2026 Subscription Care Benchmark Report: Broker Edition
Anticipating Employer Needs in Subscription Care
Accresa’s 2026 Subscription Care Benchmark Report of more than 500 employers reveals a clear trend toward subscription-based healthcare. While traditional insurance remains foundational, organizations are increasingly seeking innovative, membership-based models. These models enhance employee healthcare navigation solutions and improve access to care. Key findings reveal that employers are prioritizing direct primary care and virtual concierge services to manage costs and improve access. Furthermore, the significant compliance gap regarding mental health parity under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), presents a vital opportunity for a subscription-based care broker strategy.
With this research, brokers can position subscription care as a strategic complement to traditional health plans. They can then introduce innovative healthcare solutions that address employer concerns around cost, access, compliance, and employee experience.
Wellness and Primary Care: Access Is Driving Demand
Employers remain invested in employee wellness initiatives. Utilization also remains strong among organizations that offer wellness programs. But more importantly, employers’ interest in solutions that improve access to care continues to grow. More than half of surveyed employers expressed interest in a membership-based primary care solution that provides quick, unlimited access to a provider with no copays. Employers recognize that delayed care, limited appointment availability, and employee frustration can have a direct impact on productivity, engagement, and healthcare costs.
Broker Opportunity
Position subscription-based primary care as a complement to traditional health plans. Demonstrate how these solutions improve access and reduce barriers to care. Also show how they can support employee satisfaction while keeping employer costs predictable.
Virtual Concierge Care: Employers Want More Than Telehealth
Employers increasingly view healthcare navigation as a critical employee benefit. Survey respondents showed strong interest in solutions that combine virtual provider access with assistance in finding cost-effective care. They also want help navigating treatment options for serious conditions and understanding healthcare expenses. When evaluating Virtual Concierge Care solutions, employers identified the following services as most valuable:
- 24/7 virtual provider access (80.1%)
- Prescription services (72.9%)
- Treatment for common conditions (72.4%)
- Assistance in locating cost-effective care (56.4%)
- Help finding providers and specialists (54.7%)
- Guidance through complex healthcare situations (45.9%)
More and more, employers are looking beyond telehealth and viewing healthcare navigation as a critical employee benefit.
Broker Opportunity
Virtual Concierge Care creates a compelling conversation around cost transparency, employee support, and care navigation. These solutions can help employers address both healthcare access challenges and CAA-related expectations.
Mental Health: High Demand Meets Compliance Risk
Behavioral health remains a growing priority for employers. Among organizations that offer mental health programs, employee utilization rates are exceptionally high. This reinforces the importance of accessible mental health resources. At the same time, the survey revealed a significant knowledge gap surrounding Mental Health Parity requirements under the Consolidated Appropriations Act. More than 80% of employers reported limited familiarity with these compliance obligations. This creates a unique opportunity for solutions that address both employee wellbeing and regulatory concerns.
Broker Opportunity
Mental health programs are no longer simply employee benefits. They are becoming part of an employer’s compliance strategy. Brokers can add value by helping clients with solutions that improve access to care while supporting Mental Health Parity compliance efforts.
Dental and Vision: Established Benefits With Room for Innovation
Dental and vision benefits remain among the most widely offered employer-sponsored benefits. Employers generally view these offerings positively because of their affordability and preventive care focus. 94.6% of surveyed employers indicated that they offered dental insurance. 89.4% offer vision insurance. However, survey respondents also identified several recurring frustrations with their current offerings:
- Limited coverage for advanced procedures
- Questions about overall value
- Network limitations
- Confusion regarding covered services
When asked what they disliked about their dental and vision insurance, the number one reason in both instances was what’s included in the offering (50% for dental, 34.9% for vision). Employers may not be ready to abandon traditional dental and vision insurance. However, many are still interested in solutions that provide expanded services, transparent pricing, and greater flexibility.
Broker Opportunity
Membership-based dental and vision programs may be best positioned as enhancements or alternatives for specific employer groups rather than wholesale replacements for traditional coverage. Employers are particularly interested in programs that improve access and provide additional value without significantly increasing costs.
What This Means for Brokers
Employers are no longer focused exclusively on premiums and plan design. They are looking for solutions that improve employee experience, strengthen healthcare access, and help manage long-term costs. Subscription-based healthcare offerings provide brokers with new opportunities to address emerging employer challenges and support compliance conversations. Additionally, these innovative solutions help improve employee engagement and expand revenue opportunities for brokers.
Help Your Clients Build a Better Benefits Strategy
The employer healthcare landscape is changing, and so are client expectations. Organizations are looking beyond traditional health plans for solutions that improve access to care, support employee wellbeing, simplify compliance, and deliver greater value. That’s where Ameriflex and our sister company, Accresa, can help.
Together, we’ve partnered with leading healthcare organizations to bring innovative, subscription-based solutions to employers. These offerings include Direct Primary Care, Virtual Concierge Care, behavioral health, dental, and vision membership programs. Our solutions are designed to complement traditional benefits while helping employers address today’s biggest healthcare challenges.
Partner with Ameriflex & Accresa to Help Your Clients:
- Expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare
- Enhance employee benefits with innovative subscription-based solutions
- Support CAA compliance and mental health initiatives
- Improve employee satisfaction and healthcare engagement
- Deliver differentiated, value-added benefits that help clients attract and retain talent
Bring More to Every Client Conversation
Many of your clients may be exploring new ways to improve employee health, manage rising healthcare costs, or strengthen their benefits strategy. An effective subscription-based care broker strategy must identify solutions that meet their goals. Ameriflex and Accresa can help you provide those solutions.
Request a proposal or contact our sales team today to learn how we can help you deliver the next generation of employee benefits.