Annual Doctor Visits Don’t Cost Employees and They’re a Win-Win
Did you know employees and their dependents with ELCA-Primary health benefits can receive annual checkups at no additional cost? This important part of their benefits coverage is often overlooked.
Even when preventive care is available and covered, many people still delay or skip it — and their health can worsen as a result.¹ When preventive services are accessible and easy to use, they create opportunities to catch concerns early and support long-term well-being. Annual checkups give employees dedicated time with their provider, along with recommended screenings and vaccinations — all designed to help them stay healthy.
Help us share the message with your staff: In-network preventive checkups, vaccinations, and screenings are covered at 100% under ELCA-Primary health benefits.*
Any additional medical care or health expenses incurred during or after the appointment may be FSA- or HSA-eligible.
Deferring Health Care Costs
Deferring health care is a growing concern. More than one in three Americans report delaying or skipping needed care due to cost, and when they do, their health often worsens. This doesn’t just affect individuals — it can increase costs for employers over time as untreated conditions become more serious and require more time away from work.1
There are many reasons people put off care: busy schedules, difficulty getting appointments, uncertainty about cost, or even fear of what they might learn. But postponing care can make small concerns harder to manage later on.
We can’t afford to put health and well-being on the back burner. During an annual checkup*, employees get the important opportunity to discuss their health with their primary care doctor on a more personal level and are screened for certain age-specific conditions.
According to PublicHealth.org, preventive health screenings and visits with a primary care provider can significantly increase life expectancy, especially among 30- to 49-year-olds.
At Portico Benefit Services, we know your staff can’t serve your community well if they aren’t at their best financially, emotionally, and physically. We want to help you spread the word about the importance of annual checkups to keep your most important asset — your staff — in top shape.
Related Resources
1Littrell, A. (Apr. 30, 2025). Insured but skipping care: 38% of Americans delay treatment over costs. Medical Economics.
*Reminder: Eligible medical care that extends beyond what’s listed as a covered preventive service is subject to an individual’s deductible and coinsurance. For example, claims for tests related to a vitamin deficiency, or an extended discussion with the doctor about knee surgery options and concerns, would not be covered at 100% even if those services or discussions occurred on the same day as an annual physical exam.
Portico assumes no responsibility for the content, claims, representations, or accuracy of the material contained in the web link sites. Portico does not endorse the content of the sites or the organizations sponsoring the website.
Portico Benefit Services maintains the ELCA Medical and Dental Benefits Plan (which includes the ELCA post-retirement medical benefits obligation), ELCA Retirement Plan, ELCA Retirement Savings Plan, ELCA Disability Benefits Plan, ELCA Survivor Benefits Plan, and ELCA Flexible Benefits Plan. Portico also maintains two group retirement plans for ELCA-affiliated social ministry organizations – the ELCA Master Institutional Retirement Plan and the ELCA 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Plan member rights under the plans are governed by the plan documents, which are the full, legal descriptions of the plans. If any information herein is inconsistent with the corresponding plan document, the plan document is the controlling document.