In recent years, employers have been restructuring their employee benefit packages to adjust to the changing needs of their workforce. More specifically, employers have been taking a more holistic approach that focuses on employees’ overall health and wellness.
While standard healthcare plans remain a priority, we will see an expansion of preventive services in those plans. For example, there will be an expansion of services related to the testing and treatment of COVID-19. The use of telemedicine has been expanding and will likely continue to do so as this is a useful way to provide healthcare services while keeping patients and healthcare providers safe during the pandemic. The CARES Act also includes provisions that temporarily make it easier for employers to offer, and employees to take advantage of, telemedicine services.
Similarly, coverage for mental healthcare will continue to expand as the need has been steadily increasing over the years and has intensified during the pandemic.
Additionally, the voluntary benefits industry continues to develop new and innovative offerings to appeal to the needs of the evolving workforce, and this has become a popular way to allow employees to customize their benefits package to meet their specific needs.
Brooke L. Monahan
Senior Counsel specializing in Employee Benefits (Phoenix office)
Quarles & Brady LLP
Read the other “As Business Changes, So Will Our Healthcare” perspectives.
