Health And Wellness

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Workplaces have a significant impact on the health of their employees. The health plans and programs they offer are proofs of this impact. The economic increase of health insurance is still out weighing the popularity of programs that increase the overall health of employees. Wellness programs may also increase the health of employees but businesses and employees do not see the effects. Eventually health care cost, health concerns, and wellness programs will integrate.

The United States spends more on health care than any other industrialized country. The cost of health care in the United States is rising dramatically. Americans are worried that the amount they pay for health care or insurance will continue to increase. Charges for hospitals and doctors are rising three times the rate of inflation and are equal to 15% of the total gross domestic product.(Goldhirsh Group Inc. 1994). It is believed that health insurance premiums will rise to an average of more than $14,500 for family coverage in 2006. Because of this more than half of all Americans who have health insurance are also enrolled in some kind of managed care plan; which include preferred provider organizations (PPO's), health maintenance organizations (HMO's), and point of service (POS) plans. A Preferred Provider Organization has arrangements with doctors, hospitals, and other providers of care who have agreed to accept lower fees from the insurer for their services. Health Maintenance Organizations offer their members different health benefits, including preventive care, and all for a monthly fee. With some HMO's you will pay a co payment for prescriptions and doctor visits and with others you may not pay anything. Whereas the Point of Service plan usually makes referrals to other providers in the plan. When the doctor makes the referral to a doctor on

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the outside the plan pays if not all of the doctor's bill most of it. Employers offer these health plans to care for their employees because the productivity of a company lies in the health of their employees. Their physical and mental well being, are what determine the employees levels of productivity.

Employee physical health affects every aspect of their jobs. When a company's employees are not healthy or are not living healthy lives they tend to not be as productive in the workplace as they would if they were living healthy lives. Physical health concerns that Americans face are obesity and excess weight gain. Obesity and excess weight gain are public health concerns because they are associated with a number of conditions that compromise health ( Frost and Sullivan 2002). These two conditions hinder the employees work performance. Employees who are obese or have an excess weight gain are more prone to additional health problems which can cause them to miss work and not perform their jobs to the standard. The mental well being of employees is just as important because it also affects their jobs and job performance. Stress is increasing in the workplace, and is taking a toll on employee's lives. It is also a contributor to mental illness at work. Some studies suggest that corporations lose 16 days annually in productivity per person due to stress, anxiety and depression Stress, obesity and excess weight gain are some concerns of the employers. Companies in which employees reported greater workplace satisfaction, personal development through work and friendships at work report higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty,

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profitability, productivity and greater employee retention. This is why employers are now offering different programs to assist their employees in alleviating these concerns.

Companies are offering different wellness programs to promote better health in their companies. They offer smoking