues (21%). 

Skipping routine screenings can come with huge consequences, considering more than half (51%) of U.S. adults who’ve had cancer said their diagnosis came as a result of a routine checkup or screening, according to the survey. 

What they skip: One in two Americans reported missing a routine health screening, including:

• pap smears (31%) 
• blood tests (28%)
• mammograms (26%)
• colonoscopies (25%)
• skin cancer exams (20%), and
• STD screenings (18%). 

Who skips care: The survey found that there are generational differences when it comes to attitudes about preventive care and healthcare. For example, although Gen Z feels the least control over their mental and physical health, they are the most likely to skip annual wellness visits. 

Baby Boomers were the most likely to say that preventive care is very important to their overall health and well-being at 64%, followed by: 

• 55% of Gen X
• 49% of millennials, and
• 40% of Gen Z.

How HR can step in, step it up

Trying to tackle this issue can be tricky for HR. After all, you can’t force employees to go to the doctor and take care of their overall health and well-being. 

But it’s an issue that HR can’t afford to sweep under the rug, since preventive care can help mitigate higher employer costs in the future and lead to better health outcomes for the employee.

Even though the decision to prioritize preventive care is ultimately up to the employee, there are several ways employers can encourage employees to get routine care. Here are three ways you can help employees invest in their health now:

• Incentivize it: The majority of survey respondents (85%) said they’re more likely to have a routine check-up if they were offered a cash incentive. Many healthcare providers offer such incentives, such as $25 for wellness exams and flu shots, and it can be the extra push an employee needs to keep their health top of mind. In fact, an Anthem study found that employees with incentives were nearly four times more likely to have completed their annual wellness exam and flu shots than those with no incentive. 
• Align your culture: Almost a third (64%) said they were more likely to go to the doctor if a friend or loved one offers encouragement. Cultivating a culture of encouragement and prioritization of overall health and well-being can help employees understand preventive care is an essential part of their overall health. Plus, it can help support an environment where employees feel empowered and motivated to be proactive when it comes to their health.
• Offer support: In addition to offering employees resources about the importance of preventive care and the routine screenings they need, some employees may need additional support to understand their insurance policies and offerings. For example, Aflac’s survey found that one-third of Hispanic respondents reported that language is a barrier to getting the care they need, signifying an unmet need for certain employee groups.