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Most Workers Satisfied with Health Care Benefits:
The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of 266 large
US companies, recently conducted a survey that yielded some surprising results. When faced with the need to reduce total compensation expense, an overwhelming 83% of employees would rather reduce their salary or retirement benefits than reduce health benefits. Although most employees feel that health coverage costs have increased, 65% believe their health coverage has remained the same over the past three years. 67% consider their health plan to be excellent or good.
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Unhealthy Behavior Comes
with More Than One Price:
It is no secret that unhealthy behavior can lead to severe health risks. The reality is that behaviors such as smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle have caused healthcare costs to skyrocket. In a recent WELCOA interview, Dr. Steven Aldana shed some light on the true financial impact that accompanies the ‘big three’ unhealthy behaviors— sedentary lifestyle, obesity and smoking. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle alone account for over 25% of healthcare costs. Considering that a staggering 67% of the US population is either overweight or obese, this is a problem that won’t be going away anytime soon. Another startling statistic estimates the total healthcare costs associated with a male 24 year old tobacco user are roughly $220,000. Companies increasingly look to population health management and wellness programs in an attempt to control healthcare costs and combat these pervasive lifestyle issues.
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Decision Aids on the Rise:
The notion that the best decision tends to be the most informed decision prompted insurance companies to focus attention on the creation and implementation of healthcare decision aids. These decision aids explain medical conditions, outline treatment options, and walk people through what to consider about their own lives and preferences when making a choice. With an estimated 116 million people researching health issues on the Internet, and growth in consumer directed health plans, the timing is right to provide the tools individuals need to weigh their options and make appropriate healthcare decisions. According to research conducted by Annette O'Connor, PhD, a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada and a senior scientist at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, more than 500 decision aids are in various stages of development, with 200 available for use today. In fact, the growth of decision aids has grown by 100 times since 1997.
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