Employer Health and Wellness Program Tends
Employers are no longer able to trim extra savings out of their health insurance programs, and the majority of businesses have been cost shifting, asking employees to cover more of their medical care costs. Health insurance costs continue to climb (10% or more per year) at 2-3 times the general inflation rate. With nowhere else to turn, companies are – more than ever – looking to get employees engaged in Employee Wellness Plans as a means of slowing medical care costs and improving productivity.
For example, last year 53% of large companies provided Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) for their staff, up from 35% just two years earlier, according to a Mercer survey. Change is being driven by cost, but Employee Wellness Plans a win-win solution for both companies and employees.
Here are other Employer Health and Wellness Program trends organizations are implementing:
More businesses are integrating Employee Wellness Plans into their benefits plans. If they want the best plans or the lowest individual costs, they need to participate in the Employer Health and Wellness Program and meeting minimum goals.
More businesses are offering worksite weight loss programs as a component of the Employee Wellness Program, especially after Duke University’s new research showing the high cost of overweight employees and raised cost for worker’s compensation for sedentary and overweight employees.
Employers are offering more Employee Wellness Plans designed to assist employees with chronic health conditions: health coaches, nurse advice lines, telephone counseling, and self-study guides
Employers are offering more internet-based Employer Health and Wellness Program interventions and health information resources
More businesses are offering regular worksite employee health screenings including cholesterol, glucose, A1c, blood pressure, weigh-ins, and other checks as a part of their Employee Wellness Program. Some Employee Wellness Plans even include bone-density checks and skin cancer screenings.
Many businesses are offering fitness programs, either in the community or worksite, as a part of their Employee Wellness Program.
Corporations are offering more rewards, prizes and incentives getting engaged in Employer Health and Wellness Program activities
Some businesses are adding emphasis to maintaining health. It’s one thing to lose weight or stop smoking; it’s another to maintain these changes. Helping employees stay engaged and maintain their health changes is important for long-term success.
Employers are putting more emphasis on keeping healthy people healthy rather than just working primarily with high-risk individuals. Research shows this approach results in a greater Employer Health and Wellness Program return on investment.
Wellness businesses are offering great resources for employers’ employees over the Internet – online wellness centers, monthly health and wellness newsetters, wellness challenges, internet-based points tracking systems, virtual fitness programs, internet-based wellness coaching or interventions, interactive health calculators, healthy recipes, even downloadable health tips for your iPod.
Employers who are becoming more proactive are making a big impact on their future medical care expenses and productivity. Ohio State University announced that they expect to save $30 million dollars with their complete Employer Health and Wellness Program over the next 5 years!
Employee Wellness Plans and prevention are sound ideas whose time has come. Wellness is more fun and costs less than treating disease.
References: TIME in partnership with CNN, “Businesses Help Workers Lose Weight.” Website accessed July 2007.