The Cost Benefit of Worksite Wellness Programs

Stating the obvious would be to say that the cost of healthcare is spiraling out of control. Uncovering the components of that expense aren’t always so obvious. For instance, intuitively most Benefits Coordinators know that employees with poor health cost more than those who are healthy. But considering that 70% of health care expenses are associated with preventable conditions, it becomes a viable option to implement a program that can target those modifiable expenses. Successful wellness programs focus on those modifiable expenses, and intervene in a way that can potentially yield thousands of dollars in cost savings. Worksite wellness programs not only promote happier, more content employees, but a healthier bottom line in terms of business. 

Published rresearch documents some of the companies who have made that investment, and the benefits they are now enjoying. They have realized that health promotion/disease prevention is imperative to competing in today’s market. Implementing wellness programs can be one viable solution to the problems of rising health care costs, competing and retaining talented employees, and keeping up with the demands of doing business in today’s economy.

Corporations spend $1TRILLION annually on poor health, with two-thirds of that cost considered indirect -- absenteeism, presenteeism, disability, lost productivity, worker replacement, property losses and loss of competitiveness. Treating these and other illnesses after they occur, accounts for 97 percent of health benefit expenses, while only 3% is spent on health promotion and disease prevention.

For your Free White Paper on the Cost Benefit of Worksite Wellness Programs, please send us an email at jill.dorris@well-connected.org