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Worksite Wellness Decreases Health Benefit Expenses

Compliments of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Rescuing people from disease currently occupies the largest part of our health care dollar, but the idea of “keeping healthy people healthy" will effectively lower health care costs for companies in the future.

According to the Partnership for Prevention, productivity losses related to personal and family health problems cost employers $225.8 billion a year. However, a review of published studies of worksite health promotion programs showed that an average of 28% experienced a reduction in sick leave absenteeism, a 26% reduction in health costs, and a 30% reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims costs. 

If you’re enrolled in an Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, the following resources are available to you and your employees:

• Encourage employees to utilize the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) found online at MyHealth@Anthem®, powered by WebMD®”. With the information provided through the Health Risk Appraisal and the personalized assessment of health status, many people are motivated to make changes.

• Encourage employees to breathe clear, smoke-free air. Direct members to smoking cessation programs using the discounts available through SpecialOffers@AnthemSM.

• Find out about Anthem's disease management, proactive care management and maternity care programs and encourage members to make use of these services. For additional information on innovative programs and customized services, contact your local health insurance agent or Anthem at 1-877-814-4237.

• Sign up for Anthem’s Health Care Cost Toolkit.  This free program has several “tools” you can use to communicate to your workforce the value of using health care wisely, as well as encouraging prevention and healthy lifestyles.  Visit anthem.com/healthcarecosts to sign up for this complementary program.

Here are a few other quick and easy ideas to keep your employees healthy:

• Stock healthier food in vending machines.

• Provide on-site facilities for weight reduction programs or provide information about meetings near your facility after hours.

• Provide access to flu shots in the workplace.

Whether leading by example or investing in tools and programs to increase wellness awareness, proactive health is far less expensive and far more rewarding than reactive health. It’s also more fun. Healthy employees are happy employees, and that benefits everyone.

The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, along with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is helping to provide additional health and wellness programs for you and your employees through ChamberFit.  This program is available to central Indiana employers that have between 2 and 99 employees and are a member of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.  For more information, please contact your local health insurance agent, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, or Anthem at 1-877-814-4327.