Whitepaper

The invisible investment: closing the benefits value gap

You're investing record amounts in employee benefits—but are your employees seeing the value? Our research reveals a striking disconnect between your benefits investment and employees' perceived value. In this year’s report, Nayya uncovers the hidden forces driving this gap and delivers actionable solutions to bridge it.

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The problem
Employers are spending more on healthcare and well-being than ever—yet employees feel their benefits fall short.
Healthcare costs are projected to rise by an average of 10% this year, the highest increase in over a decade, driven by rising prescription drug costs, GLP-1s, increased behavioral health usage, and chronic disease management. Employers feel this surge through higher insurance premiums and increased investments in benefits solutions, aiming to contain long-term costs. 

‍
‍Rising costs have impacted employee satisfaction:
Only 26% of employees report being "very satisfied" with their benefits
40%
40% find their insurance plans too expensive
This dissatisfaction leads to lower employee engagement and retention, impacting businesses’ bottom line in the near and long term:
↑ 37%
Higher absenteeism
↓ 18%
Decrease in productivity 
↓ 15%
Lower profitability
The value gap
Employees struggle to understand the financial implications of their benefits.
Employees have difficulty recognizing how the health and wealth solutions available to them contribute to their overall compensation and financial security. Confusion about coverage and usage prevents them from fully leveraging their benefits.
40%
of people don’t recognize medical insurance as part of their compensation.
70%
struggle to understand hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance—core protections for financial security.
50%
cannot confidently explain HSAs, FSAs, or 401(k)s.
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The financial impact
Inefficient use of benefits affects financial well-being for employees and affordability for employers.
Employees who struggle to understand and maximize their plans are less equipped to manage unexpected health expenses, leading to financial strain and gaps in care and an increased cost burden for employers. (Source: Nayya survey).
Increased HR burden in managing multiple solutions
Decreased efficiency of healthcare dollars spent 
Key lessons
A smarter approach to benefits engagement
To close the value gap, employers need to evolve from traditional benefits experiences to data-driven, employee-centric platforms that do the following:
Leverage benefits data to give employees personalized insights
Guide employees toward affordable solutions that balance cost and coverage
Reduce the need for HR to manage multiple solutions and answer basic admin questions
By integrating multiple information sources—such as claims, health and wealth information, and employee preferences—organizations can:
Help employees assess their medical and financial needs
Guide them toward the options that best fit their situation
Communicate benefits effectively, ensuring employees understand and engage
Companies that take this data-driven approach can expect higher workforce satisfaction and less administrative burden, as employees are empowered to make informed decisions without relying heavily on HR teams.  Without dramatically changing their benefits offerings, employers can drive better outcomes, close the value gap, and maximize the return on their benefits investment.
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The path forward
Closing the gap: Download today for insights you can’t afford to ignore
Data-driven insights
Leverage market research and proprietary survey data to understand the disconnect between benefits investment and employee perception.
Actionable strategies
Learn how to implement a smarter, tech-driven approach to benefits engagement that improves outcomes for both employers and employees.
Vendor selection guide
Use our expert framework to evaluate and choose the right benefits experience platform for your workforce.

Ready to close the benefits value gap?

Get in touch with Nayya today