It is clear to virtually every American (namely those of us in business) that health care 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 health insurance is nearly as burdensome as government regulation. It’s time for some new thinking on health care and its impact on company and vice versa.
Corporate wellness as an operational perspective instead 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 companys to provide unlimited health insurance coverage is simply unrealistic and unreasonable.
It’s time for businesss (on a wide scale) to reconsider their role in providing medical insurance coverage. Instead of providing complete coverage for all employees through group plans, corporations should begin to shift the burden of health coverage to those covered.
Here is the approach. Provide catastrophic health insurance as a group benefit to all employees with a large enough deductible (say $5000 per employee) to make the cost low cost for the company.
Then, allow staff members to buy their own health insurance policies (based on their own needs) and pay for them through payroll deduction with pre-tax earnings.
There are numerous insurance businesses that sell individual plans on this basis. Everybody wins. Staff Members can tailor their coverage to their own needs and circumstances using their own doctors. Businesses win by stopping the endless cycle of rising costs and ever-changing plans.
And when individuals become responsible for the cost of their own insurance, they become more attentive to their own health.
Besides, if an employee is interested in working for you ONLY because your corporation offers great insurance benefits are not they telling you they’re going to cost you more money in the future?
Develop a “Wellness Culture”
Our current “sickness culture” perpetuates the health care 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, in lieu of paid sick days, employees may be rewarded at year’s end with an attendance bonus.
Workers would be reimbursed for successful completion of tobacco use cessation and weight-loss programs. Businesses would invest in corporate memberships at local gyms so every worker can participate.
Staff Members would be offered in-house wellness programs on a selection of issues ranging from ergonomics to stress management. Lastly, corporations would commit to hiring and retaining healthful employees.
Simply put, healthy workers 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 employees whose personal lifestyle and habits ensure the best Return on Investment by the company committing to hire, train and pay them.
Be open to “alternative and complementary” approaches
Studies published in major medical journals reveal that individuals who use “alternative and complementary” health modalities (including chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and massage) are normally healthier, better educated, take fewer medications and miss fewer days from work than the average American.
Since these person look for ways to stay healthful without drugs and surgery, they end up being a net benefit in terms of attendance and productivity. Old prejudices in this area must 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 appalling failure. Companies are buckling underneath the pressure of providing health coverage to their employees.
American competitiveness in the market is sagging. These times call for extraordinary solutions. It’s time for American corporations to consider some out-of-the-box solutions to the healthcare crisis.
Corporate wellness is an approach that is timely, achievable and reasonable given the alternatives. All choices must be considered while we still have a chance.
Corporate Wellness Companies