Story Published:
Oct 11, 2011 at 8:12 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Oct 11, 2011 at 8:12 PM CDT
In 2011 just 7% of employers either rewarded or expected employees to pay higher insurance premiums if they chose not to be healthy. There was little emphasis for workers to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Fast forward to 2012. About 33% of employers have indicated that employees who don't stay healthy will be paying more--and a lot of people don't like this. But, Americans are increasingly becoming less healthy.
We are becoming morbidly obese, have a higher incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. For the most part, these conditions are elective. Not always, because of heredity, but most are preventable. With health costs rising and premiums rising, more employers will expect their workers to stay healthy. If they don't, they will be expected to pay more--higher premiums and higher deductibles. That's the only way that this country will be able to control rising healthcare costs in the coming years. The only way.
This year alone, anticipated costs per employee are in excess of $11K. In 2010 it was over $10K. The cost per employee this year will be around 12%. At the base of America's health problems is the fact that we have an obesity problem--a big problem. This leads to related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Then again, look at the problems that crop up with lower extremity joints. Clearly, obesity is a precursor. And, let's not forget the many problems that smokers have. That is fodder for another column.
Why shouldn't employees have to bear more of the cost for health insurance if they don't keep themselves fit? Employers have become maxed out trying to take care of their employees who seem to think they have unlimited free lunches.
