Benefit underutilization is one of the largest hidden costs in U.S. healthcare. Employers and health plans offer an expanding set of programs, yet real-world usage remains low.
Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that while employers continue to expand health and wellbeing offerings, utilization and sustained engagement remain persistent challenges.
Source:
KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey:
https://www.kff.org/health-costs/2023-employer-health-benefits-survey/
The issue isn’t access. It’s activation.
The Real Gap: Readiness and Connection
People are unlikely to engage with benefits they don’t fully understand or feel ready to use. Without guidance and follow-up, even high-quality programs fail to produce outcomes.
When CoachLinq detects readiness, it guides individuals directly to the benefits and care pathways they already have access to, including:
- mental health support
- stress and sleep resources
- chronic condition programs
- clinical care and telehealth
- holistic wellbeing solutions
These pathways are activated through evidence-based motivational interviewing principles, helping people choose options that feel relevant and doable in the moment.
Source:
Motivational Interviewing Evidence Review:
https://bjgp.org/content/55/513/305
Why Activation Drives ROI
A study published in Health Affairs found that short-term participation alone rarely translates into long-term health improvement. Sustained engagement is required for outcomes to emerge.
Source:
Health Affairs — Workplace Wellness Outcomes:
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05477
CoachLinq addresses the full utilization funnel by building awareness, creating readiness, guiding people into the right resources, and supporting continued use over time.
Clinical and outcomes evidence supporting this activation model is available at:
https://www.inhealthonline.com/clinical-research
