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 New York, where families, employers, and communities are feeling the effects of rising healthcare costs. New Yorkers spend an average of $14,000 on healthcare each year, the second highest overall health care spend per person in the nation, according to the Community Service Society of New York. In a state as diverse as New York, creating a healthcare experience that is easier to navigate and more connected can make a meaningful difference.

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.

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 New York employers, that also means helping support a healthier 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 New Yorkers, a more connected healthcare system 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 understand 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 New Yorkers.

To learn more, visit anthem.com/healthcareinnewyork.