Some interesting data from Kaiser Health News (via their blog, Capsules): How do employees feel about changes to their insurance plans?
Overall, not great —even when those changes could mean lower premiums and cost savings.
- 27% said they would be OK with a more restricted network of care providers
- 29% said they would accept a higher deductible in exchange for a lower monthly premium
- 30% said they would agree to pay more for brand-name prescription drugs
But there was one area where employees were overwhelmingly open-minded to a change:
68% said they would participate in a wellness program in exchange for a lower insurance premium.
Those are pretty good odds. The cost-savings of wellness programs are proven. (See: here, here and here, for starters.) An effective wellness program has the potential to significantly improve health and well-being. And depending on how you frame it, a wellness program can feel like a benefit — access to resources, discounts on fitness classes, free coaching for weight loss or tobacco cessation — rather than a cost-sharing hike or a scale-back of perks.
Moral of the story: If you’re looking for a way to save money on your health care costs without irritating your employees, wellness could work for you. Give it a try.
