How Can Labor Unions Benefit from Telehealth?
Telehealth may boost union membership and increase member health
For years, labor unions have been a key driver in pushing for better healthcare benefits for workers. In fact, several collective bargaining organizations have been successful at achieving more affordable and accessible healthcare services for their members.
However, with continuously rising premiums and costly deductibles, unions hoping to keep existing members and attract new ones may need to seek more creative solutions, like telehealth.
Below, we’ll explore how labor unions could benefit from incorporating telehealth solutions to better cater to employees' evolving needs.
1. Telehealth offers cost savings
One of the perks many labor unions extend is maintaining or improving their members' current level of healthcare benefits without increasing costs. This act helps protect workers' health benefits while also alleviating their financial burden, which helps attract and retain members.
However, with the climbing costs of healthcare premiums, co-pays, and more, keeping rates the same could prove challenging for unions when negotiating contracts with employers.
Telehealth, though, could be a cost-effective addition for members and unions.
The direct and indirect savings that telehealth provides
Virtual care can lead to direct cost savings, as telehealth visits are typically less expensive than traditional ones (this can vary depending on the type of care being offered). In fact, a study shared examples of different scenarios where telehealth led to cost savings, such as:
Examination costs were lower for store-and-forward (asynchronous) telehealth for retinopathy of prematurity.
Video conferencing for ear, nose, and throat appointments was less costly than in-person visits ($108 vs. $155 per consultation, respectively)
Plus, there are indirect savings too, as members don’t have to bear the financial impact of childcare, parking, transportation, or taking a day off work to see a provider.
Ultimately, telehealth utilization could mean more economical out-of-pocket costs for members and reduced union health fund spending. It’s a win for employers, too. Their unionized employees might be more likely to opt for a lower-cost telehealth visit over a costly emergency room for acute, non-emergent needs.
2. Telehealth could increase memberships
As you know, there’s a difference between dues-paying members and non-dues-paying employees with union representation. In states with right-to-work laws, employees can still benefit from collective bargaining agreements without paying dues.
The latter can be troubling for unions, as they greatly rely on their dues-paying members to fund their operations and activities. Over time, low membership can financially weaken unions and interfere with their bargaining power.
State policies, coupled with several other factors, are causing labor union memberships to decline steadily. For context, in 1983, 20.1% of American workers belonged to a labor union. However, in 2024, only 9.9% of U.S. employees were in a union.
Labor unions can offer virtual care as a members-only benefit
Telehealth is an attractive offering, allowing individuals to seek health services from the comforts of their homes. Its convenience and accessibility make it a top benefit, and one that many prospective members might be interested in.
Remote care also provides discretion and access to specialists, both highly coveted today. For instance, many employees may want support for things like hair loss, managing weight gain, their mental health, or even menopause. Yet, many of them fear the shame of being seen by their peers going to a doctor's office for these concerns.
A solution like telehealth gives them the privacy they desire and access to specialists who can help them navigate their issues.
If labor unions make telehealth a members-only benefit, it could garner interest from those who’ve been on the fence about joining. It's a forward-thinking and innovative approach, which may be especially attractive to younger workers who value flexibility and convenience.
3. Telehealth strengthens a union's value proposition
One of the reasons some people leave labor unions or simply choose not to join them is that they question their value. They want to ensure that it’s a worthy investment and enhances their quality of life. Therefore, unions must offer advantages that align with people's priorities, wants, and needs.
Today’s employees want employers and unions to care about their personal well-being, encompassing their physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial needs. Telehealth can help improve nearly every aspect of well-being, possibly explaining why individuals have been so satisfied with it.
This delivery of care model is more budget-friendly, allows people to address their psychological and emotional issues, and has been shown to better treatment adherence.
Members may see telehealth as a must-have option
In 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shared that the majority of union members in the private sector were in the following industries:
Educational services (e.g., teachers)
Transportation and utilities (e.g., bus drivers)
Construction
Professionals in those industries often have demanding work schedules, meaning it would be difficult to find time to attend a doctor's appointment.
Labor unions providing 24/7 on-demand virtual medical care would extend a solution to those who typically have to call off work to get medical attention. This level of accessibility would be highly sought after by many current and prospective members.
In addition to the convenience telehealth extends, there’s also a plethora of evidence demonstrating people’s satisfaction with it. Consider the following:
According to Statista, more than half of the patients surveyed in the United States indicated increased satisfaction with their care due to telemedicine.
One study shared that over 95% of patients said they’d definitely or probably use telehealth again and would recommend it to others.
In a study where most patients had audio-only visits, 75% disclosed that their telehealth appointments were just as good as in-person care.
Telehealth could be a benefit that strengthens a labor union's value and keeps members satisfied in the long term.
4. Telehealth may help improve members' health and reduce high health costs.
Virtual care delivery expands access to care, alleviating the common barriers that often result in worse health outcomes.
Research shows that telehealth elevates patient engagement and therapy adherence, leading to better health. For instance, evidence shows that telehealth has improved chronic disease management, particularly in patients with diabetes or hypertension. It’s also been beneficial in:
Providing cancer care support
Enhancing HIV viral suppression
Improving compliance in patients with burn injuries
Addressing the needs of postpartum patients
Managing pediatric non-urgent cases
Initiating and improving treatment completion rates for those with substance use disorders
And more!
As you can see, telehealth serves many populations and can address a variety of medical needs. It makes early intervention possible and can help minimize others' exposure to illness. In fact, this could even tie into processes that currently exist, as many union workers already have to complete health screenings and labs. Telehealth could make it more convenient for workers by making it possible for them to conduct home kits and labs, which would encourage participation.
With better employee health, employers could experience productivity gains, decreased absenteeism, and lower premiums.
Additionally, labor unions that offer telehealth services may be able to negotiate more favorable contracts with employers, given the value they’d bring with virtual care.
Enhance labor union benefits with telehealth
Unions offer employees much more than just job security. They give hardworking individuals a platform where their concerns regarding workplace pay, safety, and benefits can be heard.
Virtual care delivery is a progressive step towards meeting the demands of future members, but how do you get started? At OpenLoop, we provide organizations with white-label telehealth infrastructure solutions from fully-managed to modular solutions. This ensures your members get the healthcare services they want, when they need it under your brand.
But that's not all. We have a full-suite of virtual care services including:
Interested in learning more? Contact us today!