New legislation makes healthcare access more affordable for employers and contractors – KSL.com

Report on an Innovative Healthcare Model’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

An analysis of the Vamos Health model reveals a significant contribution to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of health, economic growth, and inequality reduction. The model presents a membership-based alternative to traditional health insurance, designed to provide affordable and accessible care, primarily for small businesses, contractors, and their families.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The core function of the model directly supports SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It specifically addresses Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

Mechanisms for Achieving Health and Well-being

• Affordable Access: The membership model enables employers to provide healthcare access for less than three dollars per day per employee, mitigating the financial barriers often associated with traditional insurance premiums.
• Comprehensive Primary Care: The service package is designed to cover essential, regular healthcare needs, thereby promoting preventative care and early treatment.

Core Service Offerings

1. Unlimited In-Office Visits
2. Telehealth Services
3. Urgent Care Access
4. Basic Laboratory Services

Impact on SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By providing a viable healthcare solution for small businesses, the model contributes to SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Small firms, which often lack the bargaining power of larger corporations, face significant challenges in offering competitive benefits.

Strengthening Small Businesses and Employee Retention

• Reducing Business Overheads: The National Federation of Independent Business notes that small firms can pay nearly twice as much for health insurance as large businesses. This model offers a more predictable and manageable cost structure.
• Improving Employee Retention: A recent report by Paycor identified pay and benefits as the most common reason for job departure in 2024. Furthermore, a PSCA poll found that 72% of employees view health insurance as a critical benefit. By offering this benefit, employers can reduce turnover and foster a more stable workforce.
• Tangible Employer Support: The provision of meaningful health benefits demonstrates a company’s commitment to employee well-being, which is a key component of decent work.

Addressing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The model actively works to reduce inequalities in healthcare access, aligning with SDG 10. It specifically targets populations that have historically faced greater difficulties in obtaining comprehensive health coverage.

Improving Access for Underserved Groups

• Target Demographics: The service is explicitly designed as a needed alternative for freelancers, immigrants, and small business owners who may be excluded from or cannot afford traditional insurance markets.
• Bilingual Services: All medical staff are bilingual in English and Spanish, directly addressing language barriers that can prevent individuals from seeking or effectively receiving care.
• Geographic Accessibility: With locations in Ogden and West Valley, and a future location in Orem, the organization is establishing a physical presence in diverse communities.

Enabling Legislative and Financial Framework

Recent legislative changes have enhanced the viability of direct primary care models, further supporting the achievement of the aforementioned SDGs.

Key Legislative Developments from 2025

1. Tax-Advantaged Status: Legislation passed in 2025 allows direct primary care memberships to be paid for with pre-tax dollars, classifying them as a benefit plan under IRS regulations.
2. HSA Fund Compatibility: The same legislation permits employees with catastrophic healthcare plans to use their Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay for memberships, integrating the model with existing financial health tools.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core theme of the article is providing “access to quality health care without breaking the bank.” It focuses on an alternative healthcare model that makes essential medical services affordable and accessible, directly contributing to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article connects the provision of affordable healthcare benefits to the success and stability of small businesses. It argues that such benefits are crucial for employers to “retain good people, reduce turnover,” and remain competitive. This supports the growth of small enterprises and the creation of decent, stable jobs.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly mentions that the healthcare model is a “needed alternative for populations who have a more difficult time obtaining health insurance like freelancers, immigrants and small business owners.” By providing bilingual staff and targeting underserved groups, the initiative aims to reduce inequalities in access to essential services.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
   • The article’s focus on a membership model costing “less than three dollars a day” is a direct attempt to provide financial risk protection against high healthcare costs. It also emphasizes access to “quality essential health-care services” by listing “unlimited in-office visits, telehealth, urgent care, and basic labs.”
2. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises…
   • The article highlights that “affordable healthcare is essential for the success of America’s small businesses” and notes that small firms struggle with the high cost of insurance. By offering an affordable solution, Vamos Health supports the growth and sustainability of these enterprises, helping them overcome a significant hurdle.
3. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…
   • The article links healthcare benefits directly to the concept of decent work. It states, “Providing meaningful health benefits is no longer optional if employers want to retain top talent,” and notes that benefits are “proof the company values their well-being.” This contributes to creating better, more stable work environments.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… origin… or other status.
   • The service is specifically designed to help populations that face barriers to traditional insurance, including “freelancers, immigrants and small business owners.” This promotes their inclusion by ensuring they have access to a fundamental service like healthcare.
5. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…
   • The article mentions that “All Vamos Health medical staff speak both English and Spanish.” This is a specific action aimed at reducing inequalities of outcome for Spanish-speaking populations, ensuring they can communicate effectively and receive the same quality of care.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicator related to Target 3.8 (Universal Health Coverage):
   • Coverage of essential health services (Implied): The article lists the services covered by the membership: “unlimited in-office visits, telehealth, urgent care, and basic labs.” The number of people enrolled and utilizing these services would be a direct measure of progress.
   • Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health (Implied): The model’s affordability (“less than three dollars a day”) is presented as an alternative to “increasing health insurance premiums.” A potential indicator would be the reduced financial burden on members compared to traditional insurance costs.
2. Indicator related to Target 8.5 (Decent Work):
   • Employee turnover/retention rates (Implied): The article claims that offering benefits helps businesses “reduce turnover” and “improve their retention numbers.” Therefore, tracking the retention rates of client companies would be a key indicator of the program’s impact on creating decent and stable work.
3. Indicator related to Target 10.2/10.3 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Proportion of vulnerable populations with access to healthcare (Implied): The article identifies “freelancers, immigrants and small business owners” as target groups. An indicator would be the number or percentage of individuals from these groups who are enrolled in the program.
   • Availability of services in multiple languages (Mentioned): The fact that “All Vamos Health medical staff speak both English and Spanish” is a direct, measurable action. The number of consultations conducted in Spanish could serve as an indicator of its effectiveness in reducing language-based inequalities.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: ksl.com