Reducing the cost of employee health insurance

Employers today are paying more attention to programs that keep their employees healthy and encourage faster recovery times when they are sick. There is a growing trend in the business world towards disease management, prevention programs and helping individuals make healthier decisions through informative training. While such programs increase productivity and employee retention, it's also a great way to reduce the overall costs of health insurance premiums for both employees and employer.

Surveys show that more than half of all businesses offering health benefits also provide at least one wellness program. Weight loss, health club memberships at discounted rates, smoking cessation, nutrition and healthy living classes join with yearly health fairs to provide employees the information and resources they need to make individual decisions about their own lifestyles.

As the downward spiral in the economy continues, more and more businesses are cutting costs by reducing benefits for their employees. One common trend being seen is the reduction or complete deletion of health insurance for employees. With a few simple changes to the working environment, health insurance can remain a viable benefit for businesses with reasonable rates.

Offer sick leave: For a minimal cost to the company, this benefit can be the difference between healthy, happy employees, and lost man hours and high turn over. Employees are more likely to stay somewhere that they feel appreciated and supported through use of even small benefits like paid sick leave. Not only will it help the mental state of your office, you probably will have a lot less cold and flu bugs affecting employees if they feel like they can take a day off with that cold.

Build a culture committed to healthy lifestyles. Encouraging a senior leader in your company to become the spokesperson for healthy living is a great motivator for employees. Develop a committee comprised of a variety of employees from managers to the mail clerk to organize activities and encourage commitment of healthy living within their departments. Ask employees to sign a commitment form and then support their activities through encouragement and incentives.

Consider turning a small unused office into a gym where employees can easily access equipment before and after work hours. Promote use of the gym through break and lunchtime yoga or stretching classes. Replace some of those sugary and salty snacks in the vending machines with nuts and dried fruit. Offer healthy choices in the cafeteria such as salad bars, vegetarian, low fat and low sodium menu items. Invite employees to post their health success stories along side coordinating healthy living tips on your intranet site, newsletter or bulletin board. Promote healthy activities such as taking the stairs in common areas. Keep resources for healthy living readily available in highly used areas. Organize company sponsored activities that encourage healthy choices and reward employees who participate in the program with incentives such as coupons, water bottles, paid time off and recognition lunches.

Offer health advice. Invite a local hospital or medical clinic to a workplace health fair. Simple screenings for blood pressure, weight and diabetes can be an effective way to encourage employees to take care of themselves without added costs to them. Vendors such as nutritionists, health food stores and gyms can talk to employees about programs and products.

As health insurance increases, more companies are being forced to find alternatives to the programs they have paid for over many years. Employee's costs continue to go up as companies cut back, but adding cheap and educational alternatives can be a great way to increase health in the office as well as overall retention. Employees tend to stay where they feel appreciated and have support.

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Categories: Wellness Program,

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