by Admin. | Dec 21, 2022 | healthcare, Wellness
All businesses today are aware that a healthy workforce translates to a happier and more productive employee. Nearly a quarter of participants in SHRM’s latest benefits survey plan to increase their Health & Wellness benefits, whose percentage was higher than other categories such as professional and career development, flexible work schedules, retirement and family-friendly policies. One unusual offering, workstations that allow people to stand, soared to 44% from just 13% in 2013 when the data was first tracked.
Helping your employees strive towards physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual well-being can lead to increased productivity and employee longevity. But how can you offer wellness programs that your employees will actually use and find beneficial? There’s no one size fits all solution, and the best way to get started is to invite employee input. Need some inspiration? Here are 5 employee wellness programs that might be the right fit for your company this coming year:
1. Online Wellness/Health Screening
Did you know many health nurses today pay their employees to take an online health risk assessment? Covered members receive a lump sum benefit payment once a year if they complete certain health-related activities (i.e. routine screenings, programs like smoking cessation and weight reduction, and more). Payment options range from $50 to $150. Empire Blue Cross, for example, pays up to $300 for this including a smoking cessation online questionnaire and flu vaccination.
2. Gym Reimbursements
You might not be able to build a gym at the office, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of your neighborhood businesses. Did you know most healthcare compare today to offer up to $400 annual gym reimbursement? Most include a $200 spousal gym reimbursement as well.
3. Start a Walking Group
This solution is easy, free, and can be employee-driven. Failing to take breaks leads to burnout and eventually employee resentment. Encourage employees to take frequent breaks, but not just to the break room for more artificial lighting and a caffeine boost. Rally eager employees to lead morning, lunch, and/or after-work walking groups. The fresh air is energizing, boosts creativity, and helps feed social wellness needs, too.
4. Create a Healthy Challenge That Isn’t Based on Numbers
Although some businesses have success with Biggest Loser-style in-office challenges, it can also trigger disordered eating. Instead of focusing on numbers, focus on more subjective goals—like how many consecutive days fresh, local fresh vegetables can be part of a lunch. Kicking off these challenges with a brief intro to the importance of a healthy diet for life can help employees re-think their choices.
5. Seek Help from Outside Resources
There are several organizations that employers can turn to for information, research, and guidance on wellness programs. Below are just a few for you to explore for helpful ideas on how to develop a culture of health in your organization.
HERO is a national non-profit dedicated to identifying and sharing best practices in the field of workplace health and well-being (HWB). Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of workers, their spouses, dependents, and retirees. Check out the wealth of information on their site, including research studies and a blog.
The Health Project is a tax-exempt not-for-profit corporation formed to bring about critical attitudinal and behavioral changes in addressing the health and well-being of Americans. The Health Project focuses on improving personal healthcare practices and supporting population health by reaching adults where they spend most of their waking hours: at work. Many organizations have adopted health promotion (wellness) programs that encourage good health habits and an improved understanding of how individual workers and their families can more effectively use health services.
Harvard Health Newsletters are free newsletters targeted to individuals with the purpose of providing educational information to help them invest in their own health or the health of their families.
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by Admin. | Oct 16, 2022 | healthcare, Wellness
Courtesy Guardian
Workers seek empathy and flexibility in a post-pandemic work world
Benefits, empathy, and flexibility are close behind salary in terms of what matters most to workers when evaluating employment opportunities. The dramatic impact of the events of the past two years has altered the traditional employer-employee contract. Workers are responding positively to the gains in flexibility, investments in technology, and additional mental health resources that were added during the pandemic. It’s in employers’ interest not to abandon that more empathetic mindset, especially from a retention perspective: - 1 in 5 workers quit their job in the past two years due to inflexibility.
- Workers who feel their employer cares about their well-being are more likely to want to stay at their job for 10+ years (58% versus 31% of those who don’t feel their employer cares).
Download the report for more insights on what your workforce is looking for when it comes to benefits, enrollment, and corporate culture. |
Schedule your Open Enrollment review and our 2023 Open Enrollment checklist contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.
