Tips for starting the new health plan year off right

Employers can strengthen workforce engagement and well-being with strategic communication, preventive care incentives and behavioral health support.

Dec. 31, 2025

The start of a new health plan year offers employers a strategic opportunity to strengthen workforce engagement, support appropriate utilization and reinforce a culture of health and well-being — yet many organizations struggle to translate benefits into meaningful plan participation.

Here are 4 ways employers can help employees start the new health plan year off right:

1. Communicate early and often

Clear, consistent communication is the foundation of employee engagement with health benefits, yet only 27% of surveyed employees said they learn about their health plans from their employers.¹ This disconnect creates confusion about what is available and how to access it.

The solution? Make benefits communication an ongoing priority, not just an open enrollment activity. In fact, 81% of employees would prefer ongoing communication about benefit offerings.² Regular touchpoints throughout the year can help employees understand their coverage, remember available resources and feel supported in making healthy choices.

UnitedHealthcare’s Employee Engagement Planner® (EEP) offers employers a streamlined way to maintain year-round communication. This resource helps organizations auto-populate a communication calendar with timely, relevant materials on topics ranging from flu shot reminders to wellness program updates.

These turnkey resources are ready to send to employees, making it easier for employers to stay connected without creating additional workload.

2. Champion preventive care

Preventive care is foundational to good health, yet many employees delay or skip important screenings and checkups. Employers may help by reminding employees to seek preventive care and screenings.

Early detection through preventive appointments and screenings may also lead to better health outcomes and lower costs. For example, the 5-year survival rate for colon cancer is 90% when detected early.³ And with diabetes costing U.S. employers $413B annually,⁴ preventive strategies that help employees maintain healthier lifestyles may deliver significant returns.

3. Encourage healthy habits

Seventy percent of surveyed employees said that providing rewards and incentives for participating in wellness activities motivates them to engage.⁵ When employees feel recognized for prioritizing their health, they are more likely to follow through with preventive care.

UnitedHealthcare Rewards demonstrates this impact. Participants in this program visited the UnitedHealthcare® app 2.3 times more often than those who did not participate.⁶ Through UHC Rewards, eligible members can earn rewards for completing activities like health surveys, annual checkups and biometric screenings. The program allows employees to personalize their experience by selecting activities that align with their health goals — and choosing how they want to spend their earnings.

Employers can also promote healthy habits by encouraging participation in programs that may help reduce the risk of developing costly chronic and metabolic conditions, such as a weight-management solution.

4. Prioritize behavioral health

Behavioral health support is essential to workforce health and well-being, yet not all employees need intensive care. Understanding the full spectrum of available resources may help employers meet diverse needs more effectively — and more cost-efficiently.

26.4%
decrease in anxiety symptoms experienced by Calm Health users⁷

“Approximately 50% of members seeking behavioral health support may benefit from alternative solutions,” explains Trevor Porath, vice president of behavioral health solutions for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual. “Normalizing the use of lower-severity behavioral health resources may serve as a more cost-efficient approach to getting members the care they need.”

Lower-severity solutions include in-the-moment telephonic support and behavioral health coaching — each designed to help employees access support before issues escalate.

Calm Health, an evidence-based wellness app available to UnitedHealthcare members, offers another example of early intervention support. The app provides on-demand mental health screenings, personalized programs created by psychologists and referrals to other behavioral health resources. UnitedHealthcare data shows encouraging results: 26.4% of users experienced a decrease in anxiety symptoms, while 28.1% experienced a decrease in depression symptoms.⁷

Measure, adapt and celebrate progress

Starting the health plan year strong requires more than launching programs — it requires ongoing attention to what is working and what needs adjustment. Employers may use analytics, employee surveys, and feedback to understand engagement patterns and identify opportunities for improvement.

This commitment to continuous improvement reinforces that employee well-being is a year-round priority, not just an enrollment-season focus. By taking a strategic approach to the new plan year — through consistent communication, preventive care incentives, comprehensive wellness programs and accessible behavioral health support — employers may help their workforce thrive. This in turn may strengthen organizational outcomes.

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Footnotes

Optavise survey shows employers have the opportunity to enhance employee understanding of healthcare. Optavise, July 24, 2023. Available: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/optavise-survey-shows-employers-have-the-opportunity-to-enhance-employee-understanding-of-healthcare-301883978.html.
New Survey Reveals: Open Enrollment Communication Doesn’t Cut it for Employees. LegalShield, Apr. 26, 2023. Available: https://www.legalshield.com/newsroom/new-survey-reveals-open-enrollment-communication-doesnt-cut-it-for-employees
Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. Accessed March 31, 2025.
New American Diabetes Association Report Finds Annual Costs of Diabetes to be $412.9 Billion. American Diabetes Association, Nov. 1, 2023. Available: https://diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-american-diabetes-association-report-finds-annual-costs-diabetes-be
8 tips on using benefits to engage employees in a healthy lifestyle. Reward & Employee Benefit Association, June 2, 2023. Available: https://reba.global/resource/8-tips-on-using-benefits-to-improve-employee-engagement-health-wellbeing-vitality.html. Accessed: Nov. 13, 2025.
UHC Rewards Book of Business 2024.
Based on average initial and latest elevated assessment scores. For both PHQ-9 and GAD-7, elevated assessments are determined by first assessment scores beginning at or above moderate (score ≥ 10). Calm Health for UHC Employer & Individual: From Sept. 1, 2023 – Mar. 23, 2025.

Disclaimers

Certain preventive care items and services, including immunizations, are provided as specified by applicable law, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), with no cost-sharing to you. These services may be based on your age and other health factors. Other routine services may be covered under your plan, and some plans may require copayments, coinsurance or deductibles for these benefits. Always review your benefit plan documents to determine your specific coverage details.

UnitedHealthcare Rewards is a voluntary program. The information provided under this program is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be nor should be construed as medical advice. You should consult an appropriate health care professional before beginning any exercise program and/or to determine what may be right for you. Receiving an activity tracker, certain credits and/or rewards and/or purchasing an activity tracker with earnings may have tax implications. You should consult with an appropriate tax professional to determine if you have any tax obligations under this program, as applicable. If any fraudulent activity is detected (e.g., misrepresented physical activity), you may be suspended and/or terminated from the program. If you are unable to meet a standard related to health factor to receive a reward under this program, you might qualify for an opportunity to receive the reward by different means. You may call us toll-free at 1-866-230-2505 or at the number on your health plan ID card, and we will work with you (and, if necessary, your doctor) to find another way for you to earn the same reward. Rewards may be limited due to incentive limits under applicable law. Components subject to change. This program is not available for fully insured members in Hawaii, Vermont and Puerto Rico nor available to level funded members in District of Columbia, Hawaii, Vermont and Puerto Rico.

Participation in the health survey is voluntary. Your responses will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable law and will only be used to provide health and wellness information or conduct other plan activities.

The UnitedHealthcare® app is available for download for iPhone® or Android®. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. Android is a registered trademark of Google LLC.

Calm Health is not intended to diagnose or treat depression, anxiety, or any other disease or condition. If participants feel their condition is severe and needs attention, they are instructed to contact their treating provider or mental health therapist for help. This program is not available to UnitedHealthcare E&I Fully Insured customers/members in New Jersey due to regulatory filings. Employee benefits including group health plan benefits may be taxable benefits unless they fit into specific exception categories. Please consult with your tax specialist to determine taxability of these offerings.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.