Corporate Wellness Programs As A Supplement To Health Insurance

Historically, health care and health insurance were thought to be tools for making people well when they are sick. Companies invest in varying levels of insurance to provide coverage for their employees and even in the hopes of recruiting the best and brightest. A good insurance policy is part of the package that attracts someone to your company.

Over recent years, however, companies have begun to offer wellness programs as a way to motivate people toward health rather than simply treat their illness. The following are a few of the benefits of offering wellness programming in addition to traditional health insurance.

Disease Prevention
Care to save money on your company’s health insurance? Help your employees avoid common and preventable conditions. Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are common-place in the lives of people who are often sedentary. Desk jobs leave people chained to their computers, spending too much time seated, and consuming way too much coffee and sugary snacks. By implementing wellness programming you nip these issues in the bud by promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle in and out of the office.

Health Education
The world of wellness is often very overwhelming. For every article telling you to avoid eating grains, you can find another that tells you to eat them but avoid fat. This is very confusing and makes people want to give up on their health journey completely. By providing education about the small things they can do to improve their health, your team members can begin to make incremental changes that will cost you less money in the long run. For example, teaching your employees the monumental benefits of walking might encourage them to take their lunch breaks on foot. This helps lower their stress levels, makes work more enjoyable, and lowers their risk of heart disease. And when they’re healthier and more informed they make better choices, are better team members, and enjoy their work environment more.

Group Motivation
There are plenty of different options for wellness programs on the market. Your health insurance company may offer one, or you could join a program hosted by a company like FitBit. The community aspect of a corporate wellness program helps to bolster your employees’ motivation. The more your team gets excited about their own wellness, the more they will encourage one another to make positive diet and lifestyle changes.

Health insurance is a high dollar expense for many companies, but their healthier your employees are the better deal you can get on a group policy. Wellness programs that focus on diet, lifestyle, and even smoking cessation will help your employees live healthier, more energetic, and engaged lifestyles while saving you money in the long run. For more information about insuring your team, contact us today.