Cabin Business

Greg J. Dunseath is a registered representative for Conway Financial Services.

Q:How are businesses encouraging their employees to live healthier lifestyles?

A: Employers are trying to be more proactive, especially larger businesses. Money is still tight. Overall, the number of employees in area companies has dropped around 20 percent. However, employers are maintaining their benefits. They know how important it is for their employees, especially when times are harder. The saying still holds true, salaries attract good employees, but benefits keep them. Even with the increasing cost of providing benefits, employers know this. Some companies encourage employees to be more proactive in being healthier with different types of incentives — extra vacation days or PTO, shorter work day during a week, or even cash. Larger businesses tend to have better cash flow to provide incentives or bring in wellness programs. One of our clients is talking about bringing in a health care provider on a Saturday to make flu shots available for employees and their families.

Q:What about wellness programs?

A: Almost all carriers in Arkansas have 100 percent preventive or wellness coverage in their medical plans. In our experience, many employees and their dependents don’t utilize this benefit to its fullest, especially men. Many women are diligent in having their routine annual exams and mammograms. This is vital and is usually covered at 100 percent. Males over 40, with this age varying within the medical community, need to begin considering routine colonoscopy. We men usually have to be persuaded to go in for this initial visit! Most carriers provide 100 percent coverage under preventive/wellness (up to their particular maximum limit) every three to five years. There are also additional wellness plans that can be added, usually with a reasonable fee. Googling wellness programs will provide employers with numerous options and ideas.

Q:How can employers benefit from encouraging healthy living for their employees?

A:Employers are trying to think of ways to help, because generally a healthier employee is a happier, more productive employee. It can also have an affect on their bottom line. The employer is usually contributing a major portion of the employee’s premium. If an employee is healthier and not utilizing the health plan as much, it usually has a trickle-down effect — better rates for the employer! It also means lower payroll deductions for the employee. The cost of benefits has become one of the top expenditures to an employer. But it takes two to make it work! The employee has to be willing to exercise, eat healthier, stop smoking, and do things that are required for a healthier lifestyle. It is in everyone’s best interest if the employer will provide some incentives for the employee. The investment will usually come back to the employer.

Q:Any suggestions for companies trying to get started?

A:Smaller employers cannot afford, nor have the space, to provide exercise equipment, so they’re doing things like encouraging walking or exercising during lunch hour and eating healthier lunches. Some employers are encouraging their employees by having company challenges, such as providing a positive and fun atmosphere by dividing employees into teams and challenging them with different goals; weight loss, lowering cholesterol, etc. One company brought in a consultant that had a couple of sessions talking with employees about ways to improve their health. Employers have hosted screenings in which employees can get their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose checked. Cost is usually the biggest deterrent for employers to do anything. But if they view it as an investment, they will usually get a return on their investment in better productivity and lower cost of benefits!

Being preventive is key to improving one’s health. Joining fitness centers, purchasing exercise equipment, getting friends together to walk or run are just some of the ways. There are creative programs and ideas out there. Since our agency is involved in the entire process from implementation to servicing of our clients’ benefits, we know the health and concerns of our clients. We see the medications being taken, the health issues going on with individuals and their families, and how this affects their lifestyles and general well being. Some illnesses are genetic and cannot be eliminated or resolved. However, good habits, exercise, and using common sense about how we should take care of ourselves can often reduce the effect of some illnesses and eliminate the need for many medications, not to mention their expense.
We have become a society of excessive utilization, declining health, and numerous medications, with much of it caused by obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and stress-related issues with the medication this requires.

These areas of health care can be improved with better eating habits, exercise and trying to have a healthier lifestyle. Cost of health care has become expensive and even unaffordable for some.
Change starts with us. If we will do what is necessary to become a healthier society, many of the issues and related costs, in my opinion, will be resolved!