Most people don't think of healthcare as a single experience. Over the course of a year, they may visit a primary care physician, fill a prescription, see a specialist, receive behavioral health support, or schedule a routine dental appointment. While those interactions often happen in different settings, they are all part of the same health journey.

But too often, the healthcare system is not designed to reflect that reality. Care is frequently delivered one appointment at a time, leaving patients to navigate next steps, connect information between providers, and make complex healthcare decisions on their own.

When care feels disconnected, it becomes more difficult to identify health risks early, help people access recommended care, and address manageable health concerns before they become more serious and costly. That's why a more coordinated, whole-health approach is becoming increasingly important.

That opportunity is especially important in Virginia, where families, employers, and communities are feeling the effects of rising healthcare costs. Across the Commonwealth, people can face very different healthcare needs and access challenges whether they are in Northern Virginia and Richmond or Southwest Virginia and rural communities. In fact, a recent Gallup poll found that 27% of Virginians skipped a doctor-recommended procedure, lab test, or evaluation in the past year because they couldn't afford it. Making healthcare easier to navigate and more connected can help address those barriers and connect Virginians with the care they need, when they need it.

Why a whole-health approach matters

Whole health recognizes that every healthcare touchpoint can contribute to a person's overall well-being.

Rather than treating medical, behavioral, pharmacy, and dental care as separate experiences, a whole-health approach brings those touchpoints together to create a more complete picture of a person's health. That can help people:

• Identify health concerns earlier.
• Access recommended care and preventive services.
• Better manage chronic conditions.
• Avoid unnecessary delays or duplicated care.
• Receive support that's easier to navigate.

Dental care offers one practical example of how a more connected approach can work.

People living with diabetes are at greater risk for gum disease, and untreated oral health conditions can make diabetes more difficult to manage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When dental care is viewed as part of a person's overall health journey, providers have another opportunity to reinforce preventive care, encourage appropriate follow-up, and help patients better manage their overall health.

The broader lesson extends well beyond dental care. Every healthcare interaction, from a routine physical to a behavioral health visit or conversation with a pharmacist, can provide valuable opportunities to identify needs early and connect people with the care and support they need.

A more connected approach can also help lower the cost of care

When care is coordinated, opportunities to intervene early are less likely to be missed.

For example, someone who receives recommended preventive screenings or timely follow-up for a chronic condition may be able to avoid more serious health issues that could otherwise result in a costly emergency department visit, hospitalization, or more intensive treatment later.

Helping people understand where to seek care can also make a difference. Connecting people with primary care, virtual care, urgent care, or other appropriate options based on their needs can help them receive care earlier and avoid unnecessary use of higher-cost settings.

Care coordination can also help reduce unnecessary duplication across the healthcare system by improving communication among providers and helping patients receive the right care at the right time.

Helping people stay healthier through prevention, early intervention and coordinated care benefits individuals, employers and communities alike while lowering costs over time.

For Virginia employers, that also means supporting a healthier, more productive workforce while making healthcare benefits easier for employees and their families to understand and use.

Making every healthcare touchpoint count

A whole-health approach isn't about adding more appointments to your calendar. It's about making the healthcare interactions you already have more connected, coordinated and meaningful.

For Virginians, a more connected healthcare experience can mean fewer barriers between them and the care they need, whether they're managing a chronic condition, seeking preventive care, or simply trying to determine where to go next.

Through Anthem Whole Health, care is designed around the individual, with care navigation and coordination that helps connect healthcare touchpoints across medical, behavioral, pharmacy, and dental care. When those touchpoints work together, they can support prevention, improve health outcomes, and help people take the next step in their healthcare journey before small concerns become larger health challenges.

Healthcare may happen one interaction at a time, but a person's health doesn't. Connecting those interactions can help make healthcare simpler, more proactive, and more affordable for Virginians.

To learn more, visit anthem.com/healthcareinvirginia.