Employers Uniquely Positioned to Create Behavior Change

A recent study by Cigna that looked at 200,000 customers in employer-sponsored plans between 2012 and 2014 found that people with chronic conditions caused by unhealthy weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar had much higher health care expenses underscoring the need for programs to control chronic disease. The total cost for an employee with no chronic conditions was $3,024 a year, while the total cost for someone with two or more chronic conditions was $11,940 a year. Overall, chronic conditions contributed to nearly half of all medical expenses in 2013 according to the study.

With businesses insuring nearly half of the US population, employers are at the front line in the battle to keep health care costs down and Americans healthy. Knowing that insurance is only part of the solution, companies have been helping to change employee behaviors. A number of organizations use wellness plans and programs to improve the overall health of their workforce and to prevent and control chronic diseases.

Cigna identified four healthy behaviors that are key to lowering health-related costs: smoking cessation, programs to maintain or improve BMI, programs to maintain or improve cholesterol, and chronic care programs. While some employers offer incentives to participate in wellness programs, others have had success with wellness programs that penalize employees for lack of participation. For example, one large employer encourages employees to get together and walk around the block but penalizes those employees who don’t with higher premiums. The rationale behind the penalties versus rewards argument is that if employees have their own money on the table, they will make better medical and health behavioral choices.

Employer-based wellness programs that change attitudes and behaviors, coupled with quality insurance plans, are reducing the high health care costs Americans will be facing as our population ages. At Wellness Workdays we work with organizations in various industries across the country to implement behavior change programs that improve employee health and reduce health costs. Contact us to find out how we can help your business create a culture of health.

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