Top 5 Mistakes Companies Make When Choosing Healthcare Benefits (And How to Avoid Them)

Choosing the right healthcare benefits package is one of the most important decisions a business makes—but it is also one of the easiest to get wrong. In a competitive hiring market and a healthcare system full of complexity, businesses that do not choose benefits wisely risk higher costs, lower employee satisfaction, and unnecessary turnover.

At Health Compass Inc., we help businesses avoid the most common pitfalls by offering smarter, more affordable healthcare solutions like Vital110. Here are the top mistakes companies make when selecting healthcare benefits—and how you can avoid them.

Mistake #1: Focusing Only on Premium Costs

It is tempting to choose the healthcare plan with the lowest upfront premium, but doing so can cost you more in the long run. Plans with low premiums often come with high deductibles, limited coverage, and higher out-of-pocket costs for employees.

The Smarter Move:
Look beyond the monthly premium. Consider the full picture: copays, deductibles, prescription coverage, virtual care access, and preventive services. A slightly higher premium may actually lead to lower total costs and better employee satisfaction.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Preventative Care Options

Too many plans are still designed around sick care—reacting after a health issue becomes serious and expensive. Skipping preventive care options increases claims costs, absenteeism, and overall healthcare spending over time.

The Smarter Move:
Choose a solution that makes preventative care easy and free for employees. Vital110, for example, offers free virtual visits, free lab screenings, and free wellness assessments, helping catch issues early and reducing long-term costs.

Mistake #3: Overcomplicating the Healthcare Experience

Confusing plan designs, difficult claims processes, and limited provider access frustrate employees and reduce engagement with benefits programs. If employees do not understand or use the healthcare offered, your investment is wasted.

The Smarter Move:
Simplify healthcare access. Vital110 offers user-friendly virtual care, transparent benefits, and straightforward access to doctors, labs, and mental health support. When benefits are easy to use, employees are more likely to stay healthy—and stay loyal.

Mistake #4: Overlooking Mental Health Services

Mental health has a major impact on absenteeism, productivity, and workplace culture. Yet many traditional plans offer limited mental health services—or make them hard to access due to high costs, long wait times, or stigma.

The Smarter Move:
Prioritize mental health. Ensure your benefits package includes no-cost, confidential mental health support. Vital110 offers free virtual counseling and wellness resources, allowing employees to get help early without barriers.

Mistake #5: Choosing Benefits That Only Work for Some Employees

One-size-fits-all plans often fail to meet the needs of a diverse workforce. Younger employees, remote workers, and families may have very different healthcare priorities than a traditional in-office team.

The Smarter Move:
Choose flexible benefits that support diverse needs. Vital110 provides virtual access, preventative care, mental health support, and pharmacy savings, making it easy for employees of all backgrounds and lifestyles to stay healthy, wherever they are.

How Health Compass Inc. and Vital110 Make Smarter Healthcare Simple

At Health Compass Inc., we designed Vital110 to eliminate the most common frustrations businesses face when offering healthcare benefits. Our approach delivers:

• Free virtual primary and urgent care

• No-cost preventative screenings and lab tests

• Mental health resources with no out-of-pocket expense

• No-cost generic prescriptions

• Easy navigation and employee support

Vital110 helps businesses reduce costs, strengthen retention, and build a culture of health—without adding complexity.

Avoid the Mistakes. Choose Smarter.

Choosing healthcare benefits is too important to get wrong. By avoiding these common mistakes and partnering with a smarter solution like Vital110, you can improve employee satisfaction, lower costs, and set your business up for long-term success.

Ready to choose smarter healthcare benefits?
Visit healthcompassinc.com/get-a-quote to learn more and get started today.