Why Employers Are Raising the Bar on Virtual Care Providers

Virtual Care Is Now a Business Imperative

In 2025, benefits leaders are being asked to do more with less. Between rising healthcare costs and growing demands for measurable wellness outcomes, companies are holding their well-being vendors to higher standards. 

In fact, 94% of employers report raising expectations for their vendor partners, according to the 2025 Employer Well-being Strategy Survey by the Business Group on Health. 

If your virtual care provider isn’t delivering outcomes, cost containment, and employee engagement — it’s time to reevaluate. 

From Vendor to Strategic Partner: What Employers Want Now 

It’s no longer enough to offer virtual access or basic usage stats. Forward-thinking employers are asking: 

• Is this telehealth or virtual care solution measurably improving employee wellness? 

• Is it aligned with our overall employee benefits strategy? 

• Can it help us contain costs without sacrificing care quality? 

This is where First Stop Health stands apart. 

Meet the Virtual Care Provider That Delivers 

First Stop Health is built to be more than a benefits vendor — we’re your performance-based partner in virtual care. Here’s how we help employers and HR leaders meet their goals:

Utilization That Actually Moves the Needle

• High adoption rates across virtual primary care, urgent care, and mental health
• $0 cost to employees, removing key barriers to care
• Multi-channel engagement campaigns to drive usage

Real Reporting, Real Results

We go beyond dashboards. You’ll receive outcome-driven reporting to help tell the story of how virtual care is:

• Avoiding costly ER visits
• Improving chronic condition management
• Supporting mental health and stress reduction
• Increasing employee satisfaction and retention

A Clear Cost Containment Strategy

We help you cover staff healthcare costs by making it easier for employees to get the care they need early before conditions worsen. That means:

• Fewer unnecessary urgent care or ER visits
• More preventive care
• Stronger connections with virtual primary care, mental health, and urgent care

Our Performance Guarantee

We’re so confident in our impact, we guarantee it.

With First Stop Health’s value-based, direct care model:

• Employers only pay if employees use our virtual care
• Employee engagement campaigns are organized, managed, and funded by us
• Satisfaction and outcomes are tracked and reported

Employers deserve accountability. That’s what our performance guarantees are all about.

What to Ask Your Telehealth or Virtual Care Provider

When evaluating or renewing your virtual care solution, ask these questions:

• How is engagement measured — and improved over time?
• What’s your approach to integrating care across urgent, mental health, and primary care?
• What kind of reporting and ROI metrics do you provide?
• Do you offer performance guarantees?

It’s Time to Expect More

Virtual care has become a cornerstone of modern benefits strategies. But it only works when employers partner with providers aligned with their goals — engagement, cost containment, and outcomes.

With First Stop Health, employers don’t have to wonder whether their investment is working. They see the results.

Ready to partner with a virtual care provider that delivers performance, not just access? 

Explore First Stop Health’s complete care solutions ›

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Get the Run Down

• Virtual Primary Care 
• Virtual Mental Health 
• Virtual Wellness Specialist Care 
• Virtual Urgent Care

FAQs: Choosing the Right Virtual Care Provider

What should employers look for in a virtual care provider?
Look for a provider that delivers comprehensive services, like virtual primary care, urgent care, and mental health — with $0 cost for members, proven engagement rates, and strong performance guarantees. Complementing your existing benefits strategy is also key.

How do telehealth solutions support employee wellness?
Telehealth solutions eliminate barriers to care, allowing employees to access providers on their schedule and from any location. This leads to better preventive care, reduced stress, and more consistent health management, essential components of a successful wellness program.

Why is cost containment a major concern in virtual care?
Rising healthcare costs are driving demand for solutions that demonstrate ROI. A trusted virtual care provider helps employers avoid unnecessary ER visits, reduce absenteeism, and increase care adherence, directly supporting cost containment goals.

How can data from virtual care improve our benefits strategy?
Utilization trends reveal which services employees value most. This data helps HR teams align offerings with actual needs, optimize vendor spend, and proactively support at-risk populations, making your employee benefits strategy more data-driven and responsive.

What is a performance guarantee in virtual care?
Top virtual care providers offer performance guarantees tied to usage. This ensures you're not just paying for access, you’re paying for outcomes. First Stop Health, for example, offers utilization-backed guarantees for their employer clients.