PBN Healthiest Employers Awards 2024
5,000+ EMPLOYEES #1. CVS Health Corp.
CEO (or equivalent): Karen S. Lynch, CEO and president
Number of employees: 302,400
CVS HEALTH CORP. OFFERS a variety of programs and resources designed to meet the diverse needs of its more than 300,000 colleagues, including approximately 6,000 employees locally, and their families nationwide. To promote physical, emotional and financial wellness, which are all interconnected, the Woonsocket-based health solutions company has doubled down on its “no-cost” employee benefits.
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“Our benefits portfolio optimizes resources by investing in physical, emotional and financial wellness benefits,” said Carmilla Tan, head of benefits. “We do it to help our colleagues be the healthiest they can be so they can help enhance the health of those we serve.”
The company helps its colleagues and their families steer their wellness journeys via the Aetna Inc. medical plan, which features navigators that provide concierge-level support. But employees don’t have to enroll in the company’s medical plan to take advantage of no-cost benefits; everyone is eligible.
No-cost preventative services, such as physicals, smoking cessation, weight management and flu shots, are available at CVS’ MinuteClinics. Employees also have access to lower-cost services through CVS Virtual Care.
“Being able to do a video chat appointment reduces time and convenience barriers,” Tan said. “We know that late preventative care and the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle can result in serious issues later. As an employer, we want to empower colleagues to be proactive and take charge of their health.”
Emotional well-being is also an important part of overall health. No-cost confidential counseling is available for anxiety, depression and life in general for up to 20 visits per person in the household. Sessions can take place in person, virtually or via chat therapy, a popular method to seek counseling.
Kelley Snyder, Aetna’s claims benefit specialist, and her husband have been utilizing the 20 free sessions of therapy to regain their new empty-nest connection.
“We have been married for 24 years and have two adult children and three grandchildren,” Snyder said. “We are in session four this week and love the help we are receiving to have better communication and connection as a couple.”
Not everyone is open to counseling, but CVS hopes to change that by showing colleagues that they’re not alone in their struggles. For several years, its Stamp Out Stigma initiative has encouraged employees to give testimonials about the benefits of therapy by sharing their story of overcoming challenges related to emotional health issues.
“By having colleagues talk about what they’ve done to overcome challenges and have someone say, ‘Hey, that sounds likes me. Let me use that confidential counseling,’ ” Tan said. “It reduces barriers.”
In 2023, CVS increased the number of no-cost counseling sessions offered to employees from six to 10 annually, which resulted in an almost 13% increase in utilization, Tan said. Hoping to make an even greater impact on employees’ emotional health, in June the company doubled the number of annual no-cost counseling sessions from 10 to 20.
Equally important as emotional and physical health is financial well-being. Whether its budgeting or planning for retirement, CVS has employees covered with no-cost, one-on-one financial coaching.
“We are so proud to be part of the health ecosystem,” Tan said. “Our focus on prevention and offering up no-cost solutions to colleagues removes barriers to services. Hitting on those three areas of wellness – physical, emotional and financial – is key.”
Also vital is the critical role community pharmacists play in the country’s health care delivery systems, Tan said. Hoping to inspire the next generation of pharmacists, CVS offers a PharmD Tuition Assistance program for fifth- and sixth-year pharmacy interns. Eligible interns receive up to $20,000 tuition assistance annually, capped at $40,000.
“It used to be $3,000,” Tan said, noting the amount increased to $20,000 in June. “We’re hearing this is going to be so helpful for them to finish their degrees. It’s really important for our country to make sure that a pipeline of pharmacists exists.”
A HEALTHY THOUGHT:‘We know that individuals with chronic conditions may also experience anxiety and depression. We take a whole-person approach to providing support.’
CARMILLA TAN, CVS Health Corp. head of benefits
