In an attempt to reign in soaring health care costs, some companies are putting a microscope on the health of their employees, rewarding those who meet health and wellness goals of losing weight and quitting smoking and penalizing those who fail. Benefits experts say these tactics are new and symbolize a shift in philosophy when employees were once rewarded for joining work-sponsored wellness initiatives.

Since 2001, the average annual cost of a family health insurance premium has jumped 113%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In the past, tobacco users have been issued health insurance surcharges for smoking, but some businesses are rewarding workers who receive good scores on biometric screenings or meet exercise goals, but now employees who receive bad scores or fail to achieve goals are penalized.

RDG Engineering and Design in Iowa uses a system where employees can earn points for activities like running in races, going to the dentist or attending wellness education programs. Once an employee earns enough points, they can be used to waive the $50 monthly employee health insurance premium contribution.

The program has had great success with a 90% employee participation rate and the group’s health scores are improving. Davis Sanders, principal at RDG said, “If you choose not to participate, it’s no different than before; you pay $50 for your insurance.

” These types of programs are great for employees who meet their goals, but it’s conceivable that employees who fail to meet goals could grow anxious over health factors at work.

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As the country waits to see how the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the cost of health care is predicted to increase between 7% – 8% for the fifth year in a row, according to health care consulting company, Millman Inc.

Specifically, Millman is projecting that the average cost of health care to cover a family of four will exceed $20,000 this year. That’s more than double the average annual cost of the same coverage from 2002, of $9,235.

What is troublesome about these increases is that many employers bear the burden of paying for the majority of their employees’ health care costs.  The additional amount due from employees each year is becoming more difficult to maintain, especially for workers who receive little or no increase in pay from year-to-year.

Additionally, many employers are cutting back on health care coverage packages due to rising costs, meaning employees are stuck with less comprehensive coverage. If that isn’t enough, there are 50 million Americans living without health insurance today.

The rate at which costs are increasing could very well end up becoming unsustainable for employers and employees. The pressure to fix the affordability of the nation’s health care system has never been greater.

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Contact: 485 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: 954-362-9974
Fax: 954-926-8073