Every year, healthcare costs rise and employers feel the squeeze. In fact, the average employer’s health insurance costs are projected to increase by more than 6% in 2025, according to a recent report from Mercer. For business owners and HR leaders, that creates a painful dilemma: how to provide quality benefits without breaking the budget.
The good news? There’s a better way to control these costs while taking exceptional care of your employees, by making proactive, preventative wellness a central part of your benefits strategy.
Why Employers Should Care About Wellness
Healthy employees are more productive, engaged, and loyal. You already work hard to support your team, now it’s time to see how that investment can also protect your bottom line.
Preventative wellness strategies help avoid costly medical interventions, reduce absenteeism, and lower turnover. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, workplace health programs can cut sick leave absenteeism by up to 27% and healthcare costs by up to 26%.
At Vision Care Direct, we’ve seen this first-hand: when employers focus on early detection and prevention, they save money and employees thrive.
The Preventative Care Advantage
Preventative care means addressing potential health problems before they become expensive medical claims. Through our membership-based vision plan we integrate wellness and prevention into everyday benefits, including:
- Routine vision exams to detect health issues early
- Ergonomic workplace assessments to prevent injury
- Diabetic screenings to manage a high-cost chronic condition
This approach helps reduce claims on your health plan, keeping premiums more stable over time.
Vision Care: More Than Just Glasses
Your eyes can reveal a lot more than you might think. During a comprehensive eye exam, optometrists can detect early signs of:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- High cholesterol
- Risk of stroke
Early detections can lead to earlier treatment, reducing the risk of severe complications and lowering overall healthcare costs.
When you provide employees with accessible, high-quality eye care, you’re investing in both their vision and their long-term health.
Ergonomic Assessments: Addressing Workplace Health Risks
Sitting at a computer all day can lead to a host of health issues, from headaches and eye strain to carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain. These conditions drive higher healthcare utilization and workers’ comp claims.
That’s why Vision Care Direct offers comprehensive ergonomic workplace assessments at no additional cost. By identifying and correcting risk factors early, we help:
- Reduce absenteeism
- Decrease workplace injuries
- Improve comfort and productivity
This simple step can save thousands per employee each year while improving morale.
Diabetic Screenings: Preventing a High-Cost Disease
Diabetes is one of the most expensive chronic conditions for employers, costing an estimated $327 billion annually in the U.S., according to the American Diabetes Association. Early detection through routine vision care is a proven way to reduce the long-term financial and health burden of the disease.
At Vision Care Direct, diabetic screenings are seamlessly integrated into our vision benefits, helping employees get the care they need before serious complications arise.
The ROI of Prevention
Preventative care doesn’t just make sense for health, it makes financial sense too.
Our clients typically see:
- $1,700 – $6,300 in annual savings per employee
- 170% – 2,420% first-year ROI
These savings come from fewer claims, reduced absenteeism, lower turnover, and improved productivity.
Local, Human Support Makes a Difference
We’re not a faceless insurance company. Our Midwest-based team provides personal, responsive customer care for both employers and employees; no phone trees, no bots, no frustration.
When your team feels supported, they’re more likely to use their benefits, which means better health outcomes and cost savings for your business.
Real-World Results
“Vision Care Direct’s streamlined approach allows the Kansas Association of School Boards to offer quality vision benefits to our employees without adding to our existing workload.”
— Rod Spangler, CEO, Kansas Board Solutions
This isn’t theory, it’s proven success.
The Win-Win of Wellness
Proactive wellness keeps your employees healthier and your healthcare costs lower. It’s the rare business strategy that delivers for both people and profits.
If you’re ready to control costs, improve employee well-being, and see measurable ROI, we’d love to show you how.
Call us at (877) 488-8900