Corporate Wellness Incentives

Companies are no longer able to trim extra savings out of their medical insurance programs, and most corporations have been cost shifting, asking workers 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, organizations are – more than ever – looking to get workers engaged in Corporate Health Promotion Programs as a means of slowing medical care costs and improving productivity.

For example, last year 53% of large organizations 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 Corporate Health Promotion Programs a win-win solution for both organizations and workers.

Here are other Corporate Health Promotion Program trends organizations are implementing:

More corporations are integrating Corporate Health Promotion Programs into their benefits plans. If they want the best plans or the lowest personal costs, they need to participate in the Corporate Health Promotion Program and meeting minimum goals.

More corporations are offering worksite weight loss programs as a component of the Corporate Health Promotion Program, especially after Duke University’s new research showing the high cost of overweight workers and increased cost for worker’s compensation for sedentary and overweight workers.

Companies are offering more Corporate Health Promotion Programs designed to assist workers with chronic health conditions: health coaches, nurse advice lines, telephone counseling, and self-study guides

Companies are providing more internet-based Corporate Health Promotion Program interventions and health information resources

More corporations are providing regular worksite employee health screenings including cholesterol, glucose, A1c, blood pressure, weigh-ins, and other checks as a part of their Corporate Health Promotion Program. Some Corporate Health Promotion Programs even include bone-density checks and skin cancer screenings.

Many corporations are providing fitness programs, either in the community or worksite, as a part of their Corporate Health Promotion Program.

Corporations are providing more incentives, prizes and rewards getting engaged in Corporate Health Promotion Program activities

Some corporations are adding emphasis to health maintenance. It’s one thing to lose weight or stop smoking; it’s another to maintain these changes. Helping workers 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 Corporate Health Promotion Program return on investment.

Wellness corporations are providing great resources for corporations’ workers 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.

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 broad-based Corporate Health Promotion Program over the next 5 years!

Corporate Health Promotion Programs and prevention are sound ideas whose time has come. Health promotion is more fun and costs less than treating disease.

References: TIME in partnership with CNN, “Businesses Help Workers Lose Weight.” Website accessed July 2007.