Recent private health insurance news has diminished what health security many employees across the U.S. had left: 29% of people with employer-sponsored coverage were underinsured, 25% didn't fill a prescription for a chronic condition because they couldn't afford to and 40% said they had to skip or delay health care due to the costs. It's not just employees feeling the crunch as employers face nearly 20% increases in health plan costs at a time when a recession looms, combined with a tight market for employee retention.

And while there are several factors to blame for the impetus of the unaffordable health care crisis here in the states, there's one simple route that's been overlooked that can alleviate a massive burden for employers and employers: Re-emphasizing and strengthening the role of primary care in today's health care system.

The scope of the problem

The problem is something that may be easier to picture, via a too-common experience that we've all been through: Sitting in a provider's office, trying to quickly explain your health and prescription history to a new doctor who knows absolutely nothing about you. Hoping the doctor can treat the root cause of your illness today since you took it off from work, but you know it's unlikely since they only have 15 minutes to assess you. So you'll endure many more appointments before finally resolving your concern.