“The cost to
provide employer-based health care benefits has risen at an ever
accelerating rate to such high levels that they threaten the
competitiveness of American business in the global economy.
Because of this, employers are becoming more and more concerned
about the full cost impact of poor health.”
Ronald Loeppke,
MD, MPH et al, Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 2007
“But resoundingly there is a single challenge that represents
the most important and difficult challenge [human resource
executives] face in managing today: employee benefits, starting
with the 500-pound gorilla, health insurance. According to a
2008 study by LIMRA International, 90 percent of employers with
a staff over 10 cited "controlling the cost of health insurance"
as their biggest benefits challenge.
“Double-digit growth in medical premiums has become commonplace,
as has cost-shifting both within and outside of benefits plans.
Employers have changed plan designs, increased co-pays and set
and reset expectations among employees and other stakeholders.”
Healthcare 2009: Issues and Challenges, Lawrence E. Daurelle,
Human Resource Executive, Forecast 2009 Issue, November 2008
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
close to 80 percent of all medical treatment needed is related
to lifestyle choices that harm health: smoking, sedentary
lifestyles, obesity, nutritionally harmful eating habits and not
using seatbelts or helmets.
