Studies show that untargeted health-promotion campaigns have little long-term impact.

Chronic conditions, which rob person and families of their health and happiness, represent major costs to businesss in the form of healthcare and disability costs, lost productivity, and absenteeism.

Wellness Programs should address risky behaviors that can help your staff members eat healthier, increase their level of exercise, help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and quit use of tobacco. Wellness programs should focus on helping staff members achieve and maintain their optimal health status.

Robust health promotion programs focused on changing lifestyle behavior have been shown to yield a $3 to $6 return on investment for each dollar invested. It takes about three to five years after the initial health promotion program investment to realize these savings.

Ninety-three% of United States companies offer some type of wellness program for their workers, but is it the right type?

Main Types of Wellness Programs

Programs focusing on disease management. These wellness programs monitor and treat specific diseases. Disease management follows the 80/20 rule –  80% of healthcare costs are spent on 20% of staff members.

Illness management is stated to have a $7 to $10 return on investment within a year.  The 20% of workers requiring the greatest medical expenditures today are normally different 20% who will cause the greatest health costs a year or two down the road.

Programs focusing on health enhancement and risk management. These wellness programs focus on lifestyle behavior change, and offer a $3 to $6 return on investment within two to five years, as reported by a 2004 report issued by the National Corporation Group on Health.

It is vital that you note that a $3 to $6 return on an entire worker population produces a higher total savings than does disease management.

Good Data Drives Good Corporation Decisions

o  Based on more than 120 research studies, the National Company Group on Health reported that, within five years of health promotion program implementation, overall benefit-to-cost ratios (return on investment) of -

o  $3.48 in decreased health care costs per dollar invested.

o  $5.82 in reduce absenteeism per dollar invested.