For the savvy benefits leader, the challenge is no longer just providing coverage — it’s ensuring that coverage actually leads to care. Even with a strong plan, when a $600 MRI or an unexpected specialist visit arises, many employees sit at their kitchen tables, budgeting care against groceries and gas.
The solution isn't more insurance. It’s the ability for employees to complete the transaction on the day care happens, returning decision-making power to them so they can confidently seek the care they need.
A Member's Perspective: From Friction to Focus
Sandy Thompson, an employee in Columbia, Missouri, knows this tension well. Her high-deductible plan offered coverage, but the out-of-pocket costs often felt like a barrier.
For many Americans, out-of-pocket costs can lead to a “wait and see" approach. That’s because math simply doesn't add up for most families: the average individual deductible is around $6,500, yet the median household savings is only $1,000.
"Instead of paying [for care] out of my checkbook and worrying about the grocery bill, I pull out the Paytient card," Sandy explained. "Whether it’s $10 or $1,000, I can just say 'Here you go' at the [doctor]. That peace of mind changes everything."
By removing the worry of what it will cost at the point of care, Sandy's employer didn't just give her the ability to pay — they gave her the power to complete the transaction, protect her household budget, stay healthy, and focus on her work.
Building a Stronger Benefits Stack
When you give employees the ability to pay when care happens, everyone wins.
- For Employees: Members gain the financial flexibility to pay for healthcare on the day it’s needed, which gives them the confidence to engage with the system and say "yes" to the care they need, when they need it — no more checkbook math, no more deferring. In practice, that flexibility reaches further than most benefits do: 83% of employees with Paytient use their card for purchases not covered by their standard benefits or too expensive to pay at once.
- For Employers: The ability to pay for care when it’s needed helps employees show up focused and do their best work — and drives cost savings for employers. When employees can afford earlier, proactive care, they avoid the expensive complications that inflate annual premiums. That’s how employers save a potential $600 per employee per year with Paytient.
The Power to Choose Well
When employees can pay for care, they take it. And when they take it, everyone's better off.
78% of Paytient members report getting care they otherwise would have skipped or delayed.
2026 Employee Healthcare Affordability Report
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Paytient’s Employee Healthcare Affordability Report
