Here’s what I believe: engagement isn’t just about getting people to use a portal or download an app. It’s about building genuine health literacy and decision-making skills over time. It’s about creating systems that meet people where they are—not where we wish they were.

This means designing benefits and communications that acknowledge the cognitive load people are already carrying and always equipping them to keep pace with a perpetually evolving system. It means recognizing that a single parent working two jobs doesn’t have time to become an expert in formulary tiers. It means understanding that transparency without education is just noise. This was some of the inspiration for a recent podcast discussion.

Together with Only Healthcare Podcast founders Randy Vogenberg and Michael Navin, we cover a lot of ground in this episode. From the strain on providers dealing with public health misinformation, to shifting cost and decision making to consumers, to the rise of AI in the hands of patients. If you’re working in employer benefits, health communications, patient advocacy, or healthcare strategy, I think you’ll find some ideas worth considering. Heck, put on some headphones and go for a walk to make it a healthy activity too!

Listen to the Full Conversation: https://onlyhealthcarepodcast.com/podcast/ep-40-engaging-the-healthcare-consumer-transparency-trust-and-the-skills-we-are-missing/. You can stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are you seeing this skills gap play out in your organization? What’s working—or not working—when it comes to helping people engage with their healthcare decisions? Drop me a note at lynn@engagerco.com