Primary care physicians and advanced practice professionals provide a gateway to better health. They enable and direct preventive care, which in turn plays a significant role in helping people avoid chronic diseases, reducing overall health care costs.

Those benefits are quantifiable. For example, the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion reports that breast cancer screenings can reduce breast cancer deaths among 50- to 74-year-old women by 26% while promoting early diagnosis and reducing health care spending¹.

Those savings extend to people with other conditions as well. A study of 5 million patients assigned to a primary care provider in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)² found that just one primary care visit correlated with average savings of $3,976 per patient per year. Each additional in-person primary care visit was associated with further average savings of $721 per patient per year.

Beyond preventive care and cost reduction, primary care providers (PCPs) play a crucial role as coordinators within the health care system. They act as the central point of contact for patients’ overall health, managing ongoing conditions and ensuring continuity of care. When a patient’s needs extend beyond the scope of primary care, PCPs are responsible for making timely referrals to specialists, arranging diagnostic tests, and helping patients navigate complex treatment plans. This coordination helps prevent gaps in care, avoids unnecessary procedures, and supports better health outcomes for employees and their families.

By helping employees and their families find primary care and encouraging them to utilize those services, employers can help health plan members live healthier lives.

Physician shortages pose a challenge

Primary care is a cornerstone of comprehensive health care, yet many primary care physicians have full patient loads and may not be accepting new patients, said Dr. Phil Roland, a market medical executive for Cigna Healthcare.

Just 24.4% of physicians worked in primary care roles in 2024, while a ratio of 50% is considered ideal³. One reason is the income disparity between primary care physicians and specialists, Dr. Roland said. The average medical student accumulates more than $200,000 in school-related debt⁴.

In communities across the country, primary care – along with other types of health care – may be in short supply or lacking altogether. More than 120 million Americans live in health care deserts⁵, which offer few or no health care providers or facilities. While most health care deserts are in rural communities, low-income urban and suburban areas can also fit that definition. While these more populated neighborhoods might be relatively close to health care facilities, residents may be unable to access them due to financial and transportation issues.  

Employers, who insure 178 million Americans, can educate employees about the value of primary care, the importance of preventive services and screenings, as well as provide guidance on finding quality providers.

Employees need education around the different types of primary care

In addition to physicians, primary care professionals include advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs), who have received specialized training and certifications.

“Another important specialty is family medicine,” Dr. Roland said. "As the name implies, these physicians treat the entire family, including children. Some also provide obstetrics care."

Dr. Roland, who worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist, noted that many women, particularly those between 20 and 50, use their OB/GYN for primary care. Additionally, pediatricians provide primary care to children and often to young adults.

Identifying options for quality primary care – in person and virtual

Thoughtful health plan design can enable employers and other plan sponsors to help members find the care they need, Dr. Roland said. One key component is virtual health care⁶, which can include routine primary care such as wellness screenings as well as chronic condition management.

A recent tax bill signed into law extends the COVID-era provision allowing employers to offer telehealth services on a pre-deductible basis to employees with health savings accounts (HSAs), making it easier for more individuals to access virtual care at a lower cost⁷.

“Virtual care also is a great opportunity to get care when your primary care provider's office is closed,” Dr. Roland said. “Say you're established with a primary care physician, but it’s after hours and you know you're in need of medical care and you don't need to go to the emergency department.”

There are multiple avenues to virtual care, he said, depending on the specifics of the patient’s health plan. Ideally, virtual care services should be covered by the individual’s health benefits plan⁸ to provide greater clinical support and access.

In addition to dedicated virtual care providers, some primary care offices offer their established patients the opportunity to see their providers virtually.

Employers can encourage their people to reach out to their health insurance company to identify quality providers in their area who are accepting new patients, Dr. Roland said. Many of today’s health plans offer members access to a website portal or mobile app. These digital destinations often query members about their needs, and provide a list of doctors based on quality and outcomes. Dr. Roland suggests reading verified patient reviews when available before selecting a provider. “That is so important, because a lot of the consumer tools on the internet provide reviews that may not be from actual patients,” he said.

Other options for personalized help can include calling the member service number listed on their health insurance card or using a website chat function, if available. By following these steps, members can find an excellent local provider who's accepting new patients, he said. “That allows you to make an informed decision.”

Enabling Generation Z employees to find the care they need

While Americans of all ages have delayed getting routine care, Gen Z women are most likely to avoid preventive care altogether, according to a new survey⁹. The survey found that 58% of the women in this cohort, with birth years spanning 1997 through 2012, reported that they avoided screenings. They were followed closely by 55% of Gen Z men.

“It’s important to promote well visits and wellness in general among younger employees because the young adult years are when we have the best chance of intervening and preventing chronic conditions that can develop later like hypertension, prediabetes, and excessive weight gain,” Dr. Roland said.

“We also have seen a concerning increase in cancers in younger individuals. Breast cancer can occur before age 35, when mammograms start,” he said. “Colon cancer can occur before age 45, when colonoscopies start. Young, healthy adults need a primary care visit to assess their family history and to see if there is an increased risk of certain cancers where they would want to start screening earlier than the standard recommendations.”

He also noted that younger workers may need guidance when signing up for health benefits, whether they have recently started a job or have aged out  of their parents’ plan (at age 26).

“Younger workers need resources and support on the types of plans offered, education on key terms like premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums, and reasons to stay in network whenever possible. I had my own children reach out to their HR representatives and learn what their employee health plan options are,” Dr. Roland said.

August, which is National Wellness Month, open enrollment and the start of a plan year are opportune times to communicate and educate employees on the benefits of primary care.

Cigna Healthcare