Employee Benefits From A Workplace Health Program

Rising inflation and a poor economy doesn’t help much, when it comes to saving. Add to that the rising premium amount that you have to pay each month. It seems the simplest way to control health care costs is to take preventive steps. The focus should be on staying healthy. The healthier you are,the lesser you will need medical services and thereby reduce your expenses.Employers that choose to provide healthcare insurance to their employees spenda good amount paying premiums on behalf of their employees. An insurance claim results in additional expenditure on employee benefits. To prevent or lower such expenses, employers may be wise to invest in employee health. It is known that people with risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes cost more to the company to insure and also pay more than those with lesser or less impacting risks.Workplace health programs are a good way to encourage employees to be health conscious and take steps to maintain good health. Those in the high risk category can also benefit from such programs.Listed are some ways to make healthier lifestyle choices:Opt for preventive care, including screening tests for your gender and ageDrink in moderationQuit smokingEat a healthy dietExercise at least 5 days a weekManage stressAbsenteeism, health care costs, compensating employees and disability claim costs account for 25% of the employee expenditure. A well designed and implemented health awareness program can save that much for an organization. Any improvement in productivity translates to more dollars for the organization. The employee in turn benefits from reduced health care costs. Johnson and Johnson among others have a Workplace Health Program in place and a study suggests that the company has saved $250 million during the first decade of the twenty first century.There are other ways to reduce costs:Enquire if the provider is part of the plan’s network. Visiting a doctor or hospital that is in-network can save you money. There are plans that do not cover out of plan networks at all.Plan in advance for the cost to be incurred. There are cost-calculators available that will help you arrive at anestimate.Seek emergency care only when needed. To avoid huge expenditure it is best to visit the primary care doctor or a first aid center unless in an emergency.Choose a plan that is compatible withtax-advantaged HSA (health saving account). Such HSA allows the employee to put aside a pre-tax amount to pay for eligible and future medical expenses.An employer that implements a Worksitehealth Program gives out the message that it is invested in the employee’s health and wellness and can benefit by using it as a recruitment tool and for employee retention. Creating a culture ofhealth awareness adds to the company’simage and aids in future employees viewing it as a desirable place to work in.It is a win-win for both the employer and the employee and the community at large.