Choosing the Right Type of Wellness Program.                  

Research studies show 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 employees eat healthier, increase their level of physical activity, help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and quit use of tobacco. Wellness programs should focus on helping employees achieve and maintain their optimal health status.

Comprehensive worksite-health programs focused on changing lifestyle behavior have been proven 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% of United States  businesses offer some type of health-promotion program for their staff members, but is it the right type?

Primary Types 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 reported to have a $7 to $10 return on investment within a year. the 20% of workers requiring the greatest medical expenditures today are normally different 20% who’ll cause the greatest health 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 Business Group on Health.

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

Good Data Drives Good Company Decisions

• Based on more than 120 research, the National Business Group on Health reported 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 decrease absenteeism per dollar invested.