Optavise Report Finds Employers Increase Employee Satisfaction by Improving Healthcare Literacy

Rhea-AI Summary

Optavise's 2025 Healthcare Literacy Report reveals significant improvements in employee benefits satisfaction and understanding. The survey of 2,041 U.S. workers shows 74% are now very or extremely satisfied with their health plans (up from 69%), while 75% understand how their plans work (up from 68%). Person-to-person education proves more effective, with 82% of employees who learn from HR or third-party experts feeling confident about their plans, compared to 65% of self-learners. Cost consciousness remains high, with 55% avoiding doctor visits due to expenses. Wellness programs show strong engagement at 86% participation when monetary incentives are offered. Despite progress, challenges persist as 25% of employees still lack confidence in understanding their health plans, and key terms like "coinsurance" remain confusing for many.

Positive

• Employee satisfaction with health plans increased to 74% from 69% last year
• Strong 86% participation rate in wellness programs when monetary incentives are offered
• 87% of highly satisfied employees report easy access to their benefits
• 96% of employees value personalized benefit options, showing strong engagement potential

Negative

• 25% of employees still lack confidence in understanding their health plans
• 55% of employees avoid doctor visits due to cost concerns
• 52% of employees don't fully understand or know what coinsurance means
• Only half of employees take advantage of available one-on-one education sessions

Human approach to benefits education directly linked to improved understanding
of workplace benefits

CARMEL, Ind., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optavise, a leading provider of employee benefits services, offering personalized expert guidance backed by technology, today released its 2025 Healthcare Literacy Report. The report highlights the growing impact of person-to-person education in improving how employees understand and use their benefits, based on a survey of 2,041 U.S. workers with employer-sponsored health insurance.

While 74% of employees now say they are very or extremely satisfied with their health plans—up from 69% last year—and 75% report understanding how their plans work—up from 68%—many still face challenges navigating their benefits on their own. The data shows meaningful progress but also underscores the ongoing need for personalized education and support to close the remaining gaps.

These gains appear closely tied to how employees are learning about their benefits. More employees are turning to HR teams (40%) and third-party experts (18%) for help—up from 27% and 15%, respectively. However, one-quarter of employees still report relying on self-guided online resources or printed materials to learn about their benefits. Of those who self-educate, just 65% report feeling very or extremely confident in understanding how their health plan works, compared to 82% of those who learn about their plans from HR or third-party experts.

Ease of access is also a contributing factor—87% of employees who are very or extremely satisfied with their benefits say it is easy or very easy to access them. Of the employees who report it is difficult to access their benefits, 58% are not confident in understanding how their health plan works.

"When employees sit down with someone to walk through their benefit options, they gain a deeper understanding of how their plans work, leading to higher satisfaction and understanding of their benefits, leading to better participation, smarter healthcare decisions, and lower costs," said Joshua Madson, Head of Worksite Strategy at Optavise. "At its core, health is human—and that's why human connection in benefits education matters more than ever." 

Rising Cost Awareness
As healthcare costs continue to rise and macro trends fluctuate, employees remain highly cost-conscious. More than half (55%) say they have avoided going to the doctor due to cost concerns. Among those who do seek care, 44% report always or often comparing the cost of treatments or services (up from 35%) and 45% always or often compare the costs of prescription drugs (up from 34%).

"It's positive to see that employees are increasingly becoming vigilant about comparing costs," added Madson. "This indicates a shift towards proactive financial management in healthcare choices. Employers can address these concerns by providing transparent cost information and competitive pricing options, empowering employees to make informed decisions."

Engagement with Wellness Programs
Employers offering monetary incentives or discounts for participating in wellness-related programs are seeing strong engagement, with 86% of employees participating when programs are available. More than half of employees say that they would be likely to participate in programs relating to healthy eating (64%), fitness tracking (61%), financial wellness (52%) and mental health counseling (51%).

For employers who consider implementing these programs, personalization is critical for employee satisfaction, with 96% of employees saying it's at least moderately important to them that their employer offers benefit options tailored to their specific needs.

Closing the Remaining Gaps
Despite encouraging trends, the need for continued investments in benefits education programs and offerings are crucial. One in four employees still lacks confidence in understanding how their health plan works. Key terms like "coinsurance" remain confusing, with 17% reporting they don't know what it is and an additional 35% reporting they know what it means, but don't fully understand how it applies to their coverage.

More one-on-one education could help bridge these gaps. While many employers offer personalized guidance through HR or external benefits educators, only half of employees take advantage of these sessions. Those who do, however, rank them as the most helpful resource offered.

Onboarding with Education in Mind
Benefits education is especially impactful when an employee considers changing jobs. 15% of employees changed jobs in the past year, and 74% said the benefits programs and offerings were a key factor in making that decision.

When asked what resources would help them better understand their benefits, 42% of new employees want one-on-one conversations with outside benefits experts and 36% want one-on-one enrollment support. Presentations and group sessions with benefits experts are also highly valued, with 92% of new employees saying they are very or extremely helpful during onboarding.

"Employees who have the proper training, personalization, incentives, and support are the ones who feel most satisfied with their workplace benefits," added Madson. "These findings can help employers bridge the gaps in your employee benefit offerings to increase engagement and lower costs."

For more information, visit https://www.optavise.com/insights/resources/report/the-2025-consumer-healthcare-literacy-report.

Methodology
The survey collected responses from over 2,000 U.S. full-time employees who get their insurance from employers or unions. The survey was fielded in partnership with Qualtrics.

About Optavise
Optavise provides personalized employee benefits solutions to help employers and their employees optimize their benefits and make better health and financial decisions. Optavise offers a unique combination of innovative technology, flexible voluntary benefits, and experts who educate and communicate with employees about their benefits. A part of the CNO Financial Group (NYSE: CNO) family of brands, Optavise operates through direct sales to employers and a nationwide network of more than 10,000 broker partners and over 600 dedicated agents that serve nearly 20,000 employers. For more information, visit Optavise.com.

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SOURCE CNO Financial Group

FAQ

What are the key findings of Optavise's 2025 Healthcare Literacy Report?

The report shows 74% employee satisfaction with health plans (up from 69%), 75% understanding of plans (up from 68%), and 86% participation in wellness programs with monetary incentives. However, 25% still lack confidence in understanding their health plans.

How effective is person-to-person benefits education compared to self-guided learning?

Person-to-person education is more effective, with 82% of employees learning from HR or third-party experts feeling confident about their plans, compared to 65% of self-guided learners.

What percentage of employees avoid healthcare due to costs according to the 2025 report?

According to the report, 55% of employees say they have avoided going to the doctor due to cost concerns.

How many employees participate in wellness programs when incentives are offered?

86% of employees participate in wellness programs when monetary incentives or discounts are offered by employers.

What percentage of employees value personalized benefit options?

96% of employees say it's at least moderately important that their employer offers benefit options tailored to their specific needs.