Have you ever stared at a confusing medical bill or been unsure whether you should head to the ER, urgent care, or a primary care provider? If so, you’re not alone. Nearly half of Americans don’t know where to go for the care they need. This uncertainty doesn’t just lead to a fragmented healthcare experience—it carries real consequences, from delayed treatments to soaring healthcare costs.

The cost of healthcare benefits complexity.

The impact of healthcare benefits complexity doesn’t stop with employees. Employers bear the brunt of it, too. When employees struggle with navigating their benefits, employers are left footing the bill. Add the strain on HR teams—who spend countless hours answering questions and resolving issues—and it’s clear: the status quo isn’t working for anyone.

Healthcare in the U.S. is a $4 trillion industry, and navigating it is anything but straightforward. Consider these statistics:

• 38% of Americans delayed medical care in the past year due to costs.

• 50% of employees don’t fully understand their benefits.

• Nearly 50% of people are unsure where to seek care when they need it.

When employees lack clinical guidance, they often overpay for care, delay necessary treatments, or forgo care altogether. For employers, this results in wasted dollars on underutilized or misused benefits, higher healthcare spending, and a team that isn’t as healthy or productive as it could be.

Employers are feeling the pressure.

For decades, employers have invested in benefits to support their teams, but it’s hard to keep up with employees’ evolving needs. Consider this:

• 88% of employers believe they care about employee well-being, yet only 66% of employees feel the same.

• 85% of HR leaders agree that personalized benefits are critical, but only 42% offer them.

• 50% of employees turn to HR with benefit questions, even though HR teams are already stretched thin.

This gap between employer intention and employee experience leads to frustration, misused benefits, and skyrocketing costs. Employers are paying more than ever for benefits that employees don’t fully understand, let alone utilize.

Care navigation is the missing piece.

Care navigation is the critical solution that addresses these challenges and empowers organizations to maximize the value of their benefits strategy. This approach simplifies healthcare and ensures employees receive the right support at the right time.

Here’s how care navigation transforms the healthcare experience for employees and employers alike:

1. Simplifies complexity.
   Navigating healthcare is overwhelming, with endless choices and little clarity. Patient navigation services provide trusted clinical guidance, helping employees make informed decisions about their care. Whether it’s selecting the right provider, understanding insurance coverage, or addressing urgent care needs, care navigation eliminates guesswork and streamlines the process.

2. Proactively closes gaps in care.
   Many employees miss out on essential care, from preventive services to managing chronic conditions. A care navigation platform identifies these gaps and reaches out directly to ensure employees get the support they need. This proactive healthcare approach helps employees avoid costly delays and ensures their health stays on track.

3. Handles the heavy lifting.
   Scheduling appointments, resolving billing disputes, and coordinating care plans can be frustrating and time-consuming. Clinicians and health guides manage these burdens, freeing employees to focus on their health rather than administrative hassles.

4. Drives better outcomes.
   With expert patient navigation, employees make smarter healthcare decisions and utilize high-value care, leading to better outcomes for everyone. Employers see reduced healthcare costs and more productive teams, while employees experience better health and peace of mind.

How Rightway is setting the example.

Organizations partnering with Rightway’s human-led, clinical care navigation solution are seeing transformative results that improve the healthcare benefits experience and lower costs:

• 33% of ER visits are redirected to lower-cost, more appropriate care settings.

• 37% reduction in appointment wait times across all visit types compared to the national average, ensuring timely access to care.

• 87% of employees engage in preventive care, surpassing the national average of 76%.

You can solve the healthcare benefits puzzle with care navigation.

Care navigation is the missing piece in the healthcare benefits puzzle. Whether it’s through a health guide or a comprehensive care navigation platform, this strategy offers clarity and confidence for employees. For employers, it translates to healthier teams, reduced costs, and a stronger bottom line.

Learn more about Rightway’s high-touch, clinical approach to care navigation and how it can empower your team, improve outcomes, and lower costs for your organization.