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Exercise, Weight Loss, and Smoking Seen as Paramount in Curtailing Spiraling Health Costs
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U.S. health insurance premiums rose 7.7% back in 2006 -- twice the rate of inflation. With employers still bearing most of the burden of health care costs, many of them are seeking cost-effective strategies, such as corporate wellness or employee health programs, to help employees become healthier. By helping employees reduce health risks, employers can better manage health care costs.
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Rochester, MN -- We closed out the year 2006 with health insurance costs escalating yet another 7.7% in the U.S. Unfortunately the prospects for 2007 don't look much better unless positive societal action is taken early on.
National health insurance is a political hot potato. With Hillary Clinton as a Democratic front runner for the presidential elections, even President Bush made health insurance coverage an important topic at his last State of the Union address.
Higher Health Care Costs Associated with Boomer Aging
With an aging work population simple screenings are going to add to the cost. Boomers are entering the age of frequent cholesterol tests, breast exams, and colonoscopies, all which costs money. But this is just screening, and will be augmented by increases in disease. |
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Health care costs in the U.S. rose another 7.7% in 2006 without any signs of subsiding. Will prescriptive exercise and lifestyles changes finally be reimbursed by employers?
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The strategy is to mitigate the occurrence of disease in the first place. So much is known today about the harmful effects of smoking, excess weight, and sedentary lifestyles. So, it makes sense for corporations to look at affecting their employee populations in these three areas. By targeting employee health risks, employers can better manage health care costs.
This fact has spawned a bevy of products and services to help employers encourage lifestyle changes and regular exercise among their employees. MYTRAK is one product that is addressing the issue, and another is the Mayo Clinic Health Solutions. The Mayo Clinic now offers online health management programs to reduce health risks in employee populations. |
They packaged it into 3 health management programs:
Fitness for Every Body
Healthy Weight
My Smoke-Free Future
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Their online health management programs help users to:
- Learn new, healthy lifestyle skills
- Make positive behavior changes
- Increase their confidence in their ability to continue healthy behaviors
- Proactively communicate with their health care provider about specific unhealthy lifestyle behaviors
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Early Success
Although it's much too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of an online program, the early results are promising. A recent survey of the effectiveness of the Mayo programs found that of the participants:
- 73% increased their exercise level
- 53% indicated the program helped them meet their weight-loss goal
- 65% are making healthier food choices
- 31% quit smoking altogether
- 38% at least reduced the number of cigarettes smoked
Will 2007 Finally Be The Year?
Will 2007 finally be the year that employers become more proactive? Will they regularly reimburse health club memberships to foster more exercise, and therefore preventive health. The evidence is mounting as to the economic viability of prescriptive programs. Stay tuned.
Posted: 01/30/2007
Source: Mayo Clinic
More Like This…
Automated Exercise Measurement is Key to Jump-Starting Employee Wellness Programs
MYTRAK Exercise Technology May Help Solve Looming Health Care Crisis
Virgin Group Teams With Humana to Offer a Fitness Rewards System
Health Care Provider Now Covers Fitness
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