For business owners, providing healthcare benefits represents a significant investment in their employees. But cost alone doesn’t determine whether a benefit is delivering value. The experience employees have when they actually need care matters, too.
That’s the challenge Dan Cosgrove, CEO of America’s HealthShare, raises in a recent Inc. Leadership Forum article, “Why Your Employees Hate Their Health Insurance.”
Cosgrove asks business leaders to evaluate their healthcare benefits much like they would evaluate the experience they provide their own customers: Are people satisfied with what they’re receiving?
“As a business leader, you likely track your Net Promoter Score (NPS). You know that a high NPS means your customers are raving fans, while a low NPS signals a dying brand. Now, look at your healthcare plan through that same lens.”
It’s a simple question that could have significant implications for employers.
Business Owners Are Rethinking Employee Healthcare
That framing is especially relevant for employers investing heavily in healthcare benefits. Cosgrove notes that the average Net Promoter Score (NPS) for health insurance carriers has fallen to 37, with some major carriers scoring far lower. He sums up the disconnect this way:
“Your employees are more likely to recommend their favorite toothpaste than the health insurance you’re spending $20,000 a year to provide.”
For business owners, that dissatisfaction is prompting a broader look at alternatives Healthshares are a valuable alternative option for Americans who are seeking a more affordable plan. They also offer employers a different way to think about healthcare benefits, particularly when cost, provider flexibility, and employee satisfaction are priorities. Healthshares are an excellent alternative as they are not bound to the same guidelines of the Affordable Care Act. Instead, eligible medical expenses are shared among members according to each healthshare’s established guidelines.
Why Healthshares Are Getting the Attention of Business Leaders
“Health insurance is a game of “No.” Every claim denied is a dollar added to the carrier’s bottom line.” In the Inc. piece, Cosgrove illustrates that healthsharing operates differently from traditional insurance and points to the community-sharing model as one reason employers and employees find it appealing.
He also highlights provider freedom as a key consideration for employers: “Employees value freedom. Insurance locks them into networks, whereas healthshares allow participants to see any doctor they want.”
Healthsharing can offer lower monthly costs, greater flexibility when choosing healthcare providers, and a more transparent experience. The affordability factor is one that can align with the interests of both families and employers.
For business owners, that means the conversation is not only about lowering costs, but also about whether employees feel they are receiving a benefit they can actually use and value.
Cosgrove’s leadership takeaway is especially direct: “Don’t buy a product your team hates.”
That message is worth considering for any employer evaluating whether its current healthcare offering is helping with retention, satisfaction, and overall employee experience.
A Different Way for Employers to Think About Healthcare Benefits
For business owners, the Inc. article raises an important question: Is the healthcare option you’re investing in delivering the value your employees—and your business—need?
At Solidarity HealthShare, we are committed to providing affordable healthcare options for families and employers alike. For business owners evaluating how well their current healthcare benefits are serving their employees, healthsharing offers an alternative worth considering. We have long been committed to greater price transparency in healthcare and helping our Members make informed decisions about their care. We believe our Members should never be charged outrageous prices for medical care or be forced to choose between getting the care they need and paying essential bills.
For more information about joining the Solidarity community, please contact our Member Care team today at 737-SHARING or check prices online.