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by Admin. | Sep 18, 2022 | healthcare, Wellness
Stress is common for most people. Still, if you’ve felt off-kilter at work lately, it could be burnout instead of temporary job stress.
How to Identify Burnout From Work
Essentially, job burnout is unmanaged work stress — although that’s not a medical diagnosis. Job burnout isn’t the same as depression or anxiety because the former is specific to work situations while the latter two are not.
If you’re burned out at work, you may be unable to concentrate, irritable, experiencing relationship conflicts, lacking in energy or having other issues. You could also have physical symptoms including muscle tension, insomnia or pain. If you’re feeling overworked, cynical and detached or incompetent, you likely have job burnout.
Ways to Ease Job Burnout
Recognizing burnout is only part of the solution. The only way to relieve burnout is to make changes (and possibly a few hard choices).
Small changes could include getting more sleep, hiring help at home or prioritizing self-care. Of course, not all solutions are simple, especially if you have caregiving responsibilities and a limited budget.
You may need to take time off work, if possible, or add breaks to your workday. Or, you could discuss your workload with your boss to ask if additional personnel could be hired or certain tasks reassigned. If your employer won’t work with you, you may need to find a new job.
How Can We Help?
Many health insurance policies provide mental health benefits that can help with burnout, such as reduced-cost therapy and meditation apps. If you have any questions about your coverage, we’re here to help.
Learn more about how we are successfully helping navigate SMB for 20+ years. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact us at 855-667-4621 or info@medicalsolutionscorp.com. For information about transparency providers and new tech tools contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.
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by Admin. | Jul 6, 2022 | group health insurance, healthcare, Small Business Group Health, Wellness
Health insurance is expensive, and we’ve all asked ourselves, “Is it really worth what I am paying?”. For employer-sponsored health insurance, the answer is a resounding YES it is. For every dollar employers spent on health insurance-related costs, they get back $1.47 according to a new study from Avalere Health. This figure in fact is expected to grow to 52% by 2026 from 47%.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commissioned the Avalere Health employer study that used publicly available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Congressional Budget Office to estimate the return on investment employer-sponsored health insurance provides employers with 100 or more employees. Improved employee productivity, reduced direct medical costs, and tax benefits were the primary aspects that generated benefits for employer-sponsored health plans. Employers who offered employer-sponsored health coverage and wellness programs had healthier employees and spent less on direct medical costs, Avalare found.
The Numbers
Employee productivity reflects the reductions in absenteeism and lost productivity after receiving employer-sponsored coverage. These productivity increases contributed an estimated $275.6 billion in employer benefits in 2022, or 53.3% of all benefits. By 2026, this is expected to rise to $346.6 billion or 55.9 percent of total ROI.
ROI of some of these key components includes $275.6 billion from improved productivity in 2022 and $346.6 billion in 2026, $101 billion from a reduction in direct medical costs in 2022 and $108 billion in 2026, and $119.2 billion or a 23% ROI from tax benefits in 2022 and $139.7 billion in 2026.
Employer-Sponsored Insurance(ESI) offerings can positively influence prospective employees’ decisions to join firms, reducing employer recruitment and vacancy costs. The study’s model assumes that 9% of individuals decide to accept a certain position based on ESI. The analysis estimates that firms with 100 or more employees derived $141M in employer benefits in 2022, growing to $167M in 2026.
Similarly, ESI positively affects the retention of employees. Avalere’s analysis estimates $20.3B in employer benefits from improved retention in 2022 and $24.3B in 2026.
Conclusion
The study finds that industries where firms generally made greater investments in ESI tended to result in larger ROI. Also, since costs associated with turnover and recruitment are positively associated with wages, Avalere estimates higher ROI in higher-wage industries. On the flip side of that same coin, lower ROI was associated with industries that typically have a lower investment in ESI and wellness programs, lower wages, and lower employee participation in ESI and wellness programs.
The full report including the methodology can be found here.
For more information on how Employer-Sponsored Insurance and a PEO can make difference for your small business please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or 855-667-4621.
