Category Archives: Wellness
I Have Seen the Future (of Healthcare) and It’s Not Bad…
If we can keep the politicians out of it, that is. I’ve just finished a period where I’ve seen things I haven’t seen in over a decade – specifically, a string of single-digit rate increases – some under 1% – and one actual reduction in rates! In Massachusetts, of all places.
Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes: Is America Finally Waking Up?
This week Gallup released some interesting info on health and well-being in the US. Some years ago Gallup teamed up with Healthways Well Being to create the Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index, which measures the general health of the US.
Unhealthy Behavior Costing You $623 per Employee per Year
Thomson Reuters has created an index, called the Workforce Wellness Index to measure the collective health of America’s workers. It demonstrates that our increasingly poor health is costing American employers more money every year.
For You Self-Funded, Larger Employers
Here’s an interesting tidbit. The Wall Street Journal reports that WellPoint is going to cover lung CT scans for heavy smokers.
Got Employees Who Smoke? Should You Care?
About one in five American adults smoke, so you probably have smokers in your firm. But so what? Every state tends to have a “pooled” health Insurance product available for smaller employers, and usually there’s no experience component to the pricing. In Massachusetts if you’re below 50 lives, your rate is your rate even if [...]
Survey: Americans’ View on Health of Nation
A recent Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey revealed some interesting and somewhat contradictory attitudes on the health of our country. On the face of it, it seems to be a poorly designed study, but I only saw the results as reported, not the entire survey.
Use of Wellness Incentives Growing
More employers are using wellness incentives (and disincentives) to get them to participate in the company wellness initiative. And it seems to be saving them money.
Getting Tough with Wellness
No, I’m not talking about how a wellness program will “toughen you up.” I’m talking about one employer’s approach to the employees’ response or lack of same to the company wellness program.
Can You Offer a “Wellness Incentive?”
Many of you are starting to seriously consider a wellness program. Good idea. Such a plan can reduce your turnover, increase productivity, lower absenteeism and generally add to your bottom line.
Zero Percent Health Increase???
Can it be?? And can it happen with a GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION?? Yes and yes. Kalamazoo County, Michigan has achieved the seemingly impossible in this era of runaway health costs. While the stupid governor of Massachusetts seems to think it’s all the fault of insurance companies, the county government in Michigan realized that health care costs [...]