Report: Younger generations are getting sick earlier in life
When you’re young, it can be easy to feel invincible. You may have fewer medications, feel healthy enough to skip annual doctor visits and live healthier overall than your older colleagues. However, new data shows what’s hiding beneath the surface may not always support those arguments.
A recent report from the Health Action Council and UnitedHealthcare shows younger generations are experiencing serious health issues earlier in life. This can mean more substantial implications for employer-sponsored health plans but also opportunities for employers to offer proactive support.
Health Action Council (HAC), a nonprofit organization representing large and midsize employers, recently released their annual white paper with UnitedHealthcare examining emerging health trends linked to workforce health and affordability. Based on data from more than 225,000 HAC members with health plans administered by UnitedHealthcare, the report highlights how health care claims for younger adults are increasing, major health events are becoming more frequent and the overall impact of preventive care.
UnitedHealthcare provides insights from de-identified claims data to help employers respond proactively to changing health needs across their workforce, with a goal of reducing overall costs.
“These trends highlight why employers need deeper, more actionable insights to identify emerging risks and gaps in care,” said Craig Kurtzweil, chief data and analytics officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual. “By analyzing claims data alongside geographic and community health factors, we can help employers identify at-risk populations sooner and take targeted steps to help improve outcomes and lower costs.”
Here are some key insights and trends from the white paper:
1. Health care claims for younger adults are increasing
Millennials and Gen Z have lower health care claims than older generations, but their claims are rising at a much faster pace. Between 2023 and 2025, their year-over-year growth rate was nearly double that of Baby Boomers. The data shows these younger groups are:
- developing chronic conditions, like diabetes and obesity, earlier in life
- visiting emergency rooms more frequently
- engaging with primary care providers less often
To help combat these issues, which can lead to higher costs over time, rethink benefit strategies for this demographic with plans that emphasize preventive care, early screenings and easier access to primary care. For example, the Surest® health plan from UnitedHealthcare helps empower members to comparison shop for health care and make more informed decisions.
2. Major health events are becoming more frequent
Major health events that exceed $100,000 annually are now about twice as common as they were five years ago. Average monthly claims for these events, such as heart attacks, strokes, complex surgeries or high-cost conditions like cancer or genetic disorders, have jumped nearly 40% since 2020.
By using early intervention programs and predictive analytics to identify those who may be at risk of these complications, you can help guide your employees to the right next step for proactive care — whether that’s a primary care visit, supportive program or annual screening before a health event occurs.
3. Primary care access is a key inflection point
People who see a primary care provider regularly experience 27% lower claims for major health events, fewer emergency room visits and reduced hospital admissions. For people with chronic diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, regular primary care visits can help cut major health costs by about 20%.
Making it easier for people to engage with their primary care provider by providing paid time off for appointments, lowering the copays on those visits — or better yet, offering rewards for completing those visits — can help reduce barriers to care.
4. Metabolic conditions drive higher long-term costs, especially among men
Men often skip preventive care well into their early 60s, which could allow metabolic risks to build and chronic conditions to emerge earlier – contributing to higher long-term health costs. Men diagnosed with metabolic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are seven times more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or other type of major health event than those without. These claims escalate sharply, reaching up to 150% higher for men in their 40s and nearly 160% higher for those over age 65.
Prioritizing a strategy for men over 40, and catering communication of programs and benefits to that group, may help show the value and impact of supportive programming while removing the stigma of seeking care. Level2® combines wearable technology with customized clinical support and aims to help improve the health of people living with type 2 diabetes. An analysis found that Level2 delivered an average of 13% savings per member per month for one larger employer.1
“Employers are seeing health issues show up earlier and feeling the cost impact sooner,” said Patty Starr, president and CEO of Health Action Council. “This report gives plan sponsors the transparency and insight they need to spot health problems earlier, help people stay on top of basic and preventive care, and help them stay healthier while keeping benefits affordable.”
See all the findings in the HAC white paper and learn about solutions designed to help improve workforce health engagement and affordability.
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