As healthcare costs continue to rise, both HR teams and employees are feeling the pressure. However, there are actionable steps HR leaders can take to navigate the business and personal pressures on employer sponsored benefits plans that create growing value for your organization, and the people that staff it.
According to a recent report by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, pet ownership saves $22.7 billion in annual health care costs, including:
This year, it’s more important than ever to help support pet parents. Pet parents could see up to a 10% increase in care this year alone. By supporting pet parents, and encouraging employees to become pet parents with the right benefits, employers can save significant money on healthcare costs and claims, and pass that savings down to their employees.
Below are some ways you can support pets, and their parents, in your workplace.
Telehealth has been transforming the way people access care for over a decade, and now the pet care industry is catching up. By reducing the need for in-person visits, telehealth can help lower pet care expenses while improving and expanding access to high quality care. For employees with pets, virtual care and instant support and peace of mind can make an incredibly positive impact in the way they care for their pets.
Virtual care also allows pet parents to get answers to questions they may have forgotten to ask when visiting their veterinarian, or that they wouldn’t pay for a separate visit for. At Airvet, we offer connections to vet specialists in behavior, nutrition, and more to help pet parents go beyond reactive care and invest in their pet’s whole health…without the added cost of a separate speciality visit.
Additionally, pet telehealth can help reduce absenteeism in employees. Airvet has found over 70% of pet parents take their pets to the vet during work hours, and 60% of visits either avoided a visit all together or avoided an unnecessary emergency visit. Without easy access to preventive care, minor pet health issues can escalate, leading to costly emergency visits and increased time off work.
Just like in humans, investing in preventive care is critical to reducing long-term healthcare costs. Because pets support our mental and physical well-being, the more we invest in our pets health the more we invest in human health. For example, offering support for pet diet and nutrition can help employees ensure they’re feeding their pets what they truly need based on age, breed, and activity level. This not only promotes a longer, healthier life for the pet but can also help employees redirect spending if they’ve been buying the wrong food, leading to smarter, more cost-effective choices.
Encouraging preventive care, either through education or even offering a subsidy for preventive services like routine checkups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and early screenings can encourage pet parents to be more proactive in their pets lives. When employers offer benefits that cover or supplement these types of care, it reduces the likelihood of emergency visits and long-term health complications, saving money and stress down the line.
It’s important for pet care to go beyond just the financial benefit of pet insurance and dedicate time and programs on helping pets thrive in their daily lives.
One of the most overlooked strategies in benefit design? Asking more of your partners. Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors what they can do for you. If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
Your benefits partners should be more than line items, they should act as extensions of your team, helping you reduce administrative burden, streamline employee communications, and maximize utilization. They may have great ideas to encourage usage, especially of the preventive care aspect of benefits, or even if they aren’t a pet benefit they could have ideas on how to get pet parents involved in another wellness activation.
At Airvet, we take this seriously. From tailored engagement campaigns and on-demand educational resources to real-time utilization reporting and employee feedback loops, we help our HR partners do more with less. Our approach makes it easy to launch and grow a preventive pet care program that drives ROI.
Preventive pet care isn’t just a veterinary concern, it’s a people strategy. And in today’s workplace, where burnout and disengagement are on the rise, benefits that support both employees and their beloved pets can make a measurable difference.
The good news? You don’t have to do it alone. At Airvet, we’re here to help you make proactive pet care a core part of your wellness strategy, without adding more work to your plate. Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us here.
