HealthPromotionQuote.com

It is clear to virtually every American (particularly those of us in business) that healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of control.

No one doubts that either the market will solve the problem OR the government will impose one on us. Managed care has failed from either a cost containment or quality of care perspective.

Businesses have reached the point where the cost of providing medical insurance is almost as burdensome as government regulation. It’s time for some new thinking on health care and its impact on business and vice versa.

Corporate health promotion as an operational perspective in lieu of merely window dressing is one way to deal effectively with rising healthcare costs.

The Insurance Problem

The first step in correcting the problem is to realize that an employee’s health is their own responsibility. Expecting corporations to provide unlimited medical insurance coverage is simply unrealistic and unreasonable.

It’s time for corporations (on a wide scale) to reconsider their role in providing medical insurance coverage. Instead of providing complete coverage for all workers through group plans, companies should begin to shift the burden of health coverage to those covered.

Here’s the approach. Give catastrophic medical insurance as a group benefit to all staff members with a large enough deductible (say $5000 per employee) to make the cost cheap for the company.

Then, allow workers to buy their own medical insurance policies (based on their own needs) and pay for them through payroll deduction with pre-tax earnings.

There are numerous insurance companies that sell individual plans on this basis. Everybody wins. Employees can tailor their coverage to their own needs and circumstances using their own physicians. Businesses win by stopping the endless cycle of rising costs and ever-changing plans.

And when person become responsible for the cost of their own insurance, they become more attentive to their own health.

Besides, when an worker is interested in working for you ONLY because your business offers excellent insurance benefits aren’t they telling you they’re going to cost you more money in the future?

Create a “Health Promotion Culture”

Our current “sickness culture” perpetuates the healthcare crisis and hastens the demise of market-based solutions. By ailment culture, I mean our focus on medical problems in lieu of on having a healthful workplace and performance culture.

Additionally, what would a “wellness culture” look like? First, instead of compensated sick days, employees might  be rewarded at year’s end with an attendance bonus.

Staff Members would be reimbursed for successful completion of tobacco use cessation and weight-loss programs. Corporations would invest in corporate memberships at local gyms so every worker can participate.

Employees would be offered in-house health promotion programs on a selection of issues ranging from ergonomics to stress management. Lastly, businesses would commit to hiring and retaining healthy employees.

Simply put, healthy staff members cost less and are more productive than unhealthy ones. Applicants must be screened for health habits and practices that limit their productivity and increase the likelihood of future expense.

While this may seem harsh, it rewards those workers whose personal lifestyle and habits ensure the best Return on Investment by the corporation committing to hire, train and pay them.

Be open to “alternative and complementary” approaches

Studies published in major medical journals reveal that person who use “alternative and complementary” health modalities (including chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and massage) are typically healthier, better educated, take fewer medications and miss fewer days from work than the typical American.

Since these individuals look for ways to stay healthful without drugs and surgery, they end up being a net benefit for attendance and productivity. Old prejudices in this area ought to be discarded in order for companies to improve productivity and increase profitability

Conclusion

Healthcare costs are increasing at a staggering pace. Managed care is an abysmal failure. Businesses are buckling below the pressure of providing health coverage to their staff members.

American competitiveness in the market is sagging. These times call for incredible solutions. It’s time for American companies to consider some out-of-the-box solutions to the health care crisis.

Employee health promotion is an approach that is timely, achievable and reasonable given the alternatives. All choices ought to be considered while we still have a chance.