Reducing Employee Health Insurance Costs Through Wellness Programs

Editors Picks

Cost shifting will likely remain a vital tool for employers looking to control health insurance premiums. After decades of use, however, the technique may be approaching a point of diminishing returns. Today's employers are paying greater attention to programs that keep people healthy and encourage faster recovery when they do get sick.

"While the usual cost sharing efforts are still very common, [our] survey shows that employers are seeing they are not always the most effective answer," says Sally Natchek, senior director of research at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) in Brookfield, Wisconsin. "That's why there is a growing trend toward disease management programs which take an integrated approach toward working with individuals who are or may be at risk for chronic conditions, among the most prevalent and costly of illnesses in the United States." These kinds of efforts put more responsibility on the individual to monitor his or her lifestyle choices. And while such programs increase work force productivity, their main benefit is that they result in a healthier work force.

The Kaiser survey finds that more than half of all firms offering health benefits also provide at least one of seven wellness programs: weight loss programs, gym membership discounts or on-site exercise facilities, smoking cessation programs, personal health coaching, classes in nutrition or healthy living, Web-based resources for healthy living, or wellness newsletters.

Area Development Homepage >> Labor/Education/HR >>

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

12/06/2013

Area Development Online Research Desk

Aaron Ahlburn, Jones Lang LaSalle

Richard H. Thompson, Jones Lang Lasalle

Area Development Online Research Desk

Area Development Online Research Desk

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation

Area Development Online Research Desk

Greg Matter, Jones Lang LaSalle

Area Development Online Research Desk

Area Development Online Research Desk

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Top States for Doing Business 2013: Site Consultant Survey Results

2013 Gold Shovel Awards: Recognizing Excellence in U.S. State Economic Development

Leading Locations for 2013: Ranking MSAs for Economic & Job Growth

27th Annual Corporate Survey & 9th Annual Consultants Survey Results

The States Leading the U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence

Area Development Exclusives

SPECIAL PRESENTATION »

SPECIAL PRESENTATION »

SPECIAL PRESENTATION »

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORY »

SITE SELECTION/FACILITY PLANNING »

BUSINESS GLOBALIZATION »

BUSINESS GLOBALIZATION»

Share







Privacy policy / GuidelinesArea Development will select a number of questions to answer each week. An Area Development representative will contact the submitting reader directly with feedback. Additionally, all submissions are eligible to appear online or in our print publication. If your question is selected for publication we will include and publish your first name, job title and industry only. The full identity of the submitting reader will not appear in published format.Area Development will not publish, share with any third parties, or use for marketing purposes any personal information submitted here without the express consent of the submitting reader.