Consumer Driven Health Care

A new report encourages large employers to support equity-focused programs — such as varying premium contributions based on salary — to potentially help reduce economic barriers to access among lower-wage workers.

The ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency, along with Medicare spending that's expected to grow the fastest over the next decade, will greatly impact costs, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act would allow employers to offer workers standalone telehealth benefits, however, some detractors say it leaves employees unprotected from deceptive marketing practices.

Support is especially critical to lower-salaried employees, who are more likely to delay or forgo preventive care, regular check-ups, surgeries, and even dental appointments, which were delayed by COVID.

Expert estimates suggest that up to a tenth of all health care spending might be swallowed by fraudulent operations. The insurance industry insists it's vigilantly safeguarding these funds, but the unnerving reality reveals a different story.

Because of burnout in the health care industry, there will be limited access to basic care: The U.S. will be short 48,000 primary care doctors by 2034, says the Association of American Medical Colleges.