12 Ways Preventive Wellness Is Changing Health: Health Before Treatment

9. Equity and reaching underserved groups

Prevention only works when it reaches everyone. Programs that increase access and trust in underserved communities make a measurable difference. Data show Medicare Advantage participants, for example, are more likely to use annual wellness visits—and that uptake improvements are larger among some racial and ethnic groups than others. That suggests well-designed plans and outreach can reduce gaps. Effective strategies include community-based clinics, culturally competent care teams, language access, and partnerships with trusted local organizations. Mobile clinics and flexible scheduling also help people who face transportation or work barriers. For preventive efforts to be equitable, program designers should ask communities what they need, not assume solutions. Employers and health systems can support equity by offering sliding-scale services, community outreach, and education in culturally relevant formats. Small changes—like offering appointments outside core work hours or providing childcare during visits—make prevention genuinely accessible to more people.

10. Policy, insurance design, and coverage trends

Policy and insurance design shape how people use preventive services. Medicare Advantage plans have shown higher uptake of annual wellness visits than traditional Medicare, which suggests plan design and incentives influence behavior. Insurance that covers preventive services with low or no cost sharing reduces financial barriers and encourages routine care. Policy debates continue around coverage for certain preventive interventions and how best to regulate wellness products and services. For employers, offering generous preventive benefits—covered screenings, mental health access, and easy scheduling—boosts participation. Individuals should review their plan’s preventive benefits and ask about recommended services that are covered without copays. Policymakers and insurers can drive broader change by aligning incentives with long-term health outcomes and by supporting models that scale proven prevention programs. The practical implication is clear: take advantage of covered preventive services, and encourage plan designs that make prevention the easy, default choice.