Health Plan Innovations in Worksite Wellness
Americans spend a large part of
their day – and their lives – at work. Health insurance plans and many
employers recognize that the workplace provides an ideal setting for
implementing programs and initiatives to improve the health of employees; and
as a result, curb health care costs, reduce absenteeism and increase
productivity, as well as boost morale.
The evidence around the positive
effects of workplace health promotion has been growing over the past three
decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published
research that found that well-designed, evidence-based programs work to improve
health and productivity.1.
In addition to the benefits that workplace programs can have for employees’
health, research is demonstrating that evidence-based worksite wellness
programs have the potential to reduce costs for employers and in some cases
enable employers to get a positive return-on-investment.
Experts have identified six
elements frequently found among best practices2.,
and the health plan programs featured in these profiles are utilizing these elements:
- Organizational
commitment;
- Incentives
for employees to participate;
- Effective
screening and triage;
- State-of-the-art
theory and evidence-based interventions;
- Effective
implementation; and
- Ongoing
program evaluation.
.JPG "Infographic image")
Worksite Wellness Innovations Infographic
Highlights the impact unhealthy lifestyles have on our nation, and describes best practices and trends in health plan worksite wellness programs.
Plans and Programs
The health insurance plans profiled
demonstrate health plans’ commitment to improving the health and well-being of
their employees and members. These innovative programs are comprehensive, evidence-based
and follow best practices, and are achieving impressive results in participant
satisfaction and health outcomes. The programs combine personal health
assessments, health coaching, culture and policy changes in the work environment, and incentives to help employers
and their employees tackle health risks that lead to illness, absenteeism, lost
productivity, and higher health care costs.
1. Task Force
Community Preventive Services. Proceedings of the Task Force Meeting: Worksite Reviews. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007.
2. Goetzel RZ,
Roemer EC, Liss-Levinson RC, and Samoly DK. 2008. Workplace Health Promotion:
Policy Recommendations that Encourage Employers to Support Health Improvement
Programs for their Workers A Prevention Policy Paper Commissioned by Partnership
for Prevention: http://www.prevent.org/data/files/initiatives/workplacehealtpromotion-policyrecommendations.pdf