The Changing Landscape of Employee Wellness: Navigating Health Plans, New Demands, and Rising Costs

How do you practice self-care? For panelists at From Day One’s Houston conference, the answers were diverse: Reading. Running marathons. Meditation. Socializing. Stopping mindless scrolling. Weightlifting. Listening to audiobooks. Baking. This eclectic list demonstrates that the true definition of “wellness” is something highly varied and acutely personal. In times of shrinking budgets, employee wellness programs are often the first to be cut. But even with limited resources, they can still be prioritized. Panelists explored how their companies are addressing these challenges in a discussion on “The Changing Landscape of Employee Wellness: Navigating Health Plans, New Demands, and Rising Costs.”At Halliburton, that has meant “we treat it more about the employee experience, the sense of community, and finding ways to build on that community at the office or at the work site,” said Mia Smallman, director of global benefits at Halliburton. Her team deploys wellness resources to visit work sites for a “grassroots feel” that isn’t “one-size-fits-all” and encourages organic connections among employees.The focus should be on what truly matters to an organization’s unique workforce. Mindy Fitzgerald, head of operational excellence and HR director at Air Products, says that it’s less about “programs and visions” and more about practical offerings like “a resource, a tool, a class, or a person to meet them where they’re at.”Supporting Mental HealthFor Houston Methodist, employees struggling with the day to day demands of helping out patients during Covid needed their own emotional support, so it began offering free mental health care to employees through a pool of its own neuropsychologists—most of whom were unable to see patients in person during the pandemic and were looking for ways to give back.The need was still so great that post-pandemic, the organization created its Emotional Health & Wellbeing Office. “We provide free psychiatric and psychological care for employees and beneficiaries on our health plan.”  We also provide music therapy, art therapy, and customized programs—we look at the person in a holistic way,” said Laura Matthews, VP, HR, physician organization & academic institute, Houston Methodist. “The first year we started, we saw about 3,500 appointments. In 2025, we ended up at around 14,000 and still have a good wait list. So, the need is there.”Panelists spoke about "The Changing Landscape of Employee Wellness"While the ROI on mental health programs might be difficult to track, Matthews says, that is almost beside the point: “It starts from the top, having a CEO that really is passionate about doing what’s right for our employees and our patients, and then taking care of each other.” Similarly, Fitzgerald’s organization has deployed EAPs that touch on a variety of topics best suited to the needs of employees, with an emphasis on quality or quantity, and allows the employee to define “family member” to include not just those who are traditionally insured. “It really comes from a deep place of humanness and care,” she said. Combatting Rising Healthcare Costs“One of the biggest issues in healthcare right now is cost, as well as resistance among some workers to get the care they need in a timely manner,” said moderator Chelsea Edwards, journalist and talk show host for Fox Television Stations. To help combat this, Curative offers a new model of employee health insurance with $0 out-of-pocket costs—meaning no co-pays or deductibles. “Imagine if your employees could access all of their health care benefits without worrying about a co-pay or deductible. They can go get their prescribed medications, their recommended surgeries, [and more]” said Becca Cosani, VP, health plan medical and pharmacy operations at Curative. Curative’s model is that the price is the premium. “We believe that having a frictionless experience in accessing care and understanding your care benefits and how to use them is the crux of offering stability and health to our members and to our employer partners, so that every member can access our in-network care prescriptions for zero extra dollars,” said Cosani. The organization offers introductory one-on-one meetings with employees to better understand their health needs, explain benefits, and demonstrate how to use the insurance. Even if zero-cost wellness plans are not feasible, organizations can and should still encourage employees to get regular health screenings “to find out what’s ailing them before it becomes expensive and traumatic,” said Smallman. She also recommends regularly vetting third-party vendors to ensure employees receive the most comprehensive, lowest-cost care possible. Cosani also recommends educating employees about different pathways to accessing care, such as getting an MRI at a lower-cost imaging clinic rather than the hospital, so they can learn how to choose more affordable options. Innovative Wellness OfferingsProviding access to GLP-1’s is another way for employers to stay relevant in their wellness offerings. Employers, of course, want plans that allow as many employees to access GLP-1’s as possible, at a reasonable cost. But GLP-1’s are just part of the weight-loss solution, says Manuela Abreu, head of nutrition and community at Nutrium. “When they take the medication, it sends a signal to their appetite. And once they stop taking that medication, those habits go back because there wasn’t an adjustment [to] their habits. This is where the nutrition program is very helpful,” she said. She works with nutritionists who help employees achieve their goals, and employers manage their costs, by teaching healthier habits to support long-term success. In addition to a focus on nutrition and weight management, financial well-being is an increasingly in-demand offering. Matthews cites a recent Bank Rate study showing that 56% of Americans say they would not be able to come up with $1,000 immediately in an emergency. Matthews’ team at Houston Methodist partnered with its brokerage firm, Fidelity, to match up to $250 for each employee who opened an emergency savings account during a specified period. “Through this program, we saw almost double the [number] of employees who opened an account, and are still contributing to that right now.” As an added financial benefit, her organization also offers an immediate cash benefit of $10,000 to the family of an employee who passes away, recognizing that related costs, such as funerals and travel, can add up quickly before any life insurance payments arrive. “You hope you don’t have to use it, but when you do, it’s been extremely beneficial,” said Matthews. Halliburton brings its personalized approach to wellness to its financial offerings as well. “Our Fidelity representative has become part of our family. He’s the same person in all of our locations,” Smallman said. The organization opts for a program that is more “educational” and not at all sales-driven, so that employees do not feel pressured and receive guidance with no strings attached. “It creates a lot of goodwill and camaraderie.” For global corporations, a diverse approach is essential to reach employees across cultures and geographies. Even for more local companies, Fitzgerald says opting for flexible programs is important, especially as employees become more scattered in changing work environments. And don’t just assume what they need—ask. “You don’t know what’s a fit if you aren’t listening.”  Katie Chambers is a freelance writer and award-winning communications executive with a lifelong commitment to supporting artists and advocating for inclusion. Her work has been seen in HuffPost, Top Think, and several printed essay collections, and she has appeared on Cheddar News, iWomanTV, On New Jersey, and CBS New York.(Photos by Josh Larson for From Day One)