Only 12% of Americans have proficient health literacy, making it difficult for many to understand medications, follow treatment plans, or identify credible care. In today’s complex health care system, improving health care literacy helps employees access the right care while supporting employer goals around well‑being, cost management, and overall satisfaction.
Health Care Literacy Overview
The U.S. government’s Healthy People 2030 broadened health literacy to include both personal and organizational responsibility. Personal health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use health information, while organizational health literacy reflects how well organizations help people do the same. This expanded view highlights that employees need not only to understand information but also to apply it, and that employers and providers play a key role in making this possible. Strong health literacy helps employees interpret benefits and treatment plans, navigate the system, and communicate confidently with health care providers.
The Impact of Health Care Literacy
Low health care literacy leads to confusion, delayed care, mismanaged conditions, and higher health risks. Employees may choose inappropriate treatments, skip preventive care, and rack up unnecessary medical bills. For employers, this can mean higher health care costs, more claims, reduced productivity, preventable absenteeism, and frustration with the health care system that hurts engagement in health plans and wellness programs.
Improving health care literacy helps employees make informed decisions and get the most value from their benefits.
Employer Strategies to Increase Health Care Literacy in the Workplace
Employers can play a key role in improving employees’ health care literacy by fostering a supportive culture and offering clear, easy-to-use resources that simplify today’s complex health care system. Here are some strategies that employers can adopt:
- Provide clear and accessible health care information. Present health insurance documents, policy details, and treatment options in clear, jargon-free language. Tailor materials to your employees’ literacy levels and offer an easy-to-use website or portal where staff can quickly find and understand their health benefits and services.
- Ensure insurance plans are transparent. Health insurance complexity can keep employees from fully using their benefits. One-on-one meetings with benefits counselors, along with comparison tools and educational materials, help employees understand deductibles, copays, and coverage options so they can choose the right plan with confidence.
- Educate with written resources, webinars, and workshops. Many employees lack the time and resources to learn about their health benefits on their own. By regularly sharing short, helpful content, you can improve their understanding of how to choose and use care. Start with topics such as selecting the right health plan, knowing what preventive care includes, and avoiding unnecessary medical charges.
- Education about employee benefits year-round. Open enrollment is key for showcasing benefits, but it’s only the start. Year-round communication helps employees understand, value, and use the benefits you provide.
- Leverage technology. Digital tools like mobile apps and online portals give employees instant access to health information, medical records, and insurance details, while also explaining conditions, treatment options, and preventive care.
- Promote preventative care and wellness programs. Help employees better understand and use their benefits by promoting preventive care and by offering wellness programs that encourage healthy habits, such as smoking cessation.
- Foster a culture of open communication. Create a culture where employees can openly discuss health care questions and challenges. Reducing stigma and increasing transparency encourages them to use available benefits and support services, while anonymous feedback tools help you uncover and address common issues.
Conclusion
Improving employees’ health care literacy is a win-win. When employees understand their benefits, they make smarter health care choices, support healthier lifestyles, and help reduce overall costs. Employers that proactively invest in health care education can lower total spend, curb high-cost claims, and build a more engaged, healthy, and satisfied workforce, while guiding employees through today’s complex health care system with confidence. Download the bulletin for more details.
