In yesterday’s Advisor, we got wellness program tips from experts Lynda F. Jeppesen and Travis Dent. Today, how one of their programs works, what results it achieves, and an introduction to the book some call the “Wellness Bible.”
Jeppesen and Dent made their comments at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition held recently in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeppesen, who is SPHR certified, serves as Senior VP, Human Resources of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies; Dent is a senior consultant for ACAP Health in Dallas Texas.
Costs of Health Care with Wellness in Place
What’s the bottom line for the wellness program Dent and Jeppesen run? Over 4 years, employee costs have held relatively stable and employer costs have stayed stable; this while most employers have encountered substantial rises in costs.
Annual Medical Plan Cost per Covered Employee
| Year |
Employee Cost |
Employer cost |
|
2006 |
1650 |
8,875 |
|
2007 |
1950 |
9,038 |
|
2008 |
2000 |
8,697 |
|
2009 |
1750 |
8,669 |
|
2010 |
1850 |
9,300 |
The program flows as shown in the diagram below. Successful completion results in a substantial discount off healthcare insurance contribution. (Employees get a $60.00 per month reduction and an additional $60.00 per month if the spouse participates. In 2014, when a greater discount is allowed, Jeppesen expects to offer the enhanced discount.
Jeppesen calls the Miller Companies’ program Fit for the Future. The diagram shows how it works.
|
Fit for the Future All employees are invited to participate |
||||
|
Elects to participate |
|
Elects NOT to participate |
||
|
Has metabolic syndrome |
Does not have metabolic syndrome Screening reveals that employee does not have metabolic syndrome (or the employee has a physician’s waiver) |
|
||
|
Completes |
Does NOT Complete |
|
|
|
|
Discount of $60/month for employee; additional $60/m if spouse participates |
No discount—Employee makes regular contribution |
Discount of $60/month for employee; another $60/m if spouse participates |
No discount–Makes regular contribution |
|
What does the program cost? About $7.50 per participant per month.
Corporate wellness programs show great ROI. And they are win-win—employees feel better and are more productive, and employers reap the benefits. Even small improvements make a difference. Download Your Free Wellness Report and test drive our Workplace Wellness Guidebook at no cost! Hurry, offer ends August 5!
First ‘Thank You’
Speaking of employee responses to her Fit for the Future Program, Jeppesen says that it’s the only time in her career that employees have come up to her to say, “Thank you.”
Time for you to get some thanks for your program? Well-structured and well-run wellness programs can generate ROIs of up to 300 percent—music to management’s ears! But the key words are “well-structured” and “well-run.” Poorly structured programs just spin their wheels—no health benefit and no positive ROI, either.
Many readers have told us that BLR’s comprehensive guidebook, Workplace Wellness: Healthy Employees, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI, has helped them get programs up and running that achieve wellness objectives with a great ROI while avoiding the legal hassles that, these days, seem to accompany any worthwhile venture in HR.
Wellness—NO downside! Impressive ROI, so management is happy. Better health, so employees are happy. And that means HR is happy! Download your Free Special Report, Beyond the Hype: Make Wellness Work for Your Workplace now. Offer ends August 5!
It’s a comprehensive guide that takes you step-by-step through setting up a program, from convincing management all the way through creating and implementing a viable plan for your workplace. The guide also includes a vast collection of ready-to-use forms, handouts, and checklists that both structure your program and provide the metrics to prove its effectiveness to management’s satisfaction.
If you’d like to examine Workplace Wellness: Healthy Employees, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI on a no-cost, no-obligation basis for 30 days, we can arrange for you to do so. Let us know and we’ll be happy to set it up.
We’re also doing a wellness webinar on 8/16 if you’re interested in checking it out–we’ll be focusing on reducing your bottom line while avoiding common ADA, COBRA, ERISA, and HIPAA traps. More info here:
http://bit.ly/rd4xhY