Tobias Insurance Group: increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, retain employees, control insurance premium increases.

• Author: Saunders, Keith A.

With group medical and prescription insurance costs on the rise, many employers are searching for ways to help control these increases. It is estimated that 70 percent of all health-care dollars spent are a result of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

In the past, health plans have focused on treating diseases rather than effectively managing or, even better, preventing them. A host of wellness and disease management programs have recently become available that address these large claim areas. Not Following is a list of actions employers can take ranging from the simplest to the most intensive.

COMMUNICATE

Inform employees of wellness benefits already available in the current health plan (i.e. routine physical exams, mammograms, pap smears, preventive exams for children, colon/prostate testing, immunizations, etc.) and encourage employees to utilize them.

There are also several free, national, educational resources available on the Internet through the National Cancer Institute, the American Medical Association, and other organizations.

NEWSLETTERS

Employers can write their own newsletters focusing on health and wellness issues or there are many commercial newsletter services available to outsource this task to.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (EAPS)

With EAPs, employees have confidential access to educational materials, nurse helplines available 24/7, and Internet resources that help them learn about and cope with particular problems or illnesses.

HEALTH RISK APPRAISALS

An outside company will analyze claims data and identify high-risk employees. While the employer receives an aggregate report of possible high claimants (without identifying the particular individuals), the employees will receive customized reports and be given follow up coaching on how best to manage their health.

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Employees can participate in...