Learn how our PEO Partnership can help your group please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.
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by Admin. | Jun 13, 2022 | healthcare, Wellness
Maintaining your mental health is an essential component of overall good health. One of the best ways to take care of your mental health is to practice self-care. Self-care includes taking time to do things that bring you happiness and improve your mood.
While self-care looks different for everyone, here are a few tips to consider as you begin your journey:
- Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which are hormones in your body that improve your mood. Walking, running, weight lifting and other activities can have a positive effect on your mental health. Find something you enjoy.
- Get restful sleep. Create a sleep schedule and stick to it, even on your days off. You may want to incorporate a nighttime routine that includes skincare, a bubble bath or a cup of Having a regular pattern each night helps you get more restful sleep and may improve your mood upon waking the next day.
- Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated. Drink lots of water throughout the day and try to choose foods that healthily fuel your body. Finding new recipes that include nutritious foods can be a fun and engaging way to improve your diet.
- Reach out to family, friends and co-workers. Human connection is essential to your mental health since it can boost your mood and provide emotional support. Consider getting together with co-workers outside of work, calling a family member or scheduling coffee or dinner with friends.
- Find activities that help you relax. Whether reading a book, trying a new yoga routine or spending time outside, try to find a few activities that let you calm your mind. An escape from the constant busyness of life can also help improve your mental
This infographic is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice. Readers should contact a health professional for appropriate advice. © 2022 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
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by Admin. | Jun 7, 2022 | healthcare, Wellness
Should the cut on your hand or the chest pain send you to the ER or an urgent care center? It’s difficult to be sure. Urgent care centers provide fast, noncritical health care on a walk-in basis. A visit is generally around the same price or slightly more than a clinic visit but far cheaper than a trip to the emergency room.
But how do you know when you may need urgent care or when to choose another treatment option?
Urgent care fills a health care gap
According to experts, many patients visit emergency rooms for health care issues that could be handled elsewhere. Urgent care centers can usually handle injuries and illnesses that need immediate care but are not life-threatening or debilitating. Examples include minor cuts and burns, back or muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Urgent medical conditions are ones that are not considered emergencies but still require care within 24 hours. Some examples include:
- Accidents and falls
- Cuts that don’t involve much blood but might need stitches
- Breathing difficulties, such as mild to moderate asthma
- Diagnostic services, including X-rays and laboratory tests
- Eye irritation and redness
- Fever or flu
- Minor broken bones and fractures in fingers or toes
- Moderate back problems
- Severe sore throat or cough
- Skin rashes and infections
- Sprains and strains
- Urinary tract infections
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration
Primary care providers manage routine health care
A primary care provider, or PCP, can manage most of your regular health care needs. PCPs offer cheaper treatment choices, and you’ll often see them before going to a specialist, although they may coordinate your overall care. For general health concerns, consider contacting a primary care provider.
Emergency departments provide critical care
Emergency departments are indispensable if you’re critically ill or injured but will likely be your most expensive option. Of course, in a true emergency, the cost is the last thing on many people’s minds.
While urgent care could save you from an expensive ED visit, it’s better to err on the side of caution if you’re hurt or sick and not sure what to do. If you can’t make it to the hospital or the situation is life-threatening, you can call 911.
Dial 911 immediately for any medical problem that appears life-threatening. Some examples of conditions that need emergency medical care include:
- Compound fracture, which involves a bone protruding through the skin
- Convulsions, seizures, or loss of consciousness
- Deep knife wounds or gunshot wounds
- Fever in a newborn less than 3 months old
- Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding
- Moderate to severe burns
- Poisoning
- Pregnancy-related problems
- Serious head, neck, or back injury
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain that lasts longer than two minutes
- Stroke symptoms, such as vision loss, sudden numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or confusion
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
If you need help understanding how your health insurance covers different treatment options, just reach out — we’re here for you.
Learn more about how we are successfully helping navigate SMB for 25+ years. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact us at 855-667-4621 or info@medicalsolutionscorp.com. For information about transparency providers and new tech tools contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.
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