Understanding preventative care benefits: What to know in 2025

Preventative care benefits are crucial for maintaining long-term health and reducing healthcare costs. Let’s take a detailed look at which essential preventative services are covered in 2025, the advantages of these benefits for employees and employers, and how to encourage employees to use them.

What is preventative care?

The term “preventative care” refers to healthcare services that help individuals avoid running into bigger health issues down the line. With screenings, patient counseling, and regular doctor’s visits, preventative care can make it possible for your employees to prevent future health problems such as illness, injury, and disease. (Healthcare.gov)

To receive preventative care, your employees will start their journey by making an appointment with their primary care provider. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), your employees should be able to receive preventative care services without having to pay any out-of-pocket costs through their healthcare plan (whether it’s employer-sponsored or a marketplace plan). Taking advantage of these free services can help your employees save money. One of the main benefits of preventative health care is that these services can lead to lower healthcare spending. (Spring Group)

Preventative care services tend to center on either maintaining health or preventing an illness from occurring in the first place. These are some examples of popular preventative care services:

• An annual health and wellness exam

• Immunizations (such as the flu or HPV vaccine)

• Screenings for blood pressure and diabetes

• Guidance on healthy lifestyle choices (such as quitting smoking or managing weight)

• Preventive screenings (like mammograms and cholesterol checks)

• Routine dental exams and cleanings

How to improve usage of preventative care benefits

The CVSHealth Health Trends Report 2023 revealed that only 8% of Americans regularly complete routine health screenings and vaccination rates have steadily declined. Although preventive services are included in most U.S. health insurance plans, the majority of people still don’t take advantage of them. (CVSHealth)

Consider taking the following steps to ensure your employees are making the most of your preventative care benefits.

Boost engagement

Preventative care requires proactive action; if someone is in good health, they may not be pushed to pursue these vital health services. One way to increase engagement with primary care services is to offer financial incentives to your employees. For example, you can offer them bonuses or lower premiums for engaging with a preventative care program.

Provide education

When working in benefits administration, another way to encourage the usage of preventative care services is to educate employees on their care options and the value of these services. Consider hosting webinars, lunch and learns, or other educational events on this topic. (Benefitfocus)

Remove barriers for care

Your employees may want to pursue preventative care services, but there can be barriers standing in their way. As their employer, you have a lot of power to remove these barriers.

(Spring Group) (Trinet)

Preventative care resources your employees can access for free

If you provide your employees with a healthcare plan, they can access all of the following preventative care services for free. (Healthcare.gov)

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: A one-time screening for men of certain ages who have a history of smoking.

• Alcohol screening and counseling: Assessing and offering support to adults for alcohol misuse.

• Aspirin for prevention: Recommended for adults aged 50–59 with high cardiovascular risk to prevent heart disease and colorectal cancer.

• Blood pressure checks: Routine screening for high blood pressure in adults.

• Cholesterol testing: Screening for certain age groups or individuals at higher risk for heart disease.

• Colorectal cancer screening: Regular screenings for adults aged 45–75 to detect early signs of cancer.

• Depression screening: Routine checks for depression in adults.

• Type 2 diabetes screening: Recommended for adults aged 40–70 who are overweight or obese.

• Diet counseling: Nutritional guidance for adults at elevated risk for chronic diseases.

• Adult immunizations: Vaccinations tailored to age and health needs.

• Lung cancer screening: For adults aged 50–80 who smoke heavily or quit within the past 15 years.

• Obesity screening and counseling: Identifying and managing unhealthy weight in adults.

• Statin medication: Prescribed for adults aged 40–75 with high cardiovascular risk.

• Syphilis screening: Testing for adults at increased risk of infection.

• Tuberculosis screening: Testing for high-risk individuals without symptoms of TB.

• Birth control*: FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for women with reproductive capacity, excluding abortifacient drugs.

• Folic acid supplements*: For women who may become pregnant to prevent birth defects.

• Gestational diabetes screening*: For women 24 weeks pregnant or later and those at high risk for developing gestational diabetes.

• Breastfeeding support and counseling*: Access to trained providers and breastfeeding supplies for pregnant and nursing women.

• Maternal depression screening*: For mothers during well-baby visits.

• Preeclampsia prevention and screening*: For pregnant women with high blood pressure to prevent complications.

• Rh incompatibility screening*: This is for all pregnant women, with follow-up testing for those at higher risk.

• Tobacco use screening and cessation support: Identifying tobacco use and offering interventions to quit.

• Expanded tobacco intervention and counseling*: For pregnant women who use tobacco to support cessation.

• Urinary tract or other infection screening*: Regular testing for infections during pregnancy.

• STI counseling: Prevention education for adults at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections.

• Hepatitis B testing: Screening for high-risk individuals, including people from regions with high Hepatitis B prevalence.

• Hepatitis C screening: Routine testing for adults aged 18–79.

• HIV testing: Recommended for people aged 15–65 and those at higher risk.

• Gonorrhea screening*: For all women at higher risk of infection.

• PrEP medication: HIV prevention for adults at high risk through sexual activity or injection drug use.

• Fall prevention: Exercise, physical therapy, and vitamin D recommendations for adults 65+ living in community settings.

Importance of wellness checks for employees

For you as an employer, prioritizing wellness checks isn't just about caring for your employees—it's a strategic move for your business's success. Regular wellness checks serve as a proactive measure, aiming to identify health issues before they escalate into major concerns. By promoting these routine health services, you are encouraging a healthier workforce capable of sustaining productivity and reducing absenteeism.

Wellness checks can uncover early warning signs of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which, if caught early, can be managed more effectively. This means fewer sick days and lower health costs in the long run. Additionally, employees who feel their employer cares about their well-being often exhibit great loyalty and morale, which can positively impact retention rates.

Encouraging wellness checks also sends a powerful message about your company's culture and values. It shows that you are invested in the longevity and health of your team, which can enhance your company's reputation as an employer of choice. The result is not only a healthier workplace but also one that attracts top talent and fosters a sense of community among employees.

Ultimately, wellness checks are a win-win. They empower your employees to take control of their health while simultaneously allowing you to maintain a vibrant, engaged, and resilient workforce. Consider integrating wellness check incentives and informative programs into your business strategy to truly leverage these benefits.

To find the right healthcare solutions for your small business, schedule a free demo with Thatch today.

*These preventative care services are only available for women.