Workplace Health Services Blog

Employee Assistance Programs Can Lower Employer Healthcare Costs

Most employers considering opening an onsite health clinic focus on how it will benefit the physical health of their workforce. And, for good reason. Providing onsite primary care, health screenings, risk assessments and other educational programs can dramatically increase employee wellness and significantly reduce employer healthcare costs. But, employers should also think about their worker’s mental health, [...]

One Way To Lower Health Care Costs: Pay People To Stay Healthy

Are rising employer health care costs leaving your company cash-strapped? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School might find that ironic. Because their studies have shown that the best incentive for changing unhealthy employee behavior is, well, cash. “We know that people in the short term have a lot of trouble changing their behavior in ways [...]

Onsite Health Clinics Help Pennsylvania Firms Lower Employer Healthcare Costs

“A healthier workforce equals lower costs, better recruitment and increased retention,” says Edward Schwartz, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer of Cigna-Medical Services. We couldn’t agree more. In an effort to improve the health and wellness of its 800 employees, Cigna Healthcare in Scranton, Pennsylvania opened an onsite health clinic that offers a range of medical [...]

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) – What's The Difference?

As healthcare costs continue to rise, employers and employees alike are looking for ways to reduce them. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are two increasingly popular approaches. Over the past decade, the average annual premium paid to cover an employee and his or her family has more than doubled. According to a [...]

How to Lower The Rate Of Increase of Employer Healthcare Costs

Tackling the problem of exploding employer health care costs can be very humbling. Lowering the rate of increase is often the best you can hope for. In a 12 month forecast just released by Aon Consulting, employer health care costs are predicted to rise by 10.5% over the next year. Despite the fact that this projected increase [...]

How Can Employers Reduce The Impact Of Healthcare Reform?

Predictably, many companies are worried that the healthcare reform being debated in Washington will significantly increase their employer healthcare costs. And, just as predictably, many companies plan to pass these rising costs on to their employees. I would argue that shifting these costs will only increase them, both for you and for your employees. Wouldn’t it [...]

Why Large Corporations Should Offer Employee Wellness Programs

In an earlier blog post, I described the many ways small businesses benefit from offering an employee wellness program. I even detailed the advantages small firms have over large corporations when starting  such a program. Fear not, large corporations! The sharp reductions in employer healthcare costs generated by wellness programs are also available to you, plus several [...]

Why Small Businesses Should Offer Employee Wellness Programs

Running a small business isn’t easy. Owners and managers must scramble each day to produce products, increase efficiency, and gain and keep customers. Focusing on anything other than ensuring the company’s long-term success is considered a waste of precious resources. So, why would a small business consider offering an employee wellness program? Wouldn’t sharply reducing employer healthcare costs [...]

Onsite Health Clinics Do More Than Reduce Employer Health Costs

Onsite health clinics can sharply reduce employer health costs, but that’s not only reason that clients love them. They also provide great benefits and a boost to salaries and other benefits for your employees. Provision of onsite health services also provides companies an added boost if they’re trying to reach “Best Place to Work” status. In [...]

Why Presenteeism Is A Bigger Employee Health Problem Than Absenteeism

If you think absenteeism is driving up your employer health costs, consider “presenteeism.” Presenteeism is defined as employees coming to work when they’re not healthy, and being less efficient at their work. A report recently published by Kalorama Information estimates that the annual lost productivity of employees working while sick is now valued at $160 billion. That’s [...]