Digital Health Tools Can Play A Vital Role In An Employer’s Benefit Strategy

What Is Digital Health?

Covering everything from mobile apps to wearables to virtual care, digital health uses technology to enhance and expand traditional healthcare. From appointment scheduling and symptom checkers to supportive chatbots and nutrition trackers, digital health is transforming the way we access healthcare.

Why Digital Health Is Important In A Benefits Strategy

Digital healthcare is here to stay — and is an integral part of what employees are looking for in a healthcare plan. Offering a healthcare plan that integrates a digital health platform helps give your employees the tools and functionality to be more actively involved in their own health. A global Mercer study revealed that 68% of employers expect to increase their investment in this area, while 40% of employees say they would be more likely to stay with a company that offers digital solutions.

When employees have convenient and affordable access to care and health resources, they are more likely to feel confident and protected. And employers are more likely to experience lower cost of care.

A Successful Digital Strategy That Empowers Employees Includes:

One Digital Front Door, Personalized To Meet Individual Needs

According to 2022 digital trends from Insights by Deloitte, access to digital self-care options helps people play a more active role in monitoring their health. Anthem’s industry-leading digital platform, Sydney^SM Health, utilizes artificial intelligence (AI)-guided recommendations and the industry's largest data set to connect your employees to resources, tools, and information.

It goes beyond typical transactions like viewing claims and finding a doctor to make healthcare more proactive, predictive, responsive and an integral part of your employee’s everyday well-being.

Technology That Enhances Every Human Interaction 

Cohesive technology between advocates and employees helps eliminate information gaps and promote intelligent, real-time triage and attentive, proactive support. Advanced and predictive analytics foresee emerging health risks, while advocates provide prompt, relevant, and impactful solutions to improve an employee’s health. 

For example, Sydney Health integrates all benefits including medical, pharmacy, vision, and specialty for whole-person care in one app. This helps employees find providers based on cost or quality and proactively generates notifications to address gaps in care so employees don’t miss preventive care or prescription refills. Plus, it allows Anthem to address individual healthcare experiences with personalized guidance specific to their needs.

A Seamless Integration Across The Entire Health Ecosystem

Coordinated integration of your benefit offerings, including third-party point solutions, makes it easier for employees to know what resources are available and ensures timely connection to care or assistance when they need it.

Insurers like Anthem facilitate those connections across the entire health ecosystem by giving providers access to real time claims data, gaps in care and clinical resources to deliver a more holistic picture of an employee’s health. It also allows for integration of provider and pay or data applications, serving as the central hub for coordinating care among doctors, employers, and Anthem.

Providing your employees with access to digital healthcare is a valuable part of an overall wellness strategy, one that helps motivate and retain employees. Organizations that offer a robust suite of digital tools empower employees to take a more active role in their own care, boosting their confidence in their health, as well as in their employer. 

Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan. ©2020-2022