Top Ways Employers Can Promote Preventive Care and Employee Wellness
Want to build a healthier, more engaged workforce? Start with prevention.
In today’s workplace, employees have more tools than ever to support their health and wellbeing. Technology is making “health care anywhere, anytime” possible, while new benefits and wellness solutions are creating opportunities for prevention and early intervention.
For employers, the challenge is knowing which options to include in their benefit plan to meet the diverse needs of their workforce — and how to encourage employees to actually use them. The goal is simple: empower employees to take an active role in their health, which in turn leads to a happier, healthier, and more engaged workplace.
The good news? With the right support and benefits in place, employers can help put their employees firmly in the driver’s seat of their healthcare.
Where to begin: Lean on your advisors and providers
The first step is to work with your benefit plan advisor and provider to design a package with accessible, cost-effective options. At Medavie Blue Cross, we partner with employers to build solutions that meet both organizational goals and employee needs.
Here are some strategies to consider as you encourage employees to be proactive about their health.
A how-to guide for employers
1. Health risk assessments
Offering virtual assessments or workplace screenings help employees identify potential health risks early and gives them personalized guidance for preventive care.
For example, our Health Connected wellness portal helps members understand their health risks, setting goals and taking actionable steps toward better health. And it’s available at no cost to the member or the plan.
A how-to guide for employers
1. Health risk assessments
Offering virtual assessments or workplace screenings help employees identify potential health risks early and gives them personalized guidance for preventive care.
For example, our Health Connected wellness portal helps members understand their health risks, setting goals and taking actionable steps toward better health. And it’s available at no cost to the member or the plan.
2. Employee Family Assistance Programs (EFAPs)
EFAPs provide confidential support for personal and work-life challenges — from counselling to legal and financial advice. Our inConfidence program offers in-person, video, or phone counselling, includes access to life, health, and career coaches, along with practical resources for both employees and their families.
Raising awareness of these and other services is key to boosting utilization and ensuring you get the most from your benefits investment.
3. Education and awareness
Information is only powerful when it’s accessible. Employers can:
- Share a digital library of health and wellness resources
- Host workshops on nutrition, exercise, stress management, or mental health
- Provide incentives for participating in wellness programs
These steps not only educate but also encourage employees to take preventive action.
4. Virtual care options
Thanks to advances in technology, employees can now access timely, convenient, quality care with just a few taps on their screen or clicks of their mouse. Through digital solutions like Connected Care, our health and wellness platform, employees can get immediate, expert support for a variety of health care issues while employers benefit from reduced absenteeism and increased productivity. Services range from financial wellness counselling and nutrition therapy to online doctors and virtual physiotherapy.
Explore these resources to learn more:
5. Preventive care benefits
Promote preventive care by covering annual check-ups, vaccinations, screenings, and other early-detection services. Consider pairing these benefits with:
- Flexible health spending accounts
- Workplace wellness initiatives
- Leadership support and open communication
Together, these elements create a culture where health and wellbeing are prioritized.
5. Preventive care benefits
Promote preventive care by covering annual check-ups, vaccinations, screenings, and other early-detection services. Consider pairing these benefits with:
- Flexible health spending accounts
- Workplace wellness initiatives
- Leadership support and open communication
Together, these elements create a culture where health and wellbeing are prioritized.
Why prevention pays off
As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By investing in preventive benefits and creating a health-focused culture, employers can reduce long-term healthcare costs, minimize absenteeism, and improve employee satisfaction.
Read other Insights blogs about the steps employers can take to help employees prevent and manage chronic conditions ― the leading driver of benefit plan spending ― such as diabetes.
Explore these resources to learn more:
- The Business Case for Preventing and Managing Chronic Disease
- What Employers Can Do About Diabetes Prevention and Management
Partnering with Medavie Blue Cross
At Medavie Blue Cross, we’re constantly collaborating and innovating to bring employers new preventive care solutions. Our latest addition is Physical Health Insights, a new program that gives members a clear picture of their current health through lab and movement tests, plus one-on-one consultations with a nurse practitioner, dietitian, and athletic therapist.
Together, the care team helps members set goals and create a personalized plan to improve energy, strength, balance, heart health, and recovery. Members can learn more by visiting the Physical Health Insights page in Connected Care through the Member Services Site or Blue Cross Mobile app.
Programs like this, alongside other digital health solutions, give employers practical ways to empower employees to take charge of their health ― and on their terms.
Ready to put prevention into practice?
Reach out to your Medavie Blue Cross representative to learn more about integrating these solutions into your benefits package.
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on October 1, 2025
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...