Companies are no longer able to trim extra savings out of their medical insurance programs, and most businesses have been cost shifting, asking employees to cover more of their medical care costs. Health insurance costs continue to climb (10 percent or more per year) at 2-3 times the general inflation rate. With nowhere else to turn, corporations are – more than ever – looking to get employees engaged in Employee Health Promotion Programs as a means of slowing medical care costs and improving productivity.
For example, last year 53 percent of large corporations offered health risk assessments (HRAs) for their staff, up from 35 percent just two years earlier, according to a Mercer survey. Change is being driven by cost, but Employee Health Promotion Programs a win-win solution for both corporations and employees.
Here are other Employee Health Promotion Program trends organizations are implementing:
More businesses are integrating Employee Health Promotion Programs into their benefits plans. If they want the best plans or the lowest personal costs, they need to participate in the Employee Health Promotion Program and meeting minimum goals.
More businesses are providing onsite weight loss programs as a component of the Employee Health Promotion Program, especially after Duke University’s new research showing the high cost of overweight employees and increased cost for worker’s compensation for sedentary and overweight employees.
Companies are providing more Employee Health Promotion Programs designed to assist employees with chronic health conditions: health coaches, nurse advice lines, telephone counseling, and self-study guides
Companies are providing more web-based Employee Health Promotion Program interventions and health information resources
More businesses are providing regular onsite employee health screenings including cholesterol, glucose, A1c, blood pressure, weigh-ins, and other checks as a component of their Employee Health Promotion Program. Some Employee Health Promotion Programs even include bone-density checks and skin cancer screenings.
Many businesses are providing fitness programs, either in the community or onsite, as a component of their Employee Health Promotion Program.
Corporations are providing more rewards, prizes and incentives getting engaged in Employee Health Promotion 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.
Companies 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 Employee Health Promotion Program return on investment (ROI).
Wellness businesses are providing great resources for employers’ employees over the Internet – online wellness centers, monthly health and wellness newsetters, wellness challenges, web-based points tracking systems, virtual fitness programs, web-based wellness coaching or interventions, interactive health calculators, healthy recipes, even downloadable health tips for your iPod.
Companies 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 Employee Health Promotion Program over the next 5 years!
Employee Health Promotion Programs and prevention are sound ideas whose time has come. Health promotion is more fun and less expensive than treating disease.
References: TIME in partnership with CNN, “Businesses Help Workers Lose Weight.” Website accessed July 2007.
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