September 19, 2011 11:00 AM?Eastern Daylight Time?
CHICAGO?(BUSINESS WIRE)?More and more employers have acknowledged the benefits of offering wellness, preventive care and chronic care programs to their employees, with roughly 80 percent of mid- to large-sized groups now offering wellness initiatives. but, with the cost of health benefits expected to increase as much as 8.5 percent in 2012, many employers are looking for additional ways to manage their costs. ?One key is to increase wellness engagement among family dependents,? says Peter Saravis, CEO of Evive Health.
?only about half of employers today offer wellness plans to dependents, yet dependents typically represent about half of an organization?s overall medical costs?
?Only about half of employers today offer wellness plans to dependents, yet dependents typically represent about half of an organization?s overall medical costs,? said Saravis. ?For that reason alone dependents should be enrolled in wellness initiatives, including chronic care screenings and preventive care. Equally important is the fact that dependents influence the health behaviors of employees, their lifestyle at home and family medical decisions. a healthy home environment, where families are engaged in exercise, healthy eating and mutual support for health goals, can make a huge difference in an employee?s commitment to company wellness initiatives, and in a company?s annual medical costs.?
?Consequently, organizations which engage dependents have a better return on their wellness investment,? Saravis added. ?Family Health and Fitness Day marks a good opportunity to kick off new wellness engagement strategies for the whole family.?
Saravis offered employers four tips for increasing family engagement in wellness programs:
- Make sure spouses know the important role they play in the family?s health.Individuals need to believe they can achieve change, and a family support system is critical to that. Spouses can help eliminate barriers to change, enhance confidence and provide the encouragement to reach new health goals. Develop communications to spouses acknowledging the important role they play in the family?s health and educating them about the company wellness program and its goals. Invite them to bring the family to a wellness activity, such as a company health fair or a nutrition class, or to join the company walking club, gym program, health coaching and other programs.
- Invite dependents to participate in key wellness initiatives.Based on your organization?s goals, include dependents in key offerings designed to identify health risks and control health costs. Send targeted, personalized letters to spouses, inviting them to fill out a health risk assessment or take part in biometric screenings. be sure to give them a specific appointment date for a screening, along with specific information about where they will go, who they will see, and how much it will cost. this will help remove many barriers to participation. Also, rather than giving them an opt-in response mechanism, incorporate an opt-out response so they will have to take a specific action to cancel an appointment or change the date. Research shows that consumers are more likely to follow through on health needs when given a specific appointment and asked to opt out, rather than giving them a choice to opt in.
- Make sure dependents receive regular personalized health messages.Consistent, ongoing communications serve as constant reminders that dependents should be vigilant about health and wellness. Today?s engagement technologies automatically track member responses to messaging and then refine and execute new messaging and actionable opportunities based on monthly member health analytics.
- Solicit wellness testimonials from employees and their families.Leverage family success stories to influence change in others. Invite families to share their experiences in focus groups or at celebrations recognizing and rewarding achievements. Spread the good word through newsletters, mailers, emails or posting to your company wellness website.
Organizations that take steps to fully involve employees? spouses and other dependents in their wellness initiatives, preventive care and chronic care programs will be rewarded with a healthier, more engaged and more productive workforce, and the cost savings that result from such changes.
About Evive Health
Founded in 2007, Evive Health is one of the nation?s leading innovators of technology solutions that motivate employees and health plan members to engage in health and wellness activities that improve their health, lower healthcare costs, and lead to a happier and healthier lifestyle. Evive Health offers employers and health plans a turnkey, personalized communications solution that works hand in hand with existing wellness, prevention and chronic care programs to significantly increase participation. for more information, visit evivehealth.com, or call 312-374-9150.
Evive Health Offers Employers four Tips on Engaging Family Dependents in Wellness on Family Health and Fitness Day, September 24
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