Choosing the Right Type of Wellness Program.                  

Research shows that untargeted health-promotion campaigns have little long-term impact.                  

Chronic conditions, which rob individuals and families of their health and happiness, represent major costs to corporations in the form of health-care and disability costs, lost productivity, and absenteeism.                  

Wellness Programs should address risky behaviors that can help your staff members eat healthier, increase their level of exercise, help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and quit use of tobacco. Wellness programs should focus on assisting staff members achieve and maintain their optimal health status.

Extensive worksite-health programs focused on changing lifestyle behavior have been shown to yield a $3 to $6 return on investment for each dollar invested. It takes about three to five years after the initial program investment to realize these savings.

Ninety-three percent of USA  businesses offer some type of health-promotion program for their workers, but is it the right type?

Main Kinds of Wellness Programs

Programs focusing on illness management. These programs monitor and treat specific diseases. Disease management follows the 80/20 rule –  80% of health-care costs are spent on 20% of employees.

Disease management is announced to have a $7 to $10 return on investment within a year. the 20 percent of employees requiring the greatest medical expenditures today are typically not the same 20 percent who will cause the greatest medical expenses a year or two down the road.

Programs focusing on health enhancement and risk management. These programs focus on lifestyle behavior change, and offer a $3 to $6 return on investment within two to five years, according to a 2004 report issued by the National Company Group on Health.

It’s important to note that a $3 to $6 return on an entire employee population produces a higher sum savings than does illness management.

Good Data Drives Good Business Decisions

• Based on more than 120 scientific research studies, the National Company Group on Health stated that, within five years of program implementation, overall benefit-to-cost ratios (return on investment) of –

• $3.48 in reduced health-care costs per dollar invested.

• $5.82 in lower absenteeism per dollar invested.