Plan sponsors are facing the perfect storm of rising benefits costs, a surge in chronic disease prevalence and fierce competition for top talent.

All the while, 55 per cent of Canadian workers feel their employee benefits plan doesn’t fully meet their needs, according to Telus Health’s mental-health index. More than 50 per cent of plan members are living with a chronic condition, according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey, and Statistics Canada estimates the annual cost of chronic disease to the Canadian economy at $122 billion.

Implementing preventative health innovations can help to address those challenges and contribute to “a more engaged and healthier workforce,” said Suzanne Trusdale, vice-president of sales for Telus Health Care Centres, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference. “We are on the cusp of a revolution in preventative health and it’s all about connection and integration.”

Read: A closer look at how chronic conditions are impacting benefits plans

Currently, preventative health-care is often limited to generic lifestyle advice that “barely scratches the surface of individual need,” she said, though some forward-thinking companies have started offering annual health assessments that provide employees with comprehensive snapshots of their health.

The future of preventative medicine will build on that with advanced imaging and screenings, genetic testing to reveal potential health risks and opportunities, a three-dimensional interactive “digital twin” body scan that can help detect early signs of disease and personalized health coaching.

There are also advances in body composition analysis, which can go further than the body mass index by precisely measuring someone’s muscle mass and body fat percentage to point out any areas for improvement in strength and mobility; bone density scans that can catch fracture or osteoporosis risks; and cancer screening, including a blood-based test, specifically focused on colorectal cancer, that can detect circulating tumour DNA.

Genetic testing has also evolved significantly, to not only uncover hereditary risk factors for serious conditions but also more common ailments, said Trusdale. One of the most promising applications is pharmacogenomics, which can cut out the trial and error that’s long been part of finding the right medication. She noted it’s something that, according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey, 26 per cent of plan members are open to using if it was part of their benefits plan.

Read: Why digital health care is here to stay following pandemic

She suggested several strategies employers can use to leverage the benefits of preventative health innovations, including: sharing information about these advancements in their health promotion campaigns; offering them alongside more traditional focuses on diet and exercise; and by encouraging employees to use health features on smart devices like Apple Watches and sleep and fitness trackers.

Plan sponsors can also cover some of the cost for these services through their health-care spending accounts, she added, or negotiate corporate rates or group discounts with vendors where possible.

While access to preventative health coverage is often limited to executive level employees, Trusdale noted there’s there’s growing interest among employers in deploying coverage for those assessments throughout multiple levels of the organization.

“This signals to your team that their well-being is your top priority. And by implementing these strategies you’re not just investing in your employees’ health; you’re investing in their productivity, their job satisfaction and their long-term well-being.” 

Read more coverage of the 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